Changes for Acura 2006 Lineup

Press Release

Acura in 2006

 

The launch of the Acura Automobile Division on March 27, 1986, was a uniquely historic event, not just for Acura and its customers, but also for the global automotive industry. It was the beginning of a bold and successful venture - the creation of an entirely new automobile division from the ground up.

 

This prestigious marque was created to bring stimulating performance, elegant styling, state-of-the-art technology and engineering and an unprecedented level of customer service to the luxury import market.

 

Entering its 20th year, that venture continues to show extraordinary results. As one of the top-selling luxury import nameplates in the U.S., Acura offers premium performance vehicles, through a network of more than 264 dealers.

 

Among many of Acura's firsts:

• The first all-aluminum production automobile (1991 NSX)
• The first in-dash satellite-linked navigation system (1996 RL)
• The first luxury import brand to design, engineer and assemble a model in North America (the CL coupe in 1996, the TL sedan in 1998 and the MDX in 2000)
• The first standard DVD-Audio Surround System (2004 TL)
• The first standard Bluetooth wireless phone interface (2004 TL)
• The first use of acoustic windshield glass (2004 MDX)
• The first all-wheel drive system (SH-AWD) to distribute torque not only front and rear, but also between the left and right rear wheels and overdrive them as well (2005 RL)
• The first OEM application of a real time traffic system (2005 RL)

 

2005 was a banner year for Acura with the all-new TL performance luxury sedan leading the division to an all-time sales record of 198,919 units. With unit sales of 77,895, the TL was Acura's best-selling model and America's best-selling luxury sedan. The hot-selling TSX sports sedan, in its second year on sale, solidified its spot as the benchmark in its segment with sales of 30,365. The RSX continued to carve out a niche in the sports coupe category, while the MDX reported strong sales in the luxury SUV segment with sales of 59,505.

 

Customer Satisfaction

 

While selling a large number of automobiles for the luxury import category, Acura has consistently performed extremely well in one of the key measures of success - making the ownership experience the most satisfying as possible. Acura has ranked number one in the annual J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Study(TM) (CSI) survey four times and continues to score well above the industry average each year.

 

In the J.D. Power and Associates(R) 2005 Initial Quality Survey, a highly regarded measure of customer opinion, the RSX was named one of the top three in the sporty car segment. In the JD Power and Associates 2003 Vehicle Dependability Study (the latest available), the RL luxury sedan was rated the Most Dependable Midsize Luxury Car.

 

Research and Development

 

The success of Acura can be attributed largely to the research and development that goes into every vehicle. Acura automobiles are designed and built using leading-edge technology. At the same time, they are well known for unparalleled ergonomic design, quality and durability.

 

To give designers and engineers the kind of creative freedom and positive working environment they require to function at their best, Honda, in 1960, formed an autonomous research and development company that enjoys complete independence from its parent. This independence allows the engineers to go their own way, investigating new ideas and innovations without the budgetary and bureaucratic constraints encountered by engineers at many other automobile manufacturers.

 

After an automobile is designed and developed, it is exhaustively tested at facilities in Japan and the United States, and undergoes environmental testing in harsh climates and conditions all over the world. The main R&D testing facility in Japan is the Tochigi Proving Grounds, which offers a broad range of demanding driving situations. Acura automobiles are also tested at two major test facilities in the United States. The Transportation Research Center (TRC), in East Liberty, Ohio, has many of the same capabilities as the Tochigi Proving Grounds. And further illustrating our commitment to the U.S. market, an expansive testing facility in the desert north of Los Angeles, the Honda Proving Center of California (HPCC), allows thorough development and product testing close to Acura Division headquarters in Torrance, Calif. HPCC features a 7.5-mile high-speed oval track, and a five-mile winding road course that offers a full range of challenging road surfaces.

 

Racing

 

Acura's deep-seated commitment to performance started at the very beginning - well before Acura Division was founded. Soichiro Honda, who founded Honda Motor Co., Inc., in 1948, was a racing enthusiast at heart. He steered the company into competitions early on and the racetrack has provided an indispensable training ground for engineers and designers of Acura vehicles. Using it as a high-speed laboratory, designers and engineers learn and apply their craft under intense pressure, where the difference between success and failure is measured in hundredths of a second. Engineers who cut their teeth on championship racing engines are often assigned to design the engines of Acura's passenger cars. In fact, the chief engineer of the race-inspired engine of the new Acura RSX sports coupe previously worked on championship-winning Honda Formula One engines.

 

Honda has been successful in every form of motorsports in which it has competed. Honda-powered cars won six consecutive Formula One Constructors' World Championships (1986-91) and five consecutive Formula One Drivers' World Championships (1987-91).

 

Race-prepared Acura Integra automobiles won two consecutive International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) International Sedan Manufacturers' Championships and three consecutive IMSA International Sedan Drivers' Championships (1988-90).

 

The Comptech Racing Acura-Spice GTP-Lights race car, powered by a modified Acura NSX engine, carried driver Parker Johnstone to three consecutive Manufacturers' Championships and three consecutive Drivers' Championships in the prestigious IMSA Camel GTP Lights series (1991-93).

 

In 1994, Honda made its Champ Car racing debut. Team Rahal brought the Honda banner to CART while the Acura-sponsored Comptech Racing team joined at the Portland Indy Car event with Johnstone at the wheel. The very next season, Johnstone was the fastest qualifier at the Indy Car event in Michigan, and Honda scored its first Indy Car victory weeks later when Andre Ribeiro took the checkered flag at the New England race in August of 1995.

 

2000 highlights included the company's 50th Champ Car race victory, eight race wins in the 20-event season, including a sweep of all four permanent road courses on the circuit and a series-leading 11 poles.

 

A very successful 2001 CART FedEx Championship Series season provided a fourth CART Manufacturer's Championship and sixth consecutive Driver's championship for Honda.