Back in the day, Honda built a great front-wheel-drive model called the Integra. It was sold as an Acura in the US, and it managed to attract quite a loyal following. Powered by Honda's famous VTEC enignes, the Integra was affordable, fun to drive, and easy to tune. By the time the final generation appeared in the US, Acura renamedit the RSX, but it was dropped entirely in 2006. Honda felt that with its Civic Si, which was a bit cheaper, could easily fill in the high-performance coupe market slot. But still, Integra fans were disappointed
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Sadly, the chances are practically zero. Back in the day, Honda built a great front-wheel-drive model called the Integra. It was sold as an Acura in the US, and it managed to attract quite a loyal following. Powered by Honda's famous VTEC enignes, the Integra was affordable, fun to drive, and easy to tune. By the time the final generation appeared in the US, Acura renamedit the RSX, but it was dropped entirely in 2006. Honda felt that with its Civic Si, which was a bit cheaper, could easily fill in the high-performance coupe market slot. But still, Integra fans were disappointed.
One has to wonder whether Acura deliberately follows a Soviet policy of purging charismatic nameplates from its lineup every few years, or the loss of well-known models is just the result of fickle market planners. How many non-car fanatics do you know who could still identify “Integra” and “Legend” as Acuras, even though it’s been 15 years since the company summarily executed them. If the Legend had any spiritual successor, it’s the TL sedan, which has for four generations been the brand’s top-selling car since its introduction. Acura’s introduction of the smaller TSX 10 years ago restored our faith in the company’s ability to engineer sharp-handling lightweight sports sedans. If you haven’t guessed yet where this is going, meet the TLX, which will replace both the TSX and TL when it goes on sale later this year.
Beneath the thin veneer of the “concept car” moniker, the TLX introduced at the 2014 Detroit auto show very much is the mid-size sedan Acura will put into production. Acura has kept the exact same wheelbase from the current TL—it raises questions about how new the underpinnings of this car really are—but has shaved 3.8 inches of total length. Not only should that reduce the impression of giant front and rear overhangs so prominent on the TL, but it will help reduce the impression that Acura’s middle sedan is oversized for the 3-series-and-friends class in which it’s meant to reside.
Styling can’t be described as anything but predictable, with the TLX carrying over elements from other recently introduced Acura models—especially the ILX and bigger RLX. That means blocky wheel arches, headlights that look stippled by LEDs, and even very sculpted door handles.
To better position the TLX in that mid-size-luxury category, Acura is offering it with two engines and drivetrain configurations. Base TLX models will come with a 2.4-liter inline-four that’s used throughout the Honda lineup, with power likely to match the 189-hp, 182-lb-ft-of-torque rating of the Accord Sport. It’ll be offered only with a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
More cylinders and gears are available to those with more money, who can outfit their TLXs with Honda’s delightful 3.5-liter V-6 and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Although Acura hasn’t released specs for this engine, either, you can expect it to make the same 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque as it does in six-cylinder Accords. Front-wheel drive is the standard configuration with both engines, but all-wheel drive will be optional with the V-6. All TLXs will come with Acura’s excellent four-wheel-steering system. If you hadn’t noticed yet, this means that the TLX won’t come with a manual transmission, as did the TSX and TL it replaces. That winnows Acura’s stick availability to a single model, the ILX, and leaves us despondent that one of the best builders of manual gearboxes is offering so few of them. The de rigueur suite of driver assistance/annoyance equipment will be on the TLX’s options sheet, including collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go-traffic setting.
If we’re lucky, the TLX will only be around for one or two generations. That’s not because we have anything against the car, mind you, but because a premature retirement would mean Acura has built something really great. Source;
by Viknesh Vijayenthiran of www.motorauthority.com Acura is reportedly considering the launch of a compact crossover based on the Honda Vezel, which debuted at the 2013 Motor Show and is due in local showrooms later this year, most likely under a new name. The information comes from one of the Vezel’s engineers, who told Automotive News (subscription required) that Acura is investigating whether it should launch its own version of the car.
The engineer, Naohisa Morishita, offered up Acura’s SUV-X concept from the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show as an example of what’s possible. A production version of the SUV-X concept has been confirmed for a Chinese market launch in 2016 but Morishita sees such a vehicle being popular elsewhere.
"There is a market for it worldwide, not just in China," Morishita is reported to have said. "Personally, I think Acura needs it."
