ACURA in presa straina

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  • ACURA in presa straina

    http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-138971.htm

    Honda Begins Production of All-New Acura Hybrid


    McKinney, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/08/2012 -- On April 23, Honda Manufacturing began production on the new 2013 Acura ILX at a Honda plant in Greensburg, Indiana. Honda Associates and community partners were there to celebrate the first ILX rolling off the assembly line Monday morning as they were all gathered to mark its launch. The new Acura sedan will be exclusively produced at the Indiana plant.

    The president of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, Jun Nishimoto, had this to say about the exciting event, "Acura has a sparkling reputation and we are thrilled to build the gateway vehicle to this brand at our Greensburg facility. As the exclusive builder of the ILX, HMIN has a big responsibility. Our associates meet this challenge by working together as one team and today we are ready for our customers to share our pride in this beautiful new product.”

    The new Acura ILX will come with both gasoline and gas-electric hybrid options. Reports are that Honda will produce three versions of the ILX; a 150-horsepower model, a 201-horsepower model with 6-speed manual transmission, and the ILX Hybrid with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine.

    "This all-new Acura luxury sedan is closely linked to the future of Acura," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura for American Honda. “…the Acura ILX is the gateway to the Acura brand.”

    The Acura ILX hybrid version will be a groundbreaking vehicle for Honda as it will be Honda’s first hybrid car to be made in the United States, as well as Acura’s first ever hybrid model.

    About Honda Cars of McKinney

    Honda Cars of McKinney is proud to serve Dallas, TX and the surrounding areas. Carrying a full line of new and used Honda cars, Honda Cars of McKinney offers the ultimate selection when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. The knowledgeable and award-winning service department is prepared to assist with all repairs and maintenance needed. The parts department offers the latest and best selection of Honda parts and accessories. Honda Cars of McKinney strives for 100 percent customer satisfaction for each visit. View Honda and Acura inventory online at www.hondacarsofmckinney.com/ and follow them at www.facebook.com/HondaCarsofMckinney

    Source: Honda Cars of McKinney
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  • #2
    http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1063154

    Spied on the Street! 2014 Acura MDX
    One of our alert readers caught what appears to be a camouflaged test mule for the 2014 Acura MDX (we're pretty sure it's the MDX). Here is what they had to say about the photos:

    Hey Jeff,

    I saw this today here in SoCal. Seems there are a few testers that go through my town. I saw the Dodge Dart the other day and have seen others from Mercedes and Dodge.


    and then a followup message this morning:

    Hi Jeff,

    Took photos with my first gen iPhone. The original iPhone, so not great quality. I'll probably start carrying my camera with me for better shots.
    Not sure about the side mirror. Sorry.

    The other car with them was an Odyssey with black tape over the Honda logos. Plus it had a sensor on the top rear on the passenger side, like the MDX street photo shows. Same senor the Dodge Dart had the other day.


    A big thanks goes out to this anonymous reader for providing these shots!

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    • #3
      http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-7906...feeds%2Flatest

      Acura improved everything about the new TL sedan

      Acura, with its new 2012 TL sedan, kicked out all objections the brand had faced the previous years. This new TL version is improved in all its aspects including exterior styling, interior comfort, performance and fuel efficiency. Even though cargo space is limited, interior spacing of this car is well designed for improved comfort. Acura introduces the TL sedan in both front wheel and all wheel drive variants. The competing sedans of Acura TL are BMW 328, Infiniti G25x and Infiniti G37.



      The exterior of 2012 Acura TL is slightly refined than its predecessors. I felt that the new Acura is much improved in its styling and viewing. Acura's silver grille for this latest TL model is slightly reduced for installing a horizontal crease near the lower front bumper. Total front fascia seems to be vastly changed due to this grille redesign and a new headlamp introduction. The taillights as well as the turn-lights are new and refined for 2012 Acura TL. Standard options include the same 17 inch alloy wheels with all season tires. The wheel is seven spoke and an optional five spoke 19 inch wheel is also available for 2012 TL.



      The interior of 2012 Acura TL is upgraded with modern equipments and quality leather materials. The Acura LCD screen has been upgraded along with much more elevated comfort options and a newly added heated or cooled front seats. But I could notice that the cargo volume cannot be increased, because the rear seat is not foldable and this is a major drawback I could find after my test drive. The new navigation system and technology package are improved and more costly than that of the last year TL.



      For the 2012 version, Acura implanted two different engines for the TL breed. They are a 3.7 liter and a 3.5 liter, both of which are same as the previous year TL engines. Both the engines are V arranged and six cylindered and the former delivers 305 HP and latter 280 HP. The transmission system of 2012 Acura TL has improved to a six speed system with three options including six speed automatic, six speed manual and six speed auto-manual. Both of these engines should be fueled by premium gas alone, which too may be listed under the 'like don'ts' of 2012 Acura TL.



      The fuel efficiency of 2012 Acura TL is rated by standard test drives as 20 mpg in city and 29 mpg on highway. Last year, TL had a rough five speed transmission, but now it is replaced by a new refined six speed one, which will help increase its fuel efficiency. Acura TL is now an all improved breed with increased comfort, style and refined performance. Price of 2012 Acura TL varies from $35,705 for the base standard version to $39,255 for the higher end version.





      Read original post about 2012 Acura TL
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      • #4
        http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf...t_seat_as.html

        Honda and Acura in hot seat as judge approves class-action settled over allegedly broken AC systems

        A federal judge in New Jersey has approved a nationwide class-action settlement for the current and former owners and lessees of more than 1 million Honda and Acura cars that allegedly suffered from broken air conditioning systems that manufacturers refused to fix under warranty, according to a lawyer representing the class of plaintiffs and court documents.

        The federal lawsuit was brought in 2008, plaintiffs’ lawyer Matthew Mendelsohn said yesterday, and its settlement — which Mendelsohn said is valued at more than $40 million — was approved last month by U.S. District Judge Katherine S. Hayden in Newark.

        According to Mendelsohn, the class represented in the suit included more than 2.4 million current and former owners and lessees. Thus far, he added, about 19,000 of them have made claims under the suit’s settlement, although he also expects many more to make claims in the future.

        "I think the result we were able to achieve in this case was very good," he also said, while noting that it is rare for a lawsuit of this kind to be brought nationwide, rather than in an individual state.

        The lawsuit was filed in Newark by Mendelsohn’s firm, Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman, because the lead plaintiff, Jon Alin, lives in Montville.

        Mendelsohn said the settlement, which comes after more than three years in court, provides tens of millions of dollars in reimbursements and vehicle modifications to be paid for by Honda and Acura, more than $2.5 million in fees and expenses awarded by Judge Hayden to the attorneys representing the settlement class, and approximately $2 million in administrative expenses to be paid by Honda and Acura.

        Still, he said, two class members have filed objections to the settlement, and that payouts under the settlement are stayed pending resolution of those appeals.

        According to Mendelsohn, the cars named in the lawsuit were the 2005 to 2007 Honda Odyssey, the 2002 to 2004 Honda CR-V, and the 2004 Acura TSX.

