"Re-Re-Routed" Acura Commercial for Marvel¹s The Avengers Featuring the 2013 RDX

World Debut of New Acura Flagship, Webcast Live from New York Auto Show

Acura RL-X?!?
04/02/2012 - NEW YORK

Acura will debut its new flagship sedan at the New York International Auto Show on April 4, 2012 at 1:50 PM (EST). The reveal will take place in the Acura booth located in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

For those unable to attend, the press conference will be webcast live on: http://acuranews.com/live/2012nyias-acura

Consumers may also watch the webcast on: http://acurawebcast.com

Press materials will be posted to www.acuranews.com immediately following the press conference.

Additional ways to connect with Acura:
Media Information: www.acuranews.com
Consumer Information: www.acura.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Acura
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Acura_Insider
YouTube: www.youtube.com/acura

Acura Will Debut New RLX Flagship Sedan in NYC [New York Auto Show]

by Justin Berkowitz of Car and Driver

Acura’s next flagship sedan will likely be called RLX, and is expected to debut next month at the New York auto show. The company hasn’t made an official announcement yet, but two signs point to RLX as the replacement badge for RL. First, Acura VP Jeff Conrad may have told Wards that RLX is the new name; when asked, Acura representatives declined to confirm whether the Wards quote was accurate. Second, the company has applied to trademark the name RLX with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Neither is dispositive, but taken together, we’re pretty convinced.

The RLX is set to replace the aged and out-classed RL, but will follow a similar formula. Like the outgoing RL, the RLX will feature all-wheel drive and a V-6 engine. This time, however, Acura’s range-topper will use a clever hybrid system to drive the rear wheels with electric motors. The setup should prove to be lighter and continue to offer rear-axle torque vectoring.

With the RLX replacing the RL, the TL will be the last car in the Acura lineup with a two-letter name. We’ve been told that Acura will offer just three sedans in the future—the new ILX and RLX will be two of those, meaning that either the TL or the TSX is likely to bite the dust. Given its two-letter name, the TL might be the more likely candidate, but Acura is currently in the process of trademarking TLX. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Source;
http://blog.caranddriver.com/acura-will-debut-new-rlx-flagship-sedan-in-nyc-new-york-auto-show/#more-79160

Acura to tease redesigned 2013 RL sedan at 2012 New York Auto Show

This just in – Acura will be showing a teaser of the redesigned RL flagship sedan at the 2012 New York Auto Show next week.

The 2013 Acura RL sedan will go on sale this fall.

Source;

http://www.egmcartech.com/2012/03/26/acura-to-tease-redesigned-2013-rl-sedan-at-new-york/

Acura shifts its focus to sensible Gen Y shoppers

With the ILX, brand aims to boost '12 U.S. sales 46%

Acura will return to the entry-luxury segment when the ILX small sedan reaches showrooms in May.

by Mark Rechtin

In addition to the new ILX small sedan and redesigned RDX compact crossover coming in spring, a tease of the redesigned RL flagship due this fall will be shown at the New York auto show in April.
Then, the volume leading TL sedan and MDX mid-sized crossover are slated for 2013 redesigns. The much-hyped NSX supercar should arrive by the end of 2014.
Six years ago, Honda Motor Co. executives decided to move Acura upscale and shelve the brand's entry-level luxury offer -- the compact RSX hatchback, which was the successor to the Integra. The timing couldn't have been worse.
In less than three years, many of Acura's competitors announced plans to offer products that fit the RSX and Integra's niches. Then the global economy collapsed and many luxury-vehicle buyers pared back their purchases.
In May, Acura will return to the entry-luxury segment with the ILX. The sedan won't remind anyone of the sportiness of the RSX or Integra, but Acura hopes it will appeal to sensible Gen Y customers.
The collapse of Lehman Brothers "changed the philosophy for luxury purchases. People are making more rational purchase decisions, taking pride in the deal they strike," said Jeff Conrad, Acura Division general manager. "Generation Y aspires to luxury, but they need a little help getting there."
The new lineup will feature four sedans, the TSX, TL, RL and ILX. There is some overlap, but Conrad said Acura has no plans to eliminate any of the four.
"We're remaking the entire lineup over the next few years," Conrad said. "Nothing goes away, and we're sticking with that. We've had a pretty strong reliance on sport-utilities and we want to bolster our sedans."
With 40,000 units of additional volume from the estimated $27,000 ILX, Acura expects its overall U.S. sales to jump 46 percent to 180,000 units this year -- up from 123,299 in 2011. If not for the Japanese earthquake and Thai flooding last year, Acura estimates its 2011 U.S. sales would have been about 150,000. So the volume jump is not as large as it would seem, Conrad said.
In the longer term, it's unclear whether Acura aims to fight head-to-head against Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
"We want to take one year at a time," Conrad said. "We're not going to go set volume targets for future years. Everyone wants to continue to grow, but for the foreseeable future this is a pretty good level to be at."
Acura doesn't want to increase its dealer count, Conrad said. But the brand needs to improve owner loyalty.
At 45 percent, Acura customer loyalty is slightly below the industry average of 49 percent, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Retention Study.
According to the study, Acura doesn't really compete in the luxury segment. It mainly attracts customers from -- and loses them to -- Honda and Toyota.
"I know we're not satisfied with our loyalty numbers," Conrad said. He said retention efforts will include data mining to better understand when and how to contact existing customers.
Acura also will be more aggressive with presale marketing before redesigned products reach market. Already, 3,500 potential 2013 RDX buyers are in Acura's dealer system, waiting for the on-sale date to arrive.
On the plus side, Conrad said Acura's average customer age is two to four years younger than those of other premium brands.
Although Acura's core customers continue to be baby boomers, the brand is seeking to connect with younger buyers. In researching Gen Y -- consumers aged 19 to 31 -- Acura has discovered that "value for money" is the primary concern, replacing the baby boomers' focus on quality, reliability and fun-to-drive vehicles.
So what do the Gen Y customers covet? Connected cars, with features such as Bluetooth, Pandora and SMS text messaging. Cool engineering solutions for better performance aren't nearly so high on the wish list.
"The real key is not that we offer it, but that we offer it and put it on a vehicle and make it intuitive to use," Conrad said.
Acura will continue its appeal to Gen Y through its product placement arrangement with comic-book-movie franchise Marvel Enterprises. Already seen in Thor, Acura products will be highlighted in this summer's mutant-superhero flick The Avengers.
That should play into the cool factor that appeals to young buyers. When asked what makes a vehicle cool, Gen Y respondents said exterior styling, affordability and environmental consciousness.
"It's no secret the last few years have been pretty tough on Acura," Conrad said. "'Smart luxury' has become our internal mantra."
Source;

