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  • Acura ILX Concept previews a new entry level saloon

    In Acura, Cars, International News / By / / 26 comments

    At the recent Detroit show, Honda’s luxury brand Acura teased us all with the NSX Concept, but another showcar is much closer to the showroom than the supercar, the ILX Concept.

    Billed as the precursor to an all-new compact sedan, the production version of this will roll off Honda’s Indiana plant and is scheduled for a spring 2012 launch. Acura doesn’t call it “the new TSX” but since it will be “positioned as the gateway to the Acura brand”, a position the Acura badged Honda Accord Euro (that’s what the TSX is) now sits on, it’s either that or a new entry level model. The latter scenario will leave Acura with four sedans in its range.

    “The ILX Concept has a compact, yet formal proportion, targeting a very professional image. The Acura ILX delivers both, with a low and wide stance and a long nose and a short tail that are aerodynamically efficient, the ILX is immediately recognisable as an Acura,” said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio.

    The ILX will feature three different powertrains, including Acura’s first-ever gas-electric hybrid. The range starts with a 2.0-litre inline four, then a high-performance model with a 2.4L engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The hybrid in question is a 1.5-litre petrol engine plus electric motor combo. This should be largely similar to the 1.5 IMA with CVT pairing found in the Civic Hybrid.

    New features include a smart entry keyless access system and push button start, along with Pandora internet radio interface and SMS text message function. Front, side and curtain airbags, 4-channel anti-lock brakes and Vehicle Stability Assist will be standard, and Acura anticipates top ratings in both NHTSA and IIHS crash safety tests.

    I see a bit of Lexus IS and a bit of Nissan Fuga in the rear three quarters shot. Like it?

    Jon Ikeda reveals all-new ILX Concept
    Acura ILX Concept
    Acura ILX Concept

    Acura ILX Concept
    Acura ILX Concept

     

  • Acura NSX Concept previews next-gen Honda supercar

    In Acura, Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 38 comments

    Honda has unveiled its NSX Concept at the NAIAS in Detroit, effectively previewing the next-generation NSX, which is expected to enter the market in the next three years. The concept arrives wearing an Acura badge, and sports a hybrid drivetrain.

    The NSX Concept wears a mid-mounted, next-gen VTEC V6 engine with direct-injection, mated to a dual-clutch transmission, working in tandem with a 2 Electric Motor Drive combination that features a bilateral torque adjustable control system.

    Elsewhere, there’s a new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) drivetrain, which can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering, and Honda anticipates the system will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous AWD systems.

    The new NSX will be developed by Honda’s North American R&D centre, and will be built in Ohio, but the company states that the car will be pretty much a global offering, catering to sports driving enthusiasts throughout the world.

    “Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities,” Honda’s president and CEO Takanobu Ito said in Detroit.

    This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of, “the synergy between man and machine,” he added. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

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    NSX Concept
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    Acura NSX_5

     

  • 2010 Acura ZDX production car revealed!

    In Acura, Cars, International News, Videos / By / / 45 comments

    Acura ZDX

    Honda has released initial details on the new 2010 Acura ZDX, which is what Honda calls a four-door sports coupe. Honda will be positioning it between the MDX SUV and the RL sedan. The ZDX will be powered by Honda’s 3.7 litre SOHC i-VTEC V6 engine, producing 300 horsepower and 366Nm of torque, mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission which will hopefully later trickle down the product range into the Accord. The ZDX also features SH-AWD or Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. Only 3 photos of the production car have been released so far, which you will find after the jump along with some videos and a full photo gallery of the concept version of the ZDX which Honda revealed at the New York show.
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  • X6-like Acura ZDX “coupe” set for NYIAS debut

    In Acura, Cars, Concept Cars, International News / By / / 5 comments

    Acura ZDX

    Acura has given a name to its new 4-door “coupe” SUV which will rival the BMW X6 Sport Activity Coupe. A prototype version of the new Acura ZDX will be unveiled at the 2009 NYIAS on the 8th of April 2009, just over a week from now. Under the hood will be a 300 horsepower 3.7 litre V6 engine with 373Nm of torque which should be pit against the X6 xDrive35i, but no rival for the xDrive50i version in sight for now. Power for the ZDX will go to all four wheels via Honda’s SH-AWD system. So there’s no new Acura/Honda NSX, but instead they give us something like this.

