Acura Wins Sebring

 After 12 hours of hard-fought IMSA endurance racing it was Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Global on top, with the #40 Acura ARX-06 taking the honors in the 2024 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Starting third, the #40 crew of Deletraz, Jordan Taylor and Colton Herta led just 18 laps en route to victory, but a thrilling late-race pass in GT traffic with just four laps to go was all they needed to catapult themselves to the win.

On the way to said victory, Deletraz also set the fastest lap time in the IMSA GTP class of 1:49.497. With tonight's win, Acura moves into an early-season three-way tie for the IMSA GTP Manufacturers' Championship; while drivers Deletraz, Jordan Taylor and Herta are tied for first in the drivers' title chase.

The sister #10 Acura ARX-06 driven by Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Brendon Hartley led 55 laps on the day before losing a lap in pitlane after the team noticed smoke trailing from the rear of the car. Thankfully, it was a quick fix and the #10 crew was able to continue to the end where they would wind up fifth.

Acura Integra Type S Wins 2024 Road & Track Performance Car of the Year Award

The high-performance Acura Integra Type S has been named Performance Car of the Year by the editors of Road & Track for its incredible power and dynamic performance paired with premium features and refinement. The flexible 5-door liftback took the top spot in the Under $100k category over significantly higher priced and more powerful, rear-wheel drive coupes.

The 2024 Road & Track Performance Car of the Year award adds to the next-gen Integra's impressive list of prestigious industry and media honors, which includes the distinguished 2023 North American Car of the YearTM and the Type S variant's 2024 Car and Driver 10Best Cars award. This is the second time Acura has been honored with a Road & Track Performance Car of the Year award, with the Acura NSX taking Performance Car of the Year honors in 2017.

• Integra claims automotive "Triple Crown" winning 2023 North American Car of the Year™, 2024 Car and Driver 10 Best Cars award and 2024 Road & Track Performance Car of the Year
• Acura Integra Type S recognized for its incredible dynamic performance and refinement at an attainable price point
• Win marks Acura's second Road & Track Performance Car of the Year trophy in the award's 10-year history

 

Acura Repeat Victory at Petit Le Mans

The 26th running of the Motul Petit Le Mans saw Acura teams and drivers take the battle for the IMSA Manufacturers', Drivers' and Teams' championships down to the final minutes of the 10-hour event today at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.  Meyer Shank Racing prevailed in a chaotic final hour to take a second consecutive victory for Acura and the team; with Acura finishing a close third in the Manufacturers' Championship battle with three victories over the course of the nine-race season.

• Drivers Colin Braun, Tom Blomqvist and Helio Castroneves make late-race charge to victory in #60 MSR Acura ARX-06
• Second consecutive victory for MSR and Acura in season-ending IMSA endurance event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
• Third win for the hybrid-powered ARX-06 prototype in debut 2023 season

Motul Petit Le Mans Acura Race Results

• 1st GTP - #60 Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun and Helio Castroneves; Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06
• 9th GTP - #10 Filipe Albuquerque, Ricky Taylor and Louis Deletraz; Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport Acura ARX-06 [Did not finish – contact]
• 14th GTD - #93 Ashton Harrison, Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal; Racers Edge Motorsports with WTRAndretti Acura NSX GT3 Evo22
• 15th GTD -  #66 Katherine Legge, Sheena Monk and Marc Miller; Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 [Did not finish – mechanical]

Honda and Acura Lead ALG’s Residual Value Rankings

ALG  is a provider of residual value and other analyses to the automotive industry. Its Residual Value Awards honor the vehicles in each segment that are forecast to retain the highest percentage of manufacturer’s suggested retail price after three years.

Honda was No. 1 in the Mainstream brand rankings, followed by Hyundai and Scion. Acura topped all Premium brands, with Infiniti coming in second and Audi third. Lexus, last year’s highest-ranked Premium brand, dropped to fourth.

Please refer to ALG's article for more details.

Acura To Serve As The Official Wheels Of Spy Agency S.H.I.E.L.D.