If Acura were to launch a compact crossover based on the Vezel in the U.S., the vehicle would face some stiff competition from the likes of the BMW X1 and upcoming Audi Q3, Lincoln MKC and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. Convincing buyers to opt for the Acura version instead of the Vezel will also be a challenge, something Lincoln will also have to address with its MKC and Escape twins.
The world is invited to watch live via the Acura YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/acura) as the 2015 Acura TLX Prototype is unveiled at the 2014 North American International Auto Show during a press conference scheduled for 11:05 a.m. EST on Jan. 14, 2014.
The 2015 TLX Prototype, described in a news release on Dec. 19, will feature more emotional styling with tidier, sports sedan proportions wrapped around two all-new advanced powertrains that provide even more athletic performance, along with a host of signature Acura technologies. TLX will offer two all-new, high-performance and highly fuel-efficient direct-injected engines, each mated to an all-new advanced transmission, along with available two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.
For high-resolution photography and media information on the current Acura lineup, please visit www.acuranews.com. After the press conference, more detailed information, images and video of the 2015 TLX Prototype will also be available for download from the site.
Customers interested in learning more about Acura models are encouraged to visit http://www.acura.com, where they can see the full line of Acura models.
Honda Motor Co. (7267)’s No. 2 executive, asked to identify the automaker’s weak spot, spoke bluntly: The company’s Acura luxury sedans have to get better.
The world will soon learn whether they have. Next month Honda will introduce the Acura TLX to replace its aging TL, the brand’s top-selling sedan that was last revamped five years ago. Designed by Honda’s North American unit, the reworked luxury car will be the latest test of the Tokyo-based automaker’s decision to give more influence to U.S. engineers.
“We need an Acura brand to shine among luxury franchises,” Executive Vice President Tetsuo Iwamura said in an interview last week at Bloomberg’s headquarters office in New York. “It’s high time.”
Acura car sales are down 8.6 percent in the U.S. through November. That represents a drag on results for a company with four models -- the Civic, Accord, CR-V and Odyssey -- ranking first or second in their respective segments. Combined Honda and Acura sales are up 7.8 percent this year, the slowest pace of the market’s biggest automakers and trailing the industry’s 8.4 percent increase through November.
Honda plans to introduce its 2015 model TLX sedan next month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Iwamura said. A modified ILX compact sedan with a more robust powertrain will follow, and Acura’s NSX “supercar,” a high-performance coupe, returns in 2015. Iwamura declined to detail changes to the youth-oriented ILX model. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg
A shopper views an Acura vehicle at a dealership in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City.
Berkman’s Role
The job of bringing the TLX to life was entrusted to Erik Berkman, a 30-year Honda veteran who in 2012 became the company’s first non-Japanese head of research and development for North America. Honda bolstered the U.S.-based operation’s power earlier this year when it created a nine-member North American management board, which includes Berkman, two other Americans and a Canadian. The board is in charge of products and strategy for the region, which generates the biggest share of the company’s global sales.
Berkman was among the engineers who helped the company tackle its last big test: 2012’s on-the-fly redesign of the critically panned Civic. He previously gained stature within Honda for leading development of Acura’s last hit sedan, the 2006 TL that helped the brand reach record sales in 2005. Getting Acura right, after what Iwamura called its “winding path,” is important to tap growing demand for premium vehicles in the U.S. and around the world.
Lagging Lexus
As Acura car sales have fallen, other premium brands have gained ground. Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus car sales rose 15 percent in the U.S. this year through November; Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s BMW are up 9.2 percent; Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz, up 14 percent; and General Motors Co. (GM)’s Cadillac, up 55 percent. Mercedes-Benz car sales total 183,358 this year through November while BMW has delivered 178,512 cars, according to Autodata Corp.
While Honda derives the bulk of its revenue from mass-market Civic compacts, Accord sedans and small CR-V SUVs, luxury autos ensure better profit margins. The average Honda sold for $25,976 in November, versus $40,597 for each Acura vehicle, according to Kelley Blue Book, an automotive pricing and data company.
For now, Acura sales are sustained by the new MDX and RDX sport-utility vehicles, which account for 58 percent of Acura’s 149,685 U.S. sales through November. Honda sold 62,301 of its four Acura sedan models over the same period, including the large RLX and outgoing TSX, less than half the volume of Toyota’s premium Lexus cars.
