Archive for January, 2010
Acura Opens New Design Studio
January 5th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Finally the new $15 million Acura Design Studio has officially opened its doors. And according to Acura the producer of top-of-the-line Acura oxygen sensor the new Design Studio will assume an important role in the development of new concepts and designs for future Acura products. The new studio is equipped with the latest design technologies and a work layout that focuses on improving collaboration. This new design studio will also represent the next step in the advancement of the Acura brand.
The studio is design to achieve a high level of energy efficiency and expected to become a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building by the US Green Building Council or USGBC. There were various measures adopted for the design and construction of the studio with the aim of achieving LEED gold certification.
There were already a couple of Acura models which include the Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle and Acura TL luxury performance sedan that have been designed, engineered, and developed by the HRA. Transferring Acura design activities into a state-of-the-art independent studio gives it a more defined focus that distinctly characterized the Acura brand.
The key technologies in the Acura Design Studio include a computer generated virtual simulator that allows design stylists to showcase virtual vehicles in a one-to0one ratio. The other features in the facility design includes the parallel arrangement of the interior and the exterior design areas on the styling floor which enable designers to better collaborate with each other in producing a new vehicle.
With the latest expansion of the HRA product design and development capabilities in North America, the Acura Design Studio together with Honda Design Studio in Torrance, California and the Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, California further broaden the existing HRA’s in Los Angeles Center for research and design.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Acura Design Studio last march 27, 2006. At the same time it marked the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Acura brand. Acura was the first Japanese luxury nameplate and very first Japanese luxury automaker to develop, designs, and manufacture vehicles in North America. Likewise, almost two-thirds of the all Acura vehicles are sold in America are developed, designed, researched, and assembled exclusively in North America.
In an effort to achieve a Gold rating by the USGBC, the Acura Design Studio has included many energy-saving attributes like for example the Energy Star reflective roof to reduce heat gain and lower air conditioning requirements, reclaimed water used for landscaping, and an intelligent lightning system that makes greater use of natural light. Honda has other LEED gold certified facilities found in Gresham, Oregon, and Raymond, Ohio.
The HRA has started its operations in California way back 1976 with local market research activities and from then on has steadily grown its capabilities for over the past 30 years of which include all aspects of new vehicle design and development.
And with the addition of the Acura Design Studio, the company will now operates 13 major R&D facilities in North America with more than 1,200 designers, support personnel, and engineers that are engaged in the development of automobiles, power equipment, and motorcycles products not only for North American market but also for distribution worldwide.
By: Zeke Gervis
About the Author:
The studio is design to achieve a high level of energy efficiency and expected to become a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building by the US Green Building Council or USGBC. There were various measures adopted for the design and construction of the studio with the aim of achieving LEED gold certification.
There were already a couple of Acura models which include the Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle and Acura TL luxury performance sedan that have been designed, engineered, and developed by the HRA. Transferring Acura design activities into a state-of-the-art independent studio gives it a more defined focus that distinctly characterized the Acura brand.
The key technologies in the Acura Design Studio include a computer generated virtual simulator that allows design stylists to showcase virtual vehicles in a one-to0one ratio. The other features in the facility design includes the parallel arrangement of the interior and the exterior design areas on the styling floor which enable designers to better collaborate with each other in producing a new vehicle.
With the latest expansion of the HRA product design and development capabilities in North America, the Acura Design Studio together with Honda Design Studio in Torrance, California and the Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, California further broaden the existing HRA’s in Los Angeles Center for research and design.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Acura Design Studio last march 27, 2006. At the same time it marked the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Acura brand. Acura was the first Japanese luxury nameplate and very first Japanese luxury automaker to develop, designs, and manufacture vehicles in North America. Likewise, almost two-thirds of the all Acura vehicles are sold in America are developed, designed, researched, and assembled exclusively in North America.
In an effort to achieve a Gold rating by the USGBC, the Acura Design Studio has included many energy-saving attributes like for example the Energy Star reflective roof to reduce heat gain and lower air conditioning requirements, reclaimed water used for landscaping, and an intelligent lightning system that makes greater use of natural light. Honda has other LEED gold certified facilities found in Gresham, Oregon, and Raymond, Ohio.
The HRA has started its operations in California way back 1976 with local market research activities and from then on has steadily grown its capabilities for over the past 30 years of which include all aspects of new vehicle design and development.
