Autoblog reader Andrew Stump used some fancy photoshop work to create this rendering of a Royal Blue Pearl Acura TL Sport wagon.
There have been no rumors that the TL will be getting this type of treatment, but it seems the popularity of wagons and crossovers have been increasing the past few years.
It’s not hard to justify buying an Acura. It is the only luxury brand to receive five-star crash safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for all of its 2010 models.
This year’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study saw Acura jump to the 2nd spot all the way up from 14th in 2009.
The Initial Quality Study(IQS) is a measure of problems per 100 vehicles(PP100) reported after 90 days of ownership. Ranked 1st, Porsche received a 83 PP100 with Acura at 86 PP100. Honda took the 6th spot with 95 PP100, well above the industry average of 109 PP100.
This year’s report also saw the Acura RDX take the top spot in the Entry Premium Crossover/SUV segment and the Acura TL 2nd in the Entry Premium Segment.
J.D. Power also conducts a Vehicle Dependability Study(VDS) which measures problems over a 12 month period of 3 year old models. The 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study released in March had Acura ranked 10th(143 PP100) which was still above the industry average of 155 PP100.
The Acura ARX-01 used by Fernandez Racing to win the 2009 ALMS LMP2 title has finished first in its class and fifth overall at the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Strakka Racing’s HPD ARX-01 lead the LMP2 category most of the race challenged only by Highcroft’s HPD ARX-01. While trailing by only 2 laps, the Highcroft car was struck with a water pressure problem that kept it in and out of the pits for the final hours. They were eventually able to get the car back out finishing the race 9th in LMP2 and 25th overall. Second place in LMP2 went to the OAK Racing team who finished six laps behind Strakka.
Despite the water pressure issue that prevented what have could of been a 1-2 finish for Honda Performance Development, it was an impressive showing for its first attempt at the 24 Hours of Lemans.
The Acura ARX-01 now dubbed the HPD(Honda Performance Development) ARX-01 will make its first apperance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend.
After the Acura ARX-01′s success in the American Le mans Series, Highcroft Racing and British team Strakka Racing have both entered the car to compete in the LMP2 category. British team RML AD has entered its Lola HPD Coupe which uses the similar HPD LM-V8 engine.
The Highcroft and Strakka teams are favorites to win the LMP2 Class.
Acura Announces May Sales Results
Strong Demand for Luxury SUVs Helps Acura Sales Achieve a 24.3 Percent Increase
TORRANCE, Calif. – 06/02/2010
May sales of Acura light trucks delivered an impressive 70.0 percent increase compared to 2009. Led by the MDX luxury SUV with 4,064 units sold (a 65.5 percent increase), overall Acura sales were 11,766 for May – a 24.3 percent improvement. Year-to-date* sales for Acura were 50,278, an 18.4 percent increase compared to 2009.
“The MDX luxury SUV has long been a popular choice for buyers,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. “Significant changes for 2010 have made the MDX even more popular, making it Acura’s sales leader.”
The RDX crossover SUV sold 1,513 units, an increase of 50.7 percent. The TSX sports sedan generated a 13.9 percent sales increase with 2,808 units sold. The TL performance luxury sedan sold 2,925 units, down 13.3 percent.
For media information and high-resolution photos of all Acura vehicles, please visit www.acuranews.com. For consumer information, please visit www.acura.com.
*Year-to-date sales based on 126 days for 2010 versus 127 days for 2009. The daily selling rate is calculated with 26 selling days for both May 2010 and May 2009.
American Honda Vehicle Sales For May 2010
Month-to-Date
Year-to-Date
May
May
DSR**
May
May
DSR**
2010
2009
% Chg.
2010
2009
% Chg.
Acura Division Total
11,766
9,469
24.3%
50,278
42,802
18.4%
RSX
0
0
0
0
TL *
2,925
3,375
-13.3%
14,080
14,518
-2.2%
TSX
2,808
2,466
13.9%
12,416
12,150
3.0%
RL
151
169
-10.7%
709
926
-22.8%
MDX *
4,064
2,455
65.5%
16,683
11,118
51.2%
ZDX *
305
0
1,134
0
RDX *
1,513
1,004
50.7%
5,256
4,090
29.5%
Selling Days
26
26
126
127
* Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts. Accord includes Crosstour, Hybrid.
** Daily Selling Rate
*** Accord Crosstour sales are recorded in Honda total truck sales and Honda domestic truck sales.
Acura Announces April Sales Results Overall Acura Sales Up 21.6 Percent
TORRANCE, Calif. – 05/03/2010
Acura sales for April were 10,719 (a 21.6 percent increase) while year-to-date** sales were 38,512 – up 16.7 percent compared to 2009 based on Daily Selling Rate*. Acura’s line of luxury SUVs continued to post impressive sales with a monthly gain of nearly 60 percent. The best-selling Acura for April was the MDX luxury SUV with 3,714 units sold, a 58.9 percent increase. The RDX crossover SUV sold 1,168 units, posting a sales gain of 57.8 percent.
“The fresh new styling of the MDX and RDX is proving popular with customers,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. “Combining a smart blend of looks, performance and utility, Acura’s luxury SUVs continue to succeed within a competitive category.”
Acura car sales were led by the TL performance luxury sedan with 2,842 units sold, down 8.5 percent. The TSX sports sedan tallied 2,607 units sold, an increase of 7.3 percent.
For media information and high-resolution photos of all Acura vehicles, please visit www.acuranews.com. For consumer information, please visit www.acura.com.
*The daily selling rate is calculated with 26 selling days for both April 2010 and April 2009.
**Year-to-date sales based on 100 days for 2010 versus 101 days for 2009.
American Honda Vehicle Sales For April 2010
Month-to-Date
Year-to-Date
April
April
DSR**
April
April
DSR**
2010
2009
% Chg.
2010
2009
% Chg.
Acura Division Total
10,719
8,813
21.6%
38,512
33,333
16.7%
RSX
0
0
0
0
TL *
2,842
3,105
-8.5%
11,155
11,143
1.1%
TSX
2,607
2,429
7.3%
9,608
9,684
0.2%
RL
154
202
-23.8%
558
757
-25.6%
MDX *
3,714
2,337
58.9%
12,619
8,663
47.1%
ZDX *
234
0
829
0
RDX *
1,168
740
57.8%
3,743
3,086
22.5%
Selling Days
26
26
100
101
* Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts. Accord includes Crosstour, Hybrid.
** Daily Selling Rate
*** Accord Crosstour sales are recorded in Honda total truck sales and Honda domestic truck sales.
