 Acura News : Acura 17 Years of Innovation: A Biography
Posted by The_News_Guy on Friday, September 19 @ 07:27:38 CDT
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 world
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.
Now in its 17th 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 260 dealers.
Among many of Acura's firsts:
- The first all-aluminum production automobile (NSX)
- The first in-dash satellite-linked navigation system (3.5 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 hands-free phone system (2004 TL)
- The first use of acoustic windshield glass (2004 MDX)
With an industry decline in 2002, Acura sales of 165,552 dipped only slightly
from 2001's all-time record total. As it had every year since 1998, the 3.2 TL
performance luxury sedan was the division's top seller with 60,764 units sold.
The award-winning MDX luxury SUV continued to necessitate waiting lists at
dealers, selling 52,955 units, up 29.3 percent over 2001.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
While selling a large number of automobiles for the luxury import category,
Acura has consistently performed extremely well in one of the most important
measures of success - making the ownership experience as satisfying as possible.
Acura has ranked number one in the annual J.D. Power and Associates Customer
Satisfaction StudySM (CSI) survey four times and continues to score well above
the industry average year after year. This year, Acura ranked fourth in the J.D.
Power and Associates(R) 2003 Initial Quality Survey, a highly regarded barometer
of customer opinion. In the JD Power and Associates 2003 Vehicle Dependability
Study, 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.
In 2002, Honda's final year of participation in CART racing, Honda drivers
scored five victories and five pole positions. Race winners include Michael
Andretti, Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti.
Honda entered the Indy Racing League (IRL) IndyCar Series for the 2003
season, beginning a new era of competition. Honda's racing subsidiary, Honda
Performance Development, Inc. (HPD) leads the effort in partnership with Ilmor
Engineering Inc. HPD and Ilmor will work together as technical partners to
design, develop and produce engines for the 2003 season.
Acura MODEL HISTORY
Two initial model lines went on sale in March 1986. The Integra sports
sedans, in both 3-door and 5-door versions, were introduced, along with the
Legend 4-door luxury performance sedan. The Legend coupe was introduced a year
later, in 1987.
Acura introduced the second-generation 1990 model Integra in 1989. The
following model year, the mid-engine 1991 NSX exotic sports car joined the Acura
lineup. Acura then released the second-generation 1991 Legend sedan and Legend
coupe. The 1992 lineup added the Vigor sports sedan. The 1994 Integra sports
coupe and sports sedan represented the third generation of the Integra
nameplate. The removable-top NSX-T was added as a 1995 model.
In early 1995, the Vigor was replaced by the all-new Acura TL Series. The TL
was unveiled as a 1996 model signaling the beginning of Acura's conversion to
alphanumeric model designations. That was followed in the fall by the
introduction of the 1996 Acura SLX, the first sport utility vehicle offered in
the United States by a luxury import nameplate. The Acura 3.5 RL assumed the
role of Acura's flagship luxury sedan in February of 1996. Acura completed the
revitalization of its model lineup with the introduction of the 1997 Acura CL
series of performance luxury sports coupes, the first model ever designed,
developed and assembled in America by a luxury import nameplate, and the sixth
model in the Acura line.
For the 1999 model year, a completely redesigned 3.2 TL was introduced,
reasserting Acura's powerful presence in the near luxury segment. In 2000, Acura
incorporated significant technical advances in both the 3.2 TL and 3.5 RL.
That same year also marked the introduction of Acura's first
built-from-the-ground-up luxury sport utility vehicle, the 2001 MDX. The 2001
model year also saw the introduction of the all-new, high-performance 3.2 CL and
CL Type-S luxury performance coupes.
For the 2002 model year, Acura replaced the Integra with the all-new RSX
sports coupe, redefining its entry-level vehicle with advancements in power,
technology and luxury. Acura also substantially upgraded the 3.2 TL and added a
high-performance Type-S version. Boasting a 260-horsepower engine, the TL Type-S
added a surge of performance to Acura's best-selling luxury sedan. The 3.5 RL
also received numerous enhancements including increased horsepower, sport-tuned
suspension, enhanced braking and more responsive steering.
The 2003 model year began with the addition of an available close-ratio
6-speed manual transmission to the 3.2 CL Type-S. Designed specifically for the
performance characteristics of the CL, the 6-speed manual was coupled with a
limited-slip differential and provided additional performance and handling
responsiveness. The 2003 MDX, Acura's award-winning luxury SUV received a next
generation engine that boosted horsepower from 240 to 260 as well as an all-new
automatic transmission and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). The MDX also debuted
the second generation of the Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition(TM)
and an available Acura DVD Entertainment Center.
The 2004 model year sees the debut of the Acura TSX sports sedan. With a 200
horsepower engine, drive-by-wire throttle, available 6-speed manual transmission
and the latest in safety and interior technology, the TSX provides an exciting
blend of power and refinement. The 2004 TL performance luxury sedan was
redesigned and debuts as an all-new model with aggressive new styling, a
270-horsepower engine and, for the first time, an available 6-speed manual
transmission. Inside, an array of cutting edge equipment makes the TL the most
technologically advanced car in its class. It is the first vehicle in north
America to offer a standard 5.1 DVD-Audio system, a revolutionary new system
that delivers sound resolution 500 times better than existing CD sound systems.
In addition, the TL's new HandsFreeLink(TM) system delivers hands-free phone
capabilities that allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel while making
and receiving calls from their mobile phone. The 2004 MDX receives additional
horsepower, new styling and added interior features designed to insure its place
as the benchmark in its segment.
|
