About Acura

Zeke Gervis asked:



Finally the new $15 million Acura Design Studio has officially opened its doors. And according to Acura the producer of top-of-the-line Acura oxygen sensor the new Design Studio will assume an important role in the development of new concepts and designs for future Acura products. The new studio is equipped with the latest design technologies and a work layout that focuses on improving collaboration. This new design studio will also represent the next step in the advancement of the Acura brand.

The studio is design to achieve a high level of energy efficiency and expected to become a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building by the US Green Building Council or USGBC. There were various measures adopted for the design and construction of the studio with the aim of achieving LEED gold certification.

There were already a couple of Acura models which include the Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle and Acura TL luxury performance sedan that have been designed, engineered, and developed by the HRA. Transferring Acura design activities into a state-of-the-art independent studio gives it a more defined focus that distinctly characterized the Acura brand.

The key technologies in the Acura Design Studio include a computer generated virtual simulator that allows design stylists to showcase virtual vehicles in a one-to0one ratio. The other features in the facility design includes the parallel arrangement of the interior and the exterior design areas on the styling floor which enable designers to better collaborate with each other in producing a new vehicle.

With the latest expansion of the HRA product design and development capabilities in North America, the Acura Design Studio together with Honda Design Studio in Torrance, California and the Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, California further broaden the existing HRA’s in Los Angeles Center for research and design.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Acura Design Studio last march 27, 2006. At the same time it marked the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Acura brand. Acura was the first Japanese luxury nameplate and very first Japanese luxury automaker to develop, designs, and manufacture vehicles in North America. Likewise, almost two-thirds of the all Acura vehicles are sold in America are developed, designed, researched, and assembled exclusively in North America.

In an effort to achieve a Gold rating by the USGBC, the Acura Design Studio has included many energy-saving attributes like for example the Energy Star reflective roof to reduce heat gain and lower air conditioning requirements, reclaimed water used for landscaping, and an intelligent lightning system that makes greater use of natural light. Honda has other LEED gold certified facilities found in Gresham, Oregon, and Raymond, Ohio.

The HRA has started its operations in California way back 1976 with local market research activities and from then on has steadily grown its capabilities for over the past 30 years of which include all aspects of new vehicle design and development.

And with the addition of the Acura Design Studio, the company will now operates 13 major R&D facilities in North America with more than 1,200 designers, support personnel, and engineers that are engaged in the development of automobiles, power equipment, and motorcycles products not only for North American market but also for distribution worldwide.

Georgia

Jason Moore asked:



Boosted by record sales of Acura light trucks and the TSX sports sedan, Acura posted June sales of 16,766 units, up 6.9 percent versus last year based on the daily selling rate. Year-to-date Acura sales reached 91,540 units.

Breaking the previous June record of 5,797 set in 2005, strong sales of Acura’s luxury SUVs combined to set a June record of 6,503 for total light trucks. The MDX luxury SUV continued to post sales gains, with June sales of 4,639 units, up 26.2 percent versus last year.

Aside from the RDX turbocharged crossover recording sales of 1,864 for the month, year-to-date MDX sales reached 27,027, up 9.9 percent.

The TSX sports sedan also set a June sales record, up 4.0 percent compared to 2006. TSX sales of 3,414 units surpassed the previous record of 3,162 vehicles set last June. Year-to-date TSX sales reached 17,421.

The TL performance luxury sedan posted strong June sales of 6,221 units, up 8.1 percent for the month. Year-to-date TL sales hit 31,035, making it the top-selling Acura model.

According to Dick Colliver, executive vice president of Acura, June marks the eleventh consecutive month of record Acura light-truck sales. “Our two new SUVs, combined with strong sales from a broad sedan lineup, put Acura in a strong sales position for the second half of 2007,” he said.

Meanwhile, Acura’s parent company, the American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted record June sales of 140,935 Honda (including Acura) vehicles, up 7.3 percent on a daily-selling-rate basis. American Honda year-to-date sales totaled 766,929, up 2.1 percent.

