Acura to Highlight Super Handling All-Wheel Drive(TM) Technology Throughout Chicago Auto Show

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Acura will showcase its groundbreaking Super Handling All-Wheel Drive(TM) (SH-AWD®) technology at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show in February, which just surpassed cumulative North American sales of one million units. The activation will include social media engagements, displays and videos about the system. Acura's industry-first SH-AWD® technology debuted 16 years ago based on extensive research into "direct yaw control" that led to the world's first torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system.

Featured on five of the six Acura models, SH-AWD® or Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® is available on the TLX and RLX sport sedans, RDX and MDX SUVs, and NSX supercar. Through four generations of continuous innovation Acura has raised the bar for performance-enhancing AWD. For more information on the system watch the Acura SH-AWD video.

Timed to the winter season and customers' attendant focus on traction-enhancing technologies, Acura SH-AWD® stars in a new marketing campaign showing how Super Handling All-Wheel Drive(TM) can make anyone a better, more confident driver: https://acura.us/SHAWD.

Acura SH-AWD® at Chicago Auto Show Press Days Schedule

    --  Acura at the Concept & Technology Garage: Wednesday, Feb. 5  (8:30-11:30
        a.m.)
        --  Acura SH-AWD® vehicles: RDX and MDX PMC Edition
        --  Location: McCormick Place, West Building, Hall F2
    --  Acura SH-AWD® focus: Thursday, Feb. 6, and Friday, Feb.7
        --  Location: Acura Booth, McCormick Place South Exhibit Hall
    --  SH-AWD® Preview Presentation: Friday, Feb. 7 (10:00 a.m.)
        --  Head of Acura Product Planning Rob Keough to present the technology
            and benefits of SH-AWD®
        --  Location: Acura Booth, McCormick Place South Exhibit Hall

Acura SH-AWD® Key Highlights

    --  Acura SH-AWD® is not just about foul-weather traction. SH-AWD® uses
        dynamic torque vectoring to provide more accurate and predictable
        handling performance in all road conditions.
    --  Up to 70% of engine torque can be sent to the rear wheels as needed,
        with up to 100% of that torque apportioned to either the left or right
        wheels. Further, today's SH-AWD® can overdrive the outside rear wheels
        by up to 2.7 percent, creating additional rotational speed that helps
        "pull" the car through the turn with increased grip and cornering
        accuracy.
    --  The 2020 Acura RDX features the 4th-generation SH-AWD®, the most
        sophisticated and capable SH-AWD® system yet, with faster response and
        a 40 percent increase in maximum torque capacity.
    --  Acura also has an advanced electronic Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® system, as
        featured on the NSX supercar, RLX sedan and MDX three-row luxury SUV,
        using twin electric motors to provide instantaneous negative (braking)
        and positive torque independent of the gasoline engine.
    --  Acura AWD sales are growing in Illinois: AWD sales in Illinois have
        grown 7%.
    --  Vast majority of Acura sales in Illinois are AWD: AWD sales now
        represent nearly 80% (79.1%) of all Acura sales in Illinois -- compared
        to national average mix of 55.7%.
    --  Illinois is one of Acura's top sales markets, including sales of AWD
        vehicles: Illinois is Acura's #4 state for sales of AWD vehicles in the
        U.S.

Acura SH-AWD® History



       
              1st Generation SH-AWD

    ---


       Applied on:                      
       About:

    ---                                  ---


       RL (2005-2012)                       The world's first all-wheel drive
                                              platform that actively and
                                              continually distributes torque not
                                              only to enhance traction, but also
                                              to elevate cornering performance.
                                              By overdriving the rear wheels SH-
                                              AWD can provide an inward yaw
                                              moment while accelerating into and
                                              through corners.

    ---                                  ---


       
              2nd Generation SH-AWD

    ---


       MDX (2007-2015)                      SH-AWD is enhanced with Hill Logic
                                              that automatically adjusts the
                                              front/rear torque split based on
                                              the grade of the underlying
                                              surface as well the integration of
                                              Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
                                              and, in 2009, Traction Control
                                              Systems (TCS). The rear
                                              differential is constantly
                                              overdriven by 1.7 percent.


       RDX (2007-2012)


       TL (2009-2014)


       ZDX (2010-2013)

    ---                                  ---


       
              3rd Generation SH-AWD

    ---


       MDX (2016-Present)                   The 3rd generation system uses a
                                              25-percent lighter rear
                                              differential with reduced friction
                                              and increased yaw effect. The rear
                                              differential is constantly
                                              overdriven by 2.7 percent,
                                              providing a greater torque-
                                              vectoring effect across a broader
                                              spectrum of driving conditions to
                                              further enhance cornering
                                              capability.


       TLX (2015-Present)

    ---                                  ---


       
              4th Generation SH-AWD

    ---


       RDX (2019-Present)                   The newest version of Acura's
                                              mechanical SH-AWD is more
                                              compact, while offering 30 percent
                                              faster response and a 40 percent
                                              increase in maximum torque
                                              capacity.

    ---                                  ---


       
              Sport Hybrid SH-AWD

    ---


       RLX (2014-Present)                   The first and still only electric
                                              torque-vectoring system in the
                                              world to enhance every element of
                                              dynamic performance -
                                              acceleration, braking and
                                              cornering - able to apply both
                                              positive and negative electric
                                              motor torque with instantaneous
                                              response on- and off-throttle.


       NSX (2017-Present)


       MDX (2017-Present)

    ---                                  ---

About Acura

Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance - a commitment to evocative styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability. The Acura lineup features six distinctive models - the RLX premium luxury sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the five-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America's all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV, and the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar.

Five of the six Acura models sold in North America are made in central Ohio, using domestic and globally-sourced parts, including the ILX and TLX luxury sports sedans (Marysville Auto Plant), the RDX and MDX luxury SUVs (East Liberty Auto Plant) and the Acura NSX supercar, which is built to order at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.

Additional media information including pricing, features & specifications and high-resolution photography is available at Acuranews.com. Consumer information is available at Acura.com. Follow Acura on social media at Acura.us/SocialChannels.

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SOURCE Acura