A little more than a month before Paramount and Marvel unleash "Thor" on May 6, Acura, Dr. Pepper, 7-Eleven, Visa and Burger King are prepping to roll out TV, radio and online campaigns that tie in their brands with the god of thunder's first outing at the megaplex. Walmart is a major retail partner.

All but Acura and Visa had backed previous Marvel releases in some form ("Thor" will be 7-Eleven's eighth teaming with a Marvel superhero).

Honda's luxury brand had been looking for projects that could get Acura in front of more moviegoers through the branded entertainment arm of ad agency RP&, a division of RPA, and its exec Steve Rossmann, a former Gersh agent. When "Thor" offered an automaker the chance to serve as the official wheels of spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D, Acura was quick to lock down its first film partnership.

"Getting to be the official car of S.H.I.E.L.D sold it for us," said Susie Rossick, Acura's national advertising manager. "To have that role in the film and in future films was attractive to us."

S.H.I.E.L.D, the secret government org that recruits Marvel's superheroes as a crime-fighting force, made cameos in the two "Iron Man" pics and "The Incredible Hulk." The group will play a larger role in "Thor" and future films, guaranteeing any automaker appearances in multiple franchises for years to come.

Acura especially gravitated toward a pairing with S.H.I.E.L.D due to the org's image of being advanced and innovative, aspects with which the automaker likes to associate itself.

The design of Acura's own shield-like front fascia on its vehicles and corporate logo was a coincidence, but didn't hurt seal the deal.

Car partners are "someone you need to spend a little more time thinking about," said Bob Sabouni, senior VP of business development and promotions for Marvel, which had previously landed Audi to serve as Iron Man's preferred carmaker. "It's something that gets noticed. You have to have the right car."

As a result of its deal, Acura's lineup of recently redesigned sedans and SUVs gets roughly two minutes of screen time in the pic, a considerable amount of exposure when it comes to product placement.

In return, Acura will help Marvel and Par promote "Thor" through the launch of a micro website that recruits consumers to become S.H.I.E.L.D agents, play games and design their own agency vehicle. It's also buying TV spots, print ads and installing signage and offering customers early screenings at its dealerships.

Acura is also touring a series of events like Chicago fanboy fest C2E2, Florida's MegaCon and the New York Auto Show with recruitment booths that will feature a S.H.I.E.L.D agent car with weaponry like a sonic canon.

In order to pull off the concept of turning each of its films into a chapter of an overall universe, Marvel said it needed to broker deals with brands that were "like-minded" and could be "dedicated to a plan" that embodies the characters and messaging of the films in programs "that is smart for both of us."
Sabouni said Acura has "bought into the concept and is having a lot of fun with it."

"It's always important to give your partners a little corner of the movie," Marvel's Sabouni said. "We've learned how to do that over the years."

Doing so helps giving the bad news that a partner's products will be destroyed on film a little easier. In scenes, a 7-Eleven store and Acura's vehicles are obliterated by the villainous Destroyer.
"They definitely have allowed us to play a little bit more," Sabouni said.

Acura approved the destruction "because there wasn't anything wrong with the car," Rossick said. "They weren't the reason things were blowing up."

The full article can be found here. Thanks to Marcus D. for emailing in the article.

I think this is a really good move for Acura. Far too long I have seen other automakers like Audi and Mercedes get featured in movies and thought to myself, "Why doesn't Acura do the same?" The only time I remember seeing an Acura vehicle featured in a movie was in Pulp Fiction, when The Wolf shows up to help out the fellas.

Consumer Reports Recommends Acura RL For Luxury Seden Over $50k

The Cadillac CTS sedan outscored its competition Audi A6 3.0T, Acura RL, Mercedes-Benz E350 and Lincoln MKS Ecoboost in a Consumer Reports competition of luxury sedans over $50,000. However, only the Acura RL is recommended due to the CTS's reliability issues. Here's what CR had to say about the Acura RL.

