Sunday, May 4, 2008

Honda Legend


INTERIOR

Luxurious cockpit designed for performance driving

Perforated leather-trimmed seats

Front seats with 8-way power adjustment including power adjustable lumbar support

Dual-zone, dual-mode automatic climate control system

Multi-information display allows access to multiple electronic functions and customisable feature settings

Satellite navigation system with voice recognition and RDS-TMS traffic information

Rear-view parking camera

Bluetooth hands-free enabled

BOSE® 10-speaker Surround Sound System with 6-disc CD changer

Interface Dial provides quick, intuitive access to navigation, audio, climate control and other features

Power sunroof with tilt, auto-open/close, auto-reverse and key-off operation

The Legend's interior integrates elegant luxury and clean, efficient design, to create an environment in tune with the car's clearly defined sporting character. At the same time, the wide array of advanced technology has been designed to be easy to use and intuitive to operate. Careful integration ensures that it adds to the driver's comfort, control and understanding of the driving situation, and never detracts from it.

Material quality, fit and finish have received exacting attention. Stylish and highly supportive perforated leather-trimmed seats are designed to provide a sporty, yet refined driving experience.

The soft-touch switchgear is engineered for a positive, satisfying feel. Maple wood trim sweeps across the instrument panel, while the centre console housing the climate, audio and navigation controls has a satin metal finish for a clean, technical look. Mounted high in the centre of the instrument panel within easy line of sight is the large, bright navigation system display. The main instrumentation is easy-to-read analogue, supplemented with digital and graphic displays.

All important controls are within easy reach of the driver. Those most frequently used including audio, cruise control, voice activation, satellite navigation, the multi-information display and where fitted, ACC, CMBS and LKAS, have controls located on the leather wrapped steering wheel.

Audio system controls are on the upper left spoke, while cruise control buttons are on the right upper spoke. The lower left spoke is reserved for navigation system controls, including a push-to-talk button which activates voice control of the navigation system, as well as many climate control and audio system features.

Also on the left, between the spokes, are controls for Bluetooth activation, while on the right between the spokes are controls for the Multi-information display. Tucked out of view, but within fingertip reach, is the pair of paddles that upshift and downshift the transmission when it is in manual mode.

On models equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System and Lane Keeping Assist System, the controls are located on the upper and lower right-hand spokes.

Multi-information display
The highly functional instrument panel also provides important vehicle information via an LCD Multi-information display positioned in the lower speedometer face. Controls positioned at the 4 o'clock position of the steering wheel hub allow the driver to cycle the display through multiple screens of information including vehicle mileage, trip mileage, instantaneous and average fuel economy, range, average speed, elapsed time, outside temperature, seatbelt status (including rear seats) torque distribution (relating to SH-AWD operation) and where fitted, ACC and CMBS status. Should a fault occur with the vehicle, warning information also appears.

Interface dial
Most of the commonly used electronic functions then, have dedicated controls positioned on the instrument panel or on the steering wheel. Voice control of navigation, climate control, audio and communications functions is also possible.

Another quick and intuitive avenue of control is provided by the Interface Dial which is positioned below the climate and audio controls on the centre console. This is rotated and rocked like a joystick to select from a series of function menus displayed on the navigation screen. A push of the controller selects the highlighted item. Functions controlled by the Interface Dial include:

Audio

Satellite navigation (including compass display)

Climate control

Other items include a calendar, a calculator and fuel consumption and trip computer displays.

Rear-view camera
Reversing is made particularly simple in the Legend. Side mirrors can be set to automatically tilt-down when reverse is engaged, but in addition a rear-view camera has been provided. Located in the trim above the rear licence plate, it provides a view of the area directly behind the Legend 138 degrees wide and 91degrees vertically. The image is displayed on the satellite navigation screen.

Satellite navigation
The DVD-based satellite navigation system with 8 inch screen features RDS-TMS. This displays up-to-the-minute traffic information where available on screen and plots alternative routes around traffic congestion. Further convenience – and safer operation while driving – is provided by voice recognition control (English, German and Italian – French and Spanish will be added in the near future). Activation is via the push-to-talk button on the steering wheel; a command such as 'home' will prompt the system to plot the best route to the driver's house. Similarly, for the nearest restaurant or petrol station, the driver simply states his or her requirement and the system finds the closest location and provides navigation to it.

Additionally voice commands may be used to control audio and climate control functions (accessed through the same steering wheel mounted button).

The Legend is also provided with a Bluetooth wireless mobile phone interface, allowing further hands-free operation, with steering wheel mounted buttons to control its operation. A series of speakers and microphones installed in the car can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled communications device, allowing calls to be made safely while driving.

Highly supportive leather seats – with full power adjustment
The sports luxury philosophy of the new Legend demanded passenger seating that could blend long-trip comfort with secure lateral support, given the cornering potential afforded by the advanced SH-AWD system. As a result, the front seats are taller and wider than in the past, which also allows them to accommodate a wide range of occupant sizes. The seat cushions use a special urethane padding with high damping coupled with a new wider 'S' spring design for better support. These features work together to reduce the amount of road and engine vibration transmitted to the passenger.

Both front seats have the luxury of 8-way power adjustment, including a lumbar support mechanism, whose smooth, articulated shape matches the human spinal curvature to provide solid support for the torso and pelvis.

