Team Acura Parts Blog

What cars are the most appealing to female drivers?

In a recent survey on vehicles with the highest share of female ownership, 10 luxury vehicles are being tagged as the popular choice. Acura accounts for two of the 10 most female-owned luxury cars, according to the study conducted by the JD Power’s Power Information Network. The study was published in the September 20 issue of BusinessWeek.

The Acura TSX, which was launched four years ago, has been bought by 47.3 percent of the female market. Based on the European edition of the Honda Accord, the Acura TSX is a sedan designed to compete in the entry-level luxury sedan market. The TSX has a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 205 horsepower. It is described as a sporty sedan and is the least expensive among Acura’s sedans.

The Acura TSX

It is the relative affordability of the TSX that makes it appealing to female consumers. “The lower-priced segment is high-female. If you have a brand that is dominated by that segment, you’re going to see a lot of female owners, and Acura is one of the lower-priced luxury brands,” according to Tom Libby of J.D. Power’s Power Information Network, quoted in the same BusinessWeek article.

On the other hand, the Acura RDX is owned by 45.3 percent of all female vehicle buyers. Designed as a sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Acura RDX is a small luxury crossover sedan. Its 2008 model carries the first turbocharged engine of Honda, the automobile company that manufactures Acura vehicles. The RDX has a 2.3-liter, four cylinder engine that produces 240 horsepower.

The Acura RDX

According to the study, women purchased 37.3 percent of new vehicles in 2007 (until August). The results of the survey also show that not a single sports car made it to the least—strongly implying the gender difference when it comes to choosing cars to own. The lineup of the 10 most popular luxury cars also suggests that women tend to choose entry-level cars and small SUVs that prioritize safety, quality, reliability, and value. This is in stark contrast to male car buyers who mostly prefer sports cars over luxury cars, and speed and power over safety and comfort.

Source: BusinessWeek

What’s in store for Acura fans?

An expanded lineup of niche models, according to John Watts, product planning manager for American Honda’s struggling luxury-car division, in an Automotive News interview.

Honda, a Japanese automobile company, is the manufacturer of Acura vehicles.

The auto company’s game plan is to focus on models with narrower appeal such as the CL, MDX, and RDX models—instead producing cars that cater to a broad consumer base. A retractable hardtop vehicle may also be developed in the near future.

A new eight or 10-cylinder powerplant is also in the works, an article in Autoblog reported.

The next-generation Acura NSX model is set to get a V10, which will eventually be placed in other Acura cars such as MDX or RL. V10 engines typically used only for the most expensive sports cars. Acura is in the process of developing the new NSX and preparing the new TL, which will debut in 2009.

The Acura NSX is designed as the first of a new generation of sports performance vehicles from Honda.

Early in September, it was announced that the Super Handling-All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system would be available on the MDX, RDX, and RL models this year. The SH-AWD features the stability control inertial and driver input sensors.

Excellent performance. Fun to drive all-wheel drive SUV.

These are just some of the remarks by auto reviews on the latest Acura offering, the 2008 Acura RDX.

The Acura RDX is a small luxury crossover SUV that carries Honda’s first turbocharged engine. The new Acura car includes an all-new, 2.3-liter i-VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This comes with a five-speed manu-matic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

Following the trend of crossover vehicles, the 2008 Acura RDX offers sporty features inside the body of an SUV.

Dubbed as the “modern-day hatchback or (gasp) wagon,” the Acura RDX is seen as having an excellent cargo volume despite its size. About the size of a sedan, the 2008 Acura RDX has a length of 180.7 inches and volume of 60.6 cubic feet. This car is smaller compared to the midsize Acura TL sedan.

The RDX’s size in fact works to its advantage. The car is ideal for driving in a city environment, especially for families with small children.

The Acura RDX is also more fuel efficient than other sports utility vehicles, according to SearchChicago.

Performance-wise, the new Acura car surpasses expectations. SearchChicago notes that the Acura RDX performs like a sports sedan rather than a cargo hauler. The RDX is lauded for its superb road manners with a sporty suspension, stiff steering and excellent turning radius. It is also easy to park in the garage and can conveniently maneuver in narrow streets.

