Acura

September 22, 2009

Latest 2010 Cars in U.S. 6.6% Greener Than 2009 Models, Website Reports

Environmental car data released by a new automotive Website today shows that the latest 2010 range of new cars available in the U.S. is 6.6 percent greener than the 2009 model-year range.

The data supplied by WhatGreenCar also demonstrate that the shift to green is gaining pace. To date, this year's 6.6 percent reduction is more than three times last year's improvement of 2.1 percent.

Comparing model year 2009 cars with the latest model year 2010 line-up, 10 volume automakers are now offering a new model range above the average improvement of 6.6 percent.

The top 10 manufacturers achieving this are: Chevrolet (20.3 percent improvement), General Motors (15.3 percent), Mercedes-Benz (13.6 percent), Lexus (13.2 percent), Mercury (11.6 percent), Kia (11.0 percent), Ford (10.4 percent), Acura (8.0 percent), Volkswagen (8.0 percent) and Suzuki (7.7 percent).

The tables below are self-explanatory, and can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 22, 2009, 12:09 PM
Categories:: Acura, Chevrolet, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Suzuki, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Acura

June 30, 2009

Acura: "Some" 2010 MDX Models Will Qualify for Purchase With Clunker Vouchers

Revamped SUV Apparently Would Boast ~~23%~~ a 6 % Fuel Economy Hike, No Word on How

2009.acura.mdx.20237846-E.jpg (Note: We are red-faced with embarrassment. Acura would only have to boost MDX fuel economy by 1 mile per gallon, to 18 mpg, not 22 mpg, to qualify for the program. That's because the MDX is a light truck, not a car, and it means a 6 percent increase, not 23 percent.
It also means it would be a lot easier to accomplish and wouldn't require much more than a 6-speed transmission and some weight reduction and aerodynamic tweaks to achieve. We've edited this article to eliminate the stuff that's just plain wrong, but in the spirit of transparency, are only striking it out, not erasing it, so you can see where and how badly we messed up.)

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Look for some fuel-economy news from Acura next month.

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2009 MDX pictured gets an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 17 mpg.
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Buried deep in a missive Honda's luxury division sent out this week notifying the automotive press that Acura has several models that would qualify for purchase with a cash for clunkers voucher was this tidbit:

"Certain models of the 2010 MDX luxury sport-utility vehicle" will qualify.

That means those 2010 Acura MDX models will have to get at least 22 18 miles per gallon on the EPA's rating for combined city and highway driving. ~~And that means Acura has figured out a way to make the 17 mpg, 7-seat, 300 horsepower SUV into a 22 mpg fuel-sipper (well, maybe not a sipper but at least not as thirsty as the present model).~~

~~That's a 23 percent improvement, which isn't too shabby.~~

Just how they're going to do it remains a secret. Acura won't talk until the official 2010 MDX introduction on July 20.

But given the MDX placement atop the Acura SUV lineup, it's unlikely that the improved mileage will be achieved by shoving a four-banger into the engine bay and calling it a day.

We're guessing - and it's just guessing at this point, no leaks from insiders helping us out - is that the higher-mileage MDX models will use six-speed automatic transmissions instead of the five-speeds used across the line in the '09 MDX.

Acura might then remove the third-row seating to lighten the SUV and drop all-wheel drive to increase fuel economy, and/or add Honda's cylinder deactivation system to the MDX's 3.7-liter V6. ~~or even stick a smaller, turbocharged V6 in the engine bay.~~

~~A couple of longshots: Is there an Acura MDX hybrid in the works, or could the company be resurrecting the V6 diesel it once planned for its SUVs?~~

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); John O'Dell June 30, 2009, 10:18 AM
Categories:: Acura, Fuel Economy, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Acura MDX

October 20, 2008

Bucking Trend, Honda Announces Top-of-the-Line Acura Will Be Fitted With a V8

After years of lackluster sales for its flagship sedan, Honda Motor Co. CEO Takeo Fukui announced today that the next-generation Acura RL will be fitted with a V8 engine.

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The insufficiently powered 2009 RL.

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Honda's luxury vehicle division has been around since 1986, and yet at a time when General Motors, Ford and other automakers are shelving thirsty V8s in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, the move will mark the first time in Acura's 22-year history that it will place a V8 in any of its production models.

