Nov
28
Honda’s Sci-Fi 4wd In The Acura Rl/legend Fast Cars - Now
Filed Under acura | Comments Off
John Hartley asked:
Honda has come up with the most amazing 4-wheel-drive system, not for off-roaders but to improve the handling and stability of fast cars. It is being used first in the new Acura RL (Honda Legend).
Why is it so advanced? This SH-AWD system has the potential to increase cornering power and cornering safety by leaps and bounds. It will be ideal for supercars as well as luxury coupes.(More information about supercars at http://www.fast-autos.com/supercars.html )
First, it allows the amount of power sent to the wheels to be varied from 30% front and 70% rear to 70% front and 30% rear. True, some other systems get near that, but this allows the system to adjust itself to completely different conditions. On top of that, it can alter the torque from zero to 100% to the left or right rear wheel.
In other words, all the power can one to the right wheel one minute, and if necessary can be reversed so that all the power goes to the other wheel in an instant. This might be needed in slushy or snowy conditions, where there was a patch of bare road for a bit on one side offering good grip, but a bit later on a bare patch on the other side.
In addition to those features, the outer rear wheel can be speeded up so that it goes faster than the inside wheel! All done continuously depending on conditions. A few years ago this would have considered desirable, but science fiction.
More power to the rear wheel for acceleration
Confused? Well, let’s start with the front-to-rear power. When you accelerate, the weight of the car is thrown on to the back wheels by the force of acceleration, so you want more power to go to the back wheels – if it all goes to the front you get wheelspin. When cornering, you generally want as much or more power to the rear wheels. SH-AWD does that.
On the other hand, when you are cruising along, you want more power to the front wheels as this increases stability. SH-AWD also does that.
More power to outer rear wheel for better cornering
The side-to-side variation in power is used to improve cornering power and stability. For example, when you accelerate through a corner, extra power through the outer rear wheel counteracts understeer, letting the car corner on rails. In fact, stability control systems used on many cars now do this by reducing the amount of torque sent to the inner wheel – this means that you actually corner slower than you could do. SH-AWD lets you corner faster.
On the over-run, you don’t need that, and less power is sent through the outer wheel for optimum stability. But that isn’t enough because when a car corners, the outer wheels have to travel further than the inner ones – by 5-10% on very tight corners, so the outer wheel normally goes slower.
Honda overcomes this with some gears in the back axle gear set which actually drive the outer wheel faster when cornering! This improves maneuverability and cornering at low speeds.
Electro-magnetic multi-plate clutches
All this is accomplished by multi-plate clutches operated electro-magnetically – a world first – and the gear/clutch set used for acceleration. In fact, these gears also serve as the rear differential.
An advantage of the electro-magnetic clutches is that the electronic controller does not need to control a hydraulic actuation system as used normally but an electric actuator – this reduces cost and weight.
Is this the best thing since sliced bread? For the person who wants to have stability and control, and doesn’t want to know what is happening to the car -yes. Such a system is bound to reduce the input the driver gets from the road.
He will be less aware of whether the surface is slippery, or whether the car is understeering more than usual because the SH-AWD system is correcting things all the time.
Joann
Honda has come up with the most amazing 4-wheel-drive system, not for off-roaders but to improve the handling and stability of fast cars. It is being used first in the new Acura RL (Honda Legend).
Why is it so advanced? This SH-AWD system has the potential to increase cornering power and cornering safety by leaps and bounds. It will be ideal for supercars as well as luxury coupes.(More information about supercars at http://www.fast-autos.com/supercars.html )
First, it allows the amount of power sent to the wheels to be varied from 30% front and 70% rear to 70% front and 30% rear. True, some other systems get near that, but this allows the system to adjust itself to completely different conditions. On top of that, it can alter the torque from zero to 100% to the left or right rear wheel.
In other words, all the power can one to the right wheel one minute, and if necessary can be reversed so that all the power goes to the other wheel in an instant. This might be needed in slushy or snowy conditions, where there was a patch of bare road for a bit on one side offering good grip, but a bit later on a bare patch on the other side.
In addition to those features, the outer rear wheel can be speeded up so that it goes faster than the inside wheel! All done continuously depending on conditions. A few years ago this would have considered desirable, but science fiction.
More power to the rear wheel for acceleration
Confused? Well, let’s start with the front-to-rear power. When you accelerate, the weight of the car is thrown on to the back wheels by the force of acceleration, so you want more power to go to the back wheels – if it all goes to the front you get wheelspin. When cornering, you generally want as much or more power to the rear wheels. SH-AWD does that.