        "The problem with the cars was the air conditioning systems was failing prematurely, and in some cases was resulting in catastrophic failures," Mendlesohn said. "For instance, on the Honda CR-V, the air conditioning compressor would implode and shoot debris throughout the entire air conditioning system, so that it would require replacement of associated air conditioning parts, not just the failed part itself."

        A call made yesterday afternoon to one of the lead defense lawyers for Honda was not returned.

        ================================

        http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...351/1148/rss25

        2013 Acura RDX realizes its potential

        Acura's 2013 RDX has grown up to become a more refined and pleasant compact luxury SUV.

        Introduced in 2006, Honda's luxury brand was aimed at successful young men looking for their first premium vehicle to be sporty and utilitarian. Acura missed the mark.

        Instead, the RDX appealed to couples — young, successful ones without children, and mature empty-nesters looking for something respectable yet practical for their travels. The second-generation RDX that hit dealerships last month was redesigned for them.

        The new RDX is less aggressive and more sophisticated. It takes into consideration that she will be behind the wheel as often as he.

        After a week of driving a $38,915 front-wheel-drive upscale Tech version, I'm convinced such compromises can be beautiful.

        The rough and raw feeling of the old RDX has been replaced by a smooth machine that's more powerful and gets better fuel economy. RDX beats the price of the German-built leaders in the compact luxury SUV market — Audi Q5 and BMW X3 — by $2,000 to $4,000.

        Base price of a front-wheel-drive RDX is $34,320. An all-wheel-drive version starts at $35,720. Add $3,700 for the Tech package of upgrades that include voice-activated navigation, dual zoned interior climate control, and 410-watt, 10 speaker surround sound audio. Standard audio is a 360-watt system. All RDXs come with leather-trimmed, heated seats. The driver's side is 10-way adjustable. The passenger's has four-way adjustments. There is a moon roof, keyless entry, pushbutton start, and Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free cellphone operation.
        Bigger yet more efficient

        While other manufacturers are downsizing engine size and turbo-charging for the combination of performance and efficiency, Acura went the opposite direction under the hood.

        RDX's fast but crude turbocharged 240-horsepower, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine has been replaced by a 273-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. A smooth operating six-speed transmission and an engine management system that shuts down two or four cylinders while cruising has improved fuel economy by 2 mpg city and 5 mpg highway.

        The front-wheel-drive RDX gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and 28 highway. The all-wheel-drive version gets 19 city and 27 highway. I got 23 mpg in a mix of highway and city driving.

        Through the 2012 model, RDX had the racy turbo engine linked to a five-speed transmission and Honda's impressive Super Handling All Wheel Drive system. The RDX could scoot, but the ride was extremely firm. The engine got 17 mpg city and 22 highway, but it was noisy and rough-edged. Hardly the projection of luxury or prestige.

        When introduced, RDX was essentially a leather-appointed, high performance version of the Honda CR-V. With the redesign, Acura claims there's little left in common with that compact SUV. The chassis, suspension and engine are all new and unique. The body and interior are larger than the CR-V.

        The ride remains firm yet compliant. The harder you drive RDX, the harder the suspension works for you. New dual-stage dampers make the vehicle comfortable and easy to drive, yet they become stiffer the more aggressive the driver gets.

        The optional high performance all-wheel-drive system has been replaced with a simpler, lighter system that delivers better fuel economy. Power is directed to the front wheels most of the time, but can be shared at percentages up to 50 / 50 between front and rear under acceleration, climbing hills and in slippery conditions. The RDX got fuel-saving and precise electric power steering.

        The transmission's lower gear ranges are close and aggressive enough to offer good acceleration. If you want to hustle, steering wheel mounted paddle shifters let you override the economy shift pattern. Sixth gear is very tall, operating like a fuel-economy overdrive.
        A simpler look

        Acura's bold and polarizing exterior styling has been softened and simplified. Curves replaced sharp edges. The Acura signature satin-finished metal cheese-grater-like blade across the grille is still there, but less pronounced. The roof and window lines still mimic the CR-V, but the lower body has had its complicated creases removed.

        Larger 18-inch wheels and tires were pushed to the corners to maximize interior space and give a stable look. The new RDX has a 1.3-inch wider tread and 1.4-inch longer wheelbase. Acura claims RDX has more hip, shoulder and leg room than its competition.

        The interior is quieter because new lightweight sound insulating materials were used. The seats are comfortable and supportive. The design of the center console and dash create cove-like front cockpits in keeping with Acura's "dual personal structure" motif. The leather and new soft-touch synthetic materials result in a tasteful interior.

        The 8-inch center console color screen isn't touch sensitive, which I would have expected in this class. It's set deep into the center dash. All functions for audio, climate control and navigation are handled by steering wheel mounted buttons and good-old-fashioned knobs at the center of the dash, within reach of driver and front seat passenger. The controls are easy to understand.

        There's a handy and deep storage pocket in the dash for what are rapidly becoming your old-fashioned CDs. There are plugs to play personal music devices. The audio system also has a hard drive to store your favorites.

        I hesitate to accept the concept that less is more, but in the case of the new RDX, subtracting some of the old model's raw performance has resulted in a better vehicle. RDX got stronger in a more mature way.

        dguthrie@detnews.com

        (313) 222-2548

        2013 Acura RDX

        Price: $34,320 front-wheel-drive, $35,720 all-wheel-drive
        Add $3,700 for option upgrade, plus $895 delivery charge
        Type: Five- passenger, compact luxury SUV
        Engine: 3.5-liter V-6 cylinder with iVTEC
        Power: 273 horsepower; 251 pound-feet of torque
        Transmission: Six-speed automatic
        EPA gas mileage
        20 mpg city / 28 mpg highway (front-wheel-drive)
        19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway (all-wheel-drive)
        Report Card

        Overall: HHH
        Exterior: Softened and simplified, but still uniquely Acura
        Interior: Comfortable and tasteful
        Performance : Stronger than before, yet more sophisticated and fuel efficient.
        Pros: A sophisticated and powerful small luxury SUV.
        Cons: Not as sporty as it used to be.
        Grading Scale

        Excellent HHHH
        Good HHH
        Fair HH
        Poor H

        ========================

        http://www.carnewschina.com/2012/05/...cars-in-china/

        Honda recalls over 500 Acura cars in China

        Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co Ltd will recall some Acura TL vehicles in China due to problems in their steering oil tubes, China’s consumer quality watchdog said Thursday. The recall involves a total of 537 vehicles produced between May 2006 and January 2007, according to a statement by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
        Honda said high temperatures in the engine cabin may cause cracks in the tube and make steering difficult, according to the statement. The statement said Honda’s China subsidiary will offer free repairs and component replacements for the recalled vehicles starting from May 31.
        tokyodream
        Senior Member
        Last edited by tokyodream; 18-05-12, 12:00.
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        • #5
          http://wot.motortrend.com/2012-bmw-3...ks-207677.html

          2012 BMW 3 Series and 2013 Acura RDX Awarded IIHS Top Safety Picks

          The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has just named the 2012 BMW 3 Series and 2013 Acura RDX as Top Safety Picks.