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120326/RETAIL03/303269988/1144/acura-shifts-its-focus-to-sensible-gen-y-shoppers

Rumored: Honda, Acura Could Adopt ZF 9-Speed Automatic By 2014

Although most of Honda’s recent powertrain news has surrounded CVTs and dual-clutch transmissions, that shouldn’t be taken as a sign the automaker is abandoning conventional automatics altogether. In fact, the automaker will likely adopt a 9-speed automatic by 2014 at the earliest.

Automotive News first reported in late 2011 that Honda was planning on launching an eight- or nine-speed automatic in the near future, but a source close to the program now tells us the automaker will use the new nine-speed transverse automatic developed by German powertrain supplier ZF.

If that gearbox sounds vaguely familiar, it should: it’s set to make its initial debut in a string of Chrysler Group vehicles over the next two years. Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne first hinted at using/developing the transmission in late 2011. Chrysler itself has been relatively mum on the subject, but UAW officials at the company’s plant in Toledo, Ohio, have suggested the replacement for the Jeep Liberty will be one of the first applications of the transmission.

The transmission, which ZF calls the 9HP, is designed for transverse installations, making it suitable for front- and all-wheel-drive platforms. Although Honda has typically developed its own transmissions, the 9HP will be a significant departure from Honda’s existing automatics in that it utilizes planetary gearsets in order to save space (ZF says the gearbox measures 20.5 inches wide, 16.6 in tall, and 14.5 inches deep).

ZF proclaims the gearbox is capable of handling up to 354 lb-ft of torque, and can support both start/stop and hybrid drive systems. The total gearing spread is quite wide (9.84:1), and taller gear ratios in the upper range of the gearbox allegedly play a big part in improving fuel economy by 10-16 percent. The supplier claims an engine mated to the 9HP needs to run at a mere 1900 rpm in order to propel a vehicle at 75 mph.

Honda officials refrained from confirming or denying the gearbox or its future applications, noting it’s company policy not to comment on future product plans. Given every Honda and Acura model currently on the market places its engine in a transverse fashion, the possibilities are theoretically endless, but we wouldn’t be surprised if this transmission is relegated to heavier and more upscale midsize models. Models like the Odyssey and Pilot, along with the Acura MDX and TL, are all potential recepients. Presently, these models utilize Honda’s 3.5-liter and 3.7-liter V-6 engines, and produce between 253 and 270 lb-ft of torque, respectively – well within the capabilities of the 9HP.

What remains to be seen is how the 9HP will be rolled out. We know ZF should start building 9HPs within its South Carolina plant in 2013 for Chrysler, but rumor has it Honda won’t start using the transmission until 2014. If so, the next-generation Acura TL, which is expected to launch in late 2013, could be one of the first vehicles to utilize the transmission.

Source;
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/deep-dive-honda-acura-could-adopt-zf-9-speed-automatic-by-2014-118443.html

Honda Motor Europe President, Manabu Nishimae delivers Geneva Press Conference Speech

-New Civic with 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine will deliver CO2 emissions of 95 g/km*
-NSX will be sold in Europe as a Honda
-New European CR-V prototype makes debut
-UK factory to double 2012 production volumes to 180,000

A full transcript of the speech follows:

Good morning, and welcome to Honda's media conference. I am very pleased to be here with you today.

Last year proved to be a very challenging year due to the natural disasters in Japan and in Thailand that impacted on our supply of new vehicles. Our ability to deliver cars to the customers who wanted them was restricted. Our Thai plant resumes full production within a month and all other production activity is fully restored. Whilst we must learn from recent history, we now look forward to what is an exciting future.

This is an important show for Honda. We are displaying products and technologies that will be at the heart of our growth plans for Europe. We are now entering a period of numerous product launches which will see Honda increase production volumes and increase sales.

In 2012, our UK factory will double production volumes to 180,000 units. In May, the New Civic assembly line will start a double shift and 500 new workers will join us.
Later in the year we start production of the New European CR-V.

The all New CR-V will be built in Europe and will be introduced in the Autumn with improved quality, performance, and enhanced fuel economy, along with new features unique for the European market. Today, we are showing a European CR-V prototype. We will display the production model at the Paris show in September.

Honda will also renew our entire European engine line-up, with a new engine series called Earth Dreams Technology. With these engines we aim to be Number 1 in fuel economy in each sector within 3 years.

