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.
Acura today unveiled the 2015 Acura TLX Prototype showcasing the design and performance direction for the all-new 2015 TLX performance-luxury sedan launching mid-year at Acura dealerships nationwide. The TLX was developed around the theme"Red Carpet Athlete" to deliver a compelling blend of luxury refinement and sports-sedan athleticism, with exhilarating performance enhanced by next-generation Acura powertrain and dynamic handling technologies. The TLX will join the ILX compact luxury sedan and the RLX luxury performance sedan as the third vehicle in Acura's sedan lineup.
"The Acura TLX Prototype is a precursor of some amazing things we have in store for our Acura sedan customers," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president, American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. "As you would expect from an Acura, this completely new model will offer innovative technologies that break down the barriers between the driver and the machine to deliver a more intuitive, connected and personal driving experience."
The TLX Prototype, bathed in Acura Athletic Red Pearl, presents a lithe exterior form, taut body surfaces and sports-sedan proportions. Its sporting character is further highlighted by its low and wide stance, shortened front and rear overhangs, dynamically sculpted fender arches, and purposeful character lines. Acura's signature Jewel Eye™ LED headlights imbue the TLX Prototype with an advanced and bright-eyed appearance while producing superior down-the-road illumination. The prototype's custom-designed five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels and 265/35ZR20 low-profile tires accentuate its athletic stance, while the sculpted hood with its sharply creased bilateral ridgelines hints at the performance capabilities of the advanced new Acura powertrain. Another prototype-exclusive feature is the tailor-made side mirrors. Keying off of the Jewel Eye LED headlights, each mirror has a row of LED lights fused into its base. Click on the turn indictor, and the LEDs come to life, spreading a moving glow around the bottom of the mirror for a high-tech, 3D appearance.
Dimensionally, the TLX Prototype presages the production 2015 TLX sedan and is 3.8 inches shorter in overall length (190.2 inches) than the current TL, yet rides on the same 109.3 inch wheelbase as the TL. The prototype's right-sized dimensions place the new TLX neatly in between the smaller ILX and larger RLX sedans. Despite its more compact exterior footprint, the TLX design targets the most spacious interior in the midsize luxury sedan class - roughly on par with the current TL - with an open and airy greenhouse, commanding sight lines, ample cargo capacity and comfortable seating for five adults.
Like any truly world-class athlete, the TLX will pair power and efficiency with deft agility. With its low and wide stance, rigid yet lightweight body, and nimble and responsive chassis, the TLX is designed to deliver confident, precise and refined ride and handling performance in almost any driving situation. From low-stress urban commutes to relaxed long-distance cruising, or adrenaline-inducing runs down twisting country roads, the TLX is designed to be an intuitive and confidence-inspiring driving partner, a vehicle that epitomizes Acura's dynamic concept of "performance at the will of the driver."
The 2015 TLX Prototype also communicates the diverse range of advanced technologies and performance options that will be available to Acura TLX customers - including two-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations; two high-performance, highly fuel-efficient new engines; two new advanced transmissions; and the next generation Acura Super-Handling All Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD™) and Precision All-Wheel Steer™ (P-AWS) dynamic performance and handling technologies.
In keeping with the "Red Carpet Athlete" design and development concept, the 2015 TLX's advanced new powertrains will deliver highly responsive, refined and efficient power delivery. An all-new 2.4-liter 16-valve inline 4-cylinder engine employs direct-injection and Acura's i-VTEC® valvetrain, and is significantly lighter than previous Acura engines of similar configuration and displacement. The new engine is mated to an all-new 8-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) with torque converter. This new 8-speed DCT takes full advantage of the 2.4-liter engine's broad power band, delivering incredibly quick and smooth gear changes, expertly matching engine revs on down shifts, and putting the power down in a responsive and intuitive way.
For even greater power and performance, there is a 3.5-liter SOHC V-6 that also employs direct injection and VTEC variable valve control and cam timing along with fuel-saving Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) cylinder deactivation technology. The 3.5-liter V-6 is mated to a new 9-speed automatic transmission with closely spaced gear ratios and a wide overall ratio range to further extend engine performance and fuel efficiency. Both the 2.4-liter and 3.5-liter TLX models will target EPA fuel economy ratings at the top of the midsize luxury sedan class.
Two-wheel-drive models with either the 2.4- or 3.5-liter powerplant will utilize the next generation of Acura Precision All-Wheel Steer™ (P-AWS™) technology with independent left and right rear wheel toe control. As four-wheel steering becomes an increasingly popular technology on high-performance automobiles, Acura continues to evolve and improve the capabilities of its cutting-edge P-AWS system, first launched on the RLX sedan in 2013, to deliver even more responsive handling, precise steering control and high-speed stability.
The TLX SH-AWD™, available exclusively with the 3.5-liter V6 engine and 9-speed transmission, employs a new generation of Acura's signature Super-Handling All Wheel Drive™ technology that is 25 percent lighter and incorporates new torque-vectoring control logic.
Understanding that customization is a key component of luxury, the TLX will feature an Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) to allow for further personalization and a sportier driving experience. The four driving modes - ECON (Economy), Normal, Sport, and a new Sport+ mode - take full advantage of the TLX's high-performance capabilities. Depending on which mode the driver selects, the Integrated Dynamics System will adjust Electric Power Steering (EPS), throttle response, SH-AWD and P-AWS control logic, transmission shift mapping, Active Noise Control settings and HVAC control in accordance with the preferences of the driver.