          2012 BMW 3 Series and 2013 Acura RDX Awarded IIHS Top Safety Picks imageImproved roof strength was key to both the 2012 3 Series and 2013 RDX earning IIHS Top Safety Pick titles. The previous-generation Acura RDX was only rated as “marginal” for roof strength, while the prior BMW 3 Series was rated as “acceptable.”

          The IIHS notes that the 2012 BMW 3 Series’ Top Safety Pick ranking applies only to the redesigned F30 sedan, since the E92 2012 BMW 3 Series Coupe/Convertible has yet to be refreshed. When the 3 Series coupe/convertible is updated later this year, it may become the BMW 4 Series. Most 3 Series rivals including the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class have already been rated as Top Safety Picks.

          The 2013 Acura RDX joins compact luxury rivals like the BMW X3, Infiniti EX35, and Volvo XC60 as IIHS Top Safety Picks.

          Source: IIHS

          =====================================

          http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/05...r-may-get.html

          SPIED: 2014 Acura MDX Crossover, May Get New RLX's Hybrid Powertrain

          Our man with the long lens snapped a prototype of the next Acura MDX crossover testing on public roads near the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. The mid-size crossover model was heavily camouflaged but a close look at the front end of the vehicle reveals Acura's revised five-point grille with the beaked chrome upper part and twin chrome slats underneath.
          While most styling details of the third generation MDX remain hidden, it appears that like the 2013 RDX, it too will feature a more mature / less exciting exterior design, with several elements borrowed from the RLX and ILX sedans.
          The current model, which has been on the market since 2006 having received a mild nip and tuck in late 2009, is available with a 300hp 3.5-liter VTEC V6 engine linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.
          The new MDX, which is believed to arrive in late 2013 as a 2014MY, will likely share its powertrain lineup with the upcoming RLX sedan.
          What this means is that we may see a base version offered with an updated V6 delivering 310hp and a hybrid variant combining Acura's new 3.5-liter direct-injected VTEC V6 engine to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and three electric motors.
          tokyodream
          Senior Member
          Last edited by tokyodream; 22-05-12, 06:09.
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          • #6
            http://content.usatoday.com/communit...Top+Stories%29

            Acura's new smaller, cheaper ILX compact on sale today

            Acura's new starter model -- the smaller cheaper ILX compact based on Honda Civic underpinnings -- goes on sale today, starting at $26,795 with shipping.

            That's about four grand less than the currently least-expensive Acura, the TSX. The car is a little bigger and has different engines and interior from its humbler corporate sibling, Civic.

            Acura says it needs the new entry -- it calls it "gateway" -- model to attract Millennials looking to move up to a premium brand, but unable to pay the freight for the current models. It also faces new or updated premium starter-cars, such as BMW 1-Series, redone Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, a rumored Infiniti below the G models.

            Acura's ambitions for ILX, however, are grander, even groundbreaking:

            "It will create a new segment," says Michael Accavitti, VP of marketing for Acura in the U.S.

            Accavitti says the new car won't downsize the Acura image, rather it's a return to the "sweet spot" carved out by the Integra when Acura was young. "We continue to look at Acura as the luxury brand it was created to be, an alternative to BMW and Audi and Infiniti."

            We wonder why, though, if the Acura folks wanted to revive our warm feelings for the old Integra, they didn't just revive the name for the new car.

            TV launch ads for the ILX will wait until after the holiday. "Everybody's having a Memorial Day sale, and we don't want to compete with that," says Accavitti.

            A good start for the ILX, on the heels of what has been a good initial reaction for redone 2013 RDX crossover, would be a much-needed boost for the brand.

            Acura was the USA's first Japanese luxury brand, rolling out the $20,000 flagship Legend and smaller Integra in 1986, at a time when "luxury" and "Japanese brand" did not occupy the same brain space for a lot of Americans.

            It took on the U.S. and European premium nameplates three years ahead of the launch of Japanese rivals Lexus and Infiniti.

            The base model of the front-drive ILX comes with cloth seats standard and a 150 hp, 2-liter, four with a five-speed automatic. It's rated 24 mpg in town, 35 highway, 28 combined. Spending $30,095 gets you a trim with more standard features and a 201 hp. four -- though the sportier engine comes only with a six-speed manual transmission. It's rated 22/31/25.

            For the eco- or gas-price sensitive, there's also a gas-electric hybrid starting at $29, 795 with an mpg rating of 39/38/38.

            The base engine seemed anemic to reviewer James R. Healey in a recent Test Drive, though Acura says the target younger buyers won't care. Having grown up around their parents' luxury cars, potential buyers want the snob appeal of the premium nameplate. "They put a higher priority on looking good than on going fast," Acura told Healey.

            But the uplevel 2.4-liter enjoy was a "hottie" and the handling sharp, he wrote. Click here to read the full Test Drive review of the ILX.
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            • #7
              http://www.insideline.com/acura/future-vehicles.html

              Acura Future Vehicles

              Acura MDX

              2013 Acura MDX: Look for a full redesign of the MDX for the 2013 model year.


              Acura NSX

              2015 Acura NSX: Acura bragged at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show that it will bring the second-generation NSX to market inside of three years and that it will be developed and built in the USA. Details include a hybrid all-wheel-drive powertrain utilizing a gasoline V6 linked to dual-clutch gearbox housing an electric motor. Additionally, each front wheel will be powered by its own electric motor. That three electric motors packaged in a way yet to been in any performance-focused model.

              More aggressive styling will characterize the all-new NSX which is clearly a two-seater with its gasoline engine mounted transversely behind the cockpit.


              Acura RDX

              2013 Acura RDX: The second-generation RDX is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 273 horsepower and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The front-wheel-drive version is expected to get EPA fuel-economy ratings of 20 mpg in city driving and 28 on the highway. The five-passenger RDX also gets a longer wheelbase and wider track for enhanced stability and ride comfort, as well as an improved all-wheel-drive system and a new motion-adaptive electronic power steering system. Exterior styling changes are evolutionary.


              Acura RL

              2014 Acura RL: For the 2014 model year Acura's range-topping RL will offer the choice of gasoline or hybrid powertrains and the cabin space of a BMW 7 Series. Hybrid RLs — if that's the name Acura chooses to use for the new car — will utilize a 3.5-liter V6 paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels while a 20kW electric motor will drive each rear wheel. Gasoline-powered models will be front-drive only.


              Acura TL

              2012 Acura TL: Fully redesigned in 2009, the Acura TL received a midcycle refresh for the 2012 model year.


              Acura TSX

              2014 Acura TSX: Look for a full redesign of the TSX for the 2014 model year.


              Acura ZDX

              2013 Acura ZDX: An all-new vehicle during the 2010 model year, the Acura ZDX will likely get a midcycle refresh around model year 2013.
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              • #8
                http://www.autospies.com/news/SPIED-...The-BMW-70842/

                SPIED: Acura's Next-Gen MDX SPOTTED Testing With The BMW X5 - What Will It NEED To Stand A Chance Against The BMW?