Honda Division posted record June sales of 124,169, up 7.4 percent compared to last year. The CR-V sold 19,715, up 53.2 percent, achieving its sixth consecutive month of record sales. The Civic posted record sales of 36,512, up 33.6 percent over last June. Civic Hybrid sales increased by 20.1 percent to 3,246, also setting a new record for the month. The Fit, up 44.3 percent to 5,613, broke its all-time sales record from May, 2007 of 5,361.

“The Civic and CR-V gained an incredible amount of momentum in the first half of 2007,” said Colliver. “We expect the small car and crossover SUV segments to remain strong for the second half of the year, putting Honda on pace for a twelfth straight record year.”

About Acura

Acura is the luxury vehicle brand name used by the Japanese car manufacturer Honda Motor Company in the US, Canada and Hong Kong since March 1986 to market luxury automobiles and near-luxury vehicles. The brand was introduced to Mexico in 2004 and to the Chinese market in 2006. It is also planned to extend Acura to the Japanese domestic market in 2008. With the Acura brand, Honda – maker of top of the line auto parts including the Acura catalytic converter, is credited with being the first to tap into a market for luxury Japanese cars outside Japan.

Sandra

Evander Klum asked:



A new owner of an Acura TL or RDX might think that his or her car’s performance is heavily dependent on great horsepower, high torque, and fast acceleration. Acura is known for its exceptional performance, as it has been thoroughly bred based on the Japanese automotive giant Honda. However, Acura’s engine performance and looks will only be put to waste with a lack of satisfying handling. Because of this, Acura’s researchers, designers, and engineers have painstakingly ensured that the carmaker’s vehicle suspension systems bring reliable handling and comfort both to the driver and passenger.

A good suspension system maximizes friction between the tires and the road surface. As mentioned earlier, it aims to provide excellent handling, good steering ability, and comfortable ride for the passengers. For it to work well, Acura’s suspension system rely on durable and dependable suspension parts. One of the Acura suspension system’s most important components is the Acura control arm.

Normally shaped like a letter A, the Acura control arm handles the motion of the wheels in relation to the body of of an RL or TSX. The control arm has two points, located at the bottom of “A,” attached to an automobile’s frame. The third point, on the other hand, is connected to the spindle. A faulty Acura control arm may result to a bumpy ride. As a result, long travels may cause debilitating experience for the passengers because of the vehicle’s excessive movement. This is especially true when traveling on rough roads. Using an automobile daily and on long hauls may also cause deterioration to the car’s suspension system.

Regular maintenance checkup on the control arms is strongly advised by automotive experts. Replacement is needed immediately, especially when certain suspension system parts like the Acura control arm get damaged or when found deteriorating.

Amy

Evander Klum asked:



Acura is seriously preparing for the much-anticipated 10th anniversary of 10-hour Petit Le Mans sports car classic which is happening today. So far, how far have they gone?

In an extensive practice yesterday, all three Highcroft drivers spent a significant time on the track and got a good taste of what to expect at today’s 1,000-mile challenge. Though the first session went smoothly, with Highcroft running in the top six, during the afternoon session, Acura ran into some grip issues, which slowed lap times considerably, reported Highcroft Racing.

In the evening during the third session took place in the evening, the team and car rallied and moved back up to sixth at the beginning of the session and dived further to 12th.

Robbie Kerr, who is driving at Road Atlanta for the first time, said that his time on the track today was “spent getting used to the feel of the car.” He was also concentrating on the flow of traffic and “learning where you can and can’t overtake the other cars.” Said Kerr, “It’s always frustrating as a driver because, of course, you want to go faster, but the traffic here plays a huge role in determining that. It will be interesting during the race to see who is going to last because chances are someone will get it slightly wrong and have an off day due to the sheer number of cars out there.”

