2001 Acura TL(United States)

The luxury division of Honda, Acura sells a full lineup of models ranging from a compact sedan to a large crossover with seven seats in three rows. Though it's intended to compete with luxury brands, its pricing and perception reflect a premium brand. Acura has emphasized sportiness, bolstered by Type-S versions of some models, but its reliance on front-wheel drive has held it back in the race against some competitors, including BMW and Infiniti. A shift toward all-wheel drive in some models has raised Acura's performance credibility to a degree. Likewise, the Type-S designation represents a more modest approach than competitors such as BMW's M division, Mercedes-Benz's AMG and Cadillac's V-Series.Car models in the U.S. market include the compact TSX sedan and upcoming wagon and the midsize TL sedan (all based loosely on the Honda Accord) and the RL, which is the flagship sedan but is smaller than most competing full-size sedans. Crossovers include the compact five-seat RDX, seven-seat MDX (which predated its Honda Pilot sister model) and a sporty five-seat derivation called the ZDX.Honda and Acura are headquartered in Japan.