‘Big Opportunity’
Acura, created prior to Lexus or Nissan Motor Co.’s Infiniti as a U.S. premium brand, can become a bigger source of global revenue for Honda, said Steve Usher, a San Diego-based equity analyst for JI Asia Research, who rates Honda a buy.
“They are now looking at it on a more global scale,” Usher said. “They’re starting to think about getting Acura to China, and that will be a big opportunity.”
Iwamura said in January that his 2013 goal was a U.S. sales record -- topping its 1.55 million U.S. sales in 2007. Lagging Acura deliveries make that unlikely, he said last week. Still, Honda averted a larger blow: that Civic and Accord, cornerstones of success for 30 years, were falling behind competitors’ new compact and mid-size offerings.
‘Strong Again’
A poor review for the 2012 Civic by Consumer Reports sent shock waves through Honda. The company took the unusual tack of rushing out an upgrade -- what it calls a “major minor refresh” -- that improved Civic’s interior and added a stronger frame that gave it the best crash rating of any U.S. compact.
The revamped Civic and new Accord that came out in 2012 lifted Honda-brand car sales 8.8 percent, outpacing an industrywide average for cars of 5.6 percent, according to Autodata.
“Honda is definitely strong again and, if not boiling over, on a steady simmer in terms of progress and momentum,” said Karl Brauer, industry analyst at Kelley Blue Book.
Honda argues that if fleet sales are removed, it boasts one of the industry’s best growth rates in retail deliveries this year. Retail sales reflect only vehicles sold directly to individuals, rather than to businesses and rental-car companies.
Honda estimates less than 2 percent of its U.S. sales are to fleets. It eschews them to maintain higher resale values for retail buyers, U.S. senior vice president Mike Accavitti said.
Changing Landscape
Like Toyota, Honda is still adapting to an automotive landscape in which quality is a given and companies including GM, Ford Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. now build some of the most compelling vehicles.
“Everybody is better than they used to be,” Brauer said. “You can’t be the clear or easy winner in any segment like you used to.”
Acura’s inconsistent car line has made the brand a laggard in recent years to BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and GM’s Cadillac and Volkswagen AG’s Audi unit. Sales peaked at 209,610 in 2005 and dwindled in 2009, when U.S. auto sales collapsed. Acura deliveries may reach about 163,000 units this year, based on the sales pace through November.
Iwamura said the mid-size TLX sport sedan that replaces the aging TL will be the biggest change for Acura in 2014.
The racing-style NSX that returns in 2015 will be Acura’s performance “halo,” Iwamura said. The car should sell for more than $100,000, he has said. The last units of the all-aluminum coupe were sold in 2007.
‘Big Kids’
Much as 2010 was a low point for Toyota, which had to battle a recall crisis, 2011 was similarly tough for Honda.
The Consumer Reports pan of the Civic came after Asian natural disasters in 2011 -- Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, and flooding in Thailand -- stalled Honda’s global production for months. A 2011 spike in the yen’s value made sales of Japan-built models such as the Fit subcompact unprofitable in the U.S.
Those setbacks, along with lackluster reviews for several Honda and Acura models, provided an opportunity to try a new approach, U.S. Executive Vice President John Mendel said in an interview last month in Los Angeles.
Honda has struggled with balancing a “small company mentality” with the fact that it now “is sitting at the big kids’ table,” he said.
Newly-named TLX will feature more dynamic and sporty proportions, two new advanced powertrains and a host of signature Acura technologies
TSX to be discontinued as Acura creates clear hierarchy for luxury sedan lineup
Acura today announced that the 2015 Acura TLX Prototype performance luxury sedan will debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. The TLX will mark the debut of a new name for Acura's mid-size modern luxury sedan entry, replacing the outgoing TL model. The all-new model will feature more emotional styling with tidier, sports sedan proportions wrapped around two all-new advanced powertrains that provide even more athletic performance, along with a host of signature Acura technologies. The 2015 TLX Prototype is designed to appeal to current and next-generation luxury sports sedan buyers including existing TL and TSX customers.
In conjunction with the launch of the production TLX in the second half of next year, Acura will discontinue sales of the TSX model in 2014, as it moves to clarify its sedan lineup with a clear hierarchy of three distinct models – the entry luxury ILX, mid-size TLX sports sedan, and flagship RLX performance sedan.