The Acura RL is a pleasant and refined car, but the driving experience isn't special enough to justify its $50,000 price tag. The car is full of electronic conveniences, but the ride and backseat are not as comfortable as those found in competing vehicles. Handling is sound, but less sporty than most of its competitors. The Acura RL AWD ($50,660 MSRP as tested), is powered by a 300-hp, 3.7-liter V6 engine that is smooth and slick and delivers 19 mpg overall on premium gasoline. The five-speed automatic transmission is very smooth and responsive. Braking is very good. The RL's high-quality interior has impeccable fit and finish. For a car in this class, the RL's trunk is modest.

See here for full story.

Acura Making ALMS History

David Brabham and Scott Sharp led an Acura 1-2 sweep Saturday in the Acura Sports Car Challenge through the streets of St Petersburg in the American Le Mans Series.

The veteran driving pair drove the No. 9 Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a prototype sports car to the lead on Lap 43 and recorded a 32-second victory over the Mexican duo of Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz in the No. 15 Lowe’s Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01b in the 93-lap feature. The 1-2 Acura finish marked Acura's first ALMS sweep since last August in the streets of Detroit, when the automaker placed 1-2-3 overall.

Saturday's Acura sweep also made American Le Mans Series history with Acura taking wins in both the LMP1 and LMP2 class in the same event. No auto manufacturer had accomplished that feat in ALMS’ ten years.

Brabham and Sharp's win was the first for Acura in the LMP1 class.

Entire Acura Line-up Receives IIHS Top Safety Rating

Acura Achieves Historic First in Crash Test Ratings - For the first and only time in the history of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, an automobile nameplate has earned the prestigious TOP SAFETY PICK rating for every vehicle in its entire line-up. To accomplish this safety milestone, all 2009 Acura luxury sedans and SUVs received the highest possible rating in each IIHS crash test and feature the Acura Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) electronic stability control system as standard equipment.

Click here to read the rest.

Takeo Fukui is 2009 AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE Man of the Year

Honda's president and CEO, Takeo Fukui, is the 2009 AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE Man of the Year. Fukui's path to Honda's presidency has seen him move through many of the arenas that are important to the company: R&D, motorsports, and manufacturing. "In an era when platinum-paid executives rarely deviate from the orthodoxy of the crowd, Honda's Takeo Fukui has successfully avoided faddish trends and instead stayed true to the founding principles of Soichiro Honda and his successors." - AutomobileMag.com

Acura Wins Luxury Brand Residual Value Award

Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) has announced its 10^th annual Residual Value Awards, honoring the vehicles in each segment that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year lease term. The awards are based on 2009 model year vehicles.

For the sixth consecutive year, American Honda Motor Company, Inc. has won the Industry Brand Residual Value Award. Honda also received individual segment awards for the Accord in the Midsize Car category, and the Honda Fit in the Compact Car category.

In addition, Acura, Honda’s luxury division, has won the overall Luxury Brand Residual Value Award for the first time. Although Acura does not have any segment winners, all of its vehicles’ residual values are relatively strong, with the new TL and TSX ranking among the highest in their segments.

Luxury Brand Residual Value Rankings:
1 ACURA
2 LEXUS
3 AUDI
4 INFINITI
5 LAND ROVER
6 BMW
7 PORSCHE
8 MERCEDES BENZ

Only brands above the luxury average were ranked. Below luxury average were the following brands (listed in alphabetical order): Cadillac, Jaguar, Lincoln, Saab and Volvo.

Full details: https://www.alg.com/Newsroom?pid=92

Acura's First Overall American Le Mans Series Win

David Brabham's last-lap pole run on Friday at Lime Rock Park was trumped by his perform- ance Saturday in the Northeast Grand Prix.

The No. 9 Patrón Highcroft Acura ARX-01b driver put in one of the best maneuvers in American Le Mans Series history with a first-turn outside pass of Timo Bernhard to score Acura's first overall victory in two seasons of ALMS competition in front of massive crowd encircling the 1.53-mile road course.

Brabham, who co-drove to his second 24 Hours of Le Mans title last month, came from a 5.5-second deficit with eight minutes remaining in the two-hour, 45-minute feature to move around Bernhard's Penske Porsche on the next to last lap. The native Australian took over the driving chores from Scott Sharp with 90 minutes to go and worked his way from fourth to second on Lap 126. The final 40 laps proved to be an all-out sprint to the checkered flag, as Brabham and Bernhard diced their way through the backmarkers in a thrilling down-to-the-wire finish.









