Team Acura Parts Blog

Acura is still hopeful despite the low sales of its top-of-the-line Acura RL last 2007 which only amounted to around 6,000 units sold. But despite that, the automaker still continues to offer its 2008 Acura RL which is offered in three trim levels. There’s the base version which is already well equipped and priced at $46,280.And there’s also the Acura RL with the Technology Package which is priced a $49,000.

The Technology Package of the Acura RL is packed with a lot of great technological features which range from Acura Satellite Navigation System and AcuraLink information system to Active Front Lighting System and a luxurious wood interior.

However, the only engine option for the 2008 Acura RL is the 3.5-liter V6 VTEC engine. But even though it does not offer a V8 engine option like most of its competitors, the V6 engine is already a capable enough engine that provides 290 horsepower. Also its engine is mated to a SportShift five-speed automatic transmission, so one can be sure that the V6 can zoom eagerly and quietly from a dead stop a it sends a peak of 256 pound-feet of torque to the wheels. This transmission box can also be manipulated with the use of the shift lever or the steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters.

The 2008 Acura RL is already an all-wheel-drive vehicle and this system splits torque not only between the front and rear wheels but between the left and right rear wheels as well. When the Acura RL is under hard acceleration, about 70 percent of the torque available goes to the rear wheels just so the car can have an improved traction. And to have a better handling, the outer wheel turns at a higher speed when cornering.

The model’s independent suspension system which balances the road feel and cabin cushioning is impressive, somewhat even close to perfection, providing passengers with a comfortable and relaxing ride.

With regard to comfort features, the 2008 Acura RL has a few to be proud of. It has an eight-way adjustable seat for the driver and the front passenger gets a four-way power seat. Rear passengers also get comfort from the center armrest and they have their own setoff ventilation system controls. And for entertainment, this Acura model is equipped with the Acura/Bose sound system which is laudably audible because of its 10 speakers. For music variety, this sound system also has a six-disc changer and AM/FM/XM satellite radio.

Next year, Honda will be releasing its first U.S diesel engine and it will be first equipped in the redesigned TSX sedan of its luxury brand, Acura.

Just recently, the Chief Executive Officer of Honda Motor Corporation, Takeo Fukui, announced that Honda’s first U.S diesel will be put first on an Acura. Although it was not disclosed which Acura vehicle will be equipped with the diesel engine, Honda sources are saying that the Acura TSX will be the one to get the diesel engine.

As a matter of fact and perhaps due to preparation for its having the diesel engine, the Acura TSX will be redesigned this coming spring. But initially, it may be powered by the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the same one equipped in the RDX small crossover. And the diesel engine will only be put in the TSX by 2009.

Dick Coliver, the Executive Vice President of American Honda Corporation, said, “All along, we’ve said there would be a diesel in Acura. The whole direction is to separate Acura and Honda more. In five to six years, Acura will be a tier 1 luxury brand. The face of Acura will be totally different.”

The i-DTEC clean diesel engine of Honda which is a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine which will be available in Europe this summer on the redesigned Honda Accord. The European Honda Accord is actually just like the Acura TSX.

By 2010, Honda will launch a V6 diesel engine and this will most likely be fitted into Acura’s mid-size sedan, Acura TL, and into the MDX crossover as well. Of course, other Honda vehicles will have this engine under their hood as well.

Although Acura’s sales last year 2007 were down by 10.5 percent to 180,104 units, Colliver remains hopeful that Acura sales this year will be up by at least 200,000 units.

Colliver said, “We get the TSX in the spring and the new TL in the fall. We knew going into 2007 that we were facing tough times because the product line was aging, and there was a lot of new competition. To compete with BMW, we must build cars in those segments. We need more crossovers and an image car.”

Colliver admitted that Acura’s top-of-the-line RL sedan “was the wrong car” as its sales only totaled to 6,262 in 2007. With regard to that, he said, “It is due to be replaced in 2010. Directionally, that car will change.”

However, despite the low performance of Acura’s sales last 2007, dealers of Acura still enjoyed record profits that year perhaps due to Honda’s move to cut Acura’s production by 20,000 units to control inventory.

Acura and its parent-company Honda, which are based in Marysville, Ohio, experienced highs and lows in terms of unit sales from last year in the United States.

Japanese company Acura, which is the luxury division of Honda, had a rocky 2007. By the end of the year, the brand successfully finished with a decent 30 percent increase in its sports utility vehicle division. The Acura RDX and MDX SUVs had a total sale of 80,000 units. Acura’s cars, however, did not have the same fate as sales went down to about eight percent.

American Honda Motor Company, on the other hand, had a good year as the automaker posted a five percent increase. This equals to a total of 1.37 million units for the whole year. By December, Honda had a point up that actually amounts to about 87 percent of last month’s sales alone.

Among Honda’s best sellers is the Fit. With its capability of an efficient combustion and improved fuel economy, the total units sold jumped to 56, 432 vehicles. The Honda Accord, which underwent refurbishing, acquired an 11 percent increase that translates to 392, 231 units compared to last year’s 354, 441.