David Brabham, who ran this morning and evening, said of the Acura ARX-01a,”After yesterday’s test, we were struggling a bit for grip. We found a bit more today, but we definitely have more work to do. It’s very difficult to get a clear lap around here because of the quantity of cars. You just want a clear lap to get a reasonable run, but that’s what it’s going to be like during the race. At the moment, we’re trying to get the best possible speed for the race and focusing on consistency and efficiency. We’re not the quickest out there right now but we know that when it comes to the race we’ll have a strong package.”

“All three of us wanted to get our required three dark laps in plus a few more just to get a feel for the car because we had had some issues in earlier practices. It looks like we’ve got the car working normally again after some problems we encountered in the past two days. We’re in good shape to have a strong car for qualifying tomorrow,” said Stefan Johansson, the final driver in tonight’s session.

How rigid was the practice? Well, it is very challenging to the Acura axle and other race parts. On Thursday, three separate practices were conducted with over 30 machines dicing through the north Georgia hills through which the Road Atlanta facility is woven. Morning, afternoon and evening practice sessions kept the drivers and crews busy attempting to find the fast line on the new racing pavement, Acura Motosports reported. Three Acura prototype teams, Andretti Green Racing, Lowe’s Fernandez Racing and Highcroft Racing, comprise the lineup for the automaker’s debut at the Petit Le Mans.

“The Acura has been very reliable all season. We have a good driver lineup and a very good crew. We have had our ups and downs this year as it has been a learning year for the Acura and AGR in sports car racing. Porsche has been racing in this form for decades. This is the debut year for Acura, HPD and AGR. We think we have a good car for Road Atlanta,” noted Bryan Herta, #26 XM Satellite AGR Acura ARX-01a.

Rick

Evander Klum asked:



The first drive with Acura RL will keep lovers of luxury and safety in awe. Boasting high performing Acura RL Parts, this model has been equipped with up-to-date automotive parts that other companies are still scrambling in over themselves to develop.

Starting from the key features of Acura RL, this wonder vehicle is the so-called flagship of the Japanese car company’s fleet. Manufactured with a 300-horsepower, V-6 engine, Acura RL offers not just cutting edge mechanical power but impressive car technology as well. Acura has been modifying commonplace standards in the automobile industry from the first day it launched its operations in the year 1986. One of these so-called innovations is the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD).

This technology allows sedan maneuvering to happen with greater convenience as well as ease, especially for those sharp and sudden turns on the road. The all-wheel drive system can transfer torque in the rear from left to right as well. This added bonus to the sedan does not only promote safety for passengers and drivers, it also enhances the Acura RL’s performance at the same time. Aside from the hardcore mechanical equipment this sedan has been geared with, other Acura RL Parts like the sedan’s interior components more than matches its superb performance on the road. This luxury sedan exudes comfort and style with accommodating interiors primarily outfitted with wood, leather, and metal.

As an addition to the countless wonders that this this luxury machine is able to afford, the Acura RL has been awarded with as the 2007 Rollover Five-Star Rating—just like another Acura model, TSX. Given by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this award only shows that the Acura RL was able to pass various crash tests like frontal, side, and rollover with high marks. NHTSA performs a car assessment on every new model before it comes out in the market. The seamless integration of luxury and technology is just one of the reasons why this Acura model is a big hit. Riding along the popularity of its European counterparts, the qualities of this luxury car, with its high-quality Acura RL Parts, all make this sedan a better choice over a great many others in the same queue.

Rafael

Sarah Mcbride asked:


