A Trip to the Honda Welcome Plaza in Aoyama, Tokyohttp://acuraconnected.com/2015/11/02/a-trip-to-the-honda-welcome-plaza-in-aoyama-tokyo/If you’re a Honda fan, the Honda Welcome Plaza should be on your list of things of things to see while in Tokyo. Located on the first floor of the Honda Aoyama Building, it consists of a small showroom, a cafe, a demonstration stage, and a store with Honda merchandise and collectibles.
It’s easily accessible from the Aoyama-itchome subway station and the entrance and demonstrations are free to the public.
When I visited last week, Honda vehicles were lined up around the outside of the building with the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Honda Legend(Acura RLX) front and center.
Inside, the showroom display theme can change regularly, switching between cars, motorcycles, racing, or other special themes. I was fortunate to catch the TYPE-R exhibition last week which coincided with the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. A 1995 Honda Integra Type-R, a 2002 Honda NSX-R, a 1997 Civic Type R, and the all-new Civic Type R were featured.
Honda Robotics also puts on a daily demonstration with their robot ASIMO and for their “Personal Mobility Device” called UNI-CUB. Check the schedule for times. After the demo you can line up for a free photo on stage with ASIMO taken by one of the Honda assistants with your camera/phone.
Lastly, you can take home some souvenirs from the shop which carries a small selection of items ranging from ASIMO toys to officially licensed McLaren-Honda merchandise.
[Source: Chris Tobias – Acura Connected]
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http://acuraconnected.com/2015/11/03/acura-usa-october-2015-sales-report/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AcuraConnected+%28Acura+Connected%29Acura USA October 2015 Sales ReportOfficial release from Acura Media Newsroom:
American Honda Breaks October Sales Record on Strength of Light Trucks, Strong Honda Car Sales and All-Time Sales Record for Acura TLX
Nov 3, 2015 – TORRANCE, Calif.
Total American Honda vehicle sales break October record with 131,651 units
Honda brand sets new October record, rising 9.3 percent on sales of 115,572 vehicles
Best-ever October American Honda truck sales of 64,226 vehicles, up 15.3 percent
Honda Pilot has second best ever October with sales of 12,913 units, up 63.4 percent
Acura RDX breaks October record on sales of 3,891 units, an increase of 22.4 percent
Honda Accord and Civic post double-digit percentage increases of 11.0 and 15.0
Strong Acura sedan sales include a 15.0 percent gain for ILX and record TLX sales
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported record-breaking October sales of 131,651 Honda and Acura vehicles, an increase of 8.6 percent. Honda Division sales rose to an October record of 115,572 units, up 9.3 percent, with truck sales rising 18.5 percent on sales of 55,930 for another October record and car sales reaching 59,642, up 1.8 percent. Acura sales were also up with total sales of 16,079, a rise of 4.2 percent, with Acura car sales gaining 12.5 percent on sales of 7,783 units.
Acura
All-time record sales of the TLX, shooting well past the 5,000 unit mark for the first time, and the record breaking October sales of the ILX pushed Acura sedan sales over the 7,000 unit threshold. With a double-digit sales gain, RDX sales rose to an October record of 3,891.
RDX sales shot up 22.4 percent on sales of 3,891 units in October.
Sales of MDX remained robust at 4,405 for the month despite limited supply.
Acura cars posted a 12.5 percent gain on sales of 7,783 units on the strength of record breaking TLX sales of 5,777units (up 18.1 percent) and 1,860 units of the ILX (up 15.0 percent).
“We continue to strengthen the foundation of the Acura brand on the growing strength of sedan sales,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura division. “Our balanced lineup of passenger cars and light trucks has Acura on track this year for our best annual sales total in almost a decade.”
American Acura Vehicle Sales for October 2015
Month-to-Date Year-to-Date
October October DSR** October October DSR**
2015 2014 % Chg. 2015 2014 % Chg.
Acura Division Total 16,079 15,427 0.5% 148,098 135,177 9.1%
ILX 1,860 1,618 10.9% 15,218 14,472 4.7%
RLX/RL 142 260 -47.3% 1,916 2,955 -35.4%
TL 1 105 -99.1% 87 10,462 -99.2%
TLX 5,777 4,890 13.9% 40,585 11,060 265.5%
TSX 3 48 -94.0% 35 6,250 -99.4%
MDX 4,405 5,324 -20.2% 47,862 53,632 -11.1%
RDX 3,891 3,178 18.1% 42,393 36,273 16.4%
ZDX 0 4 -100.0% 2 73 -97.3%
*** ILX Hybrid 0 15 -100.0% 22 360 -93.9%
*** RLX Hybrid 14 36 -62.5% 221 67 228.6%
*** TSX Wagon 0 5 -100.0% 2 635 -99.7%
Selling Days 28 27 257 256
* Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts
** Daily Selling Rate
*** Memo line items are included in the respective model total
[Source: Acura]
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http://acuraconnected.com/2015/11/04/rendered-darth-mauls-2017-honda-nsx/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AcuraConnected+%28Acura+Connected%29Rendered: Darth Maul’s 2017 Honda NSX
What earthly cars would Star Wars characters choose?
