This is designed to enhance passenger safety. ACE helps to disperse collision forces over a larger frontal area, as well as prevent misalignment with another vehicle's safety structures, thus helping to reduce damage in that vehicle.

Cabin safety

The new Legend's cabin is among the safest in its class. Not only does it have effective front and rear crumple zones, but it features side impact door beams and cross members under the floor in high tensile steel.

Intelligent airbags

Legend is also equipped with front, front side and side curtain airbags. The front airbags are dual-stage and dual-threshold. This means they deploy at two rates and thresholds, depending on the severity of the impact and seatbelt use. The front side airbag system on the passenger side also features Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), which prevents deployment of the airbag if a child or smaller passenger is out of position and in the airbag's path.



Style
A sleek and elegant body over a rigid frame

It may be technically superior in its category, but to really compete with the big boys, the Legend had to look good.

Fortunately, Honda's body stylists have delivered. The car combines sensual, flowing lines with sharp-edged aggression over a short, wide chassis that helps optimise road holding and handling.

The styling features a steeply-sloping bonnet, with a bold, raised section leading down to the front bumper and its distinctive lower air intake openings. The headlights are of a large, angular design with the Honda signature five-sided grille in a chrome finish slotted between them.

A sleek cockpit, a rising beltline and a short rear deck accentuate the Legend's dynamic, wedge-like shape to reflect the high-speed, sporting ability of the car.

But as well as looking the part, the designers concentrated on making the Legend body as smooth and aerodynamic as possible. Glass in the side windows is '3D', in that it fits flush with the outer trim, including the B-pillar. The body also sports a boot-lip spoiler and a variety of under-floor covers that improve air-flow around the car.

Under the surface, the body structure of the Legend also plays a role in the overall performance of the car. Firstly, weight was of primary concern - to maximise the power-to-weight ratio. Therefore the choice of materials had to be lightweight, but also high-rigidity to ensure the chassis remained stiff. As a result, the larger body members are made from high-tensile steel, while the bumper beams, subframes, bonnet and boot are all aluminium parts to save vital kilograms.

Despite the low weight of the entire body, it's 33 per cent stiffer than the previous Legend. This combination of light weight and torsional rigidity contributes to the superior handling and agility of the car.

Meanwhile, the Legend's outer skin is as special as the interior - a new ultra high-gloss paint is used on the body to produce a premium finish. This is achieved by water polishing the intermediate coats before applying the thicker clear coats to create a deep, layered effect.

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