Northeast Grand Prix ALMS Race (Overall)
1. PATRÓN HIGHCROFT ACURA ARX-01b No. 9
2. Penske Porsche No. 7
3. Penske Porsche No. 6
5. LOWE'S FERNANDEZ ACURA ARX-01b No. 15
6. ANDRETTI GREEN XM ACURA ARX-01b No. 26
9. DE FERRAN PANASONIC ACURA ARX-01b No. 66

UPCOMING ALMS RACE:
Event: Acura Sports Car Challenge
Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, OH (2.25 miles)
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008 2:10 p.m. (EDT)
Distance: 2 hours, 45 minutes
TV: NBC-TV, July 20, Noon EDT

[ALMS] LMP2 Win AT Long Beach

The victory was the first for the upstart Patrón Highcroft Racing team in the ALMS and the second for Acura since the manufacturer's entry in the road racing series in 2007.

David Brabham made a spectacular pass of Romain Dumas entering Turn Eight on the 70th lap of the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series feature Saturday to win the highly-competitive LMP2 class on the famed streets of Long Beach.

Brabham took over the No. 9 Patrón Highcroft Acura ARX-01b prototype sports car from his teammate, Scott Sharp, on the 46th lap and charged from fifth position to the lead on the next-to-last lap in a sensational wheel-to-wheel battle with Dumas in the Penske Porsche. The win follows Patrón High- croft Racing's best previous finish of second at St. Petersburg two weeks ago.

Tequila Patrón ALMS Race

1. PATRÓN HIGHCROFT ACURA ARX-01b No. 9
2. Penske Porsche No. 7
3. Penske Porsche No. 6
4. ANDRETTI GREEN ACURA ARX-01b No. 26
6. LOWE'S FERNANDEZ ACURA ARX-01b No. 15

UPCOMING ALMS RACE:

Event: Miller Utah Grand Prix
Track: Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah (3.08 miles)
Date: Sunday, May 18, 2008, 1 p.m. (MDT)
Distance: 2 hours, 45 minutes
TV: SPEED, May 18, 3 p.m. EDT

Click here for more details

ALMS LMP2 Second Place

The new driver duo of David Brabham and Scott Sharp combined efforts Saturday to drive the Patrón Highcroft Acura ARX-01b to the team's best American Le Mans Series career finish with a second place in the LMP2 class in the Acura Sports Car Challenge.

With a fourth at Sebring and a second at St. Petersburg, the Patrón Highcroft Acura team has moved to second in the LMP2 point standings, with the next ALMS race set for April 19 at Long Beach.

Acura Sports Car Challenge Results

1. Penske Porsche No. 7
2. PATRÓN HIGHCROFT ACURA ARX-01b No. 9
3. Penske Porsche No. 6
4. Dyson Porsche No. 16
5. ANDRETTI GREEN ACURA ARX-01b No. 26
7. LOWE'S FERNANDEZ ACURA ARX-01b No. 15

Click here for the details.

Honda Top of Best U.S. Cars List

The conclusion of a recent analysis conducted by Consumer Reports that looks at the reliability, performance, fuel economy, comfort, interior fit and finish, and ergonomics of 262 vehicles recently tested and overall the best cars sold in the U.S. are made by Honda. Only two automakers, Honda and Subaru, earned the distinction of having all of the models tested make the Recommended list. Since CR hasn't yet tested the redesigned Subaru Impreza and WRX, Honda is the only automaker whose entire model lineup is currently recommended.

Honda, with an overall score of 78, is followed closely by Toyota (75) and Subaru (72). BMW, Mazda, Nissan, and Volkswagen are tied at 71, after rounding.

Honda earned the top score in the analysis because it builds very reliable cars that perform very well. Its average test score is only slightly under Volkswagen's and Mercedes-Benz's. And Honda is the only automaker to earn an excellent overall reliability Rating.