                The Acura MDX use to be an sport-utility vehicle that 001 says slayed the competition.
                Now it's merely an also ran that essentially gets bought because it's one of the few vehicles on the road today that has three LATCH connections in the second row.

                But as much heat as Acura and Honda have been taking in recent years, it is not going to take it sitting down anymore. And recent spy images show that Acura has set its benchmark high. BMW X5 high.

                If it can design something that has the panache of the new NSX Concept and package it with the family friendliness it's already known for, maybe Acura will once again dominate the class.

                Current speculation is pointing to a hybrid all-wheel drive set up. Essentially, it is rumored to boast an electric motor that will be able to generate positive/negative torque to the rear wheels whilst cornering. Engines will likely be of the V6 persuasion given the rising cost of fuel, in addition to Acura's reluctance to anything but sixes.


                A well-disguised prototype of the next-generation Acura MDX sports-utility vehicle has been caught testing in Germany. It was reportedly being benchmarked against the BMW X5 on public roads close to the Nürburgring.


                That the MDX was being measured against BMW’s popular five-door 4x4 gives some indication where the Honda-owned brand wants is position the third-generation machine, which won’t be offered in Europe...


                =========================

                http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/sc...-spied-testing

                New Acura SUV spied testing

                The next-generation Acura MDX, spied here in prototype form, could get the hybrid all-wheel drive system due to be fitted to the new NSX supercar

                A well-disguised prototype of the next-generation Acura MDX sports-utility vehicle has been caught testing in Germany. It was reportedly being benchmarked against the BMW X5 on public roads close to the Nürburgring.

                That the MDX was being measured against BMW’s popular five-door 4x4 gives some indication where the Honda-owned brand wants is position the third-generation machine, which won’t be offered in Europe.

                Under the disguise, the MDX is expected to feature some elements of the ‘mature’ styling seen on the Acura RLX Concept unveiled at the New York motor show in early April.

                More significant developments are likely under the skin. The new SUV could be offered with Sport-Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). The system, which also features on the Acura/Honda NSX supercar and the RLX Concept, uses an electric motor drive unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system to instantly generate negative or positive torque to the rear wheels during cornering.

                It seems likely that the hybrid system will be mated to a 3.5-litre V6 powerplant and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. A non-hybrid 3.0-litre V6 is also due to form part of the engine line-up.

                The MDX is scheduled to go on sale in the USA in 2013 and forms part of an aggressive revitalisation plan by Acura, which is aiming to sell 180,000 vehicles this year. If that figure is achieved, it would represent a nearly 50 per cent increase over Acura’s 2011 sales results.
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                • #9
                  http://www.startribune.com/autos/156714715.html


                  Acura's latest TL is a big improvement

                  Its good value, terrific interior, updated styling and spirited performance are a major step in the right direction.

                  Acura, the first Japanese luxury brand, is reinventing itself.

                  Not the mild, here's-our-new-car, hope-you-like-the-grille reinvention companies talk about all the time. No, Honda's upscale brand is having a Buick/Lincoln/Titanic-level, what-went-wrong-and-how-do-I-fix-it moment.

                  For a brief time, Acura was arguably the most appealing Japanese brand. Early Acuras like the Legend, Integra and the first TL combined value, performance and panache in a manner other automakers feared and envied.

                  Then, like Buick and Lincoln, Acura lost its way. How it happened doesn't really matter, unless you're an MBA student looking to chronicle a corporate crash-and-burn. A string of bland, uncompetitive and unattractive vehicles left the brand with a vaguely premium image, but no hardware to justify it.

                  The 2012 TL sedan is a midway point between Acura's recent low point and the heights it aspires to.

                  It's a good start, not an all-new model, but a significantly improved version of an existing car.

                  A flood of new cars is about to hit Acura dealerships. The ILX compact sedan and RDX midsize crossover are to arrive this spring. The larger RLX sedan is to follow in the fall.

                  An all-new version of the legendary NSX, which was Japan's first exotic car, should hit the road in about three years.

                  Prices for the 2012 Acura TL start at $35,705 for a front-wheel drive model with a six-speed automatic transmission and 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. The TL SH-AWD features all-wheel drive for better handling, a 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 and the six-speed automatic. Prices start at $39,255. A six-speed manual is available on 3.7-liter AWD models starting at $42,985.

                  I tested a very well equipped TL SH-AWD Advance. It had a navigation system, blind-spot alert, heated and ventilated front seats and a very attractive interior. It stickered at $45,185. All prices exclude destination charges.

                  The Acura TL SH-AWD competes with AWD sport sedans like the Audi A6 3.0T Quattro, BMW 535i xDrive, Cadillac CTS4, Infiniti M37x, Lexus GS 350 AWD and Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic.

                  The car I tested cost less than similarly equipped models of those cars. It also has slightly less power and higher fuel costs than most of them.

                  The 2012 TL SH-AWD has lots to recommend it, though. Its face-lifted exterior styling eliminates the beak-like grille that disfigured the previous TL and most recent Acuras. The headlights and taillights are new. The exterior is otherwise little changed.

                  The interior is outstanding. It features an attractive design and appealing materials, including lovely brown perforated leather upholstery in the car I tested.

                  The dash and door uppers were wrapped in soft black plastic, while a combination of mesh-pattern and brushed metal trim adorned the center console and many controls.

                  The controls themselves are rather cumbersome, however, particularly the multipurpose dial in the center stack. The car's voice-recognition is poor. It had trouble with commands. Maddeningly, it kept interrupting me with announcements during hands-free phone calls.

                  The interior offers good passenger room and comfortable seats. The 12.5-cubic-foot trunk is smaller than the competitors'. Its narrow opening will make it hard to load big objects.

                  The TL's handling is very good. The car cornered well, staying stable and flat in high-speed maneuvers. The steering was responsive.

                  The ride was harsh, bouncing noticeably over rough surfaces. The car's interior is much quieter at highway speeds than the previous TL.

                  The 3.7-liter V-6 in the car I tested has plenty of power for acceleration and high-speed cruising. The six-speed automatic is new for the 2012 model year.

                  Despite the new transmission, the 2012 TL's fuel economy is not impressive. Its EPA rating of 18 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway and 21 in combined driving is worse than comparable AWD models of the A6, 535i and E350.

                  The AWD Cadillac CTS4 Performance model has essentially the same fuel economy, but will cost less to run because it uses regular gasoline. The TL, and the other competitors I've named, use premium. The TL matches the fuel economy of the new GS 350 AWD and beats the M37x.

                  The 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD doesn't return Acura to the front rank of upscale brands, but its good value, terrific interior, updated styling and spirited performance are a major step in the right direction. For the first time in years, Acura has a midsize sport sedan that's worth a long look from shoppers.
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                  • #10
                    http://www.concordmonitor.com/articl...-gold-standard

                    Honda Acura is still the gold standard

                    A modest proposal for people in the home remodeling business: Consider Acura, the luxury division of Honda Motor Co. Therein is your best example of product quality, pride in execution and genius in the matter of customer satisfaction.

