A while back we somewhat cynically informed you of an Acura TL converted to all-electric that was being made available for the low low price of *cough $185,000. It seems no one took advantage of the offer but that has turned out to be a good thing for Luxury Electric A.K.A. Potential Difference, the company behind the vehicle. Why? Because today, at the Democratic National Conference, where electric cars are getting all kinds of love, Luxury has announced they will take their prototype car, "The Electric," on a transcontinental trip to promote the potential of electric vehicles. According to Luxury Electric founder and Nevada Democratic Party Delegate Elliott Small, "The coast-to-coast drive will show that all-electric automotive technology is ready today. We're eliminating the biggest barrier to mass-market acceptance of electric vehicles by showing that they are not only practical for daily commuting, but deliver outstanding performance, range, comfort and durability as well."

Along the way they have a planned stop in Atlanta to demonstrate some rapid charging technology for which they hold patent licensing from Georgia Tech Research. No word on how quickly they can re-charge their lithium ion phosphate batteries but Engineering VP Bill Rowling, who also runs Truckcity CB & Solar, claims they can get 140 miles to a charge. The transcontinental trip announcement lacked a start date though it did mention they are still seeking sponsors for the event. If you'd like to help them out perhaps you can buy this prototype, since it's still being offered for the reduced price of $150,000 on Autotwins (who also feature it on Craigslist). With that kind of cash we suspect they could convert another TL and still have funds with which to electrically traverse America. The company's ambitions don't stop with conversions either. According to their website, they have their own original design they intend to offer in 2010. Hit the jump to see their 2010 design, a quick tire squealing video of their prototype and the official press release.

[Source: Luxury Electric]

Honda has always had one of the cleanest and most efficient model lineups in the U.S. market and they look set to continue that trend over the next several years. We already knew that the Japanese automaker would be adding three more hybrids to its lineup over the next two years: the five-door hatchback coming next spring will be followed by the CR-Z-based coupe and a hybrid version of the new Fit. Honda has been saying for over a year that they would keep the hybrid powertrains in these smaller cars which are used more often for urban driving. For the bigger models, they have decided diesel is the way to go. The first diesel model will show up next year in the Acura lineup, most likely starting with the TSX. According to Automotive News, diesels will then spread to the Honda side of the house starting with the Accord and CR-V. Both will likely get the same 2.2L four cylinder diesel that's going into the TSX. The next generation of the Odyssey minivan, which is due in 2010, may be the first Honda vehicle to get the 3.0L diesel V6 that the company is developing. That same engine will probably eventually end up in several other models - possibly the Pilot and Ridgeline - as well as in Acura vehicles like the MDX.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Click the TSX for a high-res gallery

Acura took the wraps of the all-new TSX today at the New York Auto Show, although we already saw it with Honda badges at the Geneva Auto Show a couple of weeks ago. The TSX will almost certainly be the first Acura model to get Honda's new 2.2L diesel four cylinder next year. Unfortunately, Acura decided not to officially announce it here in New York, although it was shown in Geneva. For launch, the TSX gets an updated 2.4L gasoline four cylinder with 201 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is rated at 21/30/24mpg city/highway/combined with the 5-speed automatic. The TSX is also available with a 6-speed manual transmission. The new model is also about 2.4 inches longer providing more room inside. The Nav system that is part of the technology package now features automatic traffic re-routing based on data from the Acura-Link telematics system.


[Source: Acura]

Several bits of information have come out about Acura and their participation in the American Le Mans Series over the past two months so it's time to put two and two together and see if we can get to add up to seven. Acura jumped into the fray in the LMP2 class in 2007 and had a reasonably successful first season with the ARX-01. Back at the Detroit Auto Show in January when ALMS CEO Scott Atherton announced the series "Green Racing" initiative, American Honda EVP John Mendel was on hand and I asked him about Acura's plans. While Mendel was coy about specifics, he did say that the company was evaluating both diesel and hybrid powertrains for the race program. Of course manufacturer participation in motorsports is at least as much about promotion as it is engineering. Since Acura also disclosed that they would launch a clean diesel in the U.S. market in 2009, that would seem to have the edge over a hybrid here.