"This all-new Acura TLX is the perfect blend of style and muscle with its elegant, well-proportioned exterior that cloaks the true sport sedan chassis and powertrain beneath," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president, American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. "The sporty characteristics that customers found appealing in the TSX are even more pronounced in this aggressive new TLX."
The all-new Acura TLX will offer luxury buyers a wider range of choices with two all-new, high-performance and highly fuel-efficient direct-injected engines, each mated to an all-new advanced transmission, along with available two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. The TLX will also feature dynamic and emotional exterior styling wrapped around a mid-size luxury sports-sedan package that maintains the roomy cabin space of the current TL.
The TLX Prototype was designed in Acura's Los Angeles Design Studio and the production model is being developed by Acura engineers at the company's Ohio R&D center. It will be produced at the Marysville, Ohio auto plant1, home to the current Acura TL.
Speaking at the Acura press conference at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 14, 2014 will be Mike Accavitti, senior vice president, American Honda Motor, Co., Inc.
Design studios build all kinds of things all the time and the vast majority of them never see the light of day. In many cases that's a good thing. But occasionally there's a really cool-looking styling exercise that gets into the public eye one way or another. Such was the case with the Acura Sport.
Built five years ago by Honda's Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, the sporty NSX-looking coupe was never intended to be seen outside the opaque walls of that high-security building.
“It was totally an internal advanced design concept,” said Dave Marek, director of advanced design for Honda R&D Americas.
It was built about five years ago when Honda was trying to decide what to do with the NSX. Should it be built? Should it be conservative, green and powered by a hybrid or sporty and powered by a V10? This was before the Detroit NSX concept and well before The Avengers car. The car you see here was a consideration of what the NSX could be. Sort of.
“It was a little different concept (from the NSX) but it had the same spirit of what that car was,” said Marek.
It didn't so much show up as the new NSX as it showed up in a lot of little ways on a lot of production Acuras.
“It was more, 'This studio should do form language and what could the Acura form language be?' " Marek said.
Form language is what makes an Acura an Acura and a Ferrari a Ferrari. You can see elements of the Acura Sport not-a-concept all over the current lineup.
“It trickled down into all the products.”
Look at the sides of Acuras and you'll see a hook in the fender just like the one on the Sport.
“It's not directly literal but the ILX has a lot of it in it.”
As do the wheel arches of Acuras going over the front fenders. And the way that body line goes into that hook.
But while elements of the Acura Sport styling exercise saw production, the car itself sat in seclusion. Then Honda R&D's Pasadena Advanced Design Studio moved from Pasadena to just south of downtown Los Angeles, a block away from Staples Center and LA Live. Honda held a grand opening for invited guests only in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show. So to decorate the first floor of the new studio Marek figured it couldn't hurt to show off the Acura Sport.
The highly anticipated Acura NSX, in concept form, will fire up its twin-turbocharged engine and innovative new three-motor, torque vectoring Sport Hybrid powertrain in Gran Turismo®6 (GT6), which releases worldwide today. The 'real driving simulator' available exclusively for the PlayStation®3 system gives sports car enthusiasts their first opportunity to get behind the wheel of the next generation Acura NSX Concept.
"Whether in the virtual world of Gran Turismo today, or on real-world roads and racing circuits less than two years from now, the Acura NSX will be an incredibly innovative and thrilling ride that delivers something entirely new to the world of super sports cars," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of Auto Operations at American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. "The wait is over for NSX fans eager to get behind the wheel of the next Acura supercar, and they can rest assured the actual production car will be even more amazing than the in-game concept version."
Targeting next-generation supercar dynamic capabilities with advanced environmental performance, the Acura NSX will be powered by a mid-mounted, direct-injected and twin-turbocharged V-6 engine mated to Acura's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system.
Acura's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® is an all-new, three-motor high-performance hybrid system that combines torque vectoring all-wheel drive with advanced hybrid efficiency through the use of three electric motors – one motor integrated with the V-6 engine and its all-new dual-clutch transmission (DCT) driving the rear wheels, and two high-output electric motors driving the front wheels. The system enables instant delivery of negative or positive torque during cornering to achieve a new level of driving performance unparalleled by current AWD systems. Acura defines this unique customer benefit of it's luxury performance vehicles as "the synergy between man and machine."
Global development of the NSX is being led by engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in Raymond, Ohio. The next-generation Acura sports car will be produced using domestic and globally sourced parts at the state-of-the-art Performance Manufacturing Center, now under construction in Marysville, Ohio. The all-new NSX is expected to go on sale in 2015.
