Acura line up

Acura http://www.acura.com (Japanese: アキュラ, Akyura) is a brand of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. It primarily competes with Lexus, Infiniti and Cadillac among others as a certified luxury vehicle. It has been used in the US, Canada and Hong Kong since March 1986 to market Honda's performance automobiles and near-performance 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 two years from 2008 or so. With the Acura brand, Honda is credited with being the first to tap into a market for luxury Japanese cars outside Japan. Before Acura, automobiles exported from Japan were primarily economical in design and largely targeted at low-cost consumers.

In 1986, following a decade of research, Honda opened 18 all-new dealerships in North America to support its Acura automobile division. Acura was the first Japanese luxury brand to appear, and its initial offerings consisted of four models: the Legend, a V6-powered coupe and sedan, and the Integra, available as a five-door and three-door hatchback, as well as a sedan. The success of these models led to competing Japanese luxury brand ventures (Toyota's Lexus and Nissan's Infiniti).


MDX

The Acura MDX (Honda MDX in Japan and Australia) is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Acura since the 2001 model year. The MDX is the first crossover SUV to have third-row seating. It is built by Honda of Canada Manufacturing Ltd. in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. It was introduced in late 2000 as a 2001 model, replacing the slow-selling US-only SLX, based on the Isuzu Trooper. In Japan, it filled a gap when the Honda Horizon (also based on the Trooper) was discontinued in 1999. In 2003, the MDX went on sale in Japan. The 2008 Acura MDX has some improvements over the 2007 model, the 2008 MDX now has an enhanced AcuraLink coverage that now covers 76 markets (up from 38 in 2007), a navigation system that can now work in Hawaii, an enhanced automatic day/night mirror, a new interior colour, Taupe, and one new colour.


RDX

The Acura RDX is Acura's first compact luxury crossover SUV. Originally previewed as the Acura RD-X concept car, the production RDX had its debut at the 2006 New York Auto Show and went on sale on August 11, 2006.

The RDX takes over from the MDX as Acura's entry-level crossover SUV, as the MDX continues to grow in size and price. Although the dimensions of the vehicle are similar to that of the Honda CR-V, Acura claims the RDX uses a unique platform developed to handle the vehicle's advanced all-wheel drive system. Sales have been slow. 3832 units have been sold in the first two months of 2007 which is below forecast. Incentives will be offered to help sales.

The RDX is powered by Acura's first turbocharged gasoline engine. The 2.3-liter I4 K23A1 engine has all-aluminum construction, an i-VTEC head, and dual balance shafts. Acura's variable flow turbocharger reduces turbo lag by using a valve to narrow the exhaust passage at low rpm, increasing the velocity of the exhaust flow and keeping the turbine spinning rapidly. At higher rpm, the valve opens to allow more exhaust flow for increased boost. The engine also features a top-mounted intercooler which receives air from the grille, channeled by ducting under the hood. The Acura RDX engine is rated at 240 bhp (179 kW) @ 6000 rpm with a torque peak of 260 lb·ft (353 N·m). @ 4500. The EPA estimated fuel mileage is 19 city and 23 highway miles per gallon. New more realistic EPA mileage estimates as of February 2007 are 17 city and 22 highway. With a heavy foot, one tester got 11 mpg in the city.


CSX

The Acura CSX is an Acura badged version of the Japanese 8th generation Honda Civic that replaces the Acura EL as Acura's entry-level luxury car. It is essentially a luxury version of the Honda Civic, with extra length added to it. It is only available in Canada. Like the EL, it is built in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. And the CSX isn't to be confused with the Shelby CSX. The CSX went on sale in November 2005 as a 2006 model. The CSX is the first Acura model with two predecessors, since the CSX's predecessors were the Integra sedan (1986-1996) and the EL (1997-2005).

The CSX also carries over features from the JDM Civic, most notably the 2.0 L DOHC i-VTEC engine rated at 155 hp (116 kW) @ 6000 rpm and 139 ft·lbf (188 N·m) @ 4500 rpm. Also carried over from the JDM Civic are the front and rear fascias and the steering wheel (also used in the USDM Civic Si and Euro Civic). Other features include paddle shifters as an option for automatic transmission models, leather interior, heated front seats, interior illumination (ignition lock, driver's power window and mirror switches, steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, glove compartment, ambient), optional navigation system on the Technology package, integrated turn signals in power door mirrors, high-intensity discharge headlights on the Technology model.

The resulting car is 62 kg (140 lb) to 88 kg (190 lb) heavier than the Civic EX sedan, with fuel consumption raised to 8.7 L/100 km (27 mpg–U.S. / 32 mpg–imp) city, 6.4 L/100 km (37 mpg–U.S. / 44 mpg–imp) highway for manual model; and 9.5 L/100 km (25 mpg–U.S. / 30 mpg–imp) city, 6.5 L/100 km (36 mpg–U.S. / 43 mpg–imp) highway for automatic model.

Note: The CD player is housed under the flip down screen with the navigation system.