Active Ventilation front seats, which pass a gentle stream of cooling air from built-in fans around the occupant for greater comfort, are available as an option.

In the rear seat area, the outer seating positions are carefully engineered complete with side bolsters to combine luxurious comfort on long trips with solid lateral support.

Front headrests are adjustable for height and tilt. The three headrests in the rear have a remote retractable feature that allows the driver to lower them with a touch of a button in the overhead console for better rearward visibility when there are no rear seat passengers. When carrying rear passengers, the headrests can be brought into operation manually.

For greater passenger comfort on sunny days, the Legend has a power operated rear-window sunshade (the control is in the overhead console), plus manually operated sunshades for each rear side window.

The 'organ' style accelerator pedal is bottom hinged to provide a linear feel and natural motion. A large foot rest is also provided on the left of the footwell.

Interior convenience
The Legend's interior offers plenty of storage and convenience features. The front centre armrest has a unique dual lid, which allows the padded armrest to be used on one side, while the lid on the other side is open. The combined upper section of the armrest can also be lifted to allow access to a large lower storage compartment. The front double cup holder has an adjustable bottom tray that allows it to accommodate a wide range of container sizes.

The large glove compartment features a separate document box which frees up storage space in the main compartment.

In the rear seating area, the rear folding armrest has a padded top. A pull-out dual cup holder is built into the rear armrest.

Cargo carrying versatility
The Legend has a generously sized 452 litre boot that is fully finished, with all wiring concealed and the rear parcel shelf speakers and navigation unit fully protected. The acoustic properties of the boot and the three rear deck speakers were engineered together to create the best possible sound performance out of the Honda/BOSE® audio system. To allow room for longer items, a lockable boot pass-through is provided. A network of anchor points help to keep items securely in position. The spare tyre is located under a folding cover in the boot floor.

For a cleaner appearance and to avoid damage to luggage, the aluminium boot lid is supported by fully concealed hinge mechanisms. It can be opened via a remote release mounted on the driver's door panel, by pulling the exterior release on the lid, or with a manual release accessible through the locking boot pass-through. There is also an emergency opener located inside, near the latch.

Solar-sensing, dual-zone, dual-mode automatic climate control system
The Legend is equipped with a dual-zone automatic climate control system that lets the driver and front passenger set temperature modes to their individual liking. Large, simple to use system controls are positioned within easy reach, just below the centre instrument panel vents. The system can also be controlled by voice, and some seldom-needed custom settings can also be accessed through the Interface Dial. The system's control logic is designed to provide smooth operation with subtle changes in airflow. A pair of large, adjustable vents in the rear of the centre console keeps the rear seat environment comfortable.

Information from a solar sensor located on top of the instrument panel is used to adjust the temperature and airflow from side to side as needed to compensate for asymmetrical solar heating.

Using the navigation screen and the Interface Dial, the temperature of the air flowing through the upper vents can be fine-tuned relative to that of the air flowing from the footwell vents.

Interior lighting
Care has been taken to provide comprehensive cabin lighting that both provides clarity and adds to the relaxed ambience. The analogue instruments are LED backlit, with high-contrast markings and a subdued blue accent hue.

Progressive self-illumination gives the car a 'welcoming' feel: when the door is first opened, the instrument lighting comes to life, and then brightens progressively to 100 percent when the ignition is switched on. The illuminated instrument needles and enunciator lights then come alive, indicating that the car is ready to go. At the end of a journey, the instrument lighting dims progressively.

All the interior switches are illuminated to make them easy to locate at night, including those on all four doors and the steering wheel. In addition to front and rear overhead interior lights and map lights, the Legend also has a complement of low-level interior ambient cabin lighting. Blue front and rear low-level ambient lighting in the ceiling illuminates the front centre console and the rear flip-down armrest. The front foot wells also have low-level ambient lighting that brightens substantially when the doors are opened.

Front and rear interior door handle areas are also illuminated to make them easy to find, and the front door storage compartments, glove compartment and the front armrest compartment are all internally illuminated. All four doors have courtesy lights that are illuminated when the doors are open. The Legend's interior lights feature 'theatre dimming', which can be set by the driver to any of several rates via the Multi-information display. The boot has interior lighting, while the boot lid has lighting that illuminates the bumper and sill area when the lid is opened.

Premium Honda/BOSE® 10-speaker Surround Sound System

The Legend is provided with a sophisticated BOSE® audio system which provides the driver and passengers with a new level of audio enjoyment.

Engineered specifically for the Legend, the 10-speaker system delivers surround sound to all seating positions. The 6-disc in-dash changer can play DVD-Audio, CD, and MP3 media.

To improve sound quality when playing CDs, the system includes Centerpoint logic, which creates simulated surround sound from the two channels of CD data. Another feature, Audiopilot, monitors noise levels in the cabin using the same microphone used for the Active Noise Cancellation system (ANC). It then automatically adjusts the audio system output to compensate.

Centerpoint, Audiopilot, balance, fader and other functions can be accessed via the Interface Dial. Controls for key audio system functions are positioned within fingertip reach on the steering wheel. Select audio system functions can also be accomplished via voice command.

The speaker system comprises a pair of front and a pair of rear door 17 cm speakers, a speaker on the centre of the instrument panel, a pair of front and a pair of rear tweeters, and a sub woofer mounted below the rear parcel shelf.

Source: Motor Corporation


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