The first engine from this series will be a new 1.6 litre diesel engine. Designed for Europe, it is expected to deliver 95 grammes per kilometre CO2 emissions and is the world's lightest engine in its class. It will be introduced on the New Civic and production starts at our UK factory at the end of this year.

Earth Dreams Technology engines will also deliver excellent performance characteristics. And at the summit of this range.... There is the new NSX.

This NSX Concept is powered by a mid-engine V6 ... and a new Sport Hybrid All-Wheel Drive system that comprises of 1 motor on the rear axle and 2 on the front. Supercar acceleration and outstanding efficiency will be the hallmarks of this revolutionary powertrain. The two motors in the front axle enable independent control of the left and right wheels to realize a ground-breaking "On-the-rail-cornering" experience. New NSX is set to define a new standard of Super Sport.
The US will launch new NSX with the Acura brand in 3 years. I can confirm the NSX will come to Europe....as a Honda.

NSX is the ultimate top-line Sports model, could we develop a smaller one? The EV-STER is another European premiere. This small sports EV Concept indicates the direction of how environmental technology can be incorporated with the pure joy of driving.

Our sporty plans are not limited to new models. A half century ago, Honda established the Suzuka circuit in Japan. It was the first racing track in Asia.

In October, at the Suzuka round, we plan to enter a European Civic into the FIA World Touring Car Championship. This celebrates the 50th anniversary of Suzuka Circuit. It also marks the 40th anniversary of Civic.

This racing Civic will be powered by Honda's new 1.6 direct injection turbo racing engine solely developed by Honda R&D. This is an important first step as we enhance the sportiness of Civic and the Honda brand.

Through Earth Dreams Technology, Honda will continue to minimise our environmental footprint so that we will all be able to enjoy sports driving for future generations and preserve Blue Skies for Our Children.

Thank you for your attention.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,2198-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode

Honda's SUPERCAR - Acura NSX by Brian Long

Wow, everything you could possibly want to know about the NSX....

http://books.google.ca/books?id=87k-Xt36RtIC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

-Befitting the subject, the author is a leading motoring historian, who lives in Japan and who has received full co-operation from Honda
-Full year-by-year coverage of all production models, including limited editions
-Japanese, American and European markets covered in superb detail
-Well over 380 contemporary pictures, including rare prototypes, mainly in colour
-Advertising and sales brochures are also reproduced
-Interviews with key personnel
-Sales and production figures

Description
Honda’s superbly engineered flagship model, the NSX, is the ultimate Japanese supercar. This book charts, in great detail, the complete history of the Honda NSX from inception to the present day, and also incorporates a buyer's guide. Features over 380 colour photos, advertising literature and interviews with key Honda personnel in order to tell the real story of the NSX. An absolute must have for anyone who owns, plans to own, or just plain admires the thinking person's supercar, the NSX.

The Author
Born in Coventry, Brian Long comes from a family with a proud heritage in both automotive and aviation engineering. He trained as a mechanical engineer, and worked at his father’s garage. Since 1990, he has had more than 30 books published. A member of the RJC (Researchers’ & Journalists’ Conference of Japan) and the Guild of Motoring Writers. Brian lives in Japan with his wife, Miho, son, Louis, and daughter, Sophie-Mercedes.

Thanks for the tip Leo!

Honda Commits to Finding it's Way Back to Roots

By Chang-ran Kim And Ben Klayman, Reuters

The future of Honda Motor Co. may rest with a pair of contrarian Japanese car engineers working from a drab Tokyo suburb with a hotline to the boardroom. Their mission: just say no.

Honda's creative directors, Toshinobu Minami and Yoshinori Asahi, are out to kill any mediocre car designs rumbling down the pipeline. In short, they have been told to stop anything like the 2012 Civic, a cheapened redesign that prompted critics, consumers and rivals to wonder how Honda had so badly lost its way.

Inside Honda, in both Japan and the United States, that same question has also been asked with urgency.

Honda, many say, slipped into designing cars by committee in recent years and drifted away from the iconoclastic ambitions of its founder.

Honda had become boring.

"Somewhere along the way, we lost the ability to express ourselves more freely," Asahi said. "We have a lot of designers here, and when we ask ourselves, 'Which Honda car would we want to buy?' sometimes some of us draw a blank."

That's a startling admission at a company long praised for the quality and durability of its vehicles - a company that caught U.S. automakers flat-footed in the 1970s with inexpensive, fuel-efficient cars like the original Civic.

Touted four decades ago for its CVCC engine that boasted cleaner tailpipe emissions - as well as inspiring the Civic name - Honda has trailed with advances such as six-speed transmissions and direct fuel-injection systems.

In recent years, Honda's "car guys," the engineers that built the automotive upstart into a powerhouse, were overshadowed by the "bean counters," financial executives more willing to cut corners on vehicle content to shore up margins, insiders say.

That approach looks good on a spreadsheet, but it also carries the risk of a backlash. Consumers can turn on a debased version of a popular car and the resulting publicity can burn a brand - a lesson GM, Ford and Chrysler all learned the hard way in the slide to crisis in 2008.

Ironically, Detroit's willingness to settle for also-ran status in small-car quality created the opening for Honda in the 1970s and 1980s. Now, analysts and industry executives wonder whether Honda can rekindle the underdog ambition of founder Soichiro Honda.

Changes at Honda can't come soon enough after a terrible year. Slow to recover from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan a year ago, Honda's U.S. sales tumbled seven per cent in 2011. By contrast, Nissan bounced back with a 14 per cent sales gain to almost match Honda's market share. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. have overtaken Japanese automakers as the benchmark for value-for-money.