Then at the end of January, retired IndyCar champion Gil De Ferran announced that he would launch a new ALMS team this year and run the Acura ARX-01B starting with the Long Beach Grand Prix weekend in April. During the course of the coverage of the 12 hours of Sebring this weekend, commentators mentioned the possibility of De Ferran's team and Acura moving up from the LMP2 to the LMP1 class in 2009. Acura splits the development efforts among the teams, with Fernandez Racing focusing on engine development, and Highcroft doing chassis, while Andretti-Green does integration. If the company were looking at a change in class or powertrain, it would make sense to have another team work on that. A diesel-powered LMP1 Acura running against the Audis full-time next year would be fun to watch. Or, perhaps, they will keep the diesel in a lighter LMP2 car which has an advantage over the LMP1s under the current technical regulations. Either way I say bring it on, the more the merrier. On the other hand, maybe two plus two only equals four.

[Sources: American Le Mans Series, Speed TV]

Episode 20 of the AutoblogGreen Podcast has us recapping Geneva mere days before we head to New York. There were lots of exciting things over in Switzerland, and we touch on a few of them. Th!nk's new Ox will be a Tesla-magnitude achievement if it hits the market doing what the company says it will. GM rolled out the new version of its mild hybrid system that will be propagating across virtually all models in all brands to help boost CAFE. Better efficiency for about half of what a sat nav option costs? We'll take it. Speaking of hybrids, there was a lot of talk from BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen ,and others about upcoming Euro-branded hybrids, and diesel hybrids at that. Mercedes will debut li-Ion batteries in a production hybrid, while Toyota has yet to see a compelling argument for diesel hybrids. Rest assured that if people want it, Toyota will build it, though. Before closing, we look forward to the couple of things we know about in New York, like the debut of the Acura TSX/Honda Euro Accord which will sport a 50-state legal diesel, and the Automotive X-Prize folks will be holding a press conference, as well. 32 minutes this time around. Stay tuned, we'll surely be abuzz when we return from New York.

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The Tesla WhiteStar sedan is still at least a couple of years away from production (if not more). However a reader sent in a link to a site that purports to offer a Luxury Electric sedan. The car in question is an Acura TL shorn of its gasoline-fueled V-6 and converted to electric power. The site claims to have one working vehicle although there is no actual evidence of that. We'd like to see photos of the installation, for example. The converters claim to use lithium ion phosphate batteries which provide a 200-mile range and 2.5-hour charge time. The cost for the conversion is listed as $185,000 although we don't know if that includes the price of the car. We've contacted the company to try and get some more information and an update will be forthcoming on the off chance that they respond. In the meantime breathing should continue uninterrupted.

[Source: Potential Difference, thanks to Grant for the tip]

Click the Euro Accord for a high-res gallery

Judging by the almost uniformly negative reaction in the comments following the introduction of the facelifted 2009 Acura RL in Chicago last week, the grille on the car shown above could quickly become a popular aftermarket item for the new TSX when it hits the road later this year. What we have here is the new 2009 Honda Accord that's sold outside of North America. On these shores, we get the same car badged as the Acura TSX. The Euro Accord will premiere at the Geneva Motor Show two weeks ahead of the Acura's debut.

Honda has just released pics showing the Accord/TSX from all angles along with some details on the powertrains the Euro-market car will be offered with. In Honda guise, the Accord gets a choice of 2.0L and 2.4L gas engines with 156 and 200hp. The bigger gas engine only makes 172lb-ft of torque. Probably the most entertaining version of the car will the one powered by Honda's new i-DTEC clean diesel. Although it only produces 150hp, torque output is a more impressive 258lb-ft. Honda hasn't announced fuel consumption numbers yet, but it should be fairly thrifty. When the diesel appears in the U.S. next year it will be Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant without a urea injection system thanks to Honda's nifty new ammonia-generating catalyst.