                    You'll find no loose fits, unfinished edges or fudged errors masquerading as a final fix. Look at the paint job on this week's subject vehicle, the 2013 Acura RDX crossover utility wagon. The color is what Acura's designers call "Basque Red Pearl II."

                    The name is no big deal. Execution is. It's perfect. The hue is so deep, it seems three-dimensional. It's as if you could sink or dive into it. It glistens as if it were some pristine lake covering a red bottom. Study it. There are no drips, drops or orange-peel surfaces. It even passes the Mary Anne Test.

                    You all know my wife, Mary Anne. Certainly some of you workmen who have been redoing our Northern Virginia home know her. She's the little woman - because she is a little woman - who has been raising Cain every time a seam has been left open, a molding isn't quite right, tile pieces have been matted with the wrong grout or a new appliance has been delivered with a defect.

                    She broke down and cried on a ride in the RDX. Her lament: "Why can't the people who are working on our house work like this? Look how this is done. Everything is right!"

                    Why?

                    I think I have an answer. There is something special about Acura's parent corporation, Honda, even in rough times, which it has endured lately partly because of certain product misjudgments (the Honda Element wagon and 2011 Honda Civic come to mind) and partly because of harm done to its operations in an earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011.

                    What's special is that Honda and its Acura division are fanatical about getting it right, especially after they've gotten it wrong or have been tripped up by circumstances beyond their control. The 2013 Acura RDX is a case in point. It is a complete redesign of the 2009-12 models, which were modest remakes of the original RDX introduced in the United States in 2006.

                    Those first RDX models, some equipped with what Acura's engineers dubbed "Super Handling-All-Wheel-Drive" (SH-AWD) and others with front-wheel-drive, were Acura's entries into the hotly contested market for compact crossover utility wagons. The early RDX models were okay, which was a problem. The Honda-Acura reputation wasn't built on "okay." It was established on unquestioned excellence. People could buy "okay" from someone somewhere else, often at a lower price, which is what many of them did.

                    In response, Honda-Acura did not fudge, punt, quit (or take such a long break from the job that it seemed like quitting), or offer excuses. Instead, the company brought forth a 2013 RDX that truly lives up to the term "entry-level luxury."

                    The reshaped exterior is more elegant than aggressive, more of a wagon than it is a pseudo sport-utility vehicle. The power plenum, shield-shaped front grille has been softened into something that is more inviting and less offensive than its predecessor. Interior styling is simple, ergonomically sensible in terms of instrument panel layout and made comfortable with supple, leather-trimmed seating surfaces. Standard equipment includes amenities such as a power-operated glass roof with tilt feature.

                    And it is all put together in a way that impresses, which is important in an industry where women either directly purchase or otherwise influence 85 percent of sales. Again, it's the Mary Anne Factor. If you make her happy with what she can see, feel and touch, you might be able to get away with subtle, production-cost-saving changes in certain "black box" operations, such as all-wheel-drive.

                    That is what Honda-Acura did with the all-wheel-drive system in the 2013 RDX. The company jettisoned the SH-AWD system that won raves for handling and precision from automotive journalists - most of them young and male, many of them unmarried and childless, which means that few, if any of them, are in the market for a wagon such as the RDX anyway. In place of SH-AWD, Honda-Acura installed a lighter weight, more fuel-efficient, less expensive all-wheel-drive system that works quite well and is shared with the popular Honda CR-V wagon.

                    The move makes sense. Mary Anne, for example, had no complaints with the ride and handling of the RDX. She loved the vehicle's performance, in fact. Like most of the RDX's buyers, families, traditional or more broadly defined, Mary Anne is more interested in what appeals to or offends her tactile senses. If the wagon satisfies those senses and does a good, safe job of moving her, her people and stuff, she's happy with that.

                    It's really simple when you think about it. Even home remodelers should be able to figure it out. It comes down to this: Fix those seams. Trim those edges. Remove grout stains where they should not be. Complete all necessary caulking and appliance repairs. Please!
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                    • #11
                      http://www.autospies.com/news/Would-...ndustry-70968/

                      Would You Consider Acura The "Lost Brand" Of The Industry?

                      When Acura pulled the cover off its NSX super car concept at the Detroit auto show in January, the design raised pulses, but the timing raised eyebrows.

                      Then Honda's luxury brand then spent a fortune in February to feature the car -- which isn't due on sale for three years -- in Acura's first Super Bowl ad.

                      "You don't pull the wraps off what you're doing years from now if everything's hunky-dory. You see that from companies not doing particularly well," says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director at auto research site kbb.com.

                      =================

                      http://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.T89Mq1Lixko

                      Has Acura lost its edge? Sales up, but image muddled

                      When Acura pulled the cover off its NSX super car concept at the Detroit auto show in January, the design raised pulses, but the timing raised eyebrows.


                      Then Honda's luxury brand then spent a fortune in February to feature the car -- which isn't due on sale for three years -- in Acura's first Super Bowl ad.

                      "You don't pull the wraps off what you're doing years from now if everything's hunky-dory. You see that from companies not doing particularly well," says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director at auto research site kbb.com.

                      Automobile magazine was blunter on its June cover, calling Acura "a lost brand."

                      Acura was the first Japanese nameplate to take on the U.S. luxury market — its 1986 Legend and Integra pre-dating Lexus and Infiniti in 1990. And it remains Honda's showcase for its most advanced technology.

                      Yet Acura has let go of the advantages of its head start and its technology, says Ivan Drury, manager of pricing and industry analysis at auto research site Edmunds.com. "They really were ahead of the game at one point. Now what they have is about even with everybody else. They've lost that edge."

                      Acura, of course, disputes that. "We're coming off an absolutely nightmarish year in which we still outpaced Audi and Infiniti, our two primary competitors," says Michael Accavitti, Acura's vice president in charge of U.S. marketing. "This year, we're not only beating Audi and Infiniti (in sales), but also Jaguar and Lincoln and others."

                      Acura was hit harder than others last year by the tsunami in Japan, and its U.S. sales last year were down 7.7% in a new car market up 10.3%, according to Autodata. This year, however, sales are up 10.8% through May vs. the period a year ago. Through May, Infiniti is up 7.2%, and Audi is up 14.5%. And Acura's total sales, Accavitti points out, are greater than either Infiniti or Audi.

                      "We're focused on what the brand stands for, have a solid product strategy for the future, and there's clarity among all the executives" about the brand's image, Accavitti says.

                      From the outside, however, it's not so clear:

                      "Acura has certainly moved away from what many of us recognize" as the foundation of the brand — nimble, sporty cars, says Drury. "Lost their way? Maybe not exactly," but certainly changed.

                      Acura has, he says, "turned into a luxury SUV maker. Its MDX has been its best seller the last few years and typically is one-third of all Acura sales."


                      Nothing wrong with SUVs; they are big business. But for Acura, the prominence of a three-row, family-style SUV seems to push its luxury image toward the mainstream.