"Honda somehow managed to get very, very far away from their engineering discipline," AutoTrends Consulting president Joseph Phillippi said, adding it could take three years for Honda to show it has turned the corner in car development.

Honda's earnings remain supported by a strong finance arm and its leading motorcycle business. In addition, the automaker is taking steps to shift more production to North America to shore up profitability.

In another move that shows the importance Honda attaches to getting it right in the United States, the board last month promoted North America chief Tetsuo Iwamura to become the No. 2 global executive, the first time that job has been based outside Japan.

But behind the scenes, the battle for Honda's automotive soul is being played out in places like Asahi and Minami's sprawling third-floor studio in the Tokyo suburb of Wako. If the upscale Aoyama neighbourhood that houses Honda's headquarters can be likened to New York's Fifth Avenue, then Wako would be a dreary town in New Jersey.

Since September, when they were promoted to fix Honda's car designs, Asahi, 47, and Minami, 44, have been working from Wako with a mission to shake things up. Both worked in the early 1990s on the fourth-generation Accord, a bigger Honda that won praise for its simplicity and a near-indestructible fourcylinder engine.

Honda's creative duo now have a direct line to chief executive Takanobu Ito. Frustrated with the pace of decision-making at Honda, Ito has put himself in charge of Honda's car operations, splitting the core of the company into three units headed by engineers: the Acura brand, mid-sized vehicles and small cars.

Honda is rushing a redesigned Civic to market late this year, essentially a facelift to protect the image of a car that is key to both Honda's future and heritage.

Source;
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Honda+will+revamp+after+dent+from+Civic/6245829/story.html

TOV Reader Daniel K. findsHonda files NSX Spider design sketches with European Patent Office

Straight from www.vtec.net:

"One of our observant readers in Europe saw some new NSX design sketches on a French automotive blog and notified us. A quick search of the European Patent Office shows that Honda filed a set of six wireframe sketches of an open-roof NSX on 22nd February, along with the more traditional 3D renderings of the fixed roof version. As you can see the drop-top looks pretty much identical to the Avengers NSX. See all 12 images below."

Source;

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1044223

Freeze Frame: The Next Acura NSX Meets The Aborted Acura NSX

Written by: Evan McCausland
Honda didn’t really reveal anything shocking at its global motorsports press conference this week, but it did manage to infuse a bit of irony when it parked the new Acura NSX concept (wearing Honda emblems, of course) next to what could have been the next Acura NSX.

Long before the current NSX program debuted, Honda envisioned the second-generation Acura NSX as a front-engined gran turismo. The Acura Advanced Sports Coupe concept, which made its North American debut at the 2007 Detroit auto show, reportedly gave a good look at what Honda had planned for the NSX’s successor, including a ten-cylinder engine and a variation of its torque-shifting Super Handling-AWD (SH-AWD) system.

As the story goes, those dreams never exactly became reality. Honda shelved the NSX program after the global economic kerfuffle, but the progress made to that point wasn’t for naught. Honda’s motorsports wing adapted the design into the HSV-010 GT Super GT car – which you see here in black, alongside the new 2015 NSX concept.

Honda has hinted the new NSX could spawn a race variant of its own, but until then, the HSV-010 GT continues to compete in Japan’s Super GT GT500 series. Honda’s fielding five HSV-010 GT cars this year, all of which receive mild aerodynamic revisions for the 2012 season.

Source;
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/freeze-frame-the-next-acura-nsx-meets-the-aborted-acura-nsx-110529.html#ixzz1meNKdZj5

Acura’s Super Bowl “Transaction” ad did its job, says Honda’s chief marketing officer

The Super Bowl ad that featured Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno competing with each other to get the upcoming Acura NSX sports car was so effective that its Web site crashed just moments after the Super Bowl ended. Its traffic increased by 3,000%. According to Mike Accavitti, American Honda's chief marketing officer, the Web site was down for around 10 minutes. The ad was posted Jan. 30 on its Web site. Since that day until Feb. 6, it had received 16 million views. Accavitti was interviewed last Tuesday at an Acura press event before the Chicago Auto Show opened.

In this ad, Seinfeld and Leno attempt to bribe the man who possesses the rights to the first 2015 NSX supercar. The NSX concept made its debut at the Detroit auto show last month. It will go on sale in around three years. Accavitti pointed out that this direction that Acura has taken “isn't by accident.” He said this “well thought-out, laser-focused plan” will get Acura on people's shopping lists since it has these new products to be revealed soon.

Showrooms will get the redesigned 2013 RDX crossover and the latest edition to the Acura line, the compact 2013 ILX sedan, starting this spring. Accavitti said that the traffic driving that the company did with the ad offered the results that it was looking for. Visitors to the Web site also clicked on Acura’s other models aside from the NSX, RDX and ILX.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/acuras-super-bowl-transaction-ad-did-its-job-says-hondas-chief-marketing-of/

2013 Acura RDX - 2012 Chicago Auto Show

2013 Acura ILX - 2012 Chicago Auto Show Video

2013 Acura RDX Crossover Revealed as Production Model

About a month ago, the vehicle looked the same, but Acura was calling it a concep. But now, they’ve added a full interior and changed venues from Detroit to Chicago, and presto: it’s the new Acura RDX luxury crossover as it should be when you buy it.This is the second generation of the five-seater crossover that’s supposed to bring luxury to the masses. The design changes it underwent have made it a bit more understated than before. However, we are fond of the interior, which does look upmarket.

