DETROIT, Jan. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Acura Precision Concept model made its world debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show today, pointing toward a bolder, more distinctive future for Acura vehicle design. The Acura Precision Concept was developed by the Acura Design Studio in California to express the Acura brand DNA of “Precision Crafted Performance.”

“There is no more clear promise for the Acura brand than Precision Crafted Performance,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of Acura.  “We’re committed to infusing this core Acura promise into every facet of our products and every aspect of our relationship with the customer.”

With an emphasis on high-contrast details and the intersection of modern, sheer surfaces and muscular, organic sculpting, the Acura Precision Concept communicates Acura’s focus on performance and prestige through its ultra-low and wide stance, long dash-to-axle ratio, deeply sculpted surfaces and the debut of a new Diamond Pentagon grille.

“The Acura Precision Concept is more than simply a concept vehicle, it is a design study model that literally will shape the direction of all future Acura products around our Precision Crafted Performance DNA,” said Dave Marek, Acura global creative director.  “The Acura Precision Concept is the leading edge of a renewed commitment to delivering Precision Crafted Performance in every facet of the product experience and creating a powerful and very exciting direction for the next generation of Acura models.”  

The Acura Precision Concept’s crouched and athletic stance is further emphasized by its deeply sculpted side surfaces pouring over swelling rear wheel arches covering 22-inch wheels and tires. The forward-looking concept also features signature lighting designs – in front with its Jewel Constellation LED headlights composed of organically arranged fractal elements, and in back with floating LED taillights.

A key design theme, dubbed “quantum continuum,” is seen in the seamless transition of materials and structure from the exterior to the interior of the vehicle, which is further highlighted by the absence of a b-pillar. The large door rocker panel flows into the interior side sill, transitioning into a cantilever for the floating rear seats. The rear center high-mounted stoplight becomes an architecture element piercing the rear glass and then flowing down to help form the structure for the metal airfoil shape of the rear headrests.

The elegant and powerful exterior is matched by its dramatic interior design, where cantilevered surfaces meet with striking tones, expressive surfacing and modern detailing. Of particular note are the double-layered instrument panel, the high-contrast front seat surfaces, the ultra-thin “floating” rear seats, evoking the look of modern lounge furniture, and the hand-crafted audio speaker grilles made of exotic wood.

The driver’s space is highlighted by a compact, race-inspired, sports steering wheel with paddle shifters and Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) controls, a floating center meter, a driver’s head-up display, a cantilevered center stack and an ultra-wide, thin and curved center display screen. 

New Acura HMI Concept
The Acura Precision Concept also explores a new approach for Acura’s digital human-machine interface (HMI), enabling a more intuitive, advanced and seamless connection between man and machine. The ultra-wide and curved center screen is operated by a floating touch pad suspended on the cantilevered center stack. Upon entry, the system scans each occupant and selects personalized features and functions, including maps, audio and customized vehicle performance settings.

Acura Precision Concept dimensions:

About the Acura Precision Concept
The Acura Precision Concept was created to explore new and challenging ideas for future Acura design, particularly Acura sedans. The concept was created by Acura’s California Design Studio under the direction of Acura global creative director, Dave Marek. The exterior design was led by Michelle Christensen, principal exterior designer, with the interior design created under the leadership of John Norman, principal interior designer.  Both Christensen and Norman also played a key role in the creation of the next-generation Acura NSX supercar.

About Acura
Acura offers a full line of precision crafted performance-luxury vehicles through a network of approximately 270 U.S. dealers. The Acura lineup features five distinctive models – the RLX luxury flagship 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. The next-generation Acura NSX mid-engine supercar will join the Acura lineup in the spring. Acura has been recognized by Edmunds.com for the fourth consecutive year as leading all luxury brands in retained value after five years of ownership.

For More Information
Consumer information is available at http://www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/acura. Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at acuranews.com/channels/acura-automobiles.

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DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — For the first time in Detroit, Michigan, the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) and IHS Automotive, part of IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS) and a leading source of critical information and insight to the global automotive industry, celebrated the Diversity Volume Leadership Awards in Cobo Center. The awards are a collection of the best automotive brands driving sales with multicultural consumers.

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The inaugural event, hosted by Dariany Santana, was filled with meaningful moments from the evening’s honorees including Bill Fay, Group Vice President and General Manager of Toyota Division, Toyota Motor North America, and event hosts, Damon Lester, NAMAD President; Marc Bland, Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, IHS Automotive; Perry Watson III, Chairman of NAMAD and Mark Sandora, Vice President, Sales  – Americas from IHS Automotive.