                      Drury points to Edmunds.com data showing that about 21% of people who consider an Acura also look at Toyota; nearly 19% cross-shop Hondas. Further, fewer than 13% of people looking at Audi also consider Acura, and about 17% of Infiniti shoppers cross-shop Acuras. Meanwhile, about 30% of people who consider an Audi also look at a BMW.

                      In other words, car shoppers seem more inclined to consider Toyotas and Hondas — not Audis and Infinitis — as the equivalent of Acuras. "There is a bit of questioning as to where (Acura's) exact competition lives," Drury says.

                      Acura's new models should improve its sales, but the first two have been smaller, lower-price vehicles unlikely to burnish a high-end image that brings premium profits.

                      Here is the key new hardware:


                      RDX. The latest version of the compact, five-seat crossover SUV, starting at about $35,000, is intended to hit what the first version missed. "The original RDX was targeted where we thought the market was going to go," Accavitti says. "But we found it was biased toward people who wanted more comfort" than the edgy, turbocharged four-cylinder original RDX provided. The 2013, as a result, is slightly bigger, outside and in, is powered by a smoother V-6 and is tailored for a smooth ride. Bull's-eye: It went on sale April 2, and in May, became Acura's No. 2 seller behind MDX with May sales more than triple those of the old model last May.

                      ILX. Just on sale, it's a recasting of the Honda Civic to be the new entry-level Acura, starting at about $27,000. It's seen as a "gateway" car to bring new buyers into Acura showrooms. "A lot of people are going that (lower-price) route," Nerad says, so ILX could drive up sales volume important to the Acura dealerships. Industry watchers are of two minds about ILX. One view is that it's a return to the nimble, small-car roots of the brand's original Integra, making it a smart move. The other view is that it's too much like the Civic on which it's based, and its roots won't wow luxury-brand buyers. "You'll see a lot of comparisons to both the Integra and the Civic," Drury says.


                      RLX. The concept unveiled at the New York auto show in April is a concept believed close to the sedan that will replace Acura's aging flagship RL early next year. The old RL, priced at about $49,000 to $57,000, has become almost a nonentity. The RL is an excellent symbol of Acura's struggle, Nerad says. Though it's the flagship, Acura "resisted doing a V-8 engine, saying 'Oh, a V-6 can do it.' That's probably true, but it's not luxury." All other luxury brands offer V-8s. The RLX concept also eschews a V-8 in the top model in favor of a gas-electric all-wheel drive hybrid system with a V-6 and three electric motors. Acura says it will be rated at least 370 horsepower and — just as important in Acura's mind — get a 30 miles per gallon rating in every driving mode. A conventional 310-hp V-6, model of the new flagship also will be available.

                      NSX. The high-performance sports car unveiled as a concept in Detroit will have a hybrid all-wheel-drive system similar to that in the RLX and was promised "within three years."

                      It revives the name of Acura's NSX mid-engine sports car built 1990-2005, but the new one will be developed and built in Ohio instead of Japan.

                      Lexus and Infiniti also are rethinking their identities and places in the luxury market in the face of strong gains by European upscale brands.

                      Lexus, is trying to reinvent itself as more like BMW, recasting each new car model to be crisper-handling, quicker and sportier-looking. The 2013 GS 350 sedan, on sale since February, is the first, and is selling five to six times as fast as its predecessor.

                      Nissan's Infiniti, known for edgy styling and rear-drive performance, is going a different path. It just launched the 2013 JX 35, a big crossover SUV based on front-drive hardware more like what's in Nissan products than in any other Infiniti. The JX rolled out in March, and in April, its first full month, became the brand's second-best-selling model, after the G entry-model sedans.

                      Acura, though, has a unique issue related to its Honda roots that may limit its flexibility in seeking a more distinct identity. Say Nerad: "Acura is a product of, and in some ways a victim of, how Honda goes about doing business — an engineering company that's all about efficiency. Luxury isn't about efficiency."

                      ========================

                      Honda's Alabama-made Acura to be shipped to China

                      http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2012/06/hondas_alabama-made_acura_to_b.html

                      BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Honda is adding the Acura MDX sport utility to the pro*duction lineup in Alabama next year, and the move will open up a new export mar*ket for the Lincoln plant's products.

                      Some of the MDX vehicles made at the plant will be shipped to China, Tom Shoupe, head of Honda's Alabama operations, said today during a speech at the Kiwa*nis Club of Birmingham.

                      Currently, a small per*centage of the plant's vehi*cles -- now Odyssey mini*vans, Pilot SUVs and Ridgeline pickups -- are exported each year to markets including the Middle East, South America and Central America. Pilots are also shipped to Russia.

                      The MDX, now produced at a Honda plant in Canada, has been exported to China
                      for several years in small numbers, so that will con*tinue after the production switch. Last year, 485 MDX vehicles were shipped to China, Honda spokesman Ed Miller said.

                      The MDX move will give Honda more room in Can*ada to build the popular CR-V SUV. Acura is Honda's luxury vehicle division, and the MDX will be the first Acura product built in Ala*bama.

                      The move is one of a number of new additions and expansions in Lincoln, Shoupe said today.

                      Last year, the Japanese automaker announced new investments at the plant to*taling $275 million, along with 140 new jobs. The work is raising the plant's annual capacity to 340,000 vehicles and engines, up from 300,000 now.

                      Honda's current investment in Alabama tops $2 billion, Shoupe said.
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                      • #12
                        http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2012...x_to_alab.html

                        Honda to add Acura MDX to Alabama plant for sales abroad

                        Honda is adding the Acura MDX sport utility to the production lineup in Alabama next year, and the move will open up a new export market for the Lincoln plant's products.

                        Some of the MDX vehicles made at the plant will be shipped to China, Tom Shoupe, head of Honda's Alabama operations, said during a speech at the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham on Tuesday.

                        A small percentage of the plant's vehicles -- now Odyssey minivans, Pilot SUVs and Ridgeline pickups -- are exported each year to markets including the Middle East, South America and Central America. Pilots are also shipped to Russia.

                        The MDX, now produced at a Honda plant in Canada, has been exported to China for several years in small numbers, so that will continue after the production switch. Last year, 485 MDX vehicles were shipped to China, Honda spokesman Ed Miller said.

                        The SUV is sold in the United States. The MDX move will give Honda more room in Canada to build the popular CR-V SUV. Acura is Honda's luxury vehicle division, and the MDX will be the first Acura product built in Alabama.

                        The move is one of a number of new additions and expansions in Lincoln, Shoupe said Tuesday.

                        Last year, the Japanese automaker announced new investments at the plant totaling $275 million, along with 140 new jobs. The work is raising the plant's annual capacity to 340,000 vehicles and engines, up from 300,000 now.

                        Honda's current investment in Alabama tops $2 billion, Shoupe said.