[Source: Honda]

Acura's entry-level TSX sedan is is a re-badged version of the European-market Honda Accord, a car that will debut on March 5 at the Geneva Motor Show. Acura has now let us know that the U.S.-market TSX will be dropping just two weeks later at the New York Auto Show. Why is this relevant here on ABG? Because the TSX is expected to be the first American market model to be equipped with the new Honda i-DTEC diesel engine. The current Euro Accord already comes with a diesel. Acura confirmed at the recent Detroit show that the new engine will be installed in an Acura model in 2009 and the TSX seems to the be logical choice. The new TSX in the photo that Acura provided has more distinctive styling than the current model and shares the new family face with the RL that debuted in Chicago last week.

[Source: Acura]

Click the photo for more teaser images of the new Euro Accord

At the recent Detroit Auto Show, Honda showed off their new 2.2L clean diesel engine and revealed that it would debut in 2009 in an Acura model. Although they wouldn't say which model, most speculation immediately converged on the TSX. Prior to the early nineties, Honda sold the same Accord around the world. Since then Honda has designed the U.S.-market model as a larger car specifically to appeal to American consumers. The smaller Accord that the rest of the world gets has actually been available in the U.S. for the last several years as the TSX. The current Euro Accord already has a diesel option and a redesigned version will be debuting in March at the Geneva Motor Show. While the teaser images and video (which you can see after the jump) only show the wagon version we will probably only get the sedan in our market.

[Source: CarScoop, Autoblog]

American Le Mans Series CEO Scott Atherton announced a partnership this morning with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation and the Society of Automotive Engineers to make ALMS the global leader in green racing. Working with those groups, the series is defining a new formula for a Green Challenge that will be added beginning with the Petite Le Mans race at Road Atlanta this October. The new Green Challenge formula will factor in a variety of sustainability measures including types of fuels, efficiency of the vehicles, the materials used in the cars and more, combined with the performance of the vehicles on the track to establish a Green Challenge champion. Beyond this year, the Green Challenge will be expanded and will also incorporate measures of well-to-wheel efficiency.

Atherton made it clear that, unlike some other series that emphasize personalities and entertainment (ahem), the ALMS wants to foster technological innovation among manufacturers and use auto racing as a catalyst for developing sustainable transportation. To that end they are evolving a series of technical rules to further encourage the use of alternative fuels and drivetrains including diesel, energy regeneration, hybrids and more. At the same press conference, Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper announced that the Corvette Racing team was targeting the season opening race at Sebring in March to begin running the C6Rs on cellulosic E85. The team would be using ethanol fuel produced from wood chips, making it the first racing car to do so. Honda of America Executive Vice President John Mendel was also present although he did not participate in the press conference. Honda already provides engines for the IndyCar series that run on E100 and they are evaluating a variety of options for the Acura LMP2 racers that run in ALMS. Acura announced here in Detroit that they will introduce diesel engines in their lineup in 2009 and Mendel said that both diesel and hybrids are being looked at for future race programs.

[Source: American Le Mans Series]

It looks the new 3.0L V-6 clean diesel that Nissan is working up with corporate partner Renault for 2010 will find it's way into a wide variety of vehicles from the company, including the upscale Infiniti brand. Back in mid-August Nissan filed several new trademarks including EX30D, G30D, FX30D, and M30D. These names all fit Infiniti's standard nomenclature with a 3.0L engine and the D designating a diesel. The attractive G30D would be a particularly appealing combination in the mid-sized sport sedan market. Hopefully the diesel V-6 that Honda is developing for vehicles like the Ridgeline and Odyssey will also wind up under the hood of some Acura sedans like the next generation TL. We're looking forward to a comparison test of the TL Type-D, G30D, BMW 330d and hopefully a Cadillac CTS 2.9D around the turn of the decade. Between all these mid-sized diesels and range-extended EVs as well as straight battery electrics, it looks like driving efficiently in the near future won't mean giving up driving enjoyment.