In a nutshell, American Honda Motor Company still had a good year as it enjoys its 14th straight year of sale increase. Behind this decent feat include the decent sales of the following models: Acura RDX, Honda CR-V, Civic Hybrid, and Fit compact.

Source: Biz Journals.

Automobile companies have been gearing up for a greener future. Most of the recent auto shows featured automobiles that make use of alternative fuels while some just use electricity. Aside from concept vehicles, performance auto parts are also showcased in these motor shows. In the ongoing North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), for example, Japanese automaker Acura introduced its latest find dubbed as the i-DTEC Clean Diesel Engine.

Honda Acura supports the fight against the leading environmental problem that is global warming. A big chunk that causes such is composed of automobiles. For that, it is only the responsibility of companies, like Acura, to come up with these green technologies to alleviate the state of global warming. According to Honda Acura, the vehicles, which also include the light-duty trucks, sold in the United States are all capable of meeting the strict emission standards of the 50 states.

“Now global warming is the number one environmental issue. For every company, increasing fuel efficiency to reduce CO2 emissions is the single most important challenge we face,” said Takeo Fukui, who is the president and chief executive officer of Honda Motor Company, at the NAIAS. “The new CAFE standards established by the U.S. government–I look at this challenge in the same way we approached the issue of clean air more than 40 years ago.”

The i-DTEC Clean Diesel Engine is set to be installed in Acura’s future model that will come out by 2009. What this part does is make the burning of fuel become more efficient compared to the regular engines. With that efficiency, more horsepower is produced minus the noxious exhaust emissions. Another benefit of this auto part is that fuel economy vastly improves, thus money is well spent for the Acura owner. With this engine intact, the vehicle, the environment, and the motorist benefit.

“We believe that by improving fuel efficiency, we can achieve something important for the future of life on this earth,” said Takeo. “So, the challenge to create the most fuel efficient products for our customers and the environment will continue as a central focus of our product development efforts.”

Source: Honda.

The Detroit-based North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) had a three-day press preview (January 13 to 15) of the participating vehicles and auto parts from several car brands. A turbocharged i-DTEC Clean Diesel Engine from Acura was one of new finds this year that is aimed to improve horsepower production and fuel efficiency, among others.

Two years from now, Acura will be installing this remarkable auto part in a still unnamed model. This is one of the green automobile technologies to look out for as it is said to give more power to the vehicle minus the harmful exhaust emissions. Moreover, such engine also promises to improve consumption of fuel, thus trips for refilling stations are lessened. The meticulously-designed and precision-engineered combustion block of the engine will also help achieve that smooth sound of the engine for a more noise-free drive.

Such features of the i-DETC engine are definite factors for the Acura model to meet the very strict U.S. EPA Tier II Bin 5 emission standards.

The Acura i-DTEC Clean Diesel Engine, along with other finds from other companies, are all set for the public viewing this Saturday, January 19. NAIAS, which is held at the COBO Center in Detroit, will run until January 27.

Source: Auto Spectator.

Acura’s United States base did the right thing. On the third week of December, the company immediately recalled a total of 43, 200 US-distributed Acura RL vehicles, which were manufactured in Japan, as these were found equipped with defective power steering hoses.

The Acura RL sedan models from the years 2005 to 2008 were part of the December recall. According to engineers, such substandard power steering hose could cause the unfortunate accident of fire.

“On certain passenger vehicles, prolonged high underhood temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, causing the hose to crack and leak power steering fluid,” said the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration in its recall summary of the Acura RL. “Power steering fluid leaking onto a hot catalytic converter will generate smoke and possibly lead to an underhood fire.”

As of post time, there have been no reports of any injuries and or fires because of the said defective auto part. The company assured that Honda dealers across the United States are going to aid owners regarding the hose. Each of the recalled Acura RL sedans is going to be equipped with a brand new heat-resistant power steering hose without any charges or fees. Affected owners must only contact Honda through (800) 382-2238.

Source: Edmunds.

The Acura MDX is being touted as the best of its luxury SUV class and rightly so. Coming from Honda, a manufacturer who has since been known to produce high – quality cars, the 2008 Acura MDX is definitely one vehicle that is guaranteed to perform well.

In the tradition of making premium vehicles, Acura and Honda have launched the MDX, an SUV that is said to “set new standards for luxury, style and technology-enhanced performance and control”. According to Michael Gallietta of Bridgewater Acura, the MDX is “more for a larger family or people who need the extra cargo room. It is the best car Acura ever built. It hugs the road and offers the latest safety technology”. The vehicle is not only equipped with the best inline vehicle technology but it also has ample space for transporting families or cargo.

The technology that was put into the Acura MDX is, according to John Gomes of the Open Road Acura in East Brunswick, “Technology at its best. You get into it and it’s like being in the cockpit of a jet. It caresses you with comfort and all the controls are conveniently placed. The accessories are state-of-the-art.”