                        ===========================

                        http://adland.tv/commercials/acura-o...it+to+print%29

                        Acura - Office - (2012) :30 (US)

                        TORRANCE, Calif., June 4, 2012 — Acura has launched a comprehensive marketing campaign to debut the ILX, an all-new compact luxury sedan positioned as the gateway to the Acura brand. The Gen Y-focused campaign developed with rp&, Acura's agency of record, is designed to help usher energetic, young consumers into the luxury market with TV, digital and print advertising.
                        "A rich array of standard Acura features, at a starting price of $25,900, makes the ILX the ideal gateway to the luxury market and the Acura brand for a new generation of young buyers," said Mike Accavitti, Vice President of National Marketing Operations. "This campaign will serve to engage potential customers looking to complement their active lifestyles."
                        Featuring notable tunes from The Ting Tings and Nick Waterhouse, the two TV and in-theater ads utilize a split screen portraying synchronized Gen Yers simultaneously building their careers and social lives, winding through airports and corporate offices on one side and navigating upscale resorts and nightclubs on the other. In each ad, the character ends the journey in the driver's seat of an ILX. "Life should be equal parts responsibility and fun," says the voice-over. "Introducing the new Acura ILX. Move up. Without settling down."
                        "These ads capture the duality of a typical Gen Y lifestyle—working their first job and trying to make an impression while also making time to have fun and live it up," said Susie Rossick, Manager of Acura Advertising. "The Acura ILX is the kind of vehicle that can impress in any setting, and we wanted to convey that with these spots."
                        Both TV spots are now live on Acura's YouTube channel ("Airport", "Office") prior to their on air debut which begins June 4 with a national presence during the NBA conference finals on ESPN June 5, as well as the NBA finals on ABC on June 15 and 17. Cable TV includes networks such as G4, Spike TV, AMC and the E! channel.
                        Because of Gen Y's inherent interest in digital media, Acura plans to support the ILX launch with its largest-ever budget allocation to interactive media. Placements are scheduled on sites such as Xbox LIVE, Pandora and GOOD.
                        Consumers can also interact with the all-new ILX at Autoweek ride-and-drive weekend events this summer in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago. Approximately 200 attendees are expected to participate each day.
                        Credits:
                        Titles: "Airport" & "Office"
                        Client: Acura
                        First Air: June 4, 2012

                        Agency: rp&
                        Exec VP, Executive Creative Director: John Hage
                        VP, Head of Art: Phillip Squier
                        Associate Creative Director/Copywriter: Jon King
                        Art Director: Brian Hall
                        VP, Executive Producer: Jack Epsteen

                        Production Company: MJZ
                        Director: Joaquin Baca-Asay
                        Director of Photography:Joaquin Baca-Asay

                        Visual Effects: A52

                        Editorial: Arcade
                        Editor: Stewart Reeves

                        Music Supervisor: Chris Douridas
                        "Airport" Track: Nick Waterhouse, "Say You Wanna Know"
                        "Office" Track: The Ting Tings, "Hit Me Down Sonny"


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                        • #13
                          Realtime Racing Results from this weekend at Belle Isle Grand Prix of Detroit

                          http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1070043

                          RealTime Shines at Belle Isle Double

                          Two podium finishes keep Acura on top of Manufacturers’ points

                          DETROIT, Mich. (June 4, 2012) – Street course racing is demanding by nature, but even more so on the bumpy streets of Detroit, an unfamiliar circuit for many of the teams in the Pirelli World Challenge Championships. RealTime Racing, with Acura drivers Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee, Wis., and Nick Esayian, of San Diego, Calif., were relieved to come away from the brutal doubleheader weekend with two podium finishes and the GTS Manufacturers’ Championship lead intact.

                          Qualifying
                          After a rainy Friday morning, the RealTime team had limited helpful data to prepare for Saturday morning’s qualifying session. The rest of the GTS field was in a similar position, and it showed, with the top five qualifiers separated by only 0.557 seconds. Cunningham earned the fourth spot on the GTS grid with a lap of 1:34.274 (79.428 mph). Esayian lined up 13th, turning a 1:36.335 (77.728 mph).

                          Saturday – Race One
                          As can happen on street courses, the signature World Challenge standing start erupted into chaos when the GT polesitter stalled and was subsequently rear-ended by another car. In the midst of the chaos, Cunningham lost a spot to Jack Baldwin’s Porsche Cayman S at the launch, but found his way past the third quickest qualifier Michael Galati in his Kia Optima on the approach to turn 3. Meanwhile, Esayian had a great launch moving up to 11th without incident. The race immediately went full-course yellow to clean up the GT accident on the front stretch and would remain so until lap 12.

                          On the restart, Cunningham was ready to go, passing the Baldwin Porsche in turn 3 and Aaron Povoledo’s Ford Mustang Boss 302S exiting turn 7 on the same lap. This put Cunningham’s No. 42 RealTime/Acura/HPD Acura TSX in the runner-up spot. Three laps later a second accident brought out a second lengthy full-course yellow, which forced the race to end under caution.

                          “There wasn’t much racing going on out there with all the time we spent under yellow,” Cunningham said. “That’s somewhat expected on street courses like this and we have to be thankful that it wasn’t either of our cars involved in those accidents. I do wish we would have had more opportunities to show what the Acuras were really capable of.”

                          Admittedly disappointed in his qualifying performance, Esayian channeled his frustration in the few green flag laps available. The No. 34 RealTime/Acura/HPD Acura TSX picked up total of two spots before the first full-course caution and was up to ninth after the first restart. Multiple GTS cars involved in the second accident enabled Esayian to slip into sixth before the final full-course caution.

                          “It wasn’t necessarily an outstanding performance today, but we accomplished what we needed to do; score points and keep the cars in one piece for Sunday’s race,” Esayian said.

                          Sunday – Race Two
                          The grid for Sunday’s race was set by lap times turned in Saturday’s race, placing Cunningham third and Esayian 13th. Cunningham was instantly challenged by Povoledo on the start, but put on a strong defense and was even able to take over second place from Baldwin in the Porsche Cayman S.

                          It wasn’t long before the first full-course caution of the race came out on lap four. After circulating in second-place under yellow, Cunningham held off Baldwin on the restart, but was unable to hold off the Porsche on lap 15, when Baldwin made an unexpected move into turns one and two. Cunningham stuck with Baldwin, but when a late-race caution was issued on lap 22, any opportunity to retake the second place was lost, as the race ended under full-course caution.

                          “It’s hard not to be sore about that race,” Cunningham said afterwards. “The nature of street course racing gives you few opportunities for clean passes and, once again, the amount of time spent under yellow really held us back from showing what we were capable of. I hate to lose the lead in the Drivers’ Championship because of two races like we had here in Detroit.

                          “But, on the bright side, we are leaving a street course doubleheader with both cars in one piece, which not a lot of World Challenge teams can say right now. And Acura continues to lead the Manufacturers’ Championship over Chevrolet and Ford with five rounds remaining.”

                          Esayian made good use of the standing start and subsequent restart from yellow to gain ground in Sunday’s race. The Californian advanced to ninth before the first full-course caution and picked up an additional spot on the lap nine restart, but dropped a spot to ninth just before the second full-course caution brought the race to an end.