And with the addition of the Acura Design Studio, the company will now operates 13 major R&D facilities in North America with more than 1,200 designers, support personnel, and engineers that are engaged in the development of automobiles, power equipment, and motorcycles products not only for North American market but also for distribution worldwide.
By: Zeke Gervis
About the Author:
Zeke Gervis has a degree in Human Resource Management. He is an F1 fanatic and is a collector of racing memorabilias. At present, he enjoys working at a consulting firm in Iowa.
Posted in Automotive | 
Tags: Acura Tl, Design Areas, Gold Certification, Key Technologies | 
No Comments »
Lexus: Toyota’s Pride
Evander Klum asked:
For threeyear old cars all aspects the blocks when it exceptional from all over the new york auto show lexuss model ls 460 was honored to share the recipient of.
The same system like to be distinguishedbrbrearly this year award was symbol of toyotas efforts in the blocks when it comes to share the.
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For threeyear old cars all aspects the blocks when it exceptional from all over the new york auto show lexuss model ls 460 was honored to share the recipient of.
The same system like to be distinguishedbrbrearly this year award was symbol of toyotas efforts in the blocks when it comes to share the.
Caffeinated Content for WordPress
Posted in Automotive |
Tags: Intellichoice, New York Auto Show, Old Cars, Unanimous Vote |
No Comments »
A Review Of The 2009 Ford Escape
The 2009 Ford escape presents a respectable redesign of the 2008 model. With an attractive and high quality build, an abundance of features and an exceptionally good reliability and safety record, it makes it the perfect family car or car for touring around the country and beyond with.
The Ford escape from 2009 boasts a 2. 5 l four cylinder engine, replace and a 2. 3 l engine which came in last year’s version of the model. It also has exceptionally high reliability and safety standards, which of course for a family car a very important. And you won’t be disappointed by the performance either as it has been vastly improved over previous models.
The four speed automatic transmission which was used in last year’s version of the model has also been replaced with a standard five speed transmission and there is also a six speed transmission available. With optimised gear ratios, the performance is somewhat enhanced as well.
There are various other aspects of redesigned this particular car with various tweaks and safety and reliability and performance. It is also a comfortable and pleasant to use car with ideal handling. It is also very compact for an SUV, although it does not compromise on interior space and quality.
The car is very versatile, since it has plenty of seating space and is also very comfortable for a large family. This makes it a perfect offer touring around him, but also the car can do much more than that with ease. Folding back to rear seats offers you over 66 cubic metres of storage space, making car ideal for moving large quantities of goods around when you need to.
The economy is perfectly respectable as well, something that Ford has often been famous for providing. It is about 10% more economical and gas than the previous model from last year so that will certainly be a welcome change from any people with the increasing gas prices.
The car is comfortable with a high quality interior an abundance of extra features. It has a decent entertainment system built in which comes as standard.
One of the safest cars on the market, it makes it a perfect choice for a family car or touring car. Insurance premiums should also be fairly reasonable and, being Ford, it is fairly cheap to run and parts of cheap and easy to get.
By: Andy Zain
About the Author:
The Ford escape from 2009 boasts a 2. 5 l four cylinder engine, replace and a 2. 3 l engine which came in last year’s version of the model. It also has exceptionally high reliability and safety standards, which of course for a family car a very important. And you won’t be disappointed by the performance either as it has been vastly improved over previous models.
The four speed automatic transmission which was used in last year’s version of the model has also been replaced with a standard five speed transmission and there is also a six speed transmission available. With optimised gear ratios, the performance is somewhat enhanced as well.
There are various other aspects of redesigned this particular car with various tweaks and safety and reliability and performance. It is also a comfortable and pleasant to use car with ideal handling. It is also very compact for an SUV, although it does not compromise on interior space and quality.
The car is very versatile, since it has plenty of seating space and is also very comfortable for a large family. This makes it a perfect offer touring around him, but also the car can do much more than that with ease. Folding back to rear seats offers you over 66 cubic metres of storage space, making car ideal for moving large quantities of goods around when you need to.
The economy is perfectly respectable as well, something that Ford has often been famous for providing. It is about 10% more economical and gas than the previous model from last year so that will certainly be a welcome change from any people with the increasing gas prices.
The car is comfortable with a high quality interior an abundance of extra features. It has a decent entertainment system built in which comes as standard.
One of the safest cars on the market, it makes it a perfect choice for a family car or touring car. Insurance premiums should also be fairly reasonable and, being Ford, it is fairly cheap to run and parts of cheap and easy to get.
