2011 Acura on 2040-cars

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2024 Honda Prologue name announced, and an Acura EV follows

Honda is revealing a couple of little nuggets of information about its future EVs today, shedding more light on the partnership between it and GM on electric vehicle technology. The big news is that Honda’s first new EV made in this partnership will be called Prologue, and it will be an SUV produced for the 2024 model year. HondaÂ’s “Prologue” logo is revealed with this news, and a few additional details about the car itself are, too. On the obvious front, Honda says the Prologue will ride on GMÂ’s global EV platform and use GMÂ’s Ultium battery technology. The company is also promising “versatility and driving range on par with our current lineup of rugged SUVs.” “Our first volume Honda BEV will begin our transition to electrification, and the name Honda Prologue signals the role it will play in leading to our zero-emission future,” says Dave Gardner, executive VP of American Honda. “The Prologue will provide our customers with a battery-electric SUV with the excellent functionality and packaging theyÂ’ve come to expect from Honda.” ItÂ’s not just Honda that will join in on the fun, though. An electric Acura SUV was also announced today. Just like the Honda, it will use GMÂ’s electric vehicle platform. A model year for the Acura wasn't promised, but Honda claimed it would be revealed “in the 2024 calendar year.” Any details beyond what you see here are being kept under wraps by Honda. WeÂ’re told to expect more “specific details” to be released over the coming months. Basically, expect a slow drip of information about the Prologue leading up to a full reveal where Honda finally shares all there is to know about the SUV. Looking even further into the future, Honda promises EVs based on an in-house-developed EV platform sometime in the second half of this decade. For now, itÂ’s calling this future platform “e:Architecture.” Ultimately, Honda promises that 100% of its auto sales in North America will be fully electric by 2040. The 2024 Prologue is the brandÂ’s first step toward this ambitious goal. Related video:

2025 Acura MDX prices rise thanks to new tech and audio

Acura revealed the 2025 MDX in April. Now, in advance of the updated flagship crossover arriving at dealers, the brand's released pricing. We'll start with the numbers, prices rising anywhere from $850 to $1,550, with $100 of that being a higher $1,350 destination charge. MSRPs for the latest MDX after destination, and their differences from 2024, are: Base FWD: $52,250 ($850)  Base SH-AWD: $54,450 ($850)  Technology Package FWD: $57,650 ($1,550) Technology Package SH-AWD: $59,850 ($1,550) A-Spec SH-AWD: $62,850 ($1,050) Advance Package SH-AWD: $67,350 ($2,000) A-Spec Advance SH-AWD: $69,350 (New trim) Type S Advance SH-AWD: $76,300 ($1,250) What's the extra money get? Most importantly, a new infotainment system coded on Google built-in that jettisons the unwieldy and unloved Acura True Touchpad interface for a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Having Google built-in means an enhanced version of Google Maps is on board, along with various apps from the Google Play store (including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay). The center console space formerly reserved for the touchpad and wrist rest houses a wide, shallow bin and an easier-to-access wireless phone charger. Elsewhere in the cabin, there is a new Bang & Olufsen sound system with either 19 or 31 speakers in all but the base trims, better hardware for the AcuraWatch driver assistance suite, and additional sound deadening plus rear laminated glass on most trims. Exterior visual differences are also subtle, with revised lower fascias for both standard and Type S models, new grille inserts for both, and a revised grille surround that removes the chrome lipstick look of the standard MDX. The taillights are now darker, and there are new wheel designs throughout. There might be a few more Easter eggs for MDX lifers, too. A member at the MDXers forum pointed out that the 2025 Advance trim features a body-colored skirting just like the late third-gen MDX instead of the black skirting applied on the fourth-gen through 2024.    As for those trims, the A-Spec with the Advance Package is new, finally letting buyers combine the A-Spec's sportier appearance with the Advance's luxury and tech features such as 16-way power front seats, a head-up display, and surround-view camera. Acura also puts quilted leather seats in the new trim, the stitched hides once exclusive to the Type S.

Best places to get your car maintained and repaired

In this era of rampant inflation and high interest rates, the challenges of acquiring a car or SUV have been well documented. And so it has never been more important to protect that expensive investment by maintaining it. In recent months, Autoblog has shared Consumer Reports' evaluation of the least and most expensive car brands to keep running, as well as tips to prolong a car’s useful life. Especially since the pandemic, a number of factors have impacted these costs: more complex vehicles, new materials and manufacturing methods, a shortage of qualified technicians and replacement parts. Since 2022, repairs costs have jumped each year by about 10 percent. This month, Consumer Reports is offering a useful primer on keeping your ride in great shape, suggesting what might be the best options for searching out a repair shop, depending, as CR says, “on your car and your situation.” Author Ben Preston identifies three basic types of repair facilities: dealership service departments, independently owned repair shops, and chain repair shops. Building up trust with a specific shop and feeling comfortable going there is important. Preston quotes John Ibbotson, chief mechanic at Consumer ReportsÂ’ Auto Test Center: "You might be able to save a few bucks by going to whichever shop offers the cheapest prices, but if you want consistent, reliable service, itÂ’s best to find a repair shop you trust and stick with it,” Ibbotson says. The story goes on to evaluate each type of service facility. HereÂ’s a breakdown of CRÂ’s findings: Dealerships These work well for owners of newer cars, especially for covered warranty work. But the disadvantage is the high labor rates common to dealer service. Satisfaction ratings for dealer service departments range from very good (Acura, Lexus, Mazda, and Volvo) to not-so-good (Jeep and Kia). Dealers are best for: Fixing infotainment system glitches: "If the screen in the center of your dash has a habit of freezing up, or the touchscreen-activated climate controls arenÂ’t working, the dealership is the most likely place to find someone with the know-how to fix problems that maybe only a factory-authorized technician can access," Ibbotson says. Safety system recalibration: "Anything from a crack in your windshield to a minor fender dent can upset the calibration of the sensors that make features like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control work," says Ibbotson.