Honda (Acura) Helps Southern California Wildfire Relief Efforts

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced today a pledge of $250,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to assist the Red Cross in providing shelter, relief and recovery support to those affected by the Southern California wildfires. In addition, American Honda is working with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services to assess and identify its need for emergency assistance materials and resources such as Honda-made vehicles, generators, and other products, and will donate these materials as requested. Honda will provide a 100 percent match of any funds donated to the American Red Cross or other applicable organizations by the approximately 7,000 associates (employees) of American Honda and its subsidiaries.

American Honda has supported the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund through several disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, September 11 and the California wildfires of 2003. Honda's support efforts have included funds as well as materials such as the donation of generators and all-terrain vehicles.

[Source] HondaNews.com

Acura Teaming Up With Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal Digital Network announced the launch of an interactive program developed for Acura's Innovation for Life campaign. "Acura customers are, by nature, early adopters of technology and innovation," said Jenny Howell, manager of interactive marketing for American Honda Motor Co. "The Innovations for Life campaign highlights transformative technologies that enhance the lifestyles of consumers every day, much like the technologies in Acura vehicles."

The first week's Innovations for Life topic will focus on new technologies for weather and hurricane forecasting; subsequent topics will include emerging trends in travel, entertainment, telecommunications, consumer products, sports and health. Users will be able to add their comments to the topic pages and interact with other like-minded readers; a selection of this user-generated content will later run as part of the Acura display ad units across the WSJ Digital Network of sites.

For the "special" Acura section of the WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/ad/acurainnovations

[Source] The Wall Street Journal Digital Network

2008 Acura TSX Commercial

[Rumor] Another Mystery Car: 2009 Acura TSX?

Smoking hot news today! This new mystery car was caught not far from Honda’s U.S. facilities. Everyone is already assuming this will be the 2009 Acura TSX. The new TSX will take on a more aggressive look, taking design cues from the SPORTS 4 concept car shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. The front end has been redesigned to comply with new pedestrian impact standards. The heavily camouflaged car also looks to be sporting a completely redesigned grille, with the badge and chrome strip now running across the top instead of down the middle.



Rumored Specs for Base Model:
Engine- ~225hp 2.4L i-VTEC 4 cylinder (20-30 horsepower bump compared to current generation)
Transmission- 6 speed manual or 5 speed auto
Platform- Front wheel drive


Rumored Specs for Type-S Model:
Engine- 260 hp 2.3L 4 cylinder turbocharged (similar to the one seen in the current Acura RDX)
Transmission- 6 speed auto/manual DSG gearbox
Platform- Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD)


Like the current generation Acura TSX, the same car with a few minor styling adjustments will sell in the European markets as the new Honda Accord. The next generation TSX could also see a diesel engine as well.



A pre-production concept of the European Accord's wagon variant, which probably won't make it over here in the U. S.,was unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show. The European Accord sedan is scheduled to be unveiled in March at the Geneva Motor Show, with production expected to start production towards the end of 2008. Look for the next-gen TSXs to begin arriving in Acura's U.S. showrooms in the spring or early summer of 2009.

[Sources] VTEC.net, Autoblog.com, MotorTrend.com

Since this is supposed to be the 2009 Acura TSX, then the other mystery Acura is most likely the 2009 Acura TL.

[Rumor] 2009 Acura TL at Nürburgring

Caught on the Nürburgring in Germany was the heavily camouflaged Acura mystery car. This prototype has previous been caught testing in the U.S. over the summer. There is much speculation that this is the 2009 Acura TL, although there is a possibility that this could be the 2009 Acura TSX. However, many believe the Honda Accord Tourer concept revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show is the 2009 Acura TSX in wagon form.



With this mysterious prototype, enthusiasts can take a peek at Acura's latest design cues. Downward-sloping headlights plunge toward a grille similar to the latest Acura MDX's front, while squared-off quad exhaust tips protrude from the car's rear. The prototype's rear taillights also reveal a small LED strip within the taillight cluster.



Specifications have not yet been released, but a slightly larger V6, a DSG-type transmission and all-wheel drive are among the rumored possibilities.

[Source] edmunds.com