Action at Acura

Acura was born out of the need for Honda to diversify its lineup without compromising the inexpensive simple transportation image it had built itself upon. So, Honda created Acura as its luxury/sport division to compete more squarely with models from Toyota's Lexus and the Germans (BMW, Audi, etc). Over the past 6 months, the great minds at Acura have been churning, renewing Acura's lineup with 2 brand new models as well as one facelifted model. While those numbers aren't striking, what is is the fact that that is 75% of the Acura lineup. While many companies are creating new vehicles with a similar fury, I chose to highlight Acura because of its feature-filled cars with great dynamics and comfort.

First, on August 10, Acura began selling the brand new RDX, a compact SUV to battle with the likes of the BMW X3 and Mazda CX-7 as well as coming rivals such as the Land Rover LR2 and Volvo XC60. The RDX features Acura's first ever turbocharged production model. And in typical Acura fashion, they did more than follow the competition. Acura’s turbo is a unique unit with Variable Turbo Geometry also seen on the new Porsche 911 Turbo. There is a flap that when at low RPM, stays closed making the airway smaller, speeding up the air for more boost sooner. When RPMs increase, the flap opens up becoming a larger turbo with more high-end power. This means acceleration with little to no lag. When paired with the stiff but compliant suspension underneath the RDX, this makes for an entertaining impromptu canyon carver. Inside, there are luxury features galore including standard 360watt stereo, leather seating, XM radio, and HID headlamps. An optional Technology Package adds DVD-nav system, Acura ELS DVD-Audio Surround Sound stereo, Bluetooth Connectivity, and a backup camera. All this for a base price of only $32, 995 with the Technology Package jacking the price up to $36,495. Still this undercuts the X3 (its primary competitor) by thousands and in my opinion, you get more of a car with Acura.

Next, for 2007, Acura is giving it's workhorse TL a facelift as well as bringing back the heralded Type-S model with the RLs 3.5L V6 with 286hp all through a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddles. Also, the Type-S includes a stiffer sports suspension, new 18" wheels, more aggressive front and rear fascias, and a few unique interior elements. Overall, all 2007 TLs get a new front fascia with the foglights now in the lower grille, new design rear taillights, and new wheels. As before, the TL comes standard with a DVD-A surround sound system, leather seats, XM radio, and a power sunroof. Prices have not been announced but expect a couple thousand over the base TL for the Type-S.

Finally, Acura’s tried and true MDX is getting a complete redesign with much more aggressive styling and a more powerful engine. Acura is hoping, with the new MDX styling, to retain it’s following of mothers while gaining the interest of more men. There are many similarities to the RDX, in particular the rear end. To attract those target male buyers, Acura has infused the new MDX with more apparent sporting intentions, evidenced by the claim it was tuned at the Nurburgring. Also, Acura has enlarged its popular V6 to 3.7L to provide a solid 300hp through all 4 wheels with an evolution of the SH-AWD system on the RDX and RL. The MDX has grown in just about every dimension to distance itself from the new RDX and accordingly, the price is going up. Prices are estimated to start around $41,000 for the base model and a fully loaded model with the Technology Package, the Entertainment Package and the Sports Package with sticker for around $49,000.

Acura is obviously in a very good spot right now and we will look for more great cars coming from them soon, including the second gen TSX (which, considering its been around since 2004, is due for at least a facelift soon).

VW brings out the Individual in you

For many, the days of going to a dealership and picking out your car from the lot are fading away as more and more buyers want to personalize their vehicles to coincide with their personality. Outside the hundreds of aftermarket companies that offer everything from performance to appearance parts, many auto companies are devoting teams specifically to making cars for those who want something a little different.

One of the most recent examples is the Volkswagen Individual lineup. The entity was first introduced in 2003 and is now rolling out Individual s for every car in the VW lineup. But unlike some other modified cars, the VW Individual's are produced in very low numbers assuring the buyer he will rarely see a car like his on the road. VW offers everything from exclusive optional equipment to entire vehicles with specific colors, two-tone leather, new wheels, and high-end options such as DVD entertainment systems and nice stereos.

But VW Individual does more than just modifications. They have already shown their skill for putting together new automobiles to fill niches they see are empty. The Phaeton Lounge concept is one example. The Individual design team took an average Phaeton and stretched it to limo length with tons of space for the discerning VIP. This design expertise is seen on every Individual from the body kit available on the Touareg Exclusive Edition to the lowered suspension and dual-tone leather on the Passat Individual. Individual has also made itself attractive to the not-so-average off-roader, with the Touareg Expedition (25mm more ground clearance, skid plates, roof basket w/ additional lights, as well as optional winch and retractable awning).

VW Individual has also taken over all of VWs special vehicles tasks including vehicles for official purposes (Police, etc.), and VWs Green car effort, in particular Natural Gas powered vehicles. Finally, the R-line, started with the R32, will be taken over by Individual. Individual states that, "Based on this success the idea was born to develop an entire series of R-models in the future."

So, it seems that we have much to look forward to with the current prominence of Individual in the VW camp. As people become more selective about their cars, Individual is ready to tailor a car to your wants and needs so you will never have that feeling of "did I get what I really wanted?"