One of the premier industry events, the DVL Awards will annually celebrate segment leaders. It is the only event of its kind focused on multicultural automotive buyers.

Of the top industry honors presented to automotive manufacturers, nominees for the DVL Awards have demonstrated the highest new vehicle registrations with ethnic, women and millennial consumers. New vehicle registration data from IHS Automotive has been used to determine the nominees based on 2015 model year actual U.S. personal new vehicle registration volumes (October 2014 through September 2015). This year’s awards are based on an analysis of more than 13 million personal new vehicle registrations.

Winners for the 2016 Diversity Volume Leadership Awards are as follows:

The Diversity Volume Leadership Awards would not be possible without the generous sponsorship from the following organizations:

Connect with DVL Awards:
Hashtag: #DVLawards and #DVLawards2016
Website: www.namad.org and www.ihs.com/automotive 
Twitter: twitter.com/NAMAD_USA 
Facebook: facebook.com/NAMAD_USA-468806139894019

About The National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers
The National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers’ (NAMAD) objective is to pursue the meaningful presence and participation of minority businesses and diverse employees across all aspects of the automotive economic sector, including:

• Increasing the number of minority-owned dealerships in communities across America.
• Advocating workplace and supplier diversity in the automotive manufacturing environment.
• Supporting minority engagement in the automotive retail sales and service sectors.

We are committed to developing strategic relationships and advocating for the advancement of business policies and practices that ensure diversity and economic parity remain a priority in all aspects of the American automotive industry.

NAMAD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. For information on National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers visit: www.namad.org

About IHS Automotive (www.ihs.com/automotive)

IHS Automotive, part of IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), offers clients the most comprehensive content and deepest expertise and insight on the automotive industry available anywhere in the world today. With the 2013 addition of Polk, IHS Automotive now provides expertise and predictive insight across the entire automotive value chain from product inception—across design and production—to the sales and marketing efforts used to maximize potential in the marketplace. No other source provides a more complete picture of the global automotive industry. IHS is the leading source of information, insight and analytics in critical areas that shape today’s business landscape.  IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs approximately 8,600 people in 32 countries around the world.

IHS is a registered trademark of IHS Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. © 2016 IHS Inc. All rights reserved.

DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The all-new 2016 Honda Civic has earned the prestigious 2016 North American Car of the Year Award. This win for the Civic is the second for the model in the award’s history, following a win for the 2006 Civic a decade ago when it shared the stage with the 2006 Ridgeline, winner of that year’s Truck of the Year award. In total, eleven Honda models have been named “finalists” for NACOTY awards since their inception in 1994, the most of any brand outside of the Detroit Big 3 automakers.

“The all-new Civic was developed and is built in North America, making this North American Car of the Year win even sweeter,” said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. “Civic is a cornerstone of the Honda lineup, and we’re delighted that the automotive press has recognized the new levels of styling, performance, advanced technology, safety and value that characterize the new Civic.”

The North American Car of the Year Award is given by a group of 53 international automotive journalists. The award is unique because instead of being given by a single publication, radio or television station, it is given by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Presented each year at the opening of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it recognizes the most outstanding car of the year based on factors including innovation, design, safety performance, handling, driver satisfaction and value.

Truly all-new, the 2016 Civic features a new vehicle architecture; sporty and sophisticated new interior and exterior styling; a more spacious and high-quality cabin; two advanced new engines; and a host of new available premium features and technologies, including the first application of both Apple CarPlay^®1 and Android Auto™² in a compact car sold anywhere in the world. Further, with the addition of Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies and the first application of Honda turbo engine technology to Civic, the 2016 Civic offers buyers a wider range of options than ever before.

With vehicle development led by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. and Civic Sedan and Coupe production in Indiana and Ontario, Canada, the new 10^th-generation Civic firmly has its roots in North America. The majority of Civics sold in the United States will be produced and assembled using domestic and globally sourced parts in the United States and Canada. The Civic 5-door, set to debut in the near future, will be produced at Honda’s Swindon Plant in the United Kingdom.

About Honda
Honda offers a complete lineup of cars and trucks through a network of more than 1,000 dealerships in the United States. In 2014, Honda celebrated its 20 millionth vehicle produced in the U.S., using domestic and globally sourced parts. Honda currently operates 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda automobiles, all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, engines and transmissions.

¹ Apple CarPlay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
² Android and Android Auto are trademarks of Google Inc.

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