Auto World Fast Takes
There is plenty happening in the world of autos, much more information then what any one person can possibly share. Thankfully, we all have online access to several decent news sites and blogs which are well staffed and able to report on nearly every event possible.
Since I am just one guy trying to keep up with things, I thought it would be best today to simply highlight those articles and news events of significance and tell you where you can find out more information.
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Without further adieu I present to you the following:
- Newly independent Chrysler is looking for ways to expand market share, but you know that they need the help of key partners to do just that. It looks as if a Russian company, GAZ, could soon be building Chrysler cars at one of its plants according to The Detroit News. The Russian market is booming and Chrysler is overly dependent on the U.S. market and looking to grow.
- If Congress has their way, new fuel standards will be put in place that will require automakers to move their fleet averages up to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. According to the Detroit Free Press, Congress intends to increase fuel standards for cars while requiring less stringent standards for trucks. Vehicles which can run on ethanol or other fuel alternatives could be used as credit offsets for the automakers.
- The 51st Annual New England Auto Show is now in progress at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center. Running through this Sunday, the Boston Globe reports that a new venue was selected to accommodate an expanded display area and to welcome expected larger crowds.
- It looks like Tata Motors is the leading suitor for two British brands being sold by the Ford Motor Company. According to IBNLive, the union representing Jaguar and LandRover thinks that the Indian company’s UK presence and synergies makes Tata a good choice for the premium Ford brands. Tata Motors is one of India’s largest automakers and the company has been seeking a much more visible global presence for some time.
- Last week, I mentioned that the Cadillac CTS is Motor Trend’s 2008 Car of the Year. This particular honor, which is coveted by all automakers with a US market presence, gives the winner plenty of free publicity for many months following. Although the CTS won, MT’s Edward Loh is warning Cadillac (with humor) not to blow it by wrecking the CTS mystique. Loh worries that Cadillac dealers might be tempted to create landau versions of the car and pull in other schlocky design details employed in the past to lure buyers. A good read as well as a good warning!
That’s it for today’s fast takes, a quick look at what is happening around the automotive world. Please check back again soon for my next round of highlights.
Acura: 20 Years of Honda Luxury
In March 2006, the Honda Motor Company celebrated an important milestone: the 20th anniversary of their luxury brand, Acura. Created to give Honda aficionados an opulent make that they could be proud of, Acura has successfully expanded the company’s reach far beyond more prosaic models such as the Civic and the Accord.
Today, Acura is a very different brand than the company that was birthed in 1986. Let’s take a glimpse at Acura’s past, their present line up, and what the next 20 years may bring for this esteemed Japanese automaker.
A Luxury Brand For Honda
Back in 1981, Honda saw an opportunity opening up for itself that no one in Honda’s headquarters wanted to miss out on: building and selling luxury cars to American consumers. Mercedes and BMW were both gaining traction in the U.S. as American luxury brands Cadillac and Lincoln sputtered and lost market share. Honda was already receiving widespread consumer acceptance and critical acclaim for the three models it was then selling in the U.S., so the decision to market more expensive and upscale cars was viewed as a strong possibility.
When Honda management decided to go with the upscale brand, they did this knowing that the cars would eventually have to stand apart from Honda in order to command the higher prices. Simply selling up market Hondas as Acuras would not work. Instead, each car was outfitted and retuned to compete directly against the leading luxury cars of that time.
First Cars: The Legend and The Integra
The first two models to be sold as Acuras were the Legend, a V6 powered sedan and coupe, and the Integra, which was essentially a three door coupe based on a Honda Civic platform. Later, the NSX two seat roadster was brought out to battle Porsche and the Vigor sedan was introduced to fill the gap between the Integra and the Legend.
Over time, the various model names were dropped and replaced by vehicles with 2 or 3 letter designations. The Vigor became the TL, the Legend became the RL, and the Integra the RSX. Today, the MDX SUV, RSX sport compact, and TSX sedan, join the three other models to comprise the current Acura line up. A slightly smaller SUV, the RDX, will be joining Acura’s line up later in 2006.
Stiff Competition From Infiniti, Lexus
The future of Acura looks bright despite strong worldwide competition. Although Honda jumped into the market a few years before Nissan rolled out it Infiniti division and Toyota its Lexus line, Acura has trailed its Japanese competitors for over a decade now. Some critics have contended that this misstep has hurt Acura, while others see it as a typical conservative Honda decision to expand the Honda brand instead.
Future changes for Acura are sketchy, but model changes will likely include the introduction of diesel powered vehicles and more hybrid offerings. Some auto critics have suggested that Honda has the capacity of outflanking BMW and Mercedes by producing super luxury sedans and sports cars. Renowned Honda quality combined with European styling, luxury, and engineering have fueled Acura’s success so far. An expansion of this theme to even larger and/or sportier models could vault Acura forward.
Truly, Acura has helped reshape the original perception that many motorists had about the Japanese brands, by delivering vehicles that are high in luxury, tops in engineering, and strong in refinement. If the last 20 years have proved anything it is that enthusiasts can expect much more from Acura over the next two decades. Kudos to the Honda Motor Company for developing a brand that has been so well received.
Copyright 2006-2008 — Matt Keegan is an article writer covering a wide variety of automotive topics including the luxury brands. Acura Cars are amongst the very best vehicles on our roads today with the Acura TL and Acura RSX leading the way.
The 2008 Cadillac CTS Garners MT Car of the Year Award
The Cadillac CTS, the entry level luxury sedan first introduced in 2003, has garnered the coveted Motor Trend 2008 Car of the Year award. Beating out 17 other models, the all-new for 2008 CTS has proven that this Cadillac should receive serious consideration from buyers shopping for a BMW 3-Series or Mercedes C-Class.
The second generation CTS has improved upon the success of the original model by offering superior craftmanship and a car capable of tackling Germany’s famed Nurburgring race track. Combining luxury, performance, attention to detail and rakish good looks, the CTS is the direction Cadillac must take to regain its position among the automotive elites.
I have written a much more extensive review of the CTS which will appear in an upcoming print publication. Details will be shared on this blog when the article goes live.
Photo Credit: Karrmann
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