Also in keeping with its luxury sedan status, the TLX was designed to deliver vault-like quietness in all driving conditions, with major improvements in noise reduction through enhancements to body stiffness, body sealing and sound insulation, and the application of electronic Active Noise Control.
The TLX utilizes Acura's next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and is expected to achieve the highest available safety ratings - a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The TLX will be available with Acura's most advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies including Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow and Blind Spot Indicator (BSI).
The TLX was designed and developed in the United States by Acura engineers working in the company's Los Angeles design studio and Raymond, Ohio new-vehicle development center. The new TLX will be produced using domestic and globally sourced parts at the company's award-winning Marysville, Ohio auto plant, which presently manufactures the 2014 Acura TL performance-luxury sedan.
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.
Associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC (HMA) celebrated a production milestone this week, completing the 3 millionth Honda vehicle built at the plant in Lincoln.
The production of HMA's milestone vehicle this week comes a little more than 12 years since the start of mass production at the $2 billion facility on Nov. 14, 2001.
"The commitment and dedication of our 4,000 associates has allowed HMA to achieve this production milestone and fulfill our commitment to more than 3 million Honda customers across the globe," said Tom Shoupe, HMA President.
HMA is the sole production source of the Odyssey minivan, the Pilot sport utility vehicle, the Ridgeline pickup truck, the Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle and the V-6 engines that power each vehicle. During calendar years 2009 and 2010, the facility also shared production of the Honda Accord V-6 Sedan with Honda of America Mfg. in Marysville, Ohio.
The production breakdown, by model, is approximately:*
1.82 million Odyssey minivans
1.02 million Pilot SUVs
90,000 Ridgeline trucks
50,000 Acura MDX SUVs
27,000 Accord V-6 Sedans (2009-2010)
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama employs more than 4,000 associates at its 3.7-million-square-foot Lincoln facility and has the capacity to produce as many as 340,000 vehicles and engines each year. Over the past two years, HMA has invested an additional $450 million and added more than 400 jobs in expansion efforts designed to enhance manufacturing flexibility and increase annual production.
Honda marked another major manufacturing milestone this week (Dec. 2) when its East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio produced its 1 millionth CR-V sport utility vehicle. Auto production at the East Liberty plant, which employs 2,400 associates, began in 1989 and produced its first, third-generation Honda CR-V sport utility in September 2006.
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.
We’ve all seen the open top version of the upcoming Honda NSX in The Avengers, but it was never certain that Honda would give us the production version of the open-air version. Untill now that is.
Honda has confirmed for autocar that it is currently developing the NSX roadster alongside the coupe. However, while Honda’s go-fast hybrid is set to come to the market in 2015, the convertible will arrive at least two years later.
Of course, the Honda NSX roadster is currently in the early development stage. This means that the designers haven’t even decided what roof solution to use. Nonetheless, the most likely version is a proper roadster, as the targa panels on the original NSX are not practical enough.
Honda’s NSX roadster will share its tech side with the coupe, which means that it will be powered a a hybrid system consisting of a twin-turbo V6, a twin-clutch transmission and three electric motors.
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.
Acura Posts over 17-Percent Increase on Record Sales of Truck of the Year Candidate MDX
CR-V boasts record October sales
Civic sales up 32.1 percent over October 2012
Acura light trucks post record October sales on strength of all-new MDX and RDX
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported October 2013 U.S. total sales of 114,538 units, an increase of 7.1 percent compared with October 2012 (up 3.1 percent based on the Daily Selling Rate, or DSR*). Year-to-date sales reached 1,273,550, an increase of 8.5 percent. Honda Division October sales reached 100,242, an increase of 5.7 percent compared to last October. Acura Division posted sales of 14,296, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to October 2012.
Honda
CR-V surpasses the previous October record set in 2006, with sales of 22,554 up 11.6 percent from October 2012
Civic sales for October were the best since 2001 and up substantially over the previous year with an impressive 32.1 percent rise, posting sales of 27,328
Accord posted October sales of 25,162, with America's best-selling retail model handily passing the 300,000-unit mark for year-to-date, up 11.2 percent versus 2012
"Despite consumer uneasiness early in the month, real demand remains strong across the Honda brand and we remain on track to achieve number one retail sales this year for our core models: Civic, Accord, CR-V and Odyssey," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales at American Honda. "With the all-new Accord Hybrid arriving at dealerships this week and a significantly updated Civic coming later in the year, we anticipate sales will continue to be hot even as the weather cools down heading into winter."
Acura
Acura posted October sales of 14,296, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to last October with Acura light trucks recording their best October since 2007
MDX sales set an October monthly record with 5,608 units, up 48.7 percent compared to last October
RDX also set an October record with sales of 3,333, up 25.3 percent compared to last year
RLX posted its best sales month since its release in March
"The poise and power of Acura's line of light trucks continues to win over an ever-increasing number of discerning SUV customers," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura sales. "With MDX recording its best October since 2004 and RDX continuing to set sales records month over month, Acura has the strongest one two punch in the industry."
*The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 27 days for October 2013 and 26 days for October 2012. Year-to-date, the DSR is calculated with 256 days for 2013 and 255 days for 2012. All other percentages in release are unadjusted; see table for adjusted DSR figures.