In 2007, Automatic transmission, digital audio card reader are only offered with Navigation package.

For 2008, leather interior with heated front seats, tire pressure monitoring system, and vehicle stability assist with traction control are now standard on the base model, the six-disc CD changer has been abolished, the Premium package was renamed the Technology package and XM Satellite Radio (with body-colored roof antenna) was added as an option on the Technology package.


TSX

The Acura TSX is an automobile manufactured by Honda, introduced in April 2003, sold in North America.

Sold in North America under the Acura name, it filled the gap as Acura's 4-door, entry-level sedan since the demise of the Integra sedan in 2001. The TSX is badge engineered from the CL-series Honda Accord sold in Europe, Japan and Australia. However, the TSX had a restyled interior and different suspension tuning when it was introduced. The interior is now standardized for all three markets. As of 2006, the TSX is the smallest sedan in the Acura model line, other than the Civic-based CSX sold only in Canada. Prices range from US$27,890 - $29,890. All TSXs were built in Saitama, Sayama, Japan. In the Australian & New Zealand markets, Honda sells the car as the Accord Euro, a smaller mid-size car, where the USDM Accord is sold in the large car category.

The 2006 model year TSX's powertrain is comprised of a 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission (which features a magnesium casing, to reduce weight), and a front wheel drive layout. A five-speed automatic transmission is optional and does not incur extra cost in the U.S. based on MSRP. Such is not the case in Canada. The engine, the K24A2, is related to the engine in the Honda Accord (7th generation), the Honda CR-V, the Honda Element, and a smaller version in the Acura RSX and RSX Type-S. The K24A2 features intelligent variable valve timing i-VTEC and produces 205 horsepower (150 kW) in this iteration.

The TSX's suspension setup of a double wishbone front and a multi-link in the rear was especially tuned by the Honda engineers to maximize handling and cornering speed.

In 2006, the TSX was updated with slight tweaks to the engine (adding 5 hp); a sportier exterior styling featuring a slightly new front and rear treatment, standard side skirts, and standard, integral fog lights; and restyled wheels. State of the art interior features have been added, including a Multi-information Display (MID) in the instrument panel, more standard safety features, and luxury features such as an auxiliary MP3 player input and Bluetooth-compatible HandsFreeLink.

In 2007, besides a new Tire Pressure Monitoring System and an improved electronic rear view mirror, the TSX is the same.

The 2008 model year brings a few additional features and a new colour to the TSX.

In testing conducted by the United States based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Acura TSX received an overall rating of Poor rear crash protection, an overall rating of Good for frontal offset testing, and an overall rating of Acceptable for side impact testing.


TL

The Acura TL is a mid-size luxury car from Honda's Acura brand. It was introduced in 1996 to supplant the Acura Vigor and was rebadged for the Japanese-market from 1996 to 2000 as the Honda Inspire and from 1996 to 2004 as the Honda Saber. The TL is Acura's best-selling model, and it is the second best-selling luxury sedan in the United States behind the BMW 3-Series. The 2008 TL features an improved new immobilizer system, a separate Tire Pressure Monitoring System warning lamp and two new body colours. The navigation system has been updated to work in Hawaii, and the AcuraLink has been expanded to incorporate 76 markets (up from 38 markets for the 2007 model).


RL

The Acura RL is the top-of-the-line sedan in the range of Honda's North American luxury brand Acura. It is a rebadged version of the fourth-generation Honda Legend and replaced the Acura Legend in 1996.

All Acura RLs are built in Saitama, Japan. The very first Acura RL rolled off the assembly line on January 4, 1996.

A revised car, known internally as "KB1", was launched in late 2004 for the 2005 model year, and is much reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Still without the much-rumored V8 engine, it features a sophisticated all-wheel drive system Acura calls "Super Handling All-Wheel Drive". It integrates active differentials with the all-wheel drive system and traction control to improve handling, similar to the "ATTS" system featured on the 1997 Honda Prelude SH. This all-wheel drive system was lauded by Popular Science as one of the best automotive innovations of 2004, and earned the 2005 "Tech car of the year" from cnet.com.

The 225 hp (168 kW) 90° C-series V6 engine was replaced with a new 60° J-series 3.5 L engine delivering 300 hp (224 kW; later revised to 290 hp due to new SAE testing procedures). To give the car a more sporty feel, the car features a five-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel in the current, racing-car derived fashion. Other features found on the 2005 RL include DVD-Audio, XM Nav-Traffic (real-time traffic monitoring utilizing XM Satellite radio), as well as extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber. Pricing is up to US$49,100 without destination.

The third-generation RL appeared on Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 2005.

For 2006, the Acura RL was also sold with the optional 'Technology Package' including features such as adaptive cruise control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, and Michelin PAX run-flat tires. The previously standard color-matched mud guards were deleted in 2006.

In addition to the base trim level, the 2007 Acura RL was available with the Technology Package or the Technology and CMBS/PAX Packages.
The facelfted 2009 Acura RL luxury sedan made its world debut at the Chicago Auto Show on February 6th, 2008.