The big news is that 2013 RSX has gotten a 3.5-liter V6 with 273 horsepower that’s available in either front- or all-wheel drive, mated to a lighter six-speed automatic and a lock-up torque converter. The FWD version is the most frugal, being capable of 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2013-acura-rdx-crossover-revealed-as-production-model-42478.html

Acura Debuts 2013 RDX and All-New ILX Sedan at Chicago Auto Show

Sporty styling, new technology and efficient powertrains are highlights
02/08/2012 - CHICAGO
Following up on its blockbuster appearance at this year's Detroit auto show, Acura today unveiled production versions of two new vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show. A completely redesigned 2013 Acura RDX crossover sport utility vehicle and the all-new 2013 Acura ILX luxury compact sedan were shown. Both new Acura models are scheduled for launch in the Spring.

"We are excited to be launching these two new luxury models as the gateway of Acura's revitalized product lineup," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura. "As we embark on our second 25 years as a premium luxury-performance automobile brand, we are excited about the role these two vehicles will play in welcoming a new generation of luxury car buyers to the Acura brand."

2013 Acura ILX
The 2013 Acura ILX compact sedan is an all-new model that is positioned as the gateway into the Acura brand. The primary target customers for the new ILX are Generation Y-- successful 20 and 30-somethings moving into the luxury car ranks but looking for high-value propositions in their purchases.

"First-time luxury buyers tend to place a high value on exterior styling, affordability and environmental issues, and that's what we have created with the new Acura ILX," said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio. "The strategy behind this new model is to position ILX as the first opportunity for many young buyers to enter the luxury market."

Sleek and sporty, the ILX combines luxury, performance and efficiency. While maintaining a strong emphasis on stylish and aerodynamically efficient exterior design, the ILX features a large and airy greenhouse that provides excellent outward visibility. As a five-passenger luxury sedan, the ILX combines compact proportions with a spacious passenger interior and ample cargo space-- perfect attributes for young professionals on the go.

The ILX will feature three advanced, sporty and efficient powertrain choices, including Acura's first-ever gas-electric hybrid. The entry-level ILX will be powered by a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 150 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 140 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. Paired with a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission, the ILX 2.0L has an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy of 24/32 mpg.

For those who seek a more dynamic driving experience, the ILX can be equipped with a 2.4-liter engine with an output of 201 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 170 lb-ft torque at 4,300 rpm. Mated to a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission, the ILX 2.4L has an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy of 20/29 mpg.

Marking the debut of Acura's first ever hybrid model, the ILX Hybrid makes use of a 1.5-liter inline engine and an Integrated Motor Assist® electric motor. Paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the ILX 1.5L Hybrid has an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy rating of 35/38 mpg.

The hybrid drivetrain uses the gasoline engine as the primary power source, while an electric motor provides additional power when needed. A lithium-ion battery pack is used to capture and store electricity for the 20 horsepower electric motor. Together, the gasoline engine and electric motor produce 111 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 127 lb-ft of torque between 1,000-3,000 rpm. During braking, the gasoline engine deactivates and the electric motor acts as a generator to recharge the battery pack. At a stop, the 1.5-liter engine can enter idle-stop mode to save fuel and reduce emissions. The engine remains off until the brake pedal is released.

The ILX chassis utilizes advanced MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension systems, along with new Amplitude Reactive Dampers. The dampers operate in two distinct performance parameters to simultaneously provide superior ride comfort and precision handling. In addition, Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering is used for excellent steering feel and improved fuel efficiency. The result is a chassis with a high level of refinement, confident handling and a nimble and sporty driving experience.

The ILX will feature a high-quality, well-appointed interior that is smart, spacious and sporty. It will offer a number of new, high-value features including a standard Keyless Access System with smart entry and pushbutton start, along with Pandora® internet radio interface and SMS text message function for smart connectivity with the world.

As with all Acura models, the ILX will have a long list of standard features, multiple trim levels (a Premium Package and Technology Package), and excellent standard safety features-- including Acura's acclaimed Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, front, side and side-curtain airbags, 4-channel anti-lock brakes and Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®). Although yet to be tested, Acura anticipates that the ILX will achieve top crash safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

The available Premium Package features leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, an upgraded 360 watt stereo system, a rear view camera and an Active Sound Cancellation system to make for a quieter cabin.

Building on the Premium Package, the available Technology Package adds Acura's award winning ELS Surround® audio system and a full complement of relevant technologies, including AcuraLink® Satellite Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting™, and AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ with radar image maps. The navigation system makes use of a hard disk drive (HDD) with 60 gigabytes of storage capacity-- including 15 gigabytes that can be specifically allocated for music storage. With the available Premium or Technology Package, a new multi-view rear camera is used.

The Acura ILX will be manufactured (using U.S. and globally sourced parts), exclusively at the company's state-of-the-art Greensburg, Indiana plant, one of only three plants worldwide to receive J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 Platinum Award for outstanding product quality, and the top award for any factory in North America.

2013 Acura RDX
The 2013 Acura RDX, the second generation of Acura's five-passenger crossover SUV, will up the ante with a new approach to achieving both advanced performance and fuel efficiency via a new engine, transmission and all-wheel-drive system.

The 2013 RDX rides on a 4-wheel independent suspension with a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension design. A longer wheelbase, wider track and lower center of gravity provide the foundation for the new RDX's improved handling and ride quality. New chassis technology for 2013 includes Acura-exclusive Amplitude Reactive Dampers and a new Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering system that replaces the previous hydraulic steering. The 2013 RDX will be available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants.