                          “Even though we didn’t have the outright speed in qualifying, we had two strong cars this weekend and I think had we had more green flag racing, that would have showed,” lamented Esayian. “It’s thanks to team work that we accomplished what we did; having Peter and Curt Jung (Team Engineer) on the radio giving me a heads up on where the carnage was, really helped me work through the traffic.”

                          The heads up thinking of the RealTime crew and shrewd decisions of the two drivers enabled the team to walk away not just with two podium finishes, but two Acura TSXs without a scratch―a victory in itself following a street course doubleheader.

                          Points
                          With dual GTS wins in Detroit, Andy Lee wrestled the Drivers’ Championship away from Cunningham, who now trails Lee by 10 points (832 to 822). Esayian continues to hold sixth place, 21 points back from fifth (544 to 523).

                          Acura continues to lead the GTS manufacturer standings with 44 points. Chevrolet leapfrogged Ford to take over the second spot and trails Acura by four points.

                          TV
                          Rounds six and seven of the Pirelli World Challenge GTS championship from Detroit will air on NBC Sports, Saturday, July 7th at 5PM ET.

                          Next Up
                          Up next for the RealTime Acura team is a doubleheader at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. Round eight is scheduled for 1:15 PM ET on June 23. Round nine will take the green flag at 2:30 PM ET on June 24. Both races will air live on http://www.world-challengetv.com. Live timing and scoring is available on http://www.world-challenge.com.

                          Sponsors
                          The 2012 season for RealTime Racing is brought to you by Acura, HPD, Red Line Oil, Eibach Springs, Sparco, BOSCH, Brembo, BuyBrakes.com and Total Auto Body.

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                          • #14
                            http://www.acurainthenews.net/25-years-of-acura/

                            25 Years of Acura

                            This infographic by Pensacola Acura Dealers shows us the history of this proud brand. Click to enlarge.




                            http://www.acuramobile.com/25-years-of-acura




                            ========================

                            http://www.acurainthenews.net/rdx-be...p-safety-pick/

                            RDX Latest Acura Named ‘Top Safety Pick’

                            Now the fifth model in the brand’s lineup to earn the recognition, the brand-new 2013 Acura RDX crossover was recently honored as a Top Safety Pick of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The award is given solely to vehicles that score the highest possible grades in the IIHS’ evaluations of front, rear, side and rollover crash protection, and represents an impressive testament to the success of Acura’s ongoing “Safety through Innovation” initiative.

                            Thanks to this push to extend safety excellence throughout the Acura lineup, the redesigned RDX boasts features like an upgraded four-wheel disc brake system with anti-lock brakes, numerous structural improvements designed for added rollover protection, the exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, standard Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control, front seats with integrated active head restraints, and six airbags, including side-curtain airbags that protect both front and rear-outboard occupants.

                            But in addition to protecting its passengers, the RDX also provides one of the industry’s top ownership experiences in the premium crossover segment. With nimble reflexes backed by a 273-hp V6, available “intelligent” all-wheel drive, and high-tech amplitude-reactive dampers, the RDX is an agile performer with a smooth ride, and its cabin is packed with up-scale amenities. The list includes heated, leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and cruise controls, a three-mode rearview camera, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and a seven-speaker Acura sound system. And that’s all standard—available packages can bring both the AcuraLink Satellite Communication System and voice-activated navigation.

                            The 2013 Acura RDX is on sale now, priced from $34,320.

                            The brand’s other 2012 Top Safety Picks:

                            Acura TL
                            Acura MDX
                            Acura TSX
                            Acura TSW Sport Wagon


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                            • #15
                              http://www.automoblog.net/2012/06/19...omoblog.net%29

                              Acura Says Power Plenum Grille Is Here To Stay

                              The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. You can’t go about fixing something you don’t recognize. At Acura, that has been the case for a while. The manufacturer pushed its edgy, unattractive designs while customers and the media gave a collective thumbs down.

                              Everyone recognized it, but they didn’t. Today, Automotive News reports on an admission that wins the understatement of the year award. Along with it though is a startling “stay the course” position. In September 2011 Honda installed Toshinobu Minami as the head of its global design operations for the Honda and Acura brands.


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                              Acura Says Power Plenum Grille Is Here To Stay
                              Tony Pimpo | Jun 19, 2012 | 0 comments

                              Acura ILX 2013 1280x960 wallpaper 2c 623x427 Acura Says Power Plenum Grille Is Here To Stay

                              The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. You can’t go about fixing something you don’t recognize. At Acura, that has been the case for a while. The manufacturer pushed its edgy, unattractive designs while customers and the media gave a collective thumbs down.

                              Everyone recognized it, but they didn’t. Today, Automotive News reports on an admission that wins the understatement of the year award. Along with it though is a startling “stay the course” position. In September 2011 Honda installed Toshinobu Minami as the head of its global design operations for the Honda and Acura brands.

                              Acura ILX 2013 1280x960 wallpaper 55 623x431 Acura Says Power Plenum Grille Is Here To Stay

                              “We concede that we went a little overboard at some points…we actually had pretty bad feedback on this initially from different directions. But we are not going to buckle under that pressure.” Not going to buckle under pressure – from customers, from the media? Interesting – it has been intense from both directions. Not buckling means sticking with the grey “Power Plenum” grille for its current lineup, although in a toned down way. Minami says that “There may be small evolutions here or there in details.” The current lineup is definitely in toned down form.

                              Minami views them as mostly continuing with the same theme: “There hasn’t been that great of a change, but maybe people have gotten used to it.” The ILX and RLX Concept are the most stylish Acuras we have seen in years, but that is faint praise. To truly compete on a global level, Acura will need something more than people “getting used” to its styling language. At the end, Minami concludes that Honda will be moving into the same stylistic space that Acura normally occupies, and that in turn Acura will be “going further out, maybe pursuing premium.” Maybe pursuing premium….with this kind of direction we’re not too hopeful that Acura will get its act together anytime soon.


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                              http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/19/n...tle-overboard/

                              New Acura design chief admits company went "a little overboard" with The Beak

                              Automotive News reports Toshinobu Minami, the new head of global design for Acura, says the company may have gone "a little overboard at some points" with the company's shield grille. Minami said Acura has had bad feedback on the design from multiple directions, but says the company isn't going to "buckle under that pressure." Instead of scrapping the beak design all together, the designer wants to keep the corporate look while simultaneously reaching further out toward a premium design language. Honda, meanwhile, will receive models with a sportier and more active-looking exterior. Acura recently debuted more demure interpretations of the shield grille on models like the ILX and the NSX Concept.

                              Minami says reactions have been somewhat less vitriolic compared to the past, and the designer contributes that in part to people growing accustomed to the look. It's either that, or we're all just tired of complaining about how awkward the Acura stable looks when the company is happy to run around with its fingers in its ears.
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                              ACURA & HONDA SUV FAN CLUB ROMANIA - http://daimyo.ro/index.php?action=forum

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