“The RDX looks like a pared down version of the MDX. The Acura family resemblance is there, but everything about the RDX is a little more muted than the MDX. The grille is less aggressive, and while the RDX also has a dual exhaust, the tailpipes are smaller,” according to a review in SearchChicago.

Auto site Edmunds.com cites the standard features of the RDX, which are outstanding for an entry-level crossover SUV. Among the commendable features are the leather seating, heated seats, xenon headlights, and a 260-watt audio system with a six-disc CD changer. The SUV also offers a navigation system (with voice activation), a Bluetooth wireless data link for hands-free phone operation, AcuraLink real-time traffic updates, and a rearview camera.

The luxury sedan Acura RL ranks first in the list of 21 safest cars of 2007, according to the data culled by Forbes.com.

The Acura RL is among the three car models that got the highest ratings for safety from the Consumer Reports, the Department of Transportation, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

The Acura car got Consumer Report’s thumbs-up for crash-avoidance capabilities. Apart from that, the Acura RL got perfect scores in crash test conducted by the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is the government agency responsible for reducing vehicular accidents. The RL also has a considerably lower-than-average rate of insurance injury-claim filings, according to the HLDI. The RL is priced at the minimum $45,780.

The 2008 Acura RL is an all-wheel drive with a 3.5-liter, V6 engine that generates 290 horsepower. Among the features of Acura’s flagship sedan are the navigation system, active headlamps, and real wood trim. These are available as an optional package called the Technology Package.

To land a spot in the Forbes.com list, a vehicle must satisfy at least two of the following criteria: Consumer Report’s highest-possible rating for accident-avoidance capabilities; perfect NHTSA crash-test scores across the board; perfect IIHS crash-test scores across the board, and a substantially better-than-average frequency of insurance injury-claim filings from the HLDI.

Consumer Reports is a publication of the Consumer Union, an organization that advocates consumer rights. The IIHS is a nonprofit and educational organization seeking to lessen fatalities caused by vehicular crashes. An affiliate organization of the IIHS, the Highway Loss Data Institute make studies on the ways in which insurance losses differ among different kinds of cars.

On the other hand, the Acura RDX is also picked as one of the 13 safest cars by the IIHS for 2007. The key safety feature of the Acura RDX is the electronic stability control (ESC). The ESC, which is a standard on the RDX model, keeps the Acura car from flipping over or going out of control during sudden maneuvers.

Acura once again outshine with the new 2008 Acura RDX CUV. The new model offers superb handling with the integrated Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) feature which allows precise distribution of torque to its wheels. This would associate to contain improved cornering and handling.

The hood incorporates enhanced parts to produce new performance and better effect to the Acura RDX. Acura RDX is the first turbocharged engine for a Honda or Acura street vehicle. The all-new, 2.3-liter i-VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder makes 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a five-speed manu-matic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

A person who sees the new model would assume that the RDX is built on a variant of the Honda CR-V platform. However, Acura claims that it is actually underpinned by an “all-new global light truck platform.”

Acura RDX also includes independent MacPherson struts on the front-wheels and the independent multi-link set up in the rear. It also has impressive disc brakes with anti-lock braking system.
The RDX will be equipped with standard front, side as well as side curtain air bags.

It is also related to last year’s concept vehicle, with a similar roofline, greenhouse, and C-pillars. The doors now have handles and the rear doors are more squared off in shape. The cabin also can be fitted with Acura’s navigation system with real-time traffic reports and an ELS DVD-Audio surround sound stereo system.

Another highlight in the RDX is the Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition that keeps every owner abreast of the traffic condition in the area he is driving on.

John Mendel, executive vice president of automobile operations for American Honda Motor Co., presents a more Acura and Honda distinction.

“Acura, in my mind, has always been a moon orbiting Honda. It benefits from everything Honda has but is still subject to all decisions Honda made,” says Mendel. Although Acura is young in automotive terms, it has left a difference especially in the past year. Acura has a separate research and design facility in Japan and a separate and distinct global design center in Southern California. Both are focused on developing a special kind of Acura for a customer that is different from Honda’s.