Standard features for 2013 RDX include bold new 5-spoke 18-inch wheels and improved 4-wheel disc brakes that include an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Not only do the brakes provide better performance, but they also incorporate improvements to lessen brake drag for reduced rolling resistance and improved fuel economy.

Replacing the turbocharged 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder used with the previous RDX, the 2013 RDX will now have as standard equipment a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 273 horsepower-- 33 more than the outgoing model. For even higher performance and improved fuel economy, the RDX makes use of an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission with a new lock-up torque converter. The RDX also gets a new, lighter weight all-wheel-drive system that provides outstanding performance and safety with increased efficiency to achieve higher fuel economy.

With an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy rating of 20/28 mpg, front-wheel-drive versions of the 2013 RDX are expected to offer the best fuel economy of any gasoline-powered V-6 luxury SUV in the class. All-wheel-drive models have an EPA estimated* city/highway fuel economy of 19/27 mpg.

The RDX boasts a sleek and more aerodynamic body, evolving RDX from a sporty, compact SUV to a more formal SUV appearance with a longer, sculpted hood and styling that is more elegant and sophisticated to match the Acura philosophy of timeless, beautiful design.

Inside the 2013 RDX, new sweeping shapes, matte surface trim, and generous use of leather combine to give the RDX interior an upscale look and luxury feel that Acura customers have come to expect. Abundant use of sound deadening materials and Active Sound Control team to provide an exceptionally quiet cabin. Additional interior features, such as larger door openings, more passenger room, increased cargo volume and an available power rear tailgate make the RDX interior even more accommodating and flexible.

The 2013 RDX will receive a host of new technologies including Pandora® internet radio interface, SMS text message feature, a Keyless Access System with smart entry and pushbutton start, and a three view rear camera. An available Technology Package will provide a full complement of relevant technologies, including an Acura ELS Surround® audio system, AcuraLink® Satellite Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting™, and AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ with radar image maps. New for 2013, an even more advanced navigation system utilizes a hard disk drive (HDD) with 60 gigabytes of storage capacity-- including 15 gigabytes that can be allocated for music storage.

Passenger safety has always been a cornerstone of every Acura model. In addition to using Acura's acclaimed Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, the 2013 RDX employs new design features and myriad high strength materials aimed specifically at occupant protection. Although yet to be tested, Acura anticipates that the RDX will achieve top crash safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

The 2013 RDX will be produced (using U.S. and globally sourced parts) exclusively by the company's East Liberty, Ohio plant-- home to one of four of Honda plants ranked among the top five-rated assembly lines in North America in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 Initial Quality Study (IQS). The first generation RDX is produced at the Marysville, Ohio auto plant.

About Acura Acura offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 272 dealers within the United States. The 2012 Acura lineup features six distinctive models including the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sports sedan and Sport Wagon, the turbocharged RDX crossover SUV, the MDX luxury SUV and the ZDX four-door sports coupe.

For media information and high-resolution photos of Acura vehicles, please visit www.acuranews.com. For consumer information, please visit www.acura.com.
*Preliminary EPA mileage estimate determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage estimates not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/acura-debuts-2013-rdx-and-all-new-ilx-sedan-at-chicago-auto-show

Honda Takes a Look at the Past and Future of the NSX Sports Coupe

Back in the early 1990s when the Japanese auto industry went sports car crazy churning out models like the third generation Mazda RX-7, the Mitsubishi 3000GT, the Nissan 300ZX and Skyline GT-R, and the Toyota Supra, one vehicle stood out from the rest and that was the Honda / Acura NSX.

The NSX taught American and European car manufactures a lesson or two on how to build a high-performance sports car that not only looked good but also was reliable and reasonably priced for what it had to offer.

The fact that it remained in production virtually unchanged for 15 years from 1990 to 2005 is a testament to the innovation of its original design.

We don't know if the Japanese carmaker will be able to repeat the success with the new NSX that is due in 2015 as an Acura in North America and as a Honda in the rest of the world, but the company is doing its best to create a connection between the first and second generation model.

In the promo video that follows, you'll find more than seven minutes worth of film from both the original NSX and its successor which is previewed by NSX Sports Hybrid Concept.

Source;
http://www.carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/02/honda-takes-look-at-past-and-future-of.html

"Transactions" Extended Version - 2012 Acura NSX Big Game Ad

Images and Specs for Tony Stark’s $9 Million Car from THE AVENGERS; Vehicle Includes Nightvision Windshield and More

Awesome..... I'd like to put a $500 deposit on one of these....
This year sees the culmination of four years of Marvel superhero movies, as the studio’s principal characters unite for May’s The Avengers. As the release is looming closer, the marketing campaign for the film seems to be ramping up. We’re starting to get looks at the film’s action figures, and the stars recently graced the cover(s) of Empire Magazine. Steve is currently braving the snow in Park City at the Sundance Film Festival, and he stumbled across a fairly ingenious bit of marketing for the film. Tony Stark’s new Acura is on display behind a closed-door setup at the festival, and the vehicle comes with some pretty fantastic features.
The 2012 Stark Industries Super Car comes fully equipped with a palm-scan ID steering wheel, enviro-clone projected hologram of surroundings, self-detonating recon drone, night-vision HUD windshield, and oh so much more. Hit the jump to see the full list of features, and to check out some photos of this $9,198,000 car that gets 234 mpg. The Avengers opens in 3D May 4th.
Here’s the specs of the car according to Acura:

Acura 2012 Stark Industries Super Car
Tactical Package
Standard Equipment at No Extra Cost
Operating/Durability Features:
Palladium-powered 80,000 TOHC 32-valve engine with titanium-forged block and nitrous fuel-injection system.
9 Speed HYPER-Shift transmission
Diamond quartz cross-drilled brake calipers
Steering wheel with palm-scan ID
Lithium Dioxide-injecting shocks
Reflex-response steering column with target guidance feedback
Super-scan theft-deterrent modulator

Defense Systems:
Info-net sensory tracker system
Invisa-shield exo-system wave modifier
Enviro-clone projected hologram of surroundings
Thermal imaging topography mapping software
Emergency homing beacon
Self-detonating recon drone

Exterior Features
Adavanced radar-deflecting capabilities with wave modifier
Bullet- and foreign element-proof clear coat and metal skin
Night-vision HUD windshield
Bulletproof hyper-traction tires
High-grade tint with radar bounce and jam capabilities
Intermittent blue and red tech flashers in all light assemblies
Underbody kit with aero-dynamic spoiler lip
Black-night painted-wheels with particle matter technology

Tactical Package
Anti-ballistic shielding body panels
Incoming scan scrambler
Low-density plasma emitters with UV flares
Encrypted computer with backup-powered interface and satellite link

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $9,198,000.00
Tax: $22,364
License and Registration: $6, 782
Destination Fee: $1,854
Total Vehicle Price: $9,229,000.00
Palladium Power Estimates:
City Miles – 234
Highway Miles – 302

Source;
http://collider.com/avengers-movie-tony-stark-car-images/140630/

Inside Line: 1991 Acura NSX vs. 2012 Audi R8

Interesting read.... to actually compare something with a 21 yr difference is an impressive nod to the NSX....
By Josh Jacquot, Senior Editor Published Jan 17, 2012

It's likely that Acura's 21-year-old NSX is most famous for things it never actually did.

1990, you might recall, wasn't a year when supercars covered themselves in the glory of either shocking performance or metronomic reliability. The stink of '80s automotive misery hadn't yet worn off and the glory of middleweight performers like the RX-7, 300Z and fourth-generation Supra was yet to take hold. When it came to supercars, it was the era of the Ferrari 348, a machine so awful to drive it couldn't even find a private investigator drama in which to hide.

Following, in no particular order, are some things most NSXs never did: leak, stall, stink, burn, ventilate their crankcase, cook their clutch, experience catastrophic electrical failure, overheat or simply strand their driver. The NSX, for all its hype, sprang from a time when mixing some mundane Honda Accord into the supercar stew, rolling it up in an aluminum body and dropping it into a market ripe for a real driver's car was a stupendously good idea. Good enough, in fact, to last for 15 years.

Next to Porsche's ubiquitous 911, the NSX might just be the most practical, reliable real-world supercar ever built. But in 1990 there was something more exotic about a low-slung, midengine, aluminum-bodied supercar than there was about any Porsche. And there's still truth in that statement today. Which is why we think Audi's R8 might be the best spiritual successor the NSX could have.

Here, then, is how they stack up.

The Basics
It's the cab-forward, engine-behind-cockpit layout that's the defining similarity between the R8 and NSX. Following modern trends, the R8 is bigger in every dimension. It is 1.2 inches longer, 3.2 inches taller, 4.7 wider and its wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than the NSX.
If raw output is all that matters, the NSX's transverse-mounted 3.0-liter, 270-horsepower V6 is no match for the Audi's longitudinally mounted 4.2-liter 430-hp V8. Gears are selected in the NSX via a five-speed manual transmission, while cogs are slotted home via a gated six-speed manual in the R8. And when it comes to powertrains, that's where the similarities stop.

The Audi, naturally, drives all four wheels through three differentials that produce a distinctly rear-drive balance. The NSX's rear-drive balance is more authentic thanks to a conventional transaxle and clutch-type limited-slip differential driving, well, the rear wheels.

The Numbers
The performance data in this test serve to demonstrate how far supercars have come in 21 years more so than to help determine a winner.

Accordingly, let's look first at one area where progress isn't so easy to gauge. At 3,010 pounds the NSX might be the only car we've ever rolled onto our scales that exactly matches its manufacturer's claimed weight. And because it's 611 pounds lighter than the R8 (3,621 pounds) it demonstrates one area where technology and cubic megadollars are yet to produce a positive impact in performance cars.

Fortunately, performance hasn't suffered the same decline.

Ripping to 60 in 4.5 seconds (4.3 with 1 foot of rollout as on a drag strip) gets the R8 there a solid 1.1 seconds quicker than the NSX (5.6 seconds, 5.3 with rollout). The 0.9-second gap at the quarter-mile demonstrates that it's the Audi's launch that produces its biggest advantage. Here, even the 21-year-old NSX holds its own by running a 13.7-second pass at 102 mph. The R8's 12.8-second pass at 110.1 mph is quicker, but not as much as its 21-year advantage might lead one to believe.

Handling, too, is beyond the NSX's years. It shimmied through the slalom at 69.3 mph on nine-year-old rubber, (we tested it on new tires, too, but the numbers were inexplicably worse) a feat the Audi handled at 72.1 mph. Lateral acceleration worked out to 0.88g and 0.98g for the Acura and Audi, respectively.

When it comes to stopping, the Audi's contemporary rubber and ABS technology are far superior. It required only 105 feet to come to a halt from 60 mph. The NSX needed an additional 26 feet.