But not all of Honda's models lead their class in test Ratings. The redesigned Honda CR-V SUV, for example, can't quite match the top-ranked Toyota RAV4. The Accord was edged out by the Nissan Altima. The Honda Odyssey minivan scored slightly lower than the Toyota Sienna. And some of Honda's upscale Acura models trail their Lexus counterparts from Toyota. But Honda's strength is its consistency; its vehicles typically rate near the top of their categories.

For the full article, click here.

[UPDATE] Honda is the Official Tournament of Roses Vehicle Provider

On New Year's Day, parade-watchers will witness a Honda Ridgeline-inspired truck rising from the bed of the float in a cloud of mist, become an airborne craft and 'blast off' with a replica of ASIMO, Honda's advanced humanoid robot, at the controls. Using Honda generators to transform, the hood of the truck will fold forward to become an aircraft cockpit, the doors and sides of the truck will unfold outward to become wings, the wheels will tuck under the body, and the bed of the truck will open and take on the form of an aircraft tail section, complete with rocket engines - and even real fire.



"When it comes to creativity and innovation, you can always count on Honda to make the Rose Parade spectacular," said Bill Flinn, chief operating officer, Tournament of Roses.



"American Honda is committed to creating products that give people mobility - on both two and four wheels, and soon, in the skies. This year's float takes a fun and imaginative look at what the future of mobility might hold," said Steve Morikawa, assistant vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Honda Rose Parade entries have captured major awards in 12 out of the last 13 years. Honda is the official Tournament of Roses vehicle. This year, the company will provide 115 vehicles, 166 Metropolitan scooters and 12 generators for use by Tournament of Roses personnel.

The 119th Rose Parade, themed "Passport to the World's Celebrations," will take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008 at 8 a.m. (PST).

[Source] Honda Press Release

[UPDATE] Honda's 2008 Tournament of Roses Float



Fire blasting out of the rocket engines of the Honda float in the Tournament of Roses Parade Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008 in Pasadena, Calif. The float which transformed from a truck to take the form of an spacecraft complete with rocket engines and real fire, won the Crown City Innovation Trophy, given for "Best Use of Imagination and Innovation to Advance the Art of Floral Design." Honda has won 13 awards in the past 14 years. Photo/Honda, Susan Goldman, handout.

HONDATA Breaks Four Landspeed Records

Co-founder of Los Angeles-based Hondata, Doug Macmillan, set 4 new records at the Bonneville Nationals Speed Week in his Acura RSX. The modded RSX had 2-liter front wheel drive 2003 Acura RSX in the G class altered coupe and competition coupe classes, competing in both gas and fuel categories. One of the records set was a highest one-way speed of 190.1 mph (305.9 km/h) in the G/FCC class (with nitrous oxide) and 172.mph in the G/GCC class (naturally aspirated). The K20 engine, built by Prototype Racing makes 270 HP naturally aspirated and 390 when running on nitrous oxide.

[For more details - vtec.net]

Acura TSX - "the least expensive luxury car to own"

ForbesAutos compiled a list of Top 10 Least Expensive Luxury Vehicles to Own. "Cars at the lower end of the luxury class are the least costly to own because their lower starting prices minimize the effects of depreciation." At the top of the list is the Acura TSX. Also included is the Acura RDX, the "only SUV that runs with the 10 luxury vehicles that are least expensive to own."

1. Acura TSX
Starting MSRP: $28,090
Five-year cost of ownership: $47,084

Half the models on this least expensive to own list wear lower sticker prices than the Acura TSX. But after five years, this sporting sedan ends up the most economical. Acura's reputation for vehicle reliability helps hold up resale value, so that the TSX depreciates just 49 percent over five years — the lowest depreciation among the 10 luxury cars that consume cash most lightly. It also boasts the lowest maintenance and repair expenses among these 10 lowest cost luxury models.

