Acura in focus

Acura gears up for 2004 SEMA Show

eBusiness Division provides innovative Internet tools

T he e B us ine ss D iv is ion has produced a broad base of Internet to ols de s ig ne d to hel p Ac ura dealers maximize success in all areas of their dealerships. Although each of these tools is powerful, together they form the foundation of a best-in-class Internet presence. From Dealer Web sites and Lead Manager to Owner Link and eStore, Ac ura dealer s can now take advantage of the most powerful suite of Internet services in the automotive industry. Model Year 20 05 promises to be a landmark year for these initiatives, with new client-focused technologies. The personal touch Owner Link expands services Service Scheduling and Express Checkout Acura clients can now use their Owner Link accounts to schedule dealer service appointments, create service preferences profiles, obtain vehicle status updates and pay for service. Owner Links new Service Scheduling and Express Checkout enables eStore-certified dealers to reduce a time-consuming circle of phone calls and streamline the service transaction. Learn more about Service Scheduling through iNs Online University or simply complete service appointment setup at iN>Service>Service Appointments. Seasonal offers highlight eStores accessories Through Owner Links eStore, clients can purchase Genuine Acura Accessories for their Acuras from their dealer online. To encourage clients to shop at eStore, Acura is sending quarterly Seasonal Accessories promotions via e-mail and postal mail to all Owner Link accounts. Be sure to refer to the promotions calendar and set up complimentary Owner Link offers through iNs Dealer Relationship Tool (DRT). See iN for details. Get an e-ducation with WebBased Training Dealers needing a quick and easy way to get ready do business 24/7 can find all-new Web Based Training (WBT) on iNs Online University. These WBT sessions include complete tutorials for using Owner Link, DRT, eStore, Service Scheduling and Express Checkout. Advantage iN The new iN 3.0 provides a more dealer-focused environment. Dealers can take full advantage of iN, incorporating its tools into their daily business processes. For example, with the Customer Information Center (CIC) installed on any PC in their showrooms, dealers can easily add the CIC to their sales process. Dealers can also obtain AHM corporate discounts from such suppliers as FedEx, Dell, IBM and HP at iNs eMall, and stay up-to-date with News Flashes from their District Sales, Parts and Service Managers. Support your business 24/7 with new, client-focused Internet initiatives that personalize service in our high-tech world.

The 2004 Acura display at SEMA will feature several showstopping modified vehicles. Building on the performance image that the automaker has created through exciting new highperformance automobiles, Acura is gearing up for the 2004 SEMA show which will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, November 2-5. Attracting nearly 100,000 industry leaders from around the world, the annual SEMA show is the premier automotive specialty tradeshow, featuring thousands of O.E. and aftermarket accessories and hundreds of highly modified vehicles. Last year at SEMA, Acura successfully launched the 2004 TL High-Performance A-Spec kit and featured a TSX A-Spec prototype. This year Acura will showcase several exciting vehicles, including a 2005 RL fitted with a prototype A-Spec package. In addition to the A-Spec RL prototype, Acura models will be featured by several import tuners and racing companies at SEMA. Dubbed the tuner scene guru, car-builder and wheel-designer RJ DeVera will put his mark on a 2004 TL to be shown exclusively at the Acura booth. The DeVera TL will feature a combination of Acura A-Spec and aftermarket parts, including a supercharger, custom suede interior and rear entertainment system. Attendees can expect to see two uniquely customized TSX vehicles by the international tuner company Mugen and the championship-winning RealTime Racing team. The Mugen TSX will feature a racing-inspired interior, titanium dual exhaust and a KMS engine kit, while the RealTime Racing TSX will be fresh from the track following a highly successfully racing season. Numerous additional modified Acura vehicles, including the RSX and NSX, will be on display throughout the massive show. With the debut of the all-new RL, as well as other exclusive project vehicles, the Acura presence will be stronger than ever at the 2004 SEMA show.

iN Acura home page.