On the other hand, when you are cruising along, you want more power to the front wheels as this increases stability. SH-AWD also does that.
More power to outer rear wheel for better cornering
The side-to-side variation in power is used to improve cornering power and stability. For example, when you accelerate through a corner, extra power through the outer rear wheel counteracts understeer, letting the car corner on rails. In fact, stability control systems used on many cars now do this by reducing the amount of torque sent to the inner wheel – this means that you actually corner slower than you could do. SH-AWD lets you corner faster.
On the over-run, you don’t need that, and less power is sent through the outer wheel for optimum stability. But that isn’t enough because when a car corners, the outer wheels have to travel further than the inner ones – by 5-10% on very tight corners, so the outer wheel normally goes slower.
Honda overcomes this with some gears in the back axle gear set which actually drive the outer wheel faster when cornering! This improves maneuverability and cornering at low speeds.
Electro-magnetic multi-plate clutches
All this is accomplished by multi-plate clutches operated electro-magnetically – a world first – and the gear/clutch set used for acceleration. In fact, these gears also serve as the rear differential.
An advantage of the electro-magnetic clutches is that the electronic controller does not need to control a hydraulic actuation system as used normally but an electric actuator – this reduces cost and weight.
Is this the best thing since sliced bread? For the person who wants to have stability and control, and doesn’t want to know what is happening to the car -yes. Such a system is bound to reduce the input the driver gets from the road.
He will be less aware of whether the surface is slippery, or whether the car is understeering more than usual because the SH-AWD system is correcting things all the time.
Joann
Nov
27
Getting a New Car Vs. your Old One
Filed Under acura | Comments Off
Jerick Brooks asked:
To some, it may be inevitable that their Acura car repair and maintenance costs are already too high. There are several factors affecting this situation. It could be that the primary reasons for these costs are the Acura mufflers. But an evaluation process can help in determining whether to buy a new one or continue repairing the old one.
First things first; by yourself, perform an evaluation of your vehicle. Check the brakes, vehicle pull, automatic shifting, manual shifting, oil or fluid leaks, accessories, upholstery, inside trunk, wheel wells, under hood, tires, etc. If most are still functioning well, it means it is not yet time to replace your Acura car.
The next process is the determination of what future maintenance cost will or could be incurred when you buy a new one. Take your car to the mechanic and pay them to inspect all the items. The cost of these inspections should be fairly inexpensive, and the information they will provide will be more than worth the expense. Add up all recommended repair costs plus all previous repairs during the year. Divide this number by 12 to determine your average repair cost for the given year. However, this number will not include any breakdown or unexpected repairs.
Then, know the cost of your car. Trading in your vehicle for a new car is the easiest, but it will not bring in the most money for you. Compare properly the cost of your old car plus its maintenance cost and the cost of the new one you are about to buy plus the car’s “would be” maintenance cost.
When finally decided to buy a new car, in place of the old one, there are things to consider.
One is the used cars’ history reports. Never buy a used car without knowing its history reports such as accidents incurred, repairs, and damages even the minor ones. These might be a big reason for a high car maintenance cost when the car is already in your procession.
Another thing to keep in mind is the extended warranties or service contracts. If you’re shopping for new or used cars, you can protect yourself against most major repair bills by purchasing a car with good extended warranty. But don’t pay those high dealership prices just to get a little peace of mind! If you already bought new or used cars without getting an extended warranty, you can still purchase one as long as the vehicle is within certain mileage limits. Vehicles that are still covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty usually qualify for new car rates; vehicles with expired warranties are all rated as used cars.
Wesley
To some, it may be inevitable that their Acura car repair and maintenance costs are already too high. There are several factors affecting this situation. It could be that the primary reasons for these costs are the Acura mufflers. But an evaluation process can help in determining whether to buy a new one or continue repairing the old one.
First things first; by yourself, perform an evaluation of your vehicle. Check the brakes, vehicle pull, automatic shifting, manual shifting, oil or fluid leaks, accessories, upholstery, inside trunk, wheel wells, under hood, tires, etc. If most are still functioning well, it means it is not yet time to replace your Acura car.
The next process is the determination of what future maintenance cost will or could be incurred when you buy a new one. Take your car to the mechanic and pay them to inspect all the items. The cost of these inspections should be fairly inexpensive, and the information they will provide will be more than worth the expense. Add up all recommended repair costs plus all previous repairs during the year. Divide this number by 12 to determine your average repair cost for the given year. However, this number will not include any breakdown or unexpected repairs.
