Posts for 'Acura' Category

We tested the Technology version, the model equipped with a whole range of goodies sure to please inveterate gadget lovers: navigation system, reverse camera, Bluetooth-enabled sound system and voice recognition. In these days of exorbitant gas prices, and seeing as the vehicle uses Super fuel, the Acura TSX's powerful 4-cylinder engine is appreciated.

A classic touch-The TSX's rather conservative style won't turn any heads, but its cloak of white doesn't go unnoticed. Its aggressive grille enhances its sporty look. Around back, the LED taillights conceal the car's curviness well. This luxury sedan boasts a spacious, 357-litre trunk.

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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.

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Asian automakers probably got a bigger sales boost than their U.S. rivals from vehicles introduced at the annual New York auto show.

New models from Asia included Nissan's latest Maxima, and the Fit small car and Acura TSX sports sedan from Honda. South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. showed a two-door version of its Genesis premium car, while Toyota Motor Corp. had a coupe that may be added to its youth-oriented Scion brand.

Models from Kia Motors, Mazda and Subaru also drew raves.

The new-model count at the show mirrors the rising fortunes of the Asians in the Northeast, as well as the total U.S. market. Asian companies accounted for 10 of the 20 vehicles making their global or North American debuts, compared with two from U.S. automakers, according to the show's organizers. Eight of the new models were European makes.

''The New York show has lost some of the allure for U.S. brands that it once had,'' said George Magliano, a New York-based analyst for research firm Global Insight Inc. ''It's still the media capital, but the biggest introductions for them are in Detroit, Los Angeles and Geneva.''

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When a car tells me to fasten my seatbelt in a polite but concerned way, I tend to obey. An incessant chime, I can ignore. Not so, when it is the feminine voice of a computer that just fears for my safety as I navigate the parking garage.

The 2008 Acura RL doesn't mind telling you what to do if it's in your best interest. But it also obeys instructions if you have the navigation system with voice recognition.

The system heeds 685 voice commands and has a destination guide with more than 7 million points of interest, 3-D graphics for freeway interchanges, on and off-ramps and turn-by-turn voice guidance.

Acura offers the RL in three trim levels. The well-equipped base version, priced at $46,280 rises to $49,000 with the Technology Package that includes Acura Satellite Navigation System and AcuraLink information system, Active Front Lighting System and plush wood interior.Though still lacking a V8 option that competitors offer, the sedan operates behind one of the best V6 engines on the market, the 3.5-liter, 290-horsepower VTEC. The V6 zooms eagerly and quietly from a dead stop, sending a peak 256 pounds-feet of torque to the wheels through a Sequential SportShift five-speed automatic transmission that can be manipulated through the shift lever or steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters.

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Acura's TL Type-S returned last year as a new vehicle, following a three year absence from the lineup and substantially spiced up the Acura stable offerings. There's still the basic TL model, which is pretty impressive in its own right, but which lacks the sportier, more performance oriented Type-S. There are really no options for the 2008 TL Type-S - it comes loaded to the gills, with only the destination and handling charge added to the base sticker tag.Performance improves upon the previous model TL Type-S, thanks to a 3.5-liter, SOHC VTEC V-6 with programmed multi-point fuel injection, and delivering 286 horses and 256 lb.-ft. of torque. The responsive motor hooks up to a five-speed automatic transmission featuring Sequential SportShift, Grade Logic Control and F1 paddle shifters. A close-ratio, six-speed manual gearbox is available and comes with limited slip differential.Audiophiles will relish the standard 225-watt DVD-A 5.1 ELS surround sound audio system by Panasonic, complete with an eight-speaker system, XM Satellite radio and hands-free phone connectivity utilizing Bluetooth technology. The audio system - which also includes with DTS, six-disc CD changer, AM/FM tuner and cassette player for an unprecedented level of audio fidelity - was developed by Grammy award-winning music producer Elliot Scheiner and Panasonic, utilizing six distinct discrete channels rather than the traditional two channels. The sound resolution delivered by DVD-A is 50 times greater than that of a CD. The system is comparable to enjoying a live, concert hall performance.

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Spotted being taken for a spin outside of the Honda facility in the United States is the all-new 2009 Acura TSX. The sports sedan has received several upgrades over its predecessor, including a substantial improvement in power. The styling remains largely unchanged, but they've tossed in a few things to make for a more aggressive look. The front end is heavily camouflaged, but you can sort of make out the new fascia beneath.The base model of the 2009 Acura TSX will get a revitalized version of the existing 2.4L four-banger, resulting in a power bump of around 20 to 30 horsepower. Where the real excitement comes is in the S-Type model. This car will get treated to an "uprated" version of the 2.3L turbo engine found in the Acura RDX. The net hp count here will 260+. It's also notable that the S-Type will ditch the FWD configuration in favor of SH-AWD.On a side note, the 2009 Acura TSX will be sold, after a few modifications, as the Honda Accord in Europe. Click through the link below for more spy shots courtesy of Brenda Priddy and Company.

The 2008 RDX receives a number of upgrades including standard Bluetooth HandsFreeLink connectivity (previously available only on the Technology Package), a two-way position driver's seat memory, an auto-dimming Day/Night rearview mirror, along with a new Polished Metal Metallic exterior color scheme. RDX's bound for Hawaii will now have access to the navigation system's 1.7 million city and street names along with access to AcuraLink satellite communication with real-time traffic. Upgraded for 2008, real-time traffic includes 32 new major metropolitan locations for a total of 76 major areas.The RDX is assembled in America at the company's Marysville, Ohio, auto plant. The RDX is built on the same assembly line as the Acura TL luxury performance sedan.Like all Acura models, the 2008 RDX is covered by a comprehensive 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and a 6-year/70,000 miles powertrain limited warranty. Additional ownership benefits include Acura Total Luxury Care (TLC), which provides free 24-hour roadside assistance, concierge service, and trip routing.

I drive a four-banging Acura myself. It's not the fastest car in the world, but it gets me from point A to point B without a little bit of zing. As the luxury wing of Honda continues to push further upscale, Acura is considering the implementation of V10 in their cars, instead of opting for V8s like most of its direct competitors.The company plans on "testing the waters" by placing a V10 in the next-generation NSX, an exotic supercar that will probably be based on the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept seen here. If the public receives those ten cylinders favorably, Acura may move to place V10s in some of its other cars as well, like the MDX or RL.Typically, V10s are only placed in the most expensive of sports cars. The closest to a mainstream V10-powered car is probably the BMW M5, but Acura may "use less powerful ten-cylinder engines in its more premium models." You have to ask, though, what's the point of that?

I took the RDX to my favorite triathlon, just over the border in Kenosha, Wis., followed by a weekend of camping at a state park another three hours away, so for once the car and I both got a good workout. The RDX was a nice companion, but not spectacular as a cargo vehicle. It doesn't offer more space or utility than others I've tested, so it's not the new champion, but there are some interesting twists to it.For starters, someone at the triathlon said it looked fast. It is. Especially with Sport mode engaged, there's enough oomph for passing and maneuvering on the highway. The best part is the whistling of its turbo — I could not get enough of that.It wouldn'€™t be my first choice for a car to take me to a race ... unless I were late, in which case the RDX would scoot right to the top of my list. But I write Weekend Athlete, not Boy Racer, so the RDX gets a 6.5. It'll take you to a race or campground quickly, and it's a lot of fun, but it's not overwhelming as a utility vehicle. With a base price of almost $33,000, I really can't say it's something a Weekend Athlete wants to put on the shopping list. If you'€™re a Weekend Athlete, you don'€™t need to spend all the money to get all the niceties and luxury features the RDX has.