Acura Debuts Three New Vehicles at the 2012 North American International Auto Show

- New ILX compact sports sedan to feature Acura's first hybrid powertrain;
- All-new RDX sport utility vehicle features new engine and all-wheel-drive system;
- NSX Concept to be developed and built in America with new performance hybrid system
DETROIT, Mich., Jan. 9, 2012 - Representing the leading edge of a wave
of new products and technologies, Acura today unveiled three new
vehicles at the North American International Auto Show, including a
concept version of the all-new gateway to the Acura brand, the ILX
luxury compact sedan; a prototype of the 2013 RDX crossover sport
utility vehicle; and the NSX Concept, which presages the direction for
Acura's next-generation supercar.
Acura also announced that the next-generation NSX will feature Acura's
innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® technology and that the vehicle
will be developed by Honda R&D Americas and manufactured in Ohio.
"Over the next 24 months the Acura brand will unleash a series of new
models that will remake our product lineup and shake up the luxury
market," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura.
"Acura will once again defy conventional wisdom to become one of the top
luxury brands by creating luxury vehicles based on our own unique
values."
Debuting three new models in Detroit heralds the beginning of Acura's
second 25 years as a premium luxury-performance automobile brand.
Acura ILX Concept
The Acura ILX Concept is the precursor to an all-new Acura luxury
compact sedan scheduled for launch in Spring 2012. To be positioned as
the gateway to the Acura brand, the ILX will feature three different
powertrains, including Acura's first-ever gas-electric hybrid.
"First time luxury buyers place the highest value on exterior styling,
affordability and environmental issues and that's a virtual definition
of what we have created with the new Acura ILX," said Jon Ikeda, head of
the Acura Design Studio. "The strategy behind this new model is to
position ILX as the first opportunity for many young buyers to enter the
luxury market."
Sleek, sporty and aerodynamically efficient, the exterior of the
all-new Acura ILX combines luxury, performance and efficiency. A
beautifully styled luxury sedan, the ILX Concept has a compact, yet
formal proportion, targeting a very professional image. The Acura ILX
delivers both, with a low and wide stance and a long nose and a short
tail that are aerodynamically efficient, the ILX is immediately
recognizable as an Acura.
The lineup of ILX models will include an entry-level model powered by a
2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine; a high-performance model with a
2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual
transmission; and a 1.5-liter gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain,
Acura's first-ever hybrid offering.
The ILX will feature a high?quality, well-appointed interior that is
smart, spacious and sporty. It will offer a number of new, high-value
features, including a smart entry keyless access system and pushbutton
start, along with Pandora internet radio interface and SMS text message
function for smart connectivity with the world.
As with all Acura models, the ILX will have a longlist of standard
features, different trim levels (that will include a Technology
Package), multiple transmission choices, and excellent standard safety
features- including Acura's acclaimed Advanced Compatibility
Engineering™ body structure, front, side and side-curtain airbags,
4-channel anti-lock brakes and Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA™). Acura
anticipates that the ILX will achieve top ratings in both NHTSA and IIHS
crash safety testing.
The new ILX will be manufactured exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of
Indiana, LLC, in its Greensburg, Ind. plant- one of only three plants
in the world to receive J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 Platinum Award
for outstanding quality.
Acura RDX
Shown as a prototype version of the 2013 RDX, the second generation of
Acura's five-passenger crossover SUV will up the ante with a new
approach to achieving both advanced performance and fuel efficiency via a
new engine, transmission and all-wheel drive system.
The 2013 RDX, scheduled to launch in Spring 2012, will have as
standard equipment a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 273 horsepower-
33 more than the outgoing model. For even higher performance and
improved fuel economy, the RDX makes use of a 6-speed automatic
transmission with a new lock-up torque converter. The RDX also gets a
new, lighter all-wheel-drive system that provides the required
performance and safety with increased efficiency.
With anticipated EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg in the city and 28
mpg on the highway, front-wheel-drive models of the 2013 RDX are
expected to offer the best fuel economy of any gasoline-powered luxury
SUV in its class.
The RDX exterior incorporates a sleek, more aerodynamically efficient
body, evolving RDX from a sporty, compact SUV to a more formal look with
a longer, sculpted hood and styling that is more elegant and
sophisticated to match the Acura philosophy of timeless, beautiful
design. Chassis updates include a longer wheelbase and wider track,
all-new Amplitude Reactive Dampers, and a new motion adaptive electronic
power steering system.
Inside the 2013 RDX, new sweeping shapes, matte surface trim, and
generous use of leather combine to give the RDX interior an upscale look
and luxury feel that Acura customers have come to expect. Abundant use
of sound deadening materials and Active Sound Control team to provide an
exceptionally quiet cabin. Additional interior features, such as larger
door openings, more passenger room, increased cargo volume and a power
rear tailgate make the RDX interior even more accommodating and
flexible.
As with the ILX, the 2013 RDX will receive a host of new technologies
including Pandora internet radio interface, SMS text message feature, a
smart entry keyless access system, pushbutton start, and a three view
rear camera. An available Technology Package will provide a full
complement of relevant technologies, including AcuraLink® Satellite
Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™,
AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting™, and AcuraLink
Real-Time Weather™ with radar image maps. New for 2013, the even more
advanced navigation system utilizes a hard disk drive (HDD) with 60
gigabytes of storage capacity - including 15 gigabytes that can be
allocated for music storage.
Acura anticipates that the RDX will achieve top ratings in both NHTSA and IIHS crash safety testing.
Production of the new RDX will move to the East Liberty, Ohio plant of
Honda of America Mfg., Inc.- home to one of the four top assembly lines
in North America in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 Initial Quality
Study (IQS). The first generation RDX has been built at the Marysville,
Ohio auto plant, an IQS award winner for both of its assembly lines.
Acura NSX Concept
The dynamically-styled NSX Concept gives an indication of the next
great performance vehicle from the Acura brand. Making use of
lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine, the NSX Concept
employs several new technologies for Acura, including application of
Acura's innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel
Drive™) hybrid system.
Utilizing a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a Bilateral Torque
Adjustable Control System, the all-new hybrid all-wheel-drive system
can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels
during cornering. Acura anticipates the new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® 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 with built-in electric motor to
create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.
"This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make NSX the ultimate expression
of Acura's idea to create synergy between man and machine," said
Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "The NSX will
make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities
without getting in the way."
While most supercars opt for brute force delivered from a large
engine, the NSX Concept champions the true racing philosophy of an
extremely favorable power-to-weight ratio.
"Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through
engineering efficiency," added Ito, who led the development of Acura's
first NSX supercar. "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."
The new Acura supercar, expected to debut in the next three years,
will be developed by an engineering team led by Honda R&D Americas,
Inc., and manufactured in Ohio, at a yet to be named facility.