The timing couldn't be more peculiar, given the attention most people are giving pump prices these days.

Which isn't to say that Acura hasn't been accused of under-powering its top-of-the-line model. Rumors of it being offered with an optional V8 to compete with the top sedans of other luxury automakers have circulated nearly as long the RL has been around, which is a full dozen years.

With the entirely refreshed 2009 RL, Acura finally moved to replace its 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with something more exciting. But instead of a V8, the automaker went with a 3.7-liter V6.

For buyers in the high-end sedan market, the 3.7 didn't cut it. Fukui as much as admitted that today.

"I don't think that the Acura RL 3.7-liter is sufficient," he said. "We can't compete with other premium brands."

Why oh why the Japanese automaker took so long to reach that conclusion he didn't say.

But Fukui did say the upcoming engine will "be completely different from conventional, past-generation ones and have excellent fuel efficiency."

A V8 with excellent fuel efficiency in a high-performance luxury sedan with the reliability of a Honda and the finish of, well, an Acura?

Now that's more like it!

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett October 20, 2008, 5:38 PM
Categories:: Acura, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Acura RL

July 22, 2008

Acura, Smart, Chevy Models Top List of Healthiest Cars Tested by Ecology Center

Soy foam in the seats the Ford F-150 pickups and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Locally farmed hemp , "ethically produced" woolen fabric and floor mats made of sisal in the Lotus Eco Elise.

Some automakers are increasingly going to great lengths to make the interiors of some of their models if not environmentally friendly, at least a bit wholesome.

But others, well...

Early today the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan, posted its second-annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and children's car seats at www.HealthyCar.org.

More than two hundred 2008- and 2009-model-year vehicles and more than 60 children's car seats were tested for unhealthy chemicals that seep in gaseous form from the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, seats and carpet.

The "new-car smell," as the gases are commonly called, mingle with the air occupants breathe and have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer.

The Ecology Center reported that Mazda, General Motors and Nissan improved since last year's findings, with GM showing the greatest gains of the domestic automakers, with an average vehicle ranking improvement of 27 percent.

The list of the 10 best and 10 worst vehicles as picked by the Center appears in the chart above.

Average child-car-seat scores improved 28 percent overall. The list of 10 best and worst car seats for 2008 as picked by the Center appears at left. Click on the chart for a better look.

For more information, go to www.HealthyCar.org.

Below are the three worst 2008-model-year vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Suzuki Reno and Volkswagen New Beetle.

Below are are the three best vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Acura RXD, Chevrolet Cobalt and Smart Passion Cabriolet.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 12:21 AM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Think, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

July 17, 2008

That New Car Smell Might Kill You

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

That's our sensational headline for 2008, but there's more than a smidgen of truth in it.

Last year Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ecology Center released the first-ever consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats -- and what they reported was sickening.

The odor you inhale when you slide into a new car? It might very well be bromine, chlorine, lead, other harmful chemicals or a witches' brew of them. They've been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and, no doubt, cancer.

If you think the government protects you against such things, think again. Some of the vehicles on the road today are veritable toxic dumps on wheels. And many drivers are exposed to these chemicals through inhalation and contact with dust every day.

In case you missed last year's report, Ecology Center found the most toxic vehicles were the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, Scion xB 5dr and the Kia Rio. The least toxic vehicles were the Chevy Cobalt, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Odyssey and the Volvo V50.

Next Tuesday -- July 22 -- Ecology Center will release its second annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats, and if you're thinking of buying a new car anytime soon, you'll want to check it out. The guide will be posted at www.healthycar.org a little after midnight on the 22nd.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 1:39 PM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Legislation, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

February 6, 2008

Diesel Trumps Hybrids at Acura

By Bill Visnic, Senior Editor, AutoObserver

Okay, itâ€™s official â€“ or at least semi-official: the Acura premium brand is going to be Honda Motor Co.'s diesel flag-waving division.

At the Chicago Auto Show today, Dick Colliver, Acuraâ€™s executive vice president of automotive sales, tells Green Car Advisor that Acura has earmarked diesel as the way to satisfy environmentally concerned premium-vehicle customers, and to meet future fuel-economy standards.

And hybrid-electric technology? Fergeddaboutit, says Colliver â€“ never mind parent Hondaâ€™s long history with hybrid development.