Acura introduces the worlds most advanced all-wheel-drive system

occurs when the wheels begin to slip, e.g., when driving on wet or slippery roads. Thus, many manufacturers promote their all-wheel-drive systems as a safety enhancement only for inclement road conditions. By contrast, while SH-AWD does help stabilize the vehicle during wet-weather conditions, dry-weather performance is also dramatically improved through the systems ability to actively overdrive an outer rear wheel when turning. This action causes a steering effect on the rear end of the car, making SH-AWD the first all-wheel-drive system in the world to have this capability. To better understand how SH-AWD works, think of a rowboat. Paddling faster on one side of the boat will cause it to steer in the other direction. For example, paddling faster on the right side causes the boat to turn left. The same thing occurs when paddling faster on the leftthe boat inherently turns right. SH-AWD follows this general principle. Accordingly, when making a left turn in the 2005 RL, SH-AWD accelerates the right rear wheel to assist in turning the vehicle left. When turning right, the left rear wheel is accelerated in the same manner, helping turn the car right. The end result: SH-AWD allows the Acura RL (and its driver) to experience cornering ability unlike any car in its class, while providing incredibly neutral handling during normal driving. SH-AWD monitors the drivers inputs and driving conditions to determine how much power to send to the front and rear axles, distributing up to 70% of the engines torque front or rear through a sophisticated torquetransfer system. The difference between SH-AWD and other all-wheel-drive systems is that rear torque can be distributed up to 100% between the left and right wheels. The selected wheel is then accelerated beyond its normal rotation to cause the rear of the car to rotate, providing much sharper turn in response than is possible on a typical all-wheel-drive or rearwheel-drive setup. Understeer is virtually eliminated. In addition to providing unparalleled cornering ability, SH-AWD also provides improved performance during acceleration and deceleration by varying torque distribution to the front and rear axles. Paired with the new 30 0-hp, 3.5-liter V TEC V-6 engine and carbon-fiber-reinforced driveshaft, the 2005 RL provides an exhilarating driving experience. The Acura SH-AWD system is a revolutionary achievement that truly sets the RL apart from its competitors, while setting new standards for allwheel-drive systems. Drivers no longer have to sacrifice safety or performance for the other; SH-AWD combines the best of both worlds without the traditional compromises of current drive systems.

Growing support for launch of flagship Acura RL

Acura is supporting the launch of the all-new RL with a series of programs, events and sponsorships that will integrate with the national advertising strategy. To help promote the arrival of the RL and drive traffic into the dealerships, a direct-mail piece will communicate the message that the all-new RL is an advanced technological sedan that is much more than meets the eye. In an intriguing way, the piece will highlight the innovative features that make the RL the most technologically advanced vehicle in the Acura line, including several industry firsts. The target is the successful, independent-thinking 45-50-year-old male with a household income of $150K who makes purchase decisions based on performance rather than image. The piece will be mailed to approximately 90,000 Acura owners, 23,000 defectors and 85,000 in-market conquests.

All-new SH-AWD: road-ripping technology. Securing its position as a leader in luxury performance, Acura is introducing Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), a revolutionary all-wheel-drive system, on its premium 2005 RL Sedan. A groundbreaking innovation, SH-AWD will incorporate all the safety aspects of a typical all-wheeldrive system, but will be the worlds first dedicated to actively enhance dryweather handling and performance. Contrary to popular belief, all-wheeldrive vehicles do not always improve dry-weather performance. In fact, some all-wheel-drive vehicles trail their twowheel-drive counterparts in several performance aspects (cornering, acceleration). This is because in addition to the increased weight of the allwheel-drive system, intervention only

SH-AWD system overview.

