Launching its second major new model in only three months, the East Liberty Auto Plant today started mass production of the all-new 2013 Acura RDX. The popular luxury crossover SUV will go on sale at Acura dealerships nationwide next month.
Acura dealers, local community leaders and public officials joined associates at the plant today as the first mass-produced 2013 Acura RDX rolled off the assembly line. Also on hand for the line-off event was John Mendel, executive vice president of sales at American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
“Acura is a brand for luxury customers who aspire to the highest levels of quality and value, and the East Liberty team is going to play a very important role for us as we move forward with production of this exceptional new Acura RDX,” Mendel said. “We know the East Liberty plant is one of the best in the world, as is evident by your high quality rankings.”
TopSpeed renders a roadster version of the NSX Concept based on recent patent sketches and spyshots from the Avengers movie set. The look works well with the design of the concept, only time will tell if Acura will actually build an open-top version of the NSX.
Visit topspeed.com for the high resolution download.
Acura is ranked in the top five and still above the luxury brand average in J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study. Scoring 838 points out of a possible 1,000, Acura retains its fourth place position out of 12 nameplates in the luxury segment.
“The study examines satisfaction among vehicle owners who visit a service department for maintenance or repair work. The CSI rankings are based on dealer service performance during the first three years of new-vehicle ownership, which typically represents the majority of the vehicle warranty period. Five measures are examined to determine overall customer satisfaction with dealer service (listed in order of importance): service quality; service initiation; service advisor; service facility; and vehicle pick-up.”
Acura Enthusiast Tyson Hugie was invited to Acura headquarters in Torrance, California to learn more about the ILX directly from the design team. Hear him discuss the ILX’s exterior and interior design in the videos below.
Today the NSX Concept made its European debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in the form of a Honda. The eventual Acura and Honda models should essentially be the same, aside from the badging and minor cosmetic details. See below for the press release from Honda Europe and some new images and video of the Honda badged NSX Concept.
Honda presents the new Honda NSX Concept for the first time in Europe, highlighting the design and technology direction for the next-generation supercar.
The dynamically-styled NSX Concept gives an indication of the next great performance vehicle from Honda. Making use of lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine, the NSX Concept employs several new technologies, including an innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system.
Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd, who was part of the development team of Honda’s first NSX supercar, recently explained the values of the new NSX, “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.”
While most supercars opt for brute force delivered from a large engine, the NSX Concept represents the true racing philosophy of an extremely favourable power-to-weight ratio.
Utilizing a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system, the new hybrid all-wheel-drive system can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering, which Honda anticipates will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous AWD systems. In addition to the handling benefits of the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, a powerful next-generation VTEC V-6 engine with direct-injection, works in concert with a dual clutch transmission and a third electric traction motor integrated within the transmission housing, to create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.
This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of, “the synergy between man and machine,” added Ito. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”
The new NSX, which is expected to go on sale in the next three years, will be developed by Honda R&D Americas and manufactured in Ohio, USA and is targetted for true sports driving enthusiasts throughout the world.
A few wireframe sketches of a possible future NSX Roadster have recently emerged on the web. The images coming from the European Patent Office show a roofless NSX Concept almost identical to the one we’ve seen spied on the Avengers set.
There isn’t much more information on the patents, but you can see the roadster on the big screen May 4th when the Avengers is finally released.
Acura Announces February 2012 Sales Results
MDX Leads Monthly Sales, But Car Sales Still Best For Acura
03/01/2012 – TORRANCE, Calif.
Acura’s line of sedans again led overall sales in February with 6,612 units sold, up 26.0 percent based on Daily Selling Rate* (DSR). While the TL performance luxury sedan was up 26.0 percent, the TSX sports sedan edged out the TL as Acura’s top selling car. Acura light truck sales were 4,646 (down 17.2 percent) led by strong sales of the MDX luxury SUV. Total monthly sales for Acura were 11,258 units (up 0.1 percent) while year-to-date** sales totaled 19,639 (up 2.6 percent).
“2012 is starting off strong for Acura,” said Jeff Conrad, Acura vice president of sales. “With a new RDX and an all-new ILX arriving in the Spring, Acura sales are expected to increase significantly.”
In February, Acura’s best selling car was the TSX sports sedan with 3,373 units sold (up 15.9 percent) which was a monthly record for February sales. The TL performance luxury sedan closely followed the TSX in sales with 3,211 units sold, up 26.0 percent.
The MDX luxury SUV once again remained Acura’s best selling model in February with 3,583 units sold, down 10.5 percent based on DSR. The RDX crossover SUV was Acura’s next best selling light truck with 1,007 units sold, a decrease of 28.1 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 (DSR) is calculated with 25 selling days for February 2012 and 24 selling days for February 2011. **Year-to-date sales based on 49 days for 2012 and 48 days for 2011.
American Acura Vehicle Sales For February 2012
Month-to-Date
Year-to-Date
February
February
DSR**
February
February
DSR**
2012
2011
% Chg.
2012
2011
% Chg.
Acura Division Total
11,258
10,796
0.1%
19,639
18,757
2.6%
TL
3,211
2,447
26.0%
5,494
4,039
33.2%
TSX
3,373
2,794
15.9%
5,639
4,735
16.7%
Memo: TSX Wagon
380
383
-4.8%
581
588
-3.2%
RL
28
168
-84.0%
61
328
-81.8%
MDX
3,583
3,845
-10.5%
6,444
6,972
-9.5%
ZDX
56
198
-72.8%
110
346
-68.9%
RDX
1,007
1,344
-28.1%
1,891
2,337
-20.7%
Selling Days
25
24
49
48
* Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts. ** Daily Selling Rate
NOT HAPPY! To Acura: PERFECT! Kill your best sellers, rename your screw-up redesigns, expect higher sells from the wrong market, and abandon... – May 16, 8:40 PM
Dennis So the TSX is going to be dropped? The more and more Acura's talking heads speak on things, the more... – May 16, 3:02 PM
