The Honda Inspire is a mid-size 4-door sedan manufactured by Honda from 1990 until 2012, and they still offer the vehicle as a sixth-generation for the Chinese market. The Honda Inspire, derived from the Honda Accord chassis, debuted as the Accord Inspire in 1990 and was a sister nameplate to the Honda Vigor. While its 1989 introduction as the Honda Accord Inspire suggested continuation, the middle name has been dropped since 1992, and the Honda Inspire is now produced as a standalone model. The vehicle's technical specifications were an Accord on an enlarged chassis with somewhat altered bodywork.
History of the Honda Inspire
Honda Inspire First Generation (CB5, CC2, & CC3; 1989–1995)
The "inspired Accord" was unveiled on October 12, 1989. A Honda Vigor shared its name with an Acura Vigor offered in North America as the Acura Vigor.
Honda built the Honda Inspire on the same platform as the Honda Legend, utilized in the Rover 800. The Toyota Mark II and the Nissan Laurel were the two most popular cars in Japan in the early 1990s. Honda sought to create a vehicle that could compete with these models with a front-wheel-drive arrangement using an inline 5-cylinder Honda G engine. Honda had a lot of success with the Inspire model. The JDM Honda Rafaga, a car, also featured this 5-cylinder engine.
The famous carmaker introduced the Inspire model when Japan's economy was in the midst of a crisis in the early 1990s. Honda installed various wood inserts that customers could choose from. A Japanese furniture business, Tendo Mokko, produced unique leather upholstery and authentic wood accents for the dash and center console of the Honda Inspire.
Honda Inspire Second Generation (UA1, UA2, & UA3; 1995–1998)
When it came to size, the second-generation Inspire was remarkably similar to the first-generation 1986 Honda Legend, upgraded and enlarged to accommodate its role as a showcase car for the Honda and Acura companies. On July 6, 1995, the second-generation Inspire became available with the same Type I 3.2L V6 found in the Legend and the straight 5 in 2.0L and 2.5L displacements. The Japanese customer was forced to pay more in yearly road tax for every engine selection. Honda defined one trim grade bundle with the engine choice, which offered a graded degree of regular and luxury features for each pick. The Inspire was available as the Honda Saber in Japan and sold through the Honda Verno sales and distribution network. It was technically similar to the UA1-UA3 Inspire, sold through Honda Clio showrooms. Honda's Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, United States, began producing Inspire and Saber automobiles with this model. On November 8, 1996, the model came equipped with dual front airbags, and anti-lock brakes were standard on all cars.
Honda Inspire Third Generation (UA4 & UA5; 1998–2003)
In October 1998, Honda unveiled the third generation Inspire. This generation was the first Honda developed and constructed in the United States and exported to Japan. A near relative of Honda's Torneo is the CG series, based on the Honda Accord sedan sold in the United States. In response to a growing demand for SUVs, Honda exported some of the Accords manufactured in the United States across the border to Japan. Only two engines were available: a 3.2L J32A V6 and a 2.5L J25A V6 (with VTEC), and two transmissions included 4- or 5-speed automatic transmissions. Due to the greater side-impact safety in the USA-spec Accord, Honda modified the body design from the hardtop to the sedan.
Honda Inspire Fourth Generation (UC1; 2003–2007)
The Honda Inspire's fourth iteration made its public debut on June 18, 2003. The Saitama Prefecture plant in Sayama, Japan, produced this vehicle. Honda based the fourth generation on the same underpinnings as the seventh-generation Honda Accord in the United States. Honda only sold the Inspire as a sedan with a 5-speed automatic gearbox and a 3.0-liter J30A V6 with i-VTEC. Honda announced in September 2002 that they would offer a 2.4L straight-4 DOHC i-VTEC K24A engine only on the USA-spec model. "Honda Accord" is the name given to this vehicle in the Southeast Asian market. There are three I-VTEC engine sizes to choose from: 2.0L, 2.4L, and 3.0L.
Honda Inspire Fifth Generation (CP3; 2007–2012)
Honda released the fifth generation vehicle on December 21, 2006. It had a further growth in vehicle proportions on the level with the second generation Honda Legend. The fourth-generation Honda Legend has surpassed Inspire in terms of elegance and refinement. "SH-AWD" AWD is not available on this model of Inspire, though. These include "CMBS," Adaptive Cruise Control, known as IHCC, and HDD navigation systems. In September 2012, Inspire's sales in Japan ended.
Honda Inspire Sixth Generation (CV1 & CV3; 2018–Present)
An all-Chinese sedan, the sixth generation Inspire was unveiled in 2018 and immediately went on sale in China. Honda based the Inspire on the North American tenth-generation Honda Accord with a modified front and rear DRG. Dongfeng Honda manufactures the sixth generation Inspire, which replaces the Spirior. The 1.5: L15B7 inline-four and the 2L K20C4 inline-four are available for this generation.
Price
In 2007, Honda retailed the fifth-generation Honda Inspire with a price range of ¥3,300,000 to ¥3,900,000, which converts from ¥3,499,367 to ¥4,135,615 in 2022 ($27,300 to $32,300).
Features of the Honda Inspire
You may find Honda's first internet-powered navigation system in the vehicle. A new standard of equipment has also been introduced: the cabin filter. The sedan saw significant transformations throughout the fifth generation. A sedan replaced the hardtop for aesthetic reasons. This modification was necessary to the United States' requirements for side-impact safety.
The features of the Honda Inspire model are as follows:
- Collision Mitigation Brake System
- Automatic Braking
- Power Steering
- Air Conditioner
- Alloy Wheels
- ABS
- Dual Airbags
- Power Windows
- New Grille
- Fog Lights
- New Trunk Lid Light
- High-Intensity Discharge Headlights
Specs of the Honda Inspire
The 2012 Honda Inspire delivers 276 hp (2016 kW) of horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 252 lb-ft (342 Nm) of torque at 5,000 rpm. This model accelerates from 0-60 mph (97 kph) in 6.4 seconds, with a top speed of 154 mph (247 kph) and a curb weight of 3,527 lbs (1,600 kg). Honda manufactured the 2012 Honda Inspire with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout and a 5-speed automatic transmission powered by a 3.5L J35Z2 i-VTEC VCM V6 engine.
Release Date
Honda released the Honda Inspire on October 12, 1989, and discontinued the model during its fifth-generation era in September 2012 in Japan. However, they decided to continue to produce the sixth generation only in the Chinese market.