Though Honda and Acura customers may be related on some demographics, like age, they greatly differ in terms of psychographics. “Household income, interests, hobbies are a completely different psychographic. This is probably the first time we’ve taken a cohesive look at who is in the center of the bull’s eye for where the brand is going. That helps our designers, engineers and everybody who works on the brand now — and it helps they are not working on the Accord Monday, Wednesday and Friday and the TL on Tuesday and Thursday,” Mendel says.

“In some cases, yes,” responds Mendel when asked if Honda and Acura will continue to share platforms. “You can do amazing things with platforms – stretch them, widen them, lengthen them, use different engine configurations, get vastly different dynamics from a similar platform but deliver the attributes of the attached brand,” he continued. Additionally, future Acuras will highlight performance that drivers can live with every day.

OEConnection LLC, a provider of web-based technology solutions for the automakers and the company’s affiliated dealers, announces the alignment of American Honda Motor Company with OEConnection to provide the CollisionLink Internet-based parts ordering and fulfillment solution to Honda and Acura dealerships and their collision shop customers nationwide. American Honda joins 11 other automakers already associated with OEConnection that deliver advanced parts ecommerce technology that rationalizes the collision of original equipment parts procurement process.

This agreement creates a foundation for Honda and Acura dealers to apply OEConnection’s CollisionLink as a best way with the expectation of improving dealership efficiencies and facilitating the growth of genuine parts sales. The CollisionLink will associate Honda and Acura dealerships online to their wholesale parts customers. This would provide parts ordering tools to help build the business of clients.

“We are proud to work with American Honda in providing our collision solution to Honda and Acura dealerships. American Honda’s new relationship with OEConnection furthers CollisionLink’s business value, validation and importance in the marketplace, as well as confirms the significance of this technology for the thousands of dealers and collision shops already on board. We are confident our products will support Honda and Acura dealerships in enhancing parts department productivity, and facilitating increased original equipment sales opportunities leading to more profitable and successful businesses,” said Chuck Rotuno, OEConnection President & CEO.

The CollisionLink enables collision shops to have the parts orders to the supplying auto dealerships online. The hard-to-specify parts can be resolved since messaging and sending photos can be done. This would also enhance the customer communication and customer service. The technology helps dealers sell more OE parts, improve order accuracy and aids in reducing parts returns.

OEConnection provides the industry’s largest ecommerce parts exchange and analysis tools enabling users to better market, manage, move and purchase original equipment parts.

Honda is one of the world’s leading producers of mobility products including Honda’s diverse line-up of automobiles, motorcycles and ATVs, power products, marine engines, personal watercraft and now aircraft.

After Honda renamed the former Arrowhead Pond entertainment and sports venue in Anaheim, Calif. as Honda Center, the automaker asked its customers just like what they did with car owners.

Honda particularly asked what customers thought about the center’s name change. However, the company got more than what it asked for. Unexpected comments were given by patrons like ‘now that Honda runs the center, the food will be better and the bathrooms will be cleaner.’

“Now we’re being held responsible for hot dogs, beer, bathrooms and everything else,” John Mendel said as he read the survey responses. Mendel was promoted to executive vice president of automobile operations for American Honda Motor Co. this year. “But, that’s the power of the Honda brand. You put the Honda name on something, and there’s a certain level of expectation,” he adds philosophically.

Mendel does all efforts in protecting the Honda brands and delivering on customer expectations. And it is more to expectations of Honda and Acura car and truck owners than the quality expectations of Honda Center patrons for hot dogs and beer. But Mendel claims that both have improved.

“I wake up scared every morning of the enormous responsibility I have to care for these brands – Honda and Acura. Those before me have done a phenomenal job, and I want to do even more,” admits Mendel.

Tough competition and excellent manufacturers were already in the market for so many years but Acura has successfully made its name. Acura has been a line of luxury Japanese vehicles which was a first for a Japanese car manufacturer. It to overcome the common American and Canadian beliefs that Japanese vehicles are designed more for economy than luxury. The Acura Legend kicked off this movement in the mid eighties, and changed the Japanese car market forever with its refined classic styling, and impressive performance and handling.