About the Gran Turismo® Franchise Gran Turismo® celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2013, having first appeared internationally in 1998. The multi-award-winning franchise has been the most successful ever for PlayStation®, and in 2013 it also surpassed worldwide sales of 70 million units. Various iterations of Gran Turismo have been created for PlayStation® , PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 and PSP (PlayStation® Portable), and have always been regarded as the best and most authentic driving simulators ever created due to true-to-life graphics, authentic physics technology and design. Since the inception of Gran Turismo, famed creator Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony Digital Inc. in Japan have revolutionized the racing category as we know it today. His offerings provide the most realistic driving simulation in the industry and a unique medium for automotive manufacturers to showcase their products. Gran Turismo®5, the latest iteration of the game, was released in 2010 and has sold 10 million units worldwide. The forthcoming Gran Turismo®6 releases on December 6, 2013.
About Acura Acura offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 275 dealers within the United States. The Acura lineup features six distinctive models including the RLX luxury flagship sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX Sport Wagon and sedan, the ILX compact luxury sedan, the RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the all-new MDX luxury sport utility vehicle.
The 377-horsepower Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD luxury-performance sedan will be on public display for the first time this week at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, showcasing Acura's dynamic new three-motor hybrid system.
The 2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, which launches next spring, is the first vehicle to deploy Acura's new three-motor hybrid powertrain technology. The system combines a highly efficient, direct-injected V-6 engine with an all-new, Acura-designed, 7-speed dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor and an electrically powered variant of Acura's highly regarded torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD).
This advanced new hybrid powertrain delivers exhilarating driving performance with incredibly responsive power delivery and precise, sure-footed handling performance like no other vehicle in its class. Supported by the instantaneous torque delivered by its high-output electric motors, the RLX Sport Hybrid runs a 0-60 mph time comparable with competitor's V8-powered machines. This performance, however, is coupled with a 28/32/30mpg (city/highway/combined) EPA fuel economy rating1, which is in the range of 4-cylinder-powered luxury sedans.
Powertrain and Drivetrain The RLX Sport Hybrid's 3.5-liter, 310-horsepower, i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) includes an idle-stop feature to help maximize fuel efficiency. The engine is mated to an all-new, 7-speed dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor. In automatic mode, the transmission provides highly responsive and intuitive gear selection, including matching engine revs during downshifts, in manual mode, the Sequential SportShift paddle shifters give the driver gear selection control to make virtually seamless ratio changes.
The electric SH-AWD system on the RLX Sport Hybrid eliminates the conventional drive shaft and rear differential, replacing them with two high-output 27-kilowatt electric motors. The rear motors dynamically distribute both positive (drive) and negative (regenerative braking) electric-motor torque, depending on driving conditions, and which torque vectoring assists in cornering. The system is further aided by a 35-kilowatt front electric motor that supplements engine torque to the front wheels and provides regenerative brake torque to charge the vehicle's 260-volt lithium-ion battery pack.
Body and Chassis With a longer wheelbase and wider greenhouse than competing mid-luxury sedans, the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD delivers full-size interior space in a nimbler, mid-size luxury sedan package. The RLX boasts the longest rear-seat legroom (38.8 inches), and best front (59.6 inches) and rear (57.0 inches) shoulder room in the mid-luxury class. The RLX advanced body design makes extensive use of high-strength steel and aluminum, further aiding its outstanding fuel efficiency, straight-line performance and superior handling agility. In front, the RLX's double-wishbone, lower double-joint front suspension with Amplitude Reactive Dampers significantly improves handling agility, driver confidence and security, and ride sophistication. In back, the RLX's multi-link rear suspension is optimized for a flat ride during cornering, confident turning capability, and a smooth ride in a variety of urban, highway and open road scenarios.
Technology Acura technology firsts on the 2014 Sport Hybrid also include the Acura electronic gear selector and Acura Head-Up Display System. The Acura electronic gear selector replaces the conventional, center console-mounted shift lever with an efficiently packaged push-button array that allows the driver to easily select the desired drive mode—Park, Drive and Reverse, as well as Sport and Normal driving modes. The Acura Head-Up Display System provides the driver with at-a-glance access to key driving information projected on the windshield. Display modes include Sport Hybrid system operation, turn-by-turn navigation, speedometer and compass, as well as alerts from various driver-assistive systems.
The RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD features Acura's signature Jewel Eye™ LED headlights, which offer outstanding light distribution and excellent down-the-road illumination performance and light characteristics. The RLX taillights utilize periphery LED illumination that is both effective and highly distinctive.
With the expanded range of standard and available technology features built into the RLX, substantial engineering effort was put into making each feature intuitive and easy-to-use. The focal point of the new instrument panel is a large, 8-inch color screen that combines audio/information and navigation functions and provides access to an array of customizable features. An additional 7-inch color On Demand Multi-Use Display™ (ODMD) touchscreen is positioned within easy reach and controls the audio system and many other features.
Audio and Connectivity Exceptional audio performance has long been an Acura hallmark, and in the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, two audio systems are offered. The Technology package includes the Acura/ELS Studio® Premium Audio System with an advanced 14-speaker array. In the Advance package, the 14-speaker Krell system — with speakers and amplifiers engineered by Krell, one of the most respected audio companies in world — sets a new benchmark in automotive audio performance.
The RLX is equipped with the next-generation AcuraLink® cloud-based connected car system, delivering a comprehensive array of media, convenience, and security services via embedded two-way communications and web-enabled devices. AcuraLink® leverages Pandora® interface for streaming audio and the Aha™ by Harman cloud-based interface to provide users with thousands of customizable cloud-based news, information and media feeds. The next-generation AcuraLink® also delivers an array of available, subscription-based, security and convenience features, such as AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™ featuring freeway traffic and, for the first time, surface street traffic information.
Safety and Driver-Assistive Technologies The new RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD offers an extensive array of advanced safety, visibility and driver-assistive technologies that put the RLX on the leading edge of collision avoidance and assisted driving capability. Standard and features include a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), along with Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Blind Spot Information (BSI) system.
Utilizing Acura's next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, along with seven airbags (including a driver's knee airbag), the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is anticipated to earn top-level safety ratings, including a 5-star NCAP Overall Vehicle Score and an IIHS "TOP SAFETY PICK+" rating, plus a GOOD rating in the IIHS small overlap front collision test.
Acura demonstrates tuner potential of RLX Luxury Performance Sedan and ILX Compact Luxury Sedan using Acura Genuine Accessories and top aftermarket brands
Acura today unveiled three customized sedans at the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, including the Acura RLX VIP Sedan, created by Evasive Motorsports, the RLX Urban Luxury Sedan and Street Performance ILX, both created by MAD Industries.
"How better to amp up the inherent luxury, excitement and prestige of the Acura Brand than to partner with the enthusiast crowd and create these custom RLX and ILX sedans," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of Auto Operations. "SEMA is where we go to add that little bit of spice that brings out the true performance character in our Acura lineup."
Acura engaged MAD Industries and Evasive Motorsports, both located in Southern California, to use Acura sedans as the platform to create even more exciting and dynamic custom vehicles.
2014 Acura RLX VIP Sedan Evasive Motorsports created an Acura RLX VIP Sedan that is equally comfortable for daily commuting, or as a stylish upgrade for an evening on the town. The design includes a custom carbon fiber front bumper lip and vents, a modified rear bumper and fabricated exhaust system with titanium tips. Chargespeed side skirts combined with a deck lid spoiler and splash guards from Acura Genuine Accessories round out the body modifications. Nano-Fusion Film is used to protect paint on the front end. The wheels are 21-inch Advan F15 models wrapped in 245/35ZR-21 Continental ExtremeContact DW tires, both contributing to the VIP look. Prototype Tein Street Flex coilovers allow lowering of the RLX body. Four-pot Project Mu calipers and brake pads, and Evasive-spec brake rotors sit behind the front wheels. In the cabin, custom neck pillows wrapped in Jordan Brand-inspired elephant print add luxury and style.
