TORRANCE, California, March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura has surpassed the 100,000-unit mark in U.S. sales of vehicles equipped with the AcuraWatch suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies. After the first two months of 2017, nearly half of all Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. this year have been equipped with AcuraWatch. Furthermore, Acura will advance the AcuraWatch suite of technologies with the introduction of Traffic Jam Assist technology on certain models later this year.

“We are working toward a zero-collision society, and this approach is resonating strongly with younger luxury customers who show increasing interest in safety technologies,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president & general manager of Acura. “Deploying active safety and driver-assistive technology broadly is one way we are taking care of our customers and differentiating Acura.”

AcuraWatch employs advanced “sensor fusion” technology, using the combined sensing capabilities of millimeter-wave radar and a monocular camera to help maintain the vehicle’s position in traffic and to prevent or mitigate the severity of a collision, representing a technological bridge to the automated driving technology of the future.

Recent research indicates that younger, Millennial buyers of Acura’s two top-selling models, RDX and MDX, put a greater emphasis on safety features, ranking it as their third most important purchase reason compared to older buyers that rank safety as less important. Supporting this finding, the RDX and MDX luxury sport-utility vehicles, both with AcuraWatch technology, are two of the top three luxury SUVs in the industry with under-35 buyers.¹

AcuraWatch was introduced to the Acura lineup in 2014 on the 2015 Acura TLX, and has steadily expanded to all core Acura models, helping Acura drivers more safely and conveniently negotiate traffic with advanced sensing and semi-automated braking, and steering assist capabilities. AcuraWatch is offered as standard equipment on all 2017 MDX and 2017 RLX models, and available on all 2017 Acura sedans and SUVs.

The AcuraWatch suite of technologies includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), commonly known in the industry as Automatic Emergency Braking; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW); Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF).

At the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Acura signaled its intent to apply AcuraWatch as standard equipment on all core models, and announced it will add Traffic Jam Assist as an available technology on certain models starting in 2017, providing increased driver assistance and convenience in stop-and-go highway driving. With Traffic Jam Assist, vehicles will be able to come to a complete stop and accelerate again with traffic without any driver input, as well as steer the vehicle within certain constraints. Traffic Jam Assist has sensors and the functionality of adaptive cruise control with low speed follow, and lane keeping assist, extended by adding electromechanical steering. The components of Traffic Jam Assist include a mid-range radar sensor, long-range radar sensor, multi-purpose camera and stereo video camera. Current AcuraWatch ACC technology provides for semi-automated braking to a stop, but requires driver input to resume speed.

Additional standard safety equipment on all models include Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure; Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA^®) with traction control; Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags (some vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor as well); advanced front airbags; and front side airbags. All new Acura models also are equipped with a multi-angle rearview camera as standard equipment. 

About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, an original approach to technology and design that creates a new driving experience.

The Acura lineup features six distinctive models – the RLX premium, luxury sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America’s all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV. Last year, Acura launched the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

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.

¹ Based on IHS Markit, U.S. Retail new vehicle registrations by volume for all models in Luxury SUV and CUV segments 2012CY – 2016CYTD through December.

Video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzdK5rE0U-U

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TORRANCE, California, March 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The all-new Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and Honda Clarity Electric will make their worldwide debut at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. The two all-new, electrified Honda vehicles will make Clarity the first vehicle series to offer customers an expanded array of electrified vehicle choices with fuel cell, battery electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains wrapped in a sporty, spacious and comprehensively equipped five-passenger midsize sedan.

The Clarity series is at the vanguard of Honda’s commitment to address society’s energy and environmental concerns as the company expects significant growth in sales of electrified vehicles. Honda has announced its intention to make two-thirds of its global auto sales from electrified vehicles by 2030. 

The official teaser sketch of the Clarity series released today includes the never-before-seen Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and Clarity Electric flanking the currently available Clarity Fuel Cell. As the next progression of Honda’s dynamic styling for electrified products, each Clarity variant has a low, wide aerodynamic body with unique design elements. Combined with elegant and advanced exterior styling, the Clarity series boasts spacious interiors outfitted with premium, environmentally-responsible materials. Offering Honda “fun-to-drive” DNA, each Clarity variant provides a smooth, quiet and premium experience, with great dynamic handling plus seamless electric drive torque and acceleration. The Clarity series also features advanced technologies, including Display Audio with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™, and standard Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies.