Acura is setting a melodic addition to its conventional features and well regarded Acura auto parts. This is in a way of incorporating XM Satellite Radio in its 2007 lineup.
XM Satellite Radio is America’s leading provider of satellite radio. It has a total of 7 million subscribers in the nation. Said Radio Company is broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, and Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal.
To cater to a greater number of music lovers, Acura announced recently that it will expand the availability of factory-installed XM radios throughout its entire 2007 model year line, making XM standard equipment on all Acura models. Aside from that, Acura will also offer XM NavTraffic to its best-selling models such as the RL and TL luxury performance sedans and MDX and RDX luxury SUVs. XM NavTraffic is a part of the AcuraLink™ system, which is the first satellite-based real- time traffic information service in America.
It can be recalled that Acura was the first automaker to introduce NavTraffic. Said introduction was made to 2005 Acura RL. XM NavTraffic, an award-winning real-time traffic information system, gives car owner access to important traffic information to shun congestion so as to save time and fuel.
Steve Cook, executive vice president, Automotive, XM Satellite Radio said, “We’re proud to be Acura’s exclusive satellite radio and traffic service partner. Acura buyers embrace and expect class-leading, in-car technology and entertainment, and XM has the best combination of services to meet their high standards.”
John Mendel, senior vice president of automobile operations for Acura, also noted, “Acura’s 2007 model line is designed to deliver a memorable ownership experience, from contemporary exterior styling and performance to a technically advanced but user-friendly interior. Our partnership with XM Satellite Radio means that every Acura offers buyers a class-leading array of sophisticated satellite-delivered technologies—all designed to work together seamlessly while keeping passengers informed, entertained and in touch.”

Florence

Correy Putton asked:


With the rising popularity of sport utility vehicles, it comes as no surprise that more and more automotive giants have been coming up with more and more vehicle models for consumers to choose from. Acura, one of the more famous manufacturers of luxury vehicles, have now come up with the new MDX. This newest model is bigger, nastier and has a lot more oomph than its predecessor. The company is not only aimed for luxury customers but has focused on everybody who is in the SUV market. The new MDX comes with more technological prowess and Acura is hoping to grab the attention of performance enthusiasts. With the inception of this model in the increasing SUV market, more and more drivers can now enjoy the Acura experience leaving nothing to the imagination.

One of the more easily spotted plus points for this car is its drive smoothness; this has been brought to life because of the engineering efforts of the company. Added to that is, of course, the use of high performance Acura parts which gives this vehicle a smooth five speed automatic transmission. Even if you opt for the manual transmission, gear shifting is one of the more enjoyable pleasures this car brings to the table. This feature may, in fact, make performance customers take a second look at this new Acura model.

The acceleration of this automobile is one of the best in its class and with its 3.7 litre V6 engine, it can generate up to 300 horsepower at 6000 revs per minute, and can generate a torque of 275 lbs. ft. at 5000 rpm. All these power can be accessed by the driver thru the drive-by-wire throttle system incorporated into the vehicle by its makers. This smooth, controlled transition of all the awesome power of its engine to the wheels is one of the main reasons for that Acura experience - the smoothest drive on the part of this universe.

This meaner model of the MDX is designed to look more aggressive than its predecessor, but do not let that fool you, this may look like a car that can send you where the sun does not shine with its looks, but inside the vehicle, everything is a thing of beauty. You would not be able to leave this vehicle for long; you would be itching to drive it while sitting on one of the best car seats there is. It is one of those front car seats that you can sit on all day and not feel any uncomfortable results. To add to that comfort, the vehicle is supported by a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link suspension on the rear.

Gordon

Evander Klum asked:



Many of today’s automobile manufacturers have already eliminated distributors from the list of car components that they produce. Owners even detest distributors because of the propensity of such auto parts to deteriorate easily, causing serious problems in the engine systems. Acura, however, relies heavily on this part – which is perhaps the central figure of the ignition system.

Distributors are normally used in the ignition systems of virtually all older vehicles and in several recent ones. Vehicles with point-type ignition systems typically have distributors. Most modern vehicles utilize a distributor-less or electronic ignition system.

