Tuesday, January 30, 2007

[Video] Acura Advancing Life Commercial

[Video] Acura TSX Commercial.

I have a TSX and I have to admit, I never saw this Acura TSX commercial before!

[Video] Tiff Needell in "190hp Rocketship"

Old video of Tiff Needell reviewing the Integra Type-R!

[Video] The NSX was an Exotic Car, the ASCC is just a Sports Car!

Yesterday, I blogged about the "forgotten." Today I will blog about the one we'll never forget. The original NSX!

Here is a great video from youTube.com, the clip features:
- part of the original NSX commercial,
- shows the legendary Ayrton Senna driving the car he helped build,
- NSX dragging against a Porsche,
- NSX-R vs. GT-R, &
- Top Gear's black Stig on a wet track in the NSX!

Great soundtrack too...



I think Honda/Acura should stop messing around with the NSX's replacement. The Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) replacing the NSX is a joke. The NSX was "special," there is nothing special about the ASCC!

Sunday, January 28, 2007

[A Look into the Past] Acura DN-X Concept: The Forgotten Acura



The 2002 DN-X Concept is a mid-engine, all-wheel drive hybrid with 3.5-liter, DOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine outputting 400 horsepower! Supposedly, this hybrid also gets 43 mpg. "The Integrated Motor Assist's (IMA) ultracapacitor is recharged by regenerative braking that takes energy from forward momentum and captures it during braking. This system makes an external electric power supply unnecessary." The 6-speed transmission vehicle's monocoque body was developed in a wind tunnel and highly effective integrated front spoiler helps to improve handling by lowering the coefficient of drag nearly 25 percent less than the retired Acura NSX. There is a display in the center console which provides access to email, Internet, and cell phone services.





[Info Source] Supercars.net






[Image Source] Conceptcar.ee







Speaking of hybrids, where are the Acura hybirds? Lexus has hybrids in their lineup, what's taking Acura so long?

WheelsTv's 2007 RDX Test Drive Video

WheelsTV has a 3 minute video of the 2007 RDX on their site. The video comments on the technology, drive train, pricing and etc. Please follow the link for the video.

WheelsTV's 2007 RDX Video Test Drive

Thursday, January 25, 2007

American Le Mans Series: Let's Race!



Acura is making their American Le Mans Series debut at the 55th running of the Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring sports car classic set to take place on March 17. Acura will be tackling the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring with 3 new Acura American Le Mans Series LMP2 sports car teams - Andretti Green Racing, Lowe's Fernandez Racing and Highcroft Racing. The Acura factory prototype cars will be powered by a 3.4-liter V-8 Acura ALMS engine, the first racing power plant completely designed and developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD) of Santa Clarita, Calif.



LUIS DIAZ (Co-driver of the No. 15 Lowe's Fernandez Racing Acura Lola) said:
"We are on a learning curve right now with the Acura program. This is the best race car I have ever driven and the Acura program is exciting for me. The team just keeps making the car better and better. It is a professional process that the Acura people have put together. I know we will be successful."

Mobil 1 12 Hours Of Sebring

Date: March 14-17, 2007
Location: Sebring, Fla., International Raceway
Track Type: 3.7-Mile Road Course, 17 Turns
Race: Round 1 of 12 Races, 10 a.m. American Le Mans Series
Distance: 12 Hours
Television: SPEED Channel, Live, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

2007 Upcoming ALMS Races

March 17 Sebring, Florida
March 31 St. Petersburg, Florida
April 14 Long Beach, California
April 21 Houston, Texas
May 20 Salt Lake City, Utah

[Source]


[A Look into the Past] 1995 Acura CL-X Concept



Introduced January 3, 1995, Acura Automobile Division provided a glimpse into the future at the North American International Auto Show, with the world debut of a futuristic Acura Sports Coupe concept car code named CL-X.
Based on a "Neo-Classic" design theme, the Acura concept car integrates futuristic styling with classic luxury sports coupe design. The exterior utilizes a strong center character line to compliment a sculpted wedge design.
Here's a production version of the second generation Acura CL for comparison.

[A Look into the Past] 2002 Acura RDX Concept

So we're all a little concerned about the look of Acura's Advanced Sedan Concept (ASC). Well, if you remember how the 2002 Acura RDX concept looked, then maybe the ASC still has a chance of not looking butt ugly!















