New Acura Showcased At Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show will be opening to the public beginning this weekend and is featuring a number of new cars and concept vehicles.

Among the newest models making their debut at this year’s show is the 2010 Acura TSX V-6, car with a powerful 3.5-liter engine, exclusive suspension tuning, larger diameter wheels and many other enhancements.

“The automotive market may be slowing down, but not Acura,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. “With improved acceleration and handling, the new 280 horsepower V-6 adds even more sport to the already sporty nature of the popular TSX sports sedan.”

The Best Selling TSX

Redesigned last year, the TSX has been well received by automotive press and customers alike, beating Acura sales records to become one of its best selling sedans ever. The standard I4 model is admired for its nimble handling, agile driving feel and balanced performance, something that the V6 model will offer and more.

The V6 TSX powertrain features a 280 horsepower 3.5L V-6, with sophisticated VTEC(R) valvetrain control and a dual-stage induction system. For maximum performance and efficiency, the engine will be paired to Acura’s Sequential SportShift automatic transmission, with smart features such as Grade Logic Control and Shift Hold Control. Upon driver demand, the Sequential SportShift transmission can also be operated manually, via steering-wheel mounted F1(R)-style paddle shifters.

Loaded With Standard Safety Features

The V6 TSX V-6 includes a number of standard safety features and is expected to achieve the highest ratings in both government (NHTSA) and independent (IIHS) crash testing. Acura expects that the TSX will receive the IIHS’ top safety pick as well.

Inside, the new TSX will feature top level standard equipment, including leather-appointed interior, power moon roof, automatic climate control, a premium seven-speaker sound system with CD, AM/FM tuner, XM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, USB port and AUX jack music interface and more.

On Sale Summer 2009

Additional details about the V6 Acura TSX including its sticker price will be released just before the new model goes on sale this summer.

Source: Acura

Honda Gets Serious About Acura And Will Offer A V8

Luxury car drivers are among the most discriminating car buyers in the world. Burl wood, brushed aluminum, and bolstered leather seating are standard equipment musts for many, but a strong engine, speed, and rear wheel drive are also important to them.

An Acura V8

Honda’s luxury brand, Acura, offers many of the important items that drivers want, but they have long lacked one thing: a V8 engine. However, that is expected to change as Honda recently announced that a V8 engine is on its way to power as at least one model, probably the top of the line RL when it makes it debut in 2010. Yes, fuel efficient Honda is going where the automaker has never gone before – offering robust V8 power, but with an important twist: the auto manufacturer promises to deliver one of the most fuel efficient engines in this class.

The move to V8 power seems like a curious one in these days of high gas prices. But, luxury car buyers demand performance over price and are willing to pay extra for that privilege, no matter whether at the showroom or at the pump. A V8 engine is a badge of distinction, one that allows a luxury car maker to be truly named among the world’s elite, something Acura has missed up to this point.

Competing With Top Luxury Makes

With Lexus, Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and others each sporting V8 models, Acura hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, having to settle for a 3.7L V6 in hopes that buyers will be satisfied with reduced power, but quite frankly they haven’t been.

The move to a larger V8 will also mean that the Honda NSX sports car will see a V10 engine, putting that car right up there with the Dodge Viper and Chevrolet Corvette. Also, Honda is working on developing an all-new super luxury Acura, one that is expected to compete with the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes S-Class, among other models.

Big, Powerful, and Fuel Efficient

How will Honda find class leading fuel economy with its all-new V8 engine? Knowing Honda, who keeps such information tightly wrapped, they’ll make excellent use of lightweight materials (aluminum, for example) and pair that engine with a state of the art automatic transmission, perhaps one with eight speeds. Together, expect fuel economy to exceed 25 mpg on the highway, maybe approaching 30 mpg which would be unheard of for an engine of its class.

If anyone can pull off an amazing engineering feat that would be Honda, an automotive manufacturer who continually raises the bar with all things automotive technology.