The 2008 Acura MDX boasts of a 3.7- liter VTEC V-6 engine that is capable of up to 300 horsepower at 6000 rpm with 275 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm. It is also equipped with Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. This system allows the Acura MDX to handle all sorts of driving conditions. The makers of Acura are dedicated to the “application of advanced, customer-relevant technologies” and have sought to make the MDX into a very user friendly vehicle. The seven passenger MDX is equipped with an Active Damper System which absorbs most of the pressure that may come from uneven surfaces on the road. It also comes with an “auto dimming Day/Night rear view mirror, a new exterior paint color choice, a Taupe interior option, navigation and real-time traffic systems”. To top all those remarkable features off, the Acura MDX is also environmentally friendly. The vehicle complies with the U.S. EPA’s Tier 2-Bin 5 (and CARB ULEV-2) emissions regulation.

According to Dick Colliver, executive vice president for sales, Acura, “The MDX is the ultimate in performance, technology and style in the luxury SUV class. The reaction of our customers to this new MDX has been truly remarkable, as they discover the depth and breadth of the technology as well as the lengths to which our designers and engineers have gone to re-invent every aspect of its performance and luxury appeal.”

Source: 2008 Acura MDX delivers performance, comfort

Proving its efficiency as a vehicle is something that the Acura Integra has no trouble doing. In the recently concluded 24 Hours of LeMons race, Team Fantasy Junction/InAccuracy’s Acura Integra finished with the fastest lap time for the race. The time was an impressive 1:13.649 seconds.

The Acura Integra’s lap time was the fastest for this year’s LeMons race. The LeMons Race is an annual car racing event that lasts for 24 hours. It features vehicles that were “purchased, fixed up, and track-prepped for a total of 500 dollars or less”. Hence the name LeMons. The cars begin the qualifying races by undergoing various challenges such as the “Personal-Injury-Lawyer Anti-Slalom, the Marxist-Valet Parking Challenge, and the Wide Open Throttle Rodthrowapalooza”. After twelve hours two awards are given out to selected vehicles – the People’s Choice and People’s Curse awards. The People’s Choice awardee is given a cash prize while the People’s Curse vehicle is called in and summarily destroyed. When the 24 – hour time period has transpired, an awarding ceremony gives “trophies, plaques and four-figure purses in canvas bags full of nickels” to the deserving winners of the 24 hour LeMons race.

This year’s LeMons trophy was brought home by Team Red Meat and Poontang Mazda. Even if the Acura did not win first place, it did receive the honor of having the fastest lap time for this race.

Acura was created by Honda as a luxury brand for its upscale market. The Integra was first created as a hatchback which showcased the vehicle’s “engineering excellence and build quality”. The vehicle came in two – door and four – door hatchback models, each of which ran on a 170-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder VTEC – equipped engine. Being crafted by Honda, one of the premiere Japanese automakers, is a badge of quality that Acura wears with pride. With an Acura Integra, one can be assured of the best road performance and the ultimate driving experience.

Sources: Fastest Car At Thunderhill: Team InAccuracy’s Acura Integra , 24 Hours of LeMons , Acura Integra Review

The Acura Integra is the car of choice for today’s youth. What makes the Integra so appealing to the youth of today? Here’s a walk through of the many benefits that owning an Integra can have for today’s younger generation.

The Acura Integra is a sporty four wheel drive vehicle which exudes youthfulness and style. The body shape and type makes it attractive for young car owners. The car is reasonably priced and is affordable for the young people who are yet starting out on their own. But the Integra’s greatest come on for its young buyers would be the fact that Acura’s parent company, Honda, has distinguished itself in the field of racing, both in Formula One and the European Touring Car Races. Everything that Honda has learned in these championship races have been applied to its production vehicles. The Acura Integra is one such vehicle to benefit from Honda’s extensive racing experience. The Integra boasts of a 2.0L 160 hp (119 kW) I4 or a 2.0L 200 hp (150 kW) I4 engine. Car buyers can choose from a 5-speed automatic, 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual transmission. The car has a wheel base of 101.2 in (2570 mm), a curb weight of 2790 lbs. and a fuel capacity of 13.2 US gal. It has dimensions of 172.2 inches (4374 mm) in length, 67.9 inches (1725 mm) in width and 54.9 inches (1394 mm) in height.

What’s even better about the Integra is that it is equipped with a VTEC variable valve timing which “increases power at higher revs without compromising low-speed torque”. The Integra which has a “standard, race-bred four-wheel double-wishbone suspension” has superior handling and the ability to withstand various types of terrain and driving conditions.

These attributes, including the Integra’s fuel efficiency has made it a formidable vehicle for most of today’s youth. In fact, many car aftermarket parts suppliers have been latching on to the trend by selling more and more aftermarket part add – ons to young Acura Integra car owners.

Source: LEGENDS: Acura Integra