RL minisite interacts through Internet

As Acura unveiled its RL Prototype luxury performance sedan at the New York International Auto Show on April 7, acura.com debuted its RL Prototype minisite to an equally enthusiastic audience. Less than a month after its launch, nearly 130,000 visitors had called up more than 1.7 million pages on the site, including a rich gallery of images, vehicle specs, technology overviews and videos. To date, nearly 4.2 million pages have been viewed by nearly 300,000 users. The RL Prototype minisite translates Acuras high-performance focus online, featuring live-motion
Continued from Page 1 drive system, an integrated print, newspaper and outdoor campaign will complement the Yellow Line TV spot. An additional print execution will highlight the RLs luxurious and technological amenities as well as its new traffic-monitoring navigation system. Print ads for the RL will begin appearing in November issues of Forbes, Fortune, Cond Nast Traveler and Wine Spectator, which will be on newsstands mid-October. A :60 RL radio commercial will run in Tier 1 and 2 markets and special :10 and :15

footage of the vehicles revolutionary all-wheel-drive system and real-time traffic capability. In addition, visitors have the option to sign up for e-mail updates and view vehicle measurements, as well as read about the latest safety and technology enhancements. Slated for release this September, the 2005 RL minisite will profile the actual production vehicle, giving users the chance to interact with the car they can test-drive at the showroom. In the meantime, however, the RL prototype minisite is generating the kind of buzz and anticipation deserved by this breakthrough Acura model.

The new RL direct-mail piece goes out to consumers October 18. We will be celebrating the launch of the RL with a dealer event. By now, you should have signed up for launch-party kits and selected which day during the week of November 8-12 works best for you. You also should have received your invitations. This year, the kits include materials to help support your launch party, as well as create excitement and awareness for the arrival of the RL. Youll also receive banners and counter cards that you can keep on display after the event. If you have any questions, feel free to call RL Launch Party Headquarters at (310) 633-6990. As an extension of the RL advertising, we will also connect with our target market through alternative marketing channels. A series of events/sponsorships, similar to those created for the TL launch, has been assembled for the RL. Our objectives are to select exclusive properties with a technology and/or high design content reflective of the RL, and to intercept our target in a pressure-free environment where we can encourage interaction with the RL and demonstrate its innovative technical features. Sponsorship details will be provided before the start date. Good luck with your launch party. We join you in looking forward to a successful 2005 RL launch.

announcements highlighting the RLs traffic monitoring feature will lead into morning and afternoon traffic reports. The RL will also sponsor weather and traffic channels on XM Satellite Radio with :15 announcements. Acura will also support the TL, RSX, TSX and MDX with new spread and page print advertising to provide year-round presence for the brand. TL, and MDX will also be supported with :10 announcements on NPR.

Building the future

Honda Financial Services continues to build on its success as it develops even closer ties with its dealer network, according to David W. Paul, recently appointed to Assistant Vice President of Field Operations and Sales. The organization will unveil new products and services but will continue to count on the dedication of its employees to keep ahead of the financial services pack, Paul says. Im impressed with many of the new systems and products that Honda Financial Services has introduced to respond to dealerships and to the market, Paul says. But Ive been even more impressed with the passion that our people have for Acura. They realize that weve got a tremendous brand, and we have to deliver service that matches the quality of our vehicles. A co-founder of BMW Financial Services after previously starting his career at Chrysler, Paul joined Honda Financial Services in April from Toyota Financial Services. Ive been fortunate to work with some strong brands over the years, Paul says. I will work very hard to nurture and protect the Acura brand with every dealership and customer. Paul notes that Honda Financial Services has made dramatic improvements in recent years and is currently near the top of the list in National Automobile Dealers Association surveys on competitiveness and satisfaction. He also mentioned several new programs that are being consideredsuch as providing financing on all used makes and modelsto provide even more support to dealers. Still, its the people of Honda Financial Services that make the most difference, Paul maintains. I was able to visit all nine regional offices shortly after joining the organization, and I was really impressed with the relationships they had developed with their dealerships. My role is to build on that passion to ensure our focus stays on dealerships and their customers. I want dealerships to know that they wont find a more proactive partner than Honda Financial Services our interests are completely aligned with theirs.

The RL with the first-ever satellite-based traffic-monitoring service.