The Clarity Electric will be the first affordable, midsize, five-passenger battery electric vehicle (BEV). The third vehicle in the Clarity series, the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, will launch in all 50 states and will be the volume leader in the series, combining an all-electric driving range rating in excess of 40 miles with a hyper-efficient gasoline-hybrid extended range mode.

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Accord and Clarity Fuel Cell¹ passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 34 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2016, more than 96 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

¹ Clarity Fuel Cell is only offered in select California markets at this time.

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IRVINE, Calif., March 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The previous Mazda CX-5 ended its tenure as a compact crossover SUV segment favorite, winning the praise of automotive critics and the hearts of consumers. CX-5 became Mazda’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S. Its successor, the all-new 2017 CX-5, will arrive in late March at dealerships nationwide with a starting MSRP of $24,045, building on the momentum that has made the model an unequivocal hit.

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The 2017 CX-5 hits a sweet spot in the compact crossover SUV segment for its refinement, quality, craftsmanship, design, efficiency, safety and dynamics among a long list of other reasons. No matter which trim level is selected, CX-5 also represents a remarkable value.

The entry CX-5 Sport trim features 17-inch alloy wheels, black cloth-upholstered seats, cruise control, air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, pushbutton starter, LED headlights, variable intermittent windshield wipers, carpeted floor mats, a 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat, Smart City Brake Support and power door locks. Additionally, CX-5 comes standard with MAZDA CONNECT^TM, which pairs a 7-inch color touchscreen- and Commander-control-knob-operated infotainment display that incorporates AM/FM/HD radio, vehicle diagnostics, a backup camera, Bluetooth phone and audio integration and two USB ports for phone connectivity and charging.

CX-5 Touring adds a six-way power driver’s seat, leatherette seating surfaces with Lux Suede inserts, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, heated front seats, rear privacy glass, auto-leveling LED headlights, a six-speaker audio system, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle, illuminated vanity mirrors, a rear center armrest, rear HVAC vents, dual-zone climate control, rear USB ports and a reclining rear bench seat.

Further building on CX-5 Touring is the Preferred Equipment Package, which includes a BOSE^® 10-speaker audio system with CenterPoint 2 and AudioPilot 2, a power glass moonroof, power liftgate, navigation, auto-dimming mirrors with Homelink and auto on/off headlights. Customers can also opt for the Touring i-ACTIVSENSE Package on top of the Preferred Equipment Package, adding High Beam Control, Lane-Departure Warning, Lane-Keep Assist, Mazda Radar Cruise Control and Smart Brake Support.

Adding greater levels of equipment yet is CX-5 Grand Touring, adopting black or parchment leather seating surfaces, 19-inch alloy wheels, eight-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support, SiriusXM satellite radio, rain-sensing wipers and heated exterior mirrors. Other additions include Adaptive Front-lighting system, LED fog lights and LED tail lights. Finally, CX-5 Grand Touring’s Premium Package comes with a windshield-projected Active Driving Display with Traffic Sign Recognition, a power front passenger seat, heated rear outboard seats, heated steering wheel and windshield wiper de-icer.

All models come standard with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5 engine and six-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with Mazda’s predictive i-ACTIV all-wheel drive available on all trim levels.

MSRP² for all models is as follows:

Available premium paint colors:

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

¹MSRP does not include $940 destination charge ($985 in Alaska) or taxes, fees or additional charges.
²MSRP does not include $940 destination charge ($985 in Alaska) or taxes, fees or additional charges.

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GENEVA, March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Honda today took the wraps off one of the most anticipated models in its history with the unveiling of the production 2017 Civic Type R at the Geneva Motor Show. The long-awaited Civic Type R, slated to go on sale in the U.S. in late spring with an MSRP in the mid-$30k range, is the first ever Type R-badged Honda to be sold on American soil. The Type R will feature a high performance 2.0-liter turbocharged powertrain, substantially upgraded body and chassis, and other track-ready, Nürburgring-tuned and tested performance components. The 2017 Civic Type R will make its U.S. debut at the New York International Auto Show on April 12, 2017.