*After 5 years*
Cost of ownership: $47,084
Depreciation: $13,808
Interest and opportunity cost: $9,730
Fuel: $10,279
Maintenance and repairs: $3,002
Insurance: $8,285
Taxes and fees: $1,980

8. Acura RDX
Starting MSRP: $32,995
Five-year cost of ownership: $54,502

The Acura RDX is the only SUV that runs with the 10 luxury vehicles that are least expensive to own. With the gas-guzzling rap against SUVs, it seems appropriate that the RDX has the highest estimated fuel cost in the group. At $12,542 over five years, the Acura squanders 20 to 25 percent more fuel than some passenger cars in the ranking. Still, for a sport utility, its EPA fuel economy rating of 19 mpg city/23 mpg highway is good — especially for an all-wheel-drive hauler with pep and pizzazz.

*After 5 years*
Cost of ownership: $54,502
Depreciation: $17,826
Interest and opportunity cost: $11,323
Fuel: $12,542
Maintenance and repairs: $3,538
Insurance: $6,950
Taxes and fees: $2,323

Acura Dealers Treat Customers Well

Acura dealerships ranked highest in the newly released 2007 Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index(SM) Auto Industry Study, an industry-first study that measures how consumers are treated when shopping for a new car, SUV or truck. The survey covered the customer service regardless of whether or not the perspective buyer actually purchased a vehicle. The independent study evaluated and benchmarked shopping experiences at 1,592 mdealerships nationwide, representing all major brands. Following Acura were Land Rover, Saturn, Jaguar, Volkswagen, Nissan,and nineteen other brands at or above the industry average. Twelve brands finished below industry average.

Acura dealers were ranked consistently among the top brands for most of the 50+ sales process aspects evaluated by the study, and ranked first for giving prospects compelling reasons to buy from their specific dealership. Other brands led the industry in different areas. For example, Land Rover salespeople were most likely to provide a "walk-around" showcasing product features and benefits, and were also most likely to offer a brochure. Saturn salespeople were most likely to offer a test drive, and to provide compelling reasons to buy now. Jaguar salespeople were most likely to mention financing options. Lexus salespeople nearly always -- 98% of the time -- asked for contact information. BMW salespeople were most likely to appear responsible for setting the sales price themselves.

[To continue reading...]

TSX wins Koni Challenge at Laguna Seca!

Karl Thomson and Billy Johnson co-drove to their second 2007 win in four races this season and retook the championship lead with a victory in the No. 76 Kensai Racing/Compass360.com Acura TSX in Saturday's Grand-Am KONI Challenge (ST) Street Tuner Monterey 200 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The duo also combined to win the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in January. [Source]





Here's an in-car and nose cam, from Billy Johnson in practice. The day before he won the Grand Am Koni Challenge ST race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Famous Geek drives Acura TSX?

According to automotoportal.com's article: What Cars Do Famous Geeks Drive? Chris Pirillo drives a 2006 Acura TSX. Here's what automotoportal.com had to say:

Chris Pirillo is an Internet entrepreneur, book author, ex-TV show host and technology enthusiast. He is addicted to computer hardware and software -and the Acura TSX. According to him, the 2006 TSX is about as geeky as today’s cars can get. This car has an audio in jack, live traffic reports, Bluetooth connectivity, Zagat ratings and an excellent navigation system with voice recognition.

The car also has handsfreelink, keyless access system with driver recognition. The sound system in the Acura is a 360-watt system with AM/FM stereo, 6 disc in dash CD changer and eight speakers. There is also an XM satellite radio, MP3/auxillary input jack and home link. Other accessories include a dual zone automatic climate control system and heated front seats, theft deterrent system with an electronic immobilizer. The exterior temperature indicator lets you know what the temperature is outside.

Now it's time to take out the red pen teachers use to correct student's work:
1) The TSX does NOT have live traffic reports,
2) the picture automotoportal.com has up for the 2006 Acura TSX is actually a pre-2006 model (this is noted because of the lacking integrated fog lights), &
3) Chris Pirillo no longer drives a TSX, but instead drives an Acura RL.

I don't know what automotoprotal.com was doing, but it sure wasn't research. Here is the entry from Chris Pirillo when he was thinking of "upgrading" his Acura TSX. Being a TSX owner myself, I actually left a comment on that entry in September of last year. At that time, I had no idea Mr. Pirillo was "famous."