    Look after the jump for 4 more teaser images of the ZDX.
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  • Teaser images of the Acura Crossover Concept leaked ahead of the New York Auto Show

    In Acura, Cars, Concept Cars / By / / 20 comments

    Yet again, thanks to the beauty of the Internet, we have some leaked teaser images to show you, this time, the casualty being a new crossover concept by Acura. The potential rival to the BMW X6 (if it goes into production) will make its first official appearance at the upcoming New York Auto Show.

    With a coupe-ish roof line, just like Munich’s X6, the concept is expected to feature bold styling with a wide and aggressive stance and with hidden rear door handles. Reports also indicate that the concept will carry Acura’s new grille design language.

    Power for forward and rear motion is expected to be supplied by a 3.7 litre V6 power plant that is able to churn out 300HP and 372Nm of torque. The Acura Crossover Concept is also expected to feature Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive System, also known as SH-AWD. Please continue reading to view more leaked teasers.
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  • 2009 Acura TL initial details and photos revealed

    In Acura, Cars, International News / By / / 21 comments

    2009 Acura TL

    The mid-sized Acura TL sedan receives a full model change for the 2009 model year. As you can see from the photos, the approach that Acura has taken with the fourth generation TL is far from conservative. It looks very decidedly Japanese and I’d expect such a production design to come out of Mazda’s design studios.

    The 2009 Acura TL will come in either front wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. The AWD system is Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system which can split torque in an optimum ratio between the front and rear axles and also the rear left and rear right wheels.

    The suspension rides on double wishbones at the front and multilink at the rear. Engine options will consist of the J-Series 3.5 litre SOHC V6 producing 280hp and 345Nm of torque, and a more powerful 3.7 litre V6 producing 305hp and 373Nm of torque.

    Look after the jump for a low-res photo gallery. Hi-res photos and full details to come later.
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  • New Acura TSX: US market Accord Euro

    In Acura, Cars, International News / By / / 14 comments

    New Acura TSX
    Click to enlarge

    Acura has released a single frontal three quarter photo of the new Acura TSX based on the new Accord Euro. While the new Accord Euro will be unveiled at Geneva 2008 in March, the TSX based on that car will be unveiled at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, also to be held in March.

    Under the TSX’s hood is a 2.4 litre i-VTEC inline-4 engine that puts out about 200 horses, should be rather similiar to the European engine. More details later when the car makes its public debut.

    Related Posts:
    New Honda Accord Euro Details and Photos Revealed

     

  • Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept

    In Acura, Cars, Concept Cars, International News, Videos / By / / 24 comments

    Acura says it’s Advanced Sports Car Concept which made it’s debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show gives a preview of the styling cues of the next generation Honda NSX, designed by it’s Los Angeles-based design team that will be based at the new Acura Design Center. Sleek styling cues include slim and wide LED headlights, a modernized wraparound rear light design and a long pronounced hood.

    Technical specs: the car will feature a front engined, rear wheel drive design, with a version of Honda’s SH-AWD modified to be rear-wheel drive only. First appearing on the 2004 Acura RL, SH-AWD, or perhaps SH-RWD as it should be named in this case, can adjust torque delivery 100% to either the left or right wheel. The engine is expected to be a normally aspirated V10. Other specs: a 2763mm wheelbase, 19 inch front and 20 inch rear performance tires mounted to custom billet-machined, polished aluminum wheels that hide powerful, ventilated carbon ceramic brake discs and eight-piston calipers.
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  • Acura Advanced Sedan Concept

    In Acura, Cars, Concept Cars, International News / By / / 15 comments

    aasc1.jpg

    Acura’s designers seem to have been going the opposite way of Bangleification – while everyone else are going for complicated surfaces, Acura have taken a few pages out of the Skoda design manual – the new Acura Advanced Sedan Concept looks like it’s made out of a few pieces of sheet metal welded together.

    According to Dave Merek, head of Acura’s new Advanced Design Studio in Los Angeles, the primary purpose of this concept was to produce a car which would look like an ultra luxurious sedan two generations ahead of current design languages. Merek and his team’s interpretation results in a sporty looking car that’s low in stance yet has a pretty high ceiling line, presumably to allow for greater interior room, with pronounced wheel arches that contain huge 22 inch wheels at the front and 23 inch wheels at the rear, and futuristic jewel-like headlamps and taillamps.

    More photos after the jump.
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