Then, know the cost of your car. Trading in your vehicle for a new car is the easiest, but it will not bring in the most money for you. Compare properly the cost of your old car plus its maintenance cost and the cost of the new one you are about to buy plus the car’s “would be” maintenance cost.
When finally decided to buy a new car, in place of the old one, there are things to consider.
One is the used cars’ history reports. Never buy a used car without knowing its history reports such as accidents incurred, repairs, and damages even the minor ones. These might be a big reason for a high car maintenance cost when the car is already in your procession.
Another thing to keep in mind is the extended warranties or service contracts. If you’re shopping for new or used cars, you can protect yourself against most major repair bills by purchasing a car with good extended warranty. But don’t pay those high dealership prices just to get a little peace of mind! If you already bought new or used cars without getting an extended warranty, you can still purchase one as long as the vehicle is within certain mileage limits. Vehicles that are still covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty usually qualify for new car rates; vehicles with expired warranties are all rated as used cars.
Wesley
Nov
24
Acura Tail Lights Fuses Style and Function
Filed Under acura | Comments Off
Glady Reign asked:
Style is now as important as efficiency in performance—this is true for vehicle parts, especially when one talks about the luxurious Honda make Acura. As much as the company has incorporated efficiency in the design of each and every single auto part Acura manufactures, the company also made it a point to put in style. This resulted to the production of auto parts that boasted both efficiency and character. One such part are Acura Tail Lights.
Tail lights of before were merely parts that just served to illuminate the road. That was it then. However, time made automakers realize that cars should also take on the looks of a new era, the character and spirit of the times. Hence, they started the production of tail lights that sported edgier looks than before. Since then, this Japanese automaker has been chiefly responsible for ushering in the arrival of trendier car parts fit to match the look and vibe of sporty, stylish cars.
Since the tail light is part of their vehicle’s lighting system, then it’s but natural that it contributes to the safety of both the car and the passengers. Acura tail lights are normally composed of frames, lens, bulb, and electrical wirings. These are placed at the outer rear ends of the vehicle and are principally responsible for lighting up the rear body panel of the vehicle. Acura tail lights could either be the turn signal lights, parking lights, or hazard lights. All these can be located quite easily at various auto parts online website. So if ever, car owners need to replace their Acura’s tail lights or for those who simply wish to upgrade their tail lights to better ones, no need to worry. With online sites for Auto Parts, finding that ideal tail light is certain to be a snap.
Steve
Style is now as important as efficiency in performance—this is true for vehicle parts, especially when one talks about the luxurious Honda make Acura. As much as the company has incorporated efficiency in the design of each and every single auto part Acura manufactures, the company also made it a point to put in style. This resulted to the production of auto parts that boasted both efficiency and character. One such part are Acura Tail Lights.
Tail lights of before were merely parts that just served to illuminate the road. That was it then. However, time made automakers realize that cars should also take on the looks of a new era, the character and spirit of the times. Hence, they started the production of tail lights that sported edgier looks than before. Since then, this Japanese automaker has been chiefly responsible for ushering in the arrival of trendier car parts fit to match the look and vibe of sporty, stylish cars.
Since the tail light is part of their vehicle’s lighting system, then it’s but natural that it contributes to the safety of both the car and the passengers. Acura tail lights are normally composed of frames, lens, bulb, and electrical wirings. These are placed at the outer rear ends of the vehicle and are principally responsible for lighting up the rear body panel of the vehicle. Acura tail lights could either be the turn signal lights, parking lights, or hazard lights. All these can be located quite easily at various auto parts online website. So if ever, car owners need to replace their Acura’s tail lights or for those who simply wish to upgrade their tail lights to better ones, no need to worry. With online sites for Auto Parts, finding that ideal tail light is certain to be a snap.
Steve
Nov
14
Porsche to Compete With Acura and Ferrari at the Lone Star Grand Prix in Houston
Filed Under acura | Comments Off
Jerick Brooks asked:
When it comes to racing it’s always been a question of the engine used and other power components that an automobile possess which extends up to the quality of exhaust systems employed. And one of the popular exhaust system utilized by some of the most powerful brands of automobiles in the industry may it be Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, or General Motors– is the flowmaster exhaust systems. The the flowmaster exhaust improves acceleration and passing power as well as improved fuel mileage simply perfect for any racing event.