UK automotive website carwow answers that question with 8 cleverly modded car renders, each based on its owner’s unique characteristics.
As it turns out, the new 2017 Acura/Honda NSX is fitting for the Sith Lord Darth Maul:
“We’ve been waiting for the new hybrid Honda NSX for as long as we have a new Star Wars film, but luckily our favourite double-ended lightsaberist has convinced Honda to make sure he gets one of the first cars off the production line. Complete with horned exterior and enough aerodynamic bolt-ons to completely destabilise any car stupid enough to give chase, Darth Maul’s NSX is a wicked work of sinister beauty.”
– Tim Rodie, carwow
Check out the rest of the renderings at carwow.co.uk – The modded cars Star Wars characters would totally drive.
[Source: carwow]
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http://acuraconnected.com/2015/11/03/gallery-acura-at-the-2015-sema-show/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AcuraConnected+%28Acura+Connected%29Gallery: Acura at the 2015 SEMA ShowTyson Hugie is on the SEMA Show floor in Las Vegas and has sent over some shots of Acura’s vehicles – the restored 1993 “Ludacris Legend” sedan, a sport-modified 2016 Acura ILX by Galpin Auto Sports, the next-generation Acura NSX supercar, and a 2016 ILX with the Acura Genuine Accessory package. Check out the snapshots in the gallery below.
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http://acuraconnected.com/2015/11/03/acura-showcases-passion-for-performance-at-2015-sema-show/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AcuraConnected+%28Acura+Connected%29
Acura Showcases Passion for Performance at 2015 SEMA ShowOfficial release from Acura Media Newsroom:
Highlights include restored 1993 “Ludacris Legend”, a sport-modified 2016 Acura ILX Sports Sedan, next-generation Acura NSX supercar and 2016 ILX with Acura Genuine Accessory package
Nov 3, 2015 – LAS VEGAS, NV.
Acura today thrilled the 2015 SEMA Show with multiple innovative expressions of the brand’s performance-crafted DNA – past, present and future – including the debut of the meticulously restored 1993 “Ludacris Legend” sedan, a sport-modified 2016 Acura ILX by Galpin Auto Sports, and the next-generation Acura NSX supercar, slated for its U.S. launch next spring.
The Acura exhibit also features a 2016 Acura ILX with the Acura Genuine Accessory Package in Slate Silver Metallic.
“We’ve got some really wonderful, challenging and maybe even a few crazy dreams for the future of Acura, and I think SEMA can serve as a great platform for us to explore some of these ideas,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of Acura. “SEMA is a place where people from all corners of the car business can come together and share their vision of personalization and performance. It’s why we keep coming back every year with new expressions of our passion for performance and customization as core elements of the Acura experience.”
Ludacris Legend
Celebrating the loyalty of Acura owners and their passion for the brand as embodied by multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY® award-winning artist and actor, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Acura unveiled the restored, yet uniquely customized 1993 Acura “Ludacris Legend.” The 1993 Legend sedan is featured on his ninth studio album, LUDAVERSAL, has undergone a complete ground-up restoration ideated by Acura’s Torrance-based Design Studio and guided by Acura global creative director, Dave Marek.
“Besides being a really cool project for our team, this is a great way to express Acura’s passion for performance,” said Marek. “Acura has incredibly loyal customers, and this has been a unique opportunity to celebrate their passion and affinity for Acura, and that same love for the brand that Ludacris has showed over the past dozen years”.
The restoration – which took approximately two months to complete – turns back the clock on Ludacris’ beloved Legend sedan, bringing back its original factory luster, inside and out, with minor modifications that include: upsized, 18-inch Rays wheels wrapped around Bridgestone Potenza High-Performance 215/40R/18 tires plus custom high-performance 6-piston front caliper and 4-piston rear caliper brakes. To bring new life to the Legend while retaining the original aesthetic, Acura Design developed a custom Warm Cashmere with Ice Pearl paint scheme. The installed Pioneer AVIC 8/ONEX sound system was upgraded to provide audio aficionado sound quality by integrating Apple CarPlay® and by adding two Alpine Type-12 subwoofer speakers in the trunk with custom Acura badging. The restored Legend was lowered by two-inches with H&R springs and Eibach camber kit. Additionally frame, body and chassis work was completed to ensure the Legend continues to be an enjoyable driver for years to come.
“Seeing the car that has been such a big part of my life brought back to beyond its original condition was a real gift”, said Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges. “The Legend is back and better than ever and I have my friends at Acura to thank for that.”
Fans can follow the build progress and reveal leading up to SEMA on Acura (@Acura) and Ludacris’ (@Ludacris) social media channels and by using the hashtag #LegendaryDuo.
