- New California Facility Designed as 'Green Building' -
TORRANCE, Calif., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The new $15 million 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 the advance of the Acura brand.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070524/LATH069)
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 Acura MDX luxury sport utility
vehicle and 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.
"The effort to distinguish Acura in the marketplace begins with
design," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda
Motor Co., Inc. and the Acura Division. "The Acura Design Studio will be
critical in our efforts to deliver products at the right times and 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, Calif. and the Advanced Design Studio in
Pasadena, Calif. to further HRA's existing Los Angeles Center for 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 Raymond, Ohio.
HRA 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, CA)
responsible for market research, concept development and styling design;
the Ohio Center (Raymond, OH) responsible for complete product development,
testing and support of North American supplier development; and two dynamic
test facilities in California and Ohio; and the North Carolina Center
(Swepsonville, NC) responsible for power equipment R&D.
Consumer information is available at http://www.acura.com.
SOURCE Acura
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.acura.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070524/LATH069
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org AP PhotoExpress
Network: PRN10 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Jeffrey Smith, +1-310-781-5542, or Mike
Spencer, +1-310-783-3165, both for Acura
|
