1996: Acura lauches the badge engineered new generation Honda Civic, the Acura EL as hatchback and sedan, and the ELS as the coupe. In the meantime, the TDX gets the first facelift and also, the first recall, because of faulty wiring.
1997: Acura upgrades the engine of the NSX, which increased it's sales more than last year. Acura also showed off their first exclusive concept car that would later become a production car ONLY for North America: the MDX concept car. This was planned as a "ultimate replacement for the SLX and the TDX", which it did replace both when it did went into production.
1998: MDX goes into production and Acura starts development on new coupe, smaller than NSX, which would later become the RSX.
1999: Acura releases the concept car that is referred as the MDX's brother, the RDX. It went into production next year (like the MDX). Acura also opened another assembly plant in Mobile, Alabama and one in Vancouver, Canada.
2000: RSX is launched, as well as refreshed MDX and FCX, the concept which represents new design of Acura cars.
(2000: The RDX is also launched, which got plenty of good reviews. The NSX also got a facelift, though the pop-ups stayed on the car.) 2001: Acura starts releasing their cars in Japan (as Hondas), and they then finally established 2 headquarters, one in Cancun (Mexico), and Thunder Bay (Canada).
2002: In the January Acura announces that they want to enter the European market as Lexus, Infiniti, BMW, Audi competitor. At Geneva Auto Show in March, Acura presents Euro spec MDX, RDX, NSX, and new TLX, BMW 3-er and Lexus IS competitor.
2003: The TL is now discontinued, along with the RL now replaced by the new RLX. In the Detroit Auto Show, they showed off the CDX concept car (which the production form came in 2009).
2005: Thanks to bad sales, Honda decided to discontinue the brand in that year, with a total of only 7,000 cars sold in the States, Canada and Mexico in 2004. Because of this discontinuation, the original plan to import Acura cars to Japan has been cancelled and all future Acura cars were rebadged as Hondas. Holden 1949: After making cars from GM to the Australian market, the company finally made their own car, the 48-215 sedan. The car started the company's successful role on the Australian car market and the aptly-named FX started rolling out from the factory. The car sold well and was praised by many automobile journalists and people alike.
1951: The brand receives a smaller model, the 50-125/EX, based on the Opel Olympia, but with a larger engine. It becomes strong competition to British carmakers.
1953: The successor of the 48-215, the Holden FJ, was released. Besides the original car's L6, the car also offers a more economical 1.5 L4 (from the Opel Olympia) in base models and a powerful 303 "Rocket" V8 (from the Oldsmobile Rocket 88) as an option for the high-end SS Monaro. The Monaro, went on to became a performance legend thanks to it's superb handling and it's powerful engine, making it the most fastest Australian-made car of it's time.
1954: The EA, a 50-125 successor, is release, based on the Opel Olympia Rekord. Like the FJ, it gets a widened model range compared to the predecessor, with two new engines, as well as a 4-door sedan, wagon, sedan delivery and ute bodywork. Holden starts export to other RHD British territories, including GB itself.
1956: Holden released a whole new model, the FR to replace the FJ. Changes include a new seatbelt option (which became standard on 1957), and a new V8 engine was offered, in a 277 ci. form for the luxury-oriented Business and Business Special. The Monaro's V8 is also upgraded, now sporting a 177-hp thanks to better compression. At the same time, the EA has a new 1.7 L6 diesel engine from Mercedes* (OM636 engine), but the engine was only for the ute model. (*At that timeline, GM have bought Mercedes Benz in 1956, so they have access to that engine)
(The Rocket V8 actually had 230 to 240 HP listed output by the time, and would be similar with a close point of divergence (though Aussie versions would likely have lower compression than USDM). Also, in the 50s, MB used I4s exclusively for such displacements). 1957: The EB is released, based on the new Opel Rekord. It now has the diesel available in all versions, and gives the Brits a run for the money, despite costing more. The diesel engine is also released in the FR Holdens.
1960: In that year, the old and outdated FR was replaced by the all-new GX, with a more larger, modern body and better suspension. The 4-cylinders was discontinued due to low sales, and the V8s is now replaced by Holden's self-made V8. Meanwhile, the EB gains a L6 supercharged high performance variant, known as the SS Torana. That year, other competitors such as American-based Ford Falcon and the Chrysler Valiant, as well as the German Audi 500 sedan came to the Australian market, making Holden a challenge.
1961: Holden gets further expansions of its model line. The GX gets the long-wheelbase Kingswood model, sometimes called "the Aussie Cadillac" for its flamboyant styling and having a convertible model. The EB is replaced by the all-new EC, and a smaller car, the DA, based on the new Opel Kadett, debuts to challenge the British in their compact car stronghold. The DA also gets an SS version, with an HO version of the EC's I4 engine.
1963: Holden released the Holden Callade, a GX-based luxury coupe. The coupe became Holden's flagship model, until it's discontinuation in 2011. Meanwhile, Holden started exporting GXs and EBs to Japan, with specialized modifications. Those models are sold as Mazdas thanks to a joint venture, and marketed as "budget luxury models". Initial sales of the Mazda-badged Holdens are somewhat successful.
1964: The GC, a GX successor, hits the market. Its non-basic variants also hit the US market - like the GX Special also was the Chevrolet Nova, the Kingswood becomes the Chevrolet Chevelle/Pontiac LeMans/Oldsmobile Cutlass/Buick Special, the Torana becomes the Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird, and the Callade becomes the Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Pontiac Grand Prix/Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
1966: A mid-range model slotted between the GC and the EB, the Holden DA, was released. It was based from the Mercedes Benz W110, but was fitted with Holden's L6 and V8 engines instead. Later, Holden started developing an F1 car, and planned to join the race with the Europeans in 1969.
(There already is a DA) 1967: The DB and ED hit the market, based on the new Opel Kadett/Vauxhall Viva and Opel Rekord/Vauxhall Cresta. They are now both moved slightly downmarket (DB to Euro-standard compact, ED to midsize) to give the new car room, and next year's GD is slated to move similarily upmarket, with its LWB model as big as the smaller US fullsizes.
