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IT WAS a secret mission, code-named “XX” — a collaboration betweenJapan’s Honda Motor Co. and Britain’s Austin Rover Group.

The objective: “Build two distinctively different cars from the samemechanical base.”

Mission accomplished. Too bad for Honda. Austin Rover did a betterjob.

The proof is in the products — the 1987 Acura Legend sedanmarketed by Honda and the 1987 Austin Rover Sterling 825SL sold in theUnited States by the Brits’ American partner, Austin Rover Cars of NorthAmerica.

Both the Legend and Sterling are front-wheel-drive machines sharingthe same engine and transaxle developed by Honda. Both cars have thesame basic body structure developed by Austin Rover.

But on matters of suspension, exterior and interior styling — thethings that help define the personality of a car — the two automakers went their separate ways. And Honda got lost.

The Legend emerged as a technically perfect bore, a tendentiousneurotic in hot pursuit of predictability. This car requires both anignition key and wedding ring to get going.

But, ah, the Sterling! Here’s the passion the Legend lacks. Here’sthe thrill of being behind the wheel of a first-rate cruiser.

Austin Rover knows how to put feel into a car. Look at the Sterling’sinterior: Rolls-Royce Connolly leather where the Legend has plastic,velour or workaday rawhide; laminated burled walnut where the Legend hasnothing.

And on the outside, the Sterling is graced with clean, snappy lines,whereas the Legend is content to pay homage to the rounded philosophy ofAudi and other German auto makers.

Ah, and this, silly as it seems: the Sterling sports a real,eye-catching badge in the external places where the Legend merelyannounces the number of cylinders and valves installed in the car.

It’s no contest. The Sterling wins hands down. Sterling, thiscolumn’s for you.

Complaints: Exposed electrical wiring harnesses underneath theSterling’s front power seats. Tacky. With all that Austin Rover has doneto this car, the company certainly could find a way to hide those wires.

Also, the Sterling’s hood release is mislocated on the lower right,front interior wall. Austin Rover will change that. Good. Hood-releasehatches should be on the driver’s side, the left side of cars sold inAmerica.

Praise: An all-around good, classy luxury car. Generally top-ratecraftsmanship.

Head-turning-quotient: Show stopper. People rolled down their windowsto ask about this one. Nobody did that for the Legend.

Ride, acceleration, handling: Triple play. All excellent. TheSterling 825SL runs with a 2.5-liter, 24-valve, fuel-injected V-6 thatpumps out 151 horsepower at 5,800 rpm, same as in the Legend sedan. (TheLegend Coupe is fixed with a 2.7-liter version of this engine, producing161 horsepower at 5,900 rpm.)

The Sterling’s ride is firmer than that of the Legend sedan andCoupe. Better, too.

Sound system: Eight-speaker AM/FM stereo ra dio and cassette, byPhillips. Superb.

Mileage: About 23 to the gallon (18-gallon tank, 414-mile range),mostly highway, running driver only and with air conditioner on most ofthe time.

Price: $24,580, including $295 in options and a $385 destinationcharge. Base price is $23,900, several hundred dollars less than thecomparable Legend sedan (with four-speed automatic transaxle). Dealer’sinvoice price on the Sterling 825SL is $21,014. But most dealers aren’tdealing on this one.