2022 Acura Ilx on 2040-cars

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A look inside Honda’s “Safety For Everyone” research and development operation

RAYMOND, Ohio—As part of its long-running “Safety for Everyone” campaign, Honda has established the audacious goal of what it calls a “zero-collision society.” But rather than making big claims about developing a fully-autonomous vehicle, which Honda hasnÂ’t done, the company is trying to chip away at the more than 37,000 vehicle-related fatalities that occurred in the U.S. in 2017 with a multi-pronged approach. Here in central Ohio, engineers are working with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to boost active safety systems like its HondaSensing suite of safety technology with old fashioned passive systems like structural steel frames or new airbag designs that protect passengers in a crash. Honda provided members of the press with a rare tour inside its Honda R&D Americas headquarters this week. Honda officials say that increasingly, safety — and specifically, third-party ratings from the likes of the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — figure into the top three factors consumers weigh when purchasing a vehicle. Honda and Acura have 10, 2019 models that have earned IIHSÂ’s Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ ratings, and all 15, 2019 model-year Honda and Acura vehicles that have undergone NHTSA crash testing have earned a 5-star overall rating. And Honda prides itself on its growing list of safety firsts, including the first upward-deploying front passenger airbag, in 1990 in the Acura Legend; first omni-directional crash-test facility, in 2000; and the first autonomous braking system, in the 2006 Acura RL. It hopes its new three-chamber airbag goes industry-wide and joins that list. “ItÂ’s part of our companyÂ’s culture,” said Art St. Cyr, business head unit and vice president of auto operations for American Honda Motor Co. “We have a philosophy at Honda that we want to be a company that society wants to exist. That means we have to protect our customers. ThatÂ’s part of the whole mantra of doing this.” Opened in 1984, the 1.6 million square-foot Honda R&D Americas facility, located in the countryside about 45 miles northwest of Columbus, employs around 1,600 people and is HondaÂ’s largest research-and-development facility outside of Japan. Its Advanced Safety Research facility opened in 2003.

Acura NSX production car headed for Detroit debut?

Auto Express is reporting that Honda is set to unveil the production version of its upcoming Acura NSX at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The news comes courtesy of an unnamed "top exec" for Honda Brazil speaking at the Sao Paulo Motor Show. The concept version of the Japanese supercar is currently on display there. Interestingly enough, the same unnamed source claims the production iteration will remain aesthetically identical to the show car. You won't hear any qualms from us on that front.
Of course, the timing of the production debut is a little confusing. For starters, when Acura unveiled the concept last year, the company told the world it would be at least three years before production began. That would give the street-worthy model a 2014 or 2015 designation, the latter being cited more often in media accounts. Thus, we'll keep an eye out for the hybrid supercar in Motown, but we're going to stop short of holding our breath... it might be a while.

2025 Acura ADX teased as the new entry-level crossover

Acura’s SUVs might not have the luxury cache that models from Lexus and others bring to the table, but their sporty looks and somewhat spritely performance have kept them relevant enough. The automaker is growing its lineup in 2025 with the addition of the ADX, an Integra-based crossover positioned as the new entry point to the Acura catalog. The ADX joins the long-running RDX, MDX, and the new, all-electric ZDX crossover. AcuraÂ’s fourth SUV will get a turbocharged engine and slot under the RDX as a smaller, less expensive option to attract younger buyers. A fourth utility vehicle only expands AcuraÂ’s catalog to six models overall, which is still far short of the expansive though somewhat repetitive Lexus lineup, which offers hybrids and several variants of some models. Emile Korkor, AcuraÂ’s AVP of national sales, said, “The 2025 Acura ADX will add a fourth SUV to our lineup and a new gateway model ready to build on the incredible success of Integra, helping make Acura a destination brand for a new generation of buyers. With the first-ever ADX and all-electric ZDX, the Acura lineup will have SUVs covered from A to Z.” Acura didnÂ’t share any other details about the ADX, but its pricing will likely land somewhere in the mid-to-high-$30,000 range to start. ThatÂ’s roughly midway between the IntegraÂ’s $31,800 starting price and the base RDXÂ’s $44,350 MSRP. If its powertrain matches up with the IntegraÂ’s, performance will be lively, but it wouldnÂ’t be out of the question to see a hybrid pulled from the Civic or other Honda at some point down the line. Beyond the new SUVs, Acura updated the flagship MDX for 2025. Changes include refreshed styling with new wheel designs for some trims and the removal of the frustrating touchpad infotainment system that never really became easier to use over time. In its place is a new 12.3-inch touchscreen that early reviews suggest is a significant improvement.     Acura Crossover SUV