Acura first introduced in 1989 the Acura NSX super car in all aluminum body. This made Japan took on the markets of Ferrari and Porsche with the sports car’s 276 horsepower. Presently, mentioning the NSX still makes some people quiver. For others wanting for less expense, having an Acura Integra is also excellent. The sporty exterior and lively interior of Acura Integra finds balance between economy and performance, with a nice heaping scoop of reliability to top it off.

A lot of ideas and enhancements came out that made the Integra replaced with the all new Acura RSX. It has an upscale sophistication, tuned suspension and swooped engine. It is then followed by an even more practical version which is the Acura TSX. It incorporates a European style, performance and engineering with the spaciousness of the automobile.

The Acura RL, the Acura’s largest vehicle available today, ups a few notches above the TSX. Aside from describing this elite class vehicle as a luxury, it also features an impressive sport package for handling and performance. It is even described with the word “comfort, convenience and sportiness”. Acura TL Features an air pressure monitoring system, engine control module, and 6 speed manual transmission.
In the US, Acura is especially popular with the tuner/performance enthusiast crowds. Generally, Acura parts are not only easy to obtain, but the performance of the upgraded Acura auto parts as well. Hence, building up a great tuner machine out of an Acura will be an easy achievement which is rather more enjoyable.

Acura is not only about super cars, sport coupes, and sedans, it also produces an impressive line of SUVs. Two of the Acura SUV made an impact in the industry and to the people as well.

The Acura MDX forefronts the luxury ends of things. It is a mid-duty family hauler designed for those occasional excursions into the wild. MDX has the enough power and torque that extend its service to get the driver in any destinations. It doesn’t leave the owner stranded unless in a very extreme off-road condition. On the other hand, the other Acura is considered as more of a tuned crossover impact. The Acura RDX, with its turbo-tuned engineering is considered as Acura’s matching part to the popular BMW X5. It is built to cruise the open highways and quite at home in both the city and country.
With special performance and action, the two Acura SUVs make a great choice as far as size and functionality are the deciding factors.

Even if Acura exists for a short time compared to other mature and long time car firms, it truly makes and builds Acura’s brand and reputation imprinted in the field of automotive industry.

A doubleheader will be showcased at Mont-Tremblant by the Touring Hankook Series and Québec GT Championship.

Under the Touring Hankook, Bruno Desfossés (Acura RSX Type-S) and Pascal Bastien (Honda Civic Si-R) will go for the title with only one point standing between them. Nigel Heron (Acura Integra Type-R) and Gilbert Tomaro (Hyundai Tiburon V6), sits in the third and fourth positions and will also have mathematical chances to be crowned this weekend.

Mathieu Audette (Honda Civic Si) and Jocelyn Hébert will try to make a record again. Audette is a Touring Hankook champion and a winner at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières last month. Hébert is a two-time champion in his Acura Integra Type-R. Benoît Gagnon (Honda Civic) and Dany “Babu” Bernier (Hyundai Tiburon V6), who are back after missing few races. Briefly, half of the drivers could score a win this weekend out of the 20 participants to take to the track in Touring Hankook.

In Québec GT Championship, six supercars have been entered in GT1, including Ontario driver Malcolm Strachan’s Chevrolet Corvette, Jacques Villeneuve’s Porsche 935 and track owner-driver Laurence Stroll’s Ferrari F430. Bernard Franke (Volvo S60 Challenge) stands a good chance to win a second title in-a-row in GT2. However, Normand Robert in Mazda RX-7 has won twice overall this season and will also race for victory. A good chance is also expected to other drivers like about George Moutafis (BMW 330i), Eric Leblanc (Subaru WRX STi) and Charles Hammer (Volvo S60
Challenge).

In GT3, Serge Lapointe (Volkswagen Corrado), Jean-Louis Arpin (Honda CRX) and Eric Durand (Dodge Neon ACR) are all going for the title. These drivers are all within seven points from one another. The Mont-Tremblant races will determine this year’s champion.

A doubleheader on the 22nd and 23rd of September will also be presented by Toyota Cup, Formula Tour 1600 and the German Challenge Series. All authorized by Fédération de Sport Automobile du Québec. All in all, spectators will have a chance to watch 10 races in the closing event of the season.