“The fastest, most powerful Honda ever sold in America, the Type R caps off the incredible success story of our 10^th generation Civic lineup,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president & general manager of the Honda Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We’re happy to inform our U.S. enthusiasts that the long wait for the forbidden fruit of Honda Type R performance is nearly over!”

The new Civic Type R, sharing the body style of the 5-door hatchback variant of the tenth-generation global Honda Civic platform, will be powered by a U.S.-built 2.0-liter DOHC, direct-injected and turbocharged i-VTEC in-line 4-cylinder engine with peak ratings of 306 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 295 lb.-ft. of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. The engine will be mated exclusively to a short-throw 6-speed manual transmission with rev matching capability – employing automatic throttle blips for smoother shifts and power delivery. A new single-mass flywheel reduces clutch inertia by 25 percent versus the previous (European) Type R and a lower final gear ratio is employed to improve acceleration response.

The Civic Type R chassis builds on the major upgrades undertaken for the 10^th-generation Civic makeover with model-exclusive spring, damper and bushing settings, a new Dual-Axis front suspension setup with aluminum lower arms and steering knuckles for improved at-the-limit cornering and reduced torque steer; a new four-wheel Adaptive Suspension System with three-chamber dampers; a retuned and adaptive dual-pinion electric power steering system with variable gear ratio; and a helical limited-slip front differential. Mounted to the suspension are 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels shod with 245/30R 20 Continental ContiSportContact 6 performance tires. Decisive stopping power comes from Brembo 4-pot aluminum calipers squeezing 350mm (13.8-inch) cross-drilled rotors at the front. The rear braking system features solid 305mm (12-inch) rotors.

The Type R’s scalpel-sharp responses are further enhanced by a body more rigid than the substantially improved Civic Hatchback on which it’s based – with a 38 percent increase in torsional rigidity and 45 percent gain in bending rigidity versus the previous Civic Type R – enhancing steering response and cornering stability while mitigating body vibration and cabin noise. The improvements are made possible by the application of structural adhesive throughout the body. Ultra-high strength steel is used for 14 percent of the body structure, and the Type R has an aluminum hood, contributing to a 16 kg (35 lb) reduction in body weight versus the previous Type R, and a 7 kg (15 lb) reduction versus the base 2017 Civic Hatchback.

The 2017 Civic Type R is designed to reward the driver in all driving conditions, on the track and on the street, and features three driving modes: Comfort, Sport (default) and +R.  The driver selectable modes adjust steering and throttle response, transmission rev-matching, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and the Adaptive Damper System. Utilizing new, three-chamber dampers, individual stroke sensors and three vehicle-G sensors, the new damper system offers a wider range of variability for ride comfort and dynamic handling response.

The 2017 Civic Type R will launch this spring in a single, premium-contented Touring trim. A 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen interface with embedded Honda Navigation system has both Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility; and should the driver ever tire of hearing the Type R growl, a 540-watt, 12-speaker audio system with SiriusXM 2.0, HD Radio and Pandora compatibility is also provided as standard.

Additional interior Type R features include heavily bolstered sports seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift boot, aluminum shift knob, aluminum sport pedals, red Type R driver’s meter and serialized Type R plate on the center console.

The Civic Type R will be manufactured by Honda of the U.K. Manufacturing in Swindon, England, with its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine made by Honda of America Mfg. at its Anna, Ohio engine plant using domestic and globally sourced parts. Pricing specifics and additional details on the 2017 Civic Type R will be provided closer to launch.

Specifications and Features Overview

For More Information
Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com/future-cars/civic-type-r. To join the Civic Type R community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/hondacivic. Additional media information including high-resolution photography of the 2017 Honda Civic Type R is available at hondanews.com/honda-automobiles/channels/civic-type-r.

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Accord and Clarity passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, Ridgeline pickup truck and the Odyssey minivan. Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 32 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America.

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