Acura’s distributors have two main purposes. First, these parts distribute high voltage pulses to the engine’s spark plugs in the right firing order. Second, they also trigger the high voltage pulses coming from the ignition coil. The first purpose is basically fulfilled by the Acura distributor rotor and the Acura distributor cap. The Acura distributor rotor is a rotating arm, driven by the engine camshaft, which is connected to the ignition coil. The Acura distributor cap, meanwhile, is a device or covering that contains the contacts for the spark plugs. As the rotor rotates underneath the distributor cap, it distributes the high voltage pulses from the ignition coil to the individual spark plugs in the right firing order. The other function of an Acura distributor is handled by the breaker points, cam follower, distributor cam, and condenser—all of which are housed in the bottom half of the distributor. These components perform the job of breaking the current to the coil, resulting to the coil’s release of high voltage pulses.

Acura distributors are mechanical components. Because of this, their various parts can easily succumb to wear and tear. The arching of voltage pulses from the rotor tip to the spark plug contacts causes the distributor cap and rotor to deteriorate early. Vehicle manufacturers avoid the use of distributors because of this ‘inherent’ problem. A damaged Acura distributor rotor or cap should be replaced immediately to avoid complications to the engine.

Marvin

Evander Klum asked:



Acura is known for offering an exhilarating driving experience. Its vehicles are packed with technology, and costs thousands of dollars lesser than its European competitors. Quality Acura parts play a huge role in sustaining this excellent reputation. One example of these quality parts is the Acura relay.

Invented in 1835 by Joseph Henry, the relay is an electrical switch that opens and closes through another electrical circuit. It was, earlier, operated by an electromagnet to open or close one or more contact sets. Acting as an electrical amplifier for an Acura vehicle, the Acura relay controls an output circuit of higher power than the input circuit. A typical Acura relay works for several different applications. First, it controls high-voltage with a low-voltage signal and a high-current with a low-current circuit. Relays also conserve energy, perform logic and time-delay functions, and isolate the controlling circuit from the controlled one when the two are at different potentials.

Connector failure is the most common cause of Acura relay-related electronic failures. Such problem occurs when the current flow through the relay heats up the relay, which in turn, heats up the connector. As a result, the connector looses its grip from the relay and begins to overheat. Eventually, the plastic around the connector will melt, leading to the Acura relay’s failure.

One example of an Acura relay is the fuel pump relay. By principle, a hot relay is a bad relay. In the first place, drawing high amount of current should not result to a hot relay. A relay failure in this situation can be attributed to different factors such as a cold solder joint, bad crimp joint, and bad relay contacts. A burnt smell and an engine that fails to start are the usual symptoms of a faulty fuel pump relay. An Acura relay failure may either be fixable or non-fixable so it is highly recommended to have the relays checked regularly to avoid irreparable damage.

Roland

Evander Klum asked:



Machines are made up of complex structures that work in unison towards a common functionality. This is especially true with today’s automobiles. Modern cars are engineered with intricate parts and accessories that are specifically manufactured as supplemental parts of a much larger framework. Major vehicle systems contain a set of very important components – so essential that lack of them would deem the automobile useless.

Construction of quality parts have long been the priority of car manufacturers. Acura — the luxury car making division of Honda in the Unites States, Canada, Hong Kong and in many other countries — is perhaps the most notable among the leading car manufacturers for producing a remarkable array of car parts and accessories. Hailing from the Japanese tradition of ingenuity, Acura offers a different class far superior than usual automotive norm.

Acura’s vehicles, from major components down to the smallest engine details, manifest astounding display of engineering prowess in the form of specially engineered parts.. One such part is the Acura transmission mount. Plainly speaking, transmission mounts are basically devices that connect the various parts of an automobile to its chassis or framework, much like how a joint connects different bones of the human body. They allow these parts to rotate and help keep them in their proper alignments. They also dampen vibration and noise, giving comfortable riding experience to the car’s driver and passengers.

Swift movement is the main responsibility of the Acura transmission mount. In an effort to strike a balance between performance and comfort, Acura designed their transmission mounts to function in accordance to the specifications of the Acura chassis. The chassis and transmission mount form the skeletal system of the automobile. It is important to have the appropriate auxiliary parts to ensure automotive stability. Acura transmission mounts are a great example of these.up to this task.

Zachary