And speaking of race, the American Le Mans Series heads toward the Southwest for round number four—the Lone Star Grand Prix of Houston scheduled this coming Saturday evening. The Porsche teams that were involved in both the LMP2 and GT2 classes are to face tough competitions on both the prototype and GT levels.
During the LMP2 class the Porsche RS Spyders have earned class wins plus an overall win in the past two street races however it was the Acura prototype that earned the pole at Long Beach and won the opening ALMS round at Sebring. In GT2, it was the new comer 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that finished second to the Ferrari in all three races. Porsche trails the manufacturers chase by only 12 points going into Houston. However Porsche Motorsport North America President Uwe Brettel would rather be way ahead in both categories but also stressed out the point that a close competition is good for the classes and equally good for the series.
It can remembered that last year both the Penske Porsche RS Spyders were not able to finish the Houston event due to the transmission problems caused by too much beating that the vehicles obtain from the bumpy track surface.
The overall victory achieved by Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard in the LMP2 class Penske Porsche RS Spyder was the second one-two overall finish in the American Le Mans Series obtained for Porsche. The same Dumas/Bernhard combination won the feat at the Mid-Ohio last year. This is also the first time for a manufacturer to sweep the overall podium in ALMS.
The Lone Star Grand Prix at Houston’s JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park will start on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 pm EDT and will run for two hours and 45 minutes. The race will also be telecast on CBS Sports on a tape-delayed basis at 1 pm EDT on April 29. American Le Mans Radio and IMSA’s Live Timing and Scoring will be available at www.americanlemans.com during the race while information on Porsche drivers as well as on the team is available at porschemotorsport.com.
Lester
When it comes to racing it’s always been a question of the engine used and other power components that an automobile possess which extends up to the quality of exhaust systems employed. And one of the popular exhaust system utilized by some of the most powerful brands of automobiles in the industry may it be Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, or General Motors– is the flowmaster exhaust systems. The the flowmaster exhaust improves acceleration and passing power as well as improved fuel mileage simply perfect for any racing event.
And speaking of race, the American Le Mans Series heads toward the Southwest for round number four—the Lone Star Grand Prix of Houston scheduled this coming Saturday evening. The Porsche teams that were involved in both the LMP2 and GT2 classes are to face tough competitions on both the prototype and GT levels.
During the LMP2 class the Porsche RS Spyders have earned class wins plus an overall win in the past two street races however it was the Acura prototype that earned the pole at Long Beach and won the opening ALMS round at Sebring. In GT2, it was the new comer 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that finished second to the Ferrari in all three races. Porsche trails the manufacturers chase by only 12 points going into Houston. However Porsche Motorsport North America President Uwe Brettel would rather be way ahead in both categories but also stressed out the point that a close competition is good for the classes and equally good for the series.
It can remembered that last year both the Penske Porsche RS Spyders were not able to finish the Houston event due to the transmission problems caused by too much beating that the vehicles obtain from the bumpy track surface.
The overall victory achieved by Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard in the LMP2 class Penske Porsche RS Spyder was the second one-two overall finish in the American Le Mans Series obtained for Porsche. The same Dumas/Bernhard combination won the feat at the Mid-Ohio last year. This is also the first time for a manufacturer to sweep the overall podium in ALMS.
The Lone Star Grand Prix at Houston’s JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park will start on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 pm EDT and will run for two hours and 45 minutes. The race will also be telecast on CBS Sports on a tape-delayed basis at 1 pm EDT on April 29. American Le Mans Radio and IMSA’s Live Timing and Scoring will be available at www.americanlemans.com during the race while information on Porsche drivers as well as on the team is available at porschemotorsport.com.
Lester
Nov
11
Sandy S asked:
I have an Acura Integra 95 LS SE ….. everything is in good condition…. car has 102 miles… how much should I sell the whole motor for?
Ben
I have an Acura Integra 95 LS SE ….. everything is in good condition…. car has 102 miles… how much should I sell the whole motor for?
Ben
Nov
4
What is a reasonable price to have a catalytic converter installed in a 1998 acura tl 2.5?
Filed Under acura | 3 Comments
Kevin T asked:
I took it to the Acura Dealership and they said about $1300, before i go out scowering the city to find a lower price, I’d like to know if this in fact is a reasonable price. Also I do not have the part, would it be cheaper to buy the part and take the car somewhere else?
Michele
I took it to the Acura Dealership and they said about $1300, before i go out scowering the city to find a lower price, I’d like to know if this in fact is a reasonable price. Also I do not have the part, would it be cheaper to buy the part and take the car somewhere else?
Michele