Powertrain Modifications
Custom Evasive Motorsports exhaust
Quad titanium exhaust tips
Chassis/Suspension Modifications
21 x 9-inch (+35mm offset) AVS Model F15 wheels
245/35ZR-21 Continental ExtremeContact DW tires
Prototype Tein Street Flex Coilovers
Project Mu 4-piston big brake kit
Project Mu NS400 brake pads
Custom Evasive-spec brake rotors
Exterior Modifications
Custom carbon fiber front chin spoiler
Custom carbon fiber front bumper vents
Chargespeed carbon fiber side skirts
Acura Genuine Accessories deck lid spoiler
Acura Genuine Accessories splash guard set
Muteki SR48 Lugs
S&A Design vinyl stickers
Nano-Fusion paint protection film
Interior Modifications
Custom Jordan Brand-inspired elephant print neck pillows
2014 Acura RLX Urban Luxury Sedan The 2014 Acura RLX Urban Luxury Sedan, by MAD Industries, is designed to appeal to the driver looking for a performance luxury sedan for every day needs. For the exterior, an Acura Genuine Accessory decklid spoiler and 3M 1080 Scotchprint wrap film, in brushed black metallic with gloss black accents, create a bold but refined look. 3M Color Stable window film completes the appearance creating a modern urban style. Silver 22-inch Niche wheels wrapped in Nitto Invo tires add an aggressive element to the stance. Complementing the wheels, MPG custom satin black caliper covers finish off the exterior details. Inside, a contemporary feel is created by 3M brushed black metallic film door and trim accents.
Chassis/Suspension Modifications
22 x 9-inch Niche Apex-M125 silver & machined wheels
265/30ZR-22 Nitto Invo luxury sport performance tires
MPG Custom satin black caliper covers
Exterior Modifications
Acura Genuine Accessories deck lid spoiler.
Interior Modifications
3M 1080 Scotchprint wrap film series in brushed metallic - 1080-BR212
Acura Street Performance ILX The Acura Street Performance ILX, by MAD Industries, is designed to appeal to the enthusiast looking for a fun car that feels at home on city streets or a curvy mountain pass. Wrapped in matte copper metallic and accented by matte charcoal metallic 3M Scotchprint 1080 film, the ILX stands out from the crowd. Acura Genuine Accessories aero kit is tastefully matched to a set of 19-inch TSW Max wheels wrapped in Nitto NT05 Max high performance tires. Tein Super Street coilovers give the ILX an aggressive stance while improving dampening during spirited driving. Under the hood, a supercharger kit from CT Engineering and an ECU tune with Hondata's FlashPro helps the ILX's 2.4-liter Inline-4 pump out 250 wheel horsepower. The prototype SP Elite exhaust from Greddy adds a throaty exhaust note.
Powertrain Modifications
CT Engineering supercharger kit
CT Engineering intake
Hondata FlashPro
Greddy SP Elite prototype exhaust
K&N high performance air filter
AMSOIL Dominator motor oil
Chassis/Suspension Modifications
19 x 8.5 TSW Max matte black wheels
245/35R-19 Nitto NT05 Max tires
Tein Super Street coilovers
Stoptech Big Brake kit
MPG custom satin black caliper covers
Exterior Modifications
3M 1080 Scotchprint wrap film: copper metallic 1080-M229 and charcoal metallic 1080-M211 installed by Paradise Moterwerks
PIAA 9006 low beam and 9005 high beam Extreme White headlight bulbs. H11 fog lamps and Terra LED dome light bulbs.
Honda’s Acura division is preparing another technological showcase for this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s not an NSX Concept like last year, it’s a production car, a flagship of flagships, with efficient and powerful hybrid technology.
The RLX, which is their biggest and most expensive sedan model, will gain a new powertrain called Sport Hybrid SH-AWD. It combines the 3.5-liter SOHC direct-injected i-VTEC V-6 engine with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and three high-output electric motors. The V6 alone makes 310 hp, while systemic output is an impressive 377 hp.
Full details will be revealed later on, but for now, the luxury maker is letting us know that the car could return 30 mpg combined, which is quite impressive. We think the all-wheel drive hybrid system is a good preview of what the NSX will offer and we should expect the ultimate RLX to cost about $60,000, right up there in Audi A6 territory.
One of the hardest challenges facing the Honda NSX development team is communicating the car’s capabilities, says development chief Ted Klaus.
“The NSX has never been about a set of figures on a piece of paper,” he said. “As with the original, the eventual power figure won’t grab headlines, for instance, but the qualities that you can’t write down, such as driver involvement and pleasure, are the ones that will matter.
"As engineers, we like numbers, but I’m acutely aware that if we build this car against a set of criteria that has been written down, we will lose our sense of focus.”
The Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911, Audi R8, Ferrari 458 and McLaren 12C are among the competitors being used as benchmarks by Klaus. “We’re looking for the excitement of the 458 at the price of the 911, and we think the hybrid technology can help us achieve that,” he said.