[Source: AutoSpies]

During Acura's recent 2008 vehicle preview I had a chance to chance with Product Planning Manager John Watts about alternative powertrain plans. While Lexus has produced hybrid versions of several of their models, Acura hasn't incorporated Honda's IMA system on any vehicles. In fact Watts feels the hybrid honeymoon may be nearing its end.

Honda will continue developing hybrids but the technology will probably aimed at smaller urban cars that are best able to take advantage of regenerative braking. The upscale Acura division is looking at other options. A new 2.2L diesel is coming to the Accord in 2009 followed by a V-6 diesel for the larger SUVs and vans. Both engines are likely to migrate over to the sister brand.

On the gas engine side, the turbocharged 2.4L in the RDX likely won't be the last of its type. Just as companies like Ford, VW and GM are developing or releasing downsized boosted engines with direct injection, the same types will expand to other Acura models. On the subject of ethanol, Watts was decidedly unenthusiastic. He said that corn ethanol wasn't a viable solution, although once cellulosic ethanol becomes commercially available it could help displace a chunk of the demand for petroleum. Although we didn't discuss it, long term it's probable that there will be Acura-branded fuel cell vehicles as well.

[Source: Acura]

Honda has already announced plans to introduce a new 2.2L four cylinder clean diesel in the US market in 2009, likely in the Accord. Honda CEO Takeo Fukui also discussed a diesel V-6 in an interview last December in Automotive News. It now looks like one or both of the engines will turn up in the Acura lineup, at least in Japan, by 2010. If the four-cylinder proves popular in the Accord it seems probable that we will also see diesel Acura models here as well. A likely candidate would be the next generation RL with a diesel V-6. That combination would pit it directly against the German rivals like the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5-Series which will both have six-cylinder diesels by then.

[Source: Green Car Congress]

Diesel power is the hot ticket at Le Mans right now after the dominant win by Audi's R10 this year and Peugeot coming next year. But technology always moves on in racing (unless you're talking Nascar, but that's a whole other story). By the middle of the next decade, racers will likely have moved on to something else, and Acura is playing off of parent Honda's fuel cell efforts by showing drawings of a potential fuel cell powered Le Mans racer. It's unlikely a racer will look much like any of these drawings, but some of the technology could make it to the track. More drawings and a press release after the jump.

[Source: Acura]

Here's a short, interesting opinion piece by Matt Timion, owner and operator of GasSavers.org. He first acknowledges that since Honda's entry into the U.S. automotive market in 1971, the automaker has been "more concerned with fuel economy and emissions than any other manufacturer." As partial evidence, he points to Honda's continual offering of at least one super mileage vehicle starting with their CVCC technology moving on to the CRX HF, the Civic VX and the Insight.

Matt's argument gets interesting when he attributes an attitude shift at Honda towards bigger profits with company founder Soichiro Honda's death in 1991. He says that at the time "an observable change in Honda's business model and priorities surfaced."

I do think that there's some truth to what Matt's saying as the '90s brought Honda's foray into SUVs and minivans, however, I wouldn't call it "a decade of bad decisions" like Matt. In Popular Science's interview, Honda's CEO Takeo Fukui stresses that as a global company they need to cater to the desires of the consumer. He says, "Americans love big cars, and they will want them whenever possible. Honda will, of course, give them what they want, but our cars will always be the most fuel-efficient in their respective classes." The '90s for Honda were really about expanding their model line-up beyond the Civic, Accord and Prelude as well as moving the Acura brand past the Integra and Legend. This lead the company to abandon its capital-draining Formula 1 presence starting in 1993 and continuing through the 1999 season (only supplying engines through Mugen in the interim). And don't forget the NSX was Soichiro Honda's last great project.

Soichiro Honda was a brilliant man who believed in extracting the most he could possibly derive from any power plant, and this means efficiency as well as performance. The substance of this response is not to take anything away from Honda's spectacular track record in low emissions and high mileage, but simply to underline the fact that we should not confuse causes and effects as we struggle in finding widely accepted incentives for reducing emissions and developing alternative fuels for the future.

In any case, Matt, we think you're doing some great work with your website and wish you the best.

[Source: American Chronicle]