By: Andy Zain
About the Author:
Andy Zain is the admin of Ford Escape Forum , a place where fans and owners can get the right information for tuning, customization and general discussions on anything about Ford Escape. Get the information you need when you visit Ford Forums
Checklist For Purchase Of New Cars
Diannelogan asked:
Buying a new car is not only an exciting moment but is also a rare occasion. It is not an everyday purchase. You would definitely like to hold on to the car for at least a few years, if not for decades. Hence, lot of care and thought should go into the purchase of new cars. Here is a rough checklist for purchase of new cars, which might come in handy whenever you think of new cars.
? Evaluate the purpose of the car that you plan to buy. Think over carefully whether you want a sedan or a van or an SUV. Decide whether you would require a 4-door model or a 6-door type. If your car is only for general transportation, then you might not need a luxury model like Mercedes Benz. If the car is for the entire family, then a multi utility vehicle (MUV) or a sports utility vehicle (SUV) might be ideal.
? Once you had decided on the type of the car that you need, give a deep thought to the price of the car. The car should suit your budget and income levels. If you are planning for a refinance for the car, the repayments should be affordable for you. The ideal price of a car is considered as 50% of the annual income of a person, according to experts in the auto finance industry. For example, if your annual income is $60,000, then the value of the new car purchased by you should not exceed $30,000.
? When the type of the car and your budget are clear, hunt carefully for all the cars of different brands that suit these criteria. If you are thinking of a Cadillac CTS, it would be prudent to take a look at similar cars like Nissan G35, Lexus IS, Acura TL and BMW3 also. Study the features of each of these models and go for a test drive of all of them before making a final decision.
? Negotiate for the car finance, if you are opting for a car loan. Bargain with several lenders to get the lowest rates and better repayment options. Discuss with several authorized car dealers, who would be able to advise you properly on the model and type you should purchase and also help you with the lenders in car loan.
? Consider the points like the mileage of the car, the possible future maintenance costs, the insurance costs, and warranties for the car and the parts. The same oil change might cost you $25 for a Toyota, while it might be $100 for a Mercedes Bens. These factors would affect you significantly in the long run, if you do not take them into account in the beginning itself.
These are only a few checklists provided for guidance in the purchase of new cars. If you apply your mind, you might be able to think of a few more relevant points that are applicable to you personally. Thinking deeply before the purchase of new cars is always beneficial in the long run.
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Buying a new car is not only an exciting moment but is also a rare occasion. It is not an everyday purchase. You would definitely like to hold on to the car for at least a few years, if not for decades. Hence, lot of care and thought should go into the purchase of new cars. Here is a rough checklist for purchase of new cars, which might come in handy whenever you think of new cars.
? Evaluate the purpose of the car that you plan to buy. Think over carefully whether you want a sedan or a van or an SUV. Decide whether you would require a 4-door model or a 6-door type. If your car is only for general transportation, then you might not need a luxury model like Mercedes Benz. If the car is for the entire family, then a multi utility vehicle (MUV) or a sports utility vehicle (SUV) might be ideal.
? Once you had decided on the type of the car that you need, give a deep thought to the price of the car. The car should suit your budget and income levels. If you are planning for a refinance for the car, the repayments should be affordable for you. The ideal price of a car is considered as 50% of the annual income of a person, according to experts in the auto finance industry. For example, if your annual income is $60,000, then the value of the new car purchased by you should not exceed $30,000.
? When the type of the car and your budget are clear, hunt carefully for all the cars of different brands that suit these criteria. If you are thinking of a Cadillac CTS, it would be prudent to take a look at similar cars like Nissan G35, Lexus IS, Acura TL and BMW3 also. Study the features of each of these models and go for a test drive of all of them before making a final decision.
? Negotiate for the car finance, if you are opting for a car loan. Bargain with several lenders to get the lowest rates and better repayment options. Discuss with several authorized car dealers, who would be able to advise you properly on the model and type you should purchase and also help you with the lenders in car loan.
? Consider the points like the mileage of the car, the possible future maintenance costs, the insurance costs, and warranties for the car and the parts. The same oil change might cost you $25 for a Toyota, while it might be $100 for a Mercedes Bens. These factors would affect you significantly in the long run, if you do not take them into account in the beginning itself.
These are only a few checklists provided for guidance in the purchase of new cars. If you apply your mind, you might be able to think of a few more relevant points that are applicable to you personally. Thinking deeply before the purchase of new cars is always beneficial in the long run.
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