The 2014 ILX Hybrid goes on sale today with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP1) starting at $28,900. The ILX is the only luxury model on the top ten list of Generation Y car shoppers according to J.D. Power and Associates and the ILX Hybrid offers those shoppers an EPA fuel economy rating of 39 mpg city2. A 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an Integrated Motor Assist® electric motor, paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), powers the luxury sedan.
The comfortable and well-appointed ILX Hybrid includes numerous luxury standard features including a Keyless Access System with smart entry and push-button start, Pandora® interface and SMS text message function for easy connectivity, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, a power moonroof and aluminium wheels. The Technology Package adds the ELS Surround® audio system, AcuraLink® Satellite Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting™, AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ with radar image maps and HomeLink®. View, build and price a 2014 Acura ILX Hybrid at www.acura.com/ModelLanding.aspx?model=ILX.
1 MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, vehicle options and destination charge of $895.00. Dealer prices may vary. 2 Based on 2014 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
"A wagon of the Acura TSX wasn’t a big seller, but a lot of people like it a lot. So why not a successor for this Acura TSX Wagon in the form of a Acura ILX Wagon?"
Honda's new hybrid NSX supercar, set to launch in two years time, to offer combined power output of 400bhp
The new Honda NSX will launch in 2015 with ground-breaking technology that will only be employed if it improves the driving experience, according to its development chief Ted Klaus.
Honda's new NSX is undergoing chassis development in the US, while powertrain work is being carried out in Japan. The Honda will feature a mid-mounted V6 engine, supported by three electric motors, offering a combined output of 400bhp. Honda has previously promised sharp handling and a high performance potential.
Klaus, however, has reiterated that the complex electronics will only intervene if they improve the driving experience. In particular, he highlighted the possibility of using the electric motors to deliver instant throttle response, or to allow silent all-electric drive.
'"The NSX must stay true to the role it created, of being an everyday exotic," said Klaus. "That means we must only use the new tech to support the driver to live with the car every day, and to give the driver a car with a depth of abilities that they can peel away with familiarity, as they get to know the car.
"The technology gives us a chance to create a car that is focused on being agile, precise and linear in its responses like never before. We are looking to do more than chase numbers on paper - as with the original NSX we wont have the most powerful car in the category, for instance, but we believe the human element is more important than that. Whatever we do, the driver must be at the centre of the experience, not the car."
Klaus also confirmed that Honda hoped to involve racing drivers from inside and outside the company during development, as it did with Formula 1 racer Ayrton Senna with the original NSX. The firm returns to F1 with McLaren in 2015.
"We call them acid tests - be it exposing the car to the world's most demanding drivers or test tracks. We may get burned by that acid, but that is the only way to improve," said Klaus.
Honda has announced the NSX Concept-GT race car which will compete in the GT500 class of the Super GT Series fifth round this weekend at Suzuka.
As you would imagine, the racecar is based on the Acura NSX concept and complies with the 2014 regulations established by the Japan Automobile Federation regarding GT500 cars. The vehicle is powered by a 2.0-liter mid-mounted inline direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine working together with a hybrid setup.
No further details were released, but we notice the addition of a wide body kit including a huge rear wing, a lowered suspension, a carbon fiber front spoiler lip, side vents and multi-spoke alloys shod in Bridgestone Potenza tires.
The road-legal Acura NSX is scheduled to go on sale in 2015, with production taking place in Ohio, United States.
If you’re growing bored with Acura’s seemingly endless parade of NSX concepts—there was the 2012 original, then this one, one with an interior, and, oh, look, a red one!—get ready to flip your britches. That’s because there’s yet another NSX prototype headed for the spotlight, but this time it will move. That’s right, get ready to see your favorite played-out supercar concept take to the pavement; the big debut is scheduled for just before the Honda Indy 200 next weekend at Mid-Ohio raceway.
The NSX prototype will lap Mid-Ohio ahead of the race’s start, giving spectators their first audible taste of Acura’s resurrected supercar. Acura promises the test car will use the same V-6 engine and three-motor hybrid setup that comprises the brand’s new Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive system (SH-AWD). The new NSX will launch in 2015, so there’s still time for Acura to bandy a few more NSXs about . . . Regardless, we can’t wait to hear what the mid-engined supercar sounds like.