Galpin 2016 Acura ILX
Complementing the “Ludacris Legend” is the 2016 Acura ILX sedan by Galpin Auto Sports, a sporty, youthful and street-ready take on Acura’s gateway sports sedan, which will be donated at the conclusion of the SEMA conference to the Ludacris Foundation (
www.facebook.com/LudaKids) to a “Legend” in the community. The Ludacris Foundation, named as one of the top twenty “Leading Philanthropy Foundations” by Black Enterprise Magazine, inspires youth through education and memorable experiences to live their dreams by uplifting families, communities and fostering economic development.
The Acura ILX by Galpin unveiled at SEMA 2015 is based on the luxury brand’s gateway sedan, which received a major freshening for the 2016 model year, including a new 200-horsepower, 2.4-liter direct-injected i-VTEC engine and 8-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT). The Galpin ILX is heavily modified and features custom body work including a new front bumper with accent front splitter, custom rear diffuser with JDM Fog Light plus custom exhaust exit with rear spoiler. Additionally, suspension modifications were made with RS-R Sports*i coilvers and a Borla exhaust with custom dual tips. The ILX is outfitted in 19 x 8.5-inch AVI wheels in a sinister Matte Brushed Smoked finished wrapped around Pirelli 245/30/19P Zero Run Flat Tires accentuated with black brakes. To create a visual tie with the Ludacris Legend, the ILX is painted in a Sunburst Yellow with Shark Gray accents using a three stage candy paint process. The color scheme is also is carried through to the interior with added gold contrast stitching throughout along with Katzkin perforated Barracuda leather inserts.
Acura NSX in Nouvelle Blue Pearl
The Ludacris Acura Legend and modified Acura ILX by Galpin Auto Sports are joined by a next-generation NSX with Nouvelle Blue Pearl paint scheme, the color that debuted at SEMA 2014 on the highly modified Galpin TLX and one of eight colors that will launch with the arrival of the new NSX supercar next spring. The NSX is the first and only supercar manufactured in America with global development led by a U.S. R&D team. The new NSX will utilize its three-motor Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ power unit and innovative approaches to vehicle design to deliver a completely new supercar experience.
At the heart of its next-generation supercar capabilities is the NSX’s Sport Hybrid power unit, with three electric motors and a bespoke twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 engine, producing peak output of 573 horsepower and 550 lb.-ft. of torque and utilizing the instantaneous torque delivery of its electric motors to enhance every element of the supercar’s dynamic performance – acceleration, braking and uniquely turning via dynamic and continuous electric motor torque vectoring.
2016 Acura ILX with Acura Genuine Accessory Package:
The 2016 ILX with the Acura Genuine Accessory package on display is painted Slate Silver Metallic and features a number of factory accessories developed exclusively for the ILX, available to customers through their Acura dealers. Genuine Acura Accessories featured on the 2016 ILX at SEMA include:
Aero Kit (Front, Side, Rear Spoilers)
Decklid Spoiler
18-in Diamond-Cut Alloy Wheels
All-Season Floor Mats
Illuminated Door Sill Trim
Chrome Door Trim
LED Fog Lights
Rear Bumper Applique
Remote Engine Starter
For More Information
Consumer information is available at
www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/Acura. Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at acuranews.com/channels/acura-automobiles.
[Source: Acura]
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http://acuraconnected.com/2015/11/03/video-acura-x-ludacris-legendary-duo/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AcuraConnected+%28Acura+Connected%29
Video: Acura x Ludacris – Legendary Duo
Posted on 2015/11/03 by AcuraConnected
Acura introduces two of their 2015 SEMA show cars – Ludacris’ custom-restored 1993 Acura Legend and the Galpin Auto Sports 2016 Acura ILX:
“We’ve partnered with Ludacris, one of the most successful hip-hop artists and actors in the United States, to restore his beloved ‘93 Acura Legend to its former glory.”
– Acura via YouTube
Video: Acura x Ludacris – Legendary Duo
Posted on 2015/11/03 by AcuraConnected
Acura introduces two of their 2015 SEMA show cars – Ludacris’ custom-restored 1993 Acura Legend and the Galpin Auto Sports 2016 Acura ILX:
“We’ve partnered with Ludacris, one of the most successful hip-hop artists and actors in the United States, to restore his beloved ‘93 Acura Legend to its former glory.”
– Acura via YouTube
Video: Acura x Ludacris – Legendary Duo
Posted on 2015/11/03 by AcuraConnected
Acura introduces two of their 2015 SEMA show cars – Ludacris’ custom-restored 1993 Acura Legend and the Galpin Auto Sports 2016 Acura ILX:
“We’ve partnered with Ludacris, one of the most successful hip-hop artists and actors in the United States, to restore his beloved ‘93 Acura Legend to its former glory.”
– Acura via YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0sJ1Nfjcfc