TORRANCE, CA, May 24 /CNW/ – The new $15 million (U.S.) Acura Design
Studio officially opened its doors today, assuming a key role in the
development of new concepts and designs that will lead directly to future
Acura products. With state-of-the-art design technologies and a work layout
focused on improving collaboration, the new design studio represents the next
step in advancing the Acura brand.
Designed to achieve a high level of energy efficiency, the studio also is
expected to be certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) building by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). A number of
measures were adopted in the design and construction of the studio with the
goal of achieving LEED gold certification.
“This Acura Design Studio will help conceive and design the future of
Acura,” said Toshihiko Nonaka, president of Honda R&D Americas (HRA). “Our
goal here is to create emotional designs that create a strong and distinct
image for Acura products.”
A number of Acura models, including the Canadian-built Acura MDX luxury
sport utility vehicle and the Acura TL luxury performance sedan, have been
designed, developed and engineered by HRA. Moving Acura design activities into
a state-of-the-art independent studio provides a more clear focus to advance
the unique character of the Acura brand.
“Distinguishing Acura in the marketplace begins with design,” said Jim
Miller, executive vice president of Honda Canada Inc. “The new Acura Design
Studio is vital for delivering the right products at the right times, ahead of
the competition.”
Key technologies in the Acura Design Studio include a computer-generated
virtual simulator that enables design stylists to display “virtual” vehicles
in a one-to-one ratio. Other features in the facility design include the
parallel arrangement of the interior and exterior design areas on the styling
floor to better enable collaboration of designers involved in a new vehicle.
As the latest expansion of HRA product design and development
capabilities in North America, the Acura Design Studio joins the Honda Design
Studio in Torrance, California, and a new Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena,
California, to further research and design.
A celebratory groundbreaking for the Acura Design Studio was conducted
March 27, 2006, marking the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Acura
brand. Acura was the world’s first Japanese luxury nameplate and the first
Japanese luxury automaker to design, develop and manufacturer its vehicles in
North America. Today, nearly two-thirds of all Acura vehicles sold in America
are researched, designed, developed and assembled exclusively in North
America.
In the effort to achieve a “Gold” rating by the USGBC, the Acura Design
Studio includes many energy-saving attributes such as an Energy Star
reflective roof to reduce heat gain and lower air conditioning requirements;
reclaimed water used for landscaping; and an intelligent lighting system that
makes greater use of natural light. Honda has other LEED Gold-certified
facilities in Gresham, Oregon, and in Raymond, Ohio.
Honda R&D Americas began its operations in California in 1976 with local
market research activities and has steadily grown its capabilities over the
past 30 years to include all aspects of new vehicle design and development.
With the addition of the Acura Design Studio, the company operates
13 major R&D facilities in North America with more than 1,200 designers,
engineers and support personnel engaged in the development of automobiles,
motorcycles and power equipment products for North America and global markets.
HRA’s major centers include the Los Angeles Center (Torrance, California)
responsible for market research, concept development and styling design; the
Ohio Center (Raymond, Ohio) responsible for complete product development,
testing and support of North American supplier development; two dynamic test
facilities in California and Ohio; and the North Carolina Center
(Swepsonville, North Carolina) responsible for power equipment R&D.
Acura is the technology advanced performance division of Honda Canada
Inc. Six vehicles (CSX, TSX, RDX, TL, RL and MDX) are marketed under the Acura
brand. Both the Acura CSX luxury compact sedan and the MDX luxury sport
utility vehicle are produced at the Honda of Canada Mfg. facility in Alliston,
Ontario.