The Similarities
Through the magic of the Inside Line time machine we were able to experience these two cars on the same piece of unoccupied driver's road at the same time. And the gap between them at the top of the road was nearly as substantial as the years between them. But, spiritually, there were ample parallels.

Perhaps the biggest of these is the compact, balanced sense of confidence that begins in each car's powertrain layout and culminates in confident, direct inputs from its driver. There's a deftness possessed by midengine cars that is distinctly absent in any other layout. Wood the throttle in either of these machines and its nose rises with an immediacy and directness that could never exist in a car with its mass centered farther forward.

Similarly, both cars demonstrate a willingness to change direction not available in a car with its engine placed outside the axles. Mass centralization. Don't discount it. Even when it's 21 years old.

But there are differences.

Old vs. Bold
Performance car engineers — at least those developing contemporary cars like the R8 — are obsessed with reactions. Every input should be answered with an immediate and rewarding reaction, right? That's what they say.

The result is a mixed blessing.

Twenty-odd years ago the guys making these decisions on the NSX either had different goals or different expectations. Nowhere is this dissimilarity more apparent than in the way these two cars steer. The NSX's variable-ratio steering rack (18.2:1 to 20.8:1) is slower than the R8's fixed 17.3:1 ratio, but the numbers hardly tell the story.

Predictably, the effort required to corner both cars plays heavily into the experience. The Audi's hydraulically assisted steering makes nearly no demand on its driver and still supplies enough information to attack the road confidently. The NSX's weighty wheel is better than many full manual racks we've experienced, but leaves little reason to do anything but surrender to the car's relatively low limits once understeer is achieved.

Largely, this is because we fear finding ourselves in a situation that requires "fixing" any kind of oversteer without the benefit of modern assisted steering. Call us wimps, but not before you correct oversteer in a midengine manual-steering car yourself.

Still, this limitation doesn't diminish the reward of the NSX experience. It's just one element that makes it slower than its modern counterpart.

Here's Another
The R8's reaction to throttle input is insanely rapid by 1990 standards. Partially, this is due to the blunt honesty of the first-generation NSX's simple, cable-actuated throttle. The control provided by electronic throttles has supplied engineers with undue command over a car's character. The resulting eagerness has reached the point of absurdity in some cars. Fortunately, it's not so much a problem in the R8 as it is motivation to start paying attention.

Snap the Audi's throttle open and the chassis responds instantly and intuitively. Somehow, despite driving all four wheels, the Audi reacts like a rear-driver, offering a rewarding ability to balance power against steering without the need for heavily calculated metering. Its approachable limits are a blessing in a car that could easily have overlooked such details. Vorsprung durch Technik, indeed.

Not so in the NSX.

The Acura's response to throttle input carries far less consequence. Measured against the snap-to-it reactions of the more powerful R8, the NSX's response to big, aggressive movements of the throttle doesn't demand as much attention or reward as heavily. This, we'll admit, is in large part due to a significantly lower power-to-weight ratio (8.4:1 Audi vs. 11.1:1 NSX).

It's here that the NSX, when measured against the wildly involving R8, begins to show itself for what it is: old.

Oldie but Goodie
Still, there are genuinely striking qualities in this aged sports car that are distinctly absent in the R8. Like, for example, the simple, authentic way the NSX gets down the road. Forget about radical urgency. Forget about breakneck reactions. All of the NSX's controls perform their duty resolutely but without the Audi's pressing haste. It's like comparing Mother Love Bone to Mother Theresa. One screams its intent in your face and the other is content to let its actions do the talking over the whole of the experience.

The NSX's shifter slots into the selected cog with a fidelity lacking in most modern car/driver interfaces. It's especially striking considering this car's age. That's to take nothing from the R8, whose manual shifter might be the best in the world today.

Reality says that any car as old as the NSX is going to lack the speed and confidence provided by a modern supercar like the R8. But that doesn't mean the experience is bereft of passion. Perhaps the most potent bit of character is an intake note that tunnels down its driver's ear canal, shoots through his brain stem and penetrates his soul. Truly, there are few cars before or since the NSX that offer the audible reward produced by its 8,000-rpm anthem.

Also, we'd never have thought 21 years ago that we'd look back on Honda's '90s design ethos as soulful. But viewing modern cars through the lens of small pillars, a low waistline and simple controls makes us yearn for such unvarnished honesty in design. The R8 has a similar feel, but can't match the NSX's original brilliance.

The Final CalculusThere's no way to handily summarize the best car here. And that's not what we're trying to do anyway. The point is to capture each car's spirit. The NSX, 21 years ago, was ahead of its time — both in its construction and its attitude. It wasn't the fastest or most powerful car built, but it made a strong case for combining quality, durability and everyday drivability with engaging at-the-limit character. It's an enduring formula that's built into the most successful supercars made today — including the R8.

We're not picking a winner. Rather, we're answering this question: Which car would we want in our garage? Judged on the experience alone, the answer is easy. The R8's ability to engage, its outright speed, its sound and the reward it provides during hard driving easily outshines the 21-year-old NSX.

But experience tells us those qualities aren't all that will matter in 20-plus years. The Audi supercar's place in history will be also determined by its ability to endure time both mechanically and visually. And those are much, much larger demands.

We'll be keeping the NSX around just in case.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds the Audi for the purposes of evaluation. The NSX is part of Inside Line's long-term fleet.

Source;
http://www.insideline.com/acura/nsx/1991/1991-acura-nsx-vs-2012-audi-r8.html