Acura's RDX wins 2006 Tech Award from CNET.com



Acura's RDX snagged one of CNET.com's Tech Awards for the "Best Navigation System." The award was given based on 1) intuitive interface, 2) clear layout for maps, 3) turn-by-turn directions should be accurate and timely, 4) quick to recalculate, & 5) comprehensive points-of-interest database.



Top 5 RDX tech features noted by CNET.com include:
  1. GPS navigation with real-time traffic reporting
  2. Bluetooth cell phone interface
  3. Voice commands for car functions
  4. ELS surround-sound audio system (was runner up for "Best Stereo System" category)
  5. Super-handling all-wheel drive
*Don't forget about Acura's first turbo!



The RDX was also nominated as 2006 Tech Car of the Year by CNET.com.

Clink here for a full review of the Acura RDX from CNET.com.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

The Acura symbol.



So what is the Acura symbol? Does it represent or mean anything? Most people believe that the symbol is jut an italicized 'A' inside a circle. However, the Acura symbol supposedly is an upright caliper, which represents the commitment to excellence and the accuracy with which Acura's are built and engineered.

[Source] CarSpyShots.net's forum topic: Meanings of Car Manufacturers’ Logos

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) Press Release Video

This is it guys and gals! Video of Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) debut in Detroit. You can listen to both Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co, and Jon Ikeda, principal designer representing Acura Design Center entire speeches. Mr. Fukui talks a lot about the Acura brand and where it is heading, while Mr. Ikeda talks more about the ASCC's design and where the Acura design is headed.

I must say, the CEO of Honda speaks English very well.

Give ToV some props!



If the video is not working, try this.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Motor Trend: Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) Unveiling video

Here's a video link to Motor Trend's site, where they have a clip of the unveiling of Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept. The video also shows Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., commenting on the ASCC.

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Advanced Sports Car Concept photos from NAIAS

Photos of Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) photos from the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.


Advance.


Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co, with hand on Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept.


Designed to have Acura's most powerful engine, a new high-performance V-10, and rear-wheel drive based version of Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.


Jon Ikeda, principal designer representing Acura Design Center, in front of the ASCC.


The ASCC is the successor to the Acura NSX.

[NEW NSX] Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) Debut

Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) debuts today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The ASCC is a design preview of the successor to the NSX. Acura's design concept uses a front-mounted V-10 engine and a rear wheel drive version of Acura's SH-AWD.

The ASCC has a 108.8 inch wheelbase with 19 inch front and 20 inch rear tires. The brakes are ventilated carbon ceramic and the eight-piston calipers accent the wheels. The ASCC's cabin is made all of tinted glass. Underneath the car features a carbon fiber underbody. The modern wraparound rear taillights compliment the car's quad exhaust pipes. The front of the car show off LED headlights that "mimic the pop-up headlights found on the first generation NSX."


The design was created by Acura's Los Angeles-based team. In a few months, this team will move into the Acura Design Center.


This will include an all-new V10 engine that is Acura's most powerful ever.


"Our direction is clear. We plan to Advance, in technology, in design, and in overall performance. This fall, at the Tokyo Motor Show, we will showcase the next stage in our advancement." - Takeo Fukui (President and CEO of Honda Motor Co.)


"In the exterior styling, you'll see definitive design elements that communicate that fine balance of technical precision and emotion... laser-sharp edges throughout the vehicle represent a powerful sense of engineering precision. The side of the car and the dramatic hood surfaces feature what we call sheer, machined, surfacing, again, to convey a feeling of technical exactness." - Jon Ikeda (American Honda Designer)


Keen-Edge Dynamic - represents the Precision, Technology, and Emotion inherent in Acura's styling.


The "Advance" design direction can be seen in the latest generation MDX, which has sharper, more precise lines than the previous generation.


This is what the concept drawing looked like.


Acura plans to "push the envelope in developing highly advanced automobiles that appeal both to the intellect and to the soul."


Source: AcuraNews

I think Acura is dropping the ball with the NSX's replacement. What ever happened to the Honda Sports Concept (HSC) or even the rumored new NSX? I thought those looked a lot better than this. This looks almost like a Japanese Corvette. I prefer Japanese Auston Martin or Japanese Ferrari better!

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