This car will represent Acura at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race, the longest race in the United States. Put on by the National Auto Sport Association (not to be confused with the other NASA), this race is held every December in Willows, California.

As you would expect, the ILX got more than a once-over from the Honda Performance Division, coming away outfitted with a number of improvements. The engine is running with forged rods and pistons, as well as high-flow intake and exhaust. There’s also a custom aero kit complete with a large front spoiler and a rear wing to match the TLX GT. A roll cage, racing suspension, and racing tires round out the transformation.

There’s no word yet on who will be piloting the ILX Racer, but December is a ways away. If we hear more news between now and then, we’ll let you know. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out our test-drive review of the 2016 ILX. It’s a fun car, even without racing specifications. In fact, we have a feeling they really didn’t have to do that much work to get it track-ready.

Leith Acura is the best place to find a new or used Acura in Cary.

This story originally appeared on Car and Driver.

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What is Android Auto?

If you’re one of the millions of people who use Android, Google’s mobile operating system, you’re probably used to asking Google questions on the go, finding your way around using Google Maps, and accessing all of your favorite songs via Google Play. Until now, this has been easy to do via your phone or tablet, but when you get in the car, you have to set those things aside and rely on whatever interface has been provided by the manufacturer.

That’s going to change with Android Auto. If you’ve ever thought life would be easier if your car and phone spoke the same language, you’re not alone. Using Android Auto, your car will play your music via Google Play, give you directions via Google Maps, and take advantage of a variety of other apps that you use on a daily basis.

How does Android Auto work?

The best part about this is how easy it is to use. You just plug your phone into your car and immediately have access to music, contacts, and messages while on the road.

From there, you can use all of the inputs native to your car to interact with the Android system. If your car’s interface uses buttons, you control Android Auto with those buttons. If it has a touchscreen, you use the touchscreen. If it uses voice commands, then you can take advantage of Google’s best-in-class voice controls.

Best of all, your phone will keep track of whatever you tell it while in the car, even when you aren’t driving. Say you set a reminder for yourself to pick up eggs from the grocery store while you’re on your way to work in the morning. Your phone will take note of this during your commute, then remind you before you leave the office. Android Auto does all that it can to prepare you for the road ahead.

[Tweet “Find out everything you need to know about #AndroidAuto.”]

Will Acura support Android Auto?

Currently, there are twenty-eight brands working on integrating Android Auto into their future models, as listed on the official website, and Acura is one of those. At this point, we don’t know specifically which cars will be the first to debut with this functionality, but we will certainly keep you up to date as compatible models are announced.

Of course there is also the very real possibility that you aren’t even in the market for a new car right now, and this feature isn’t going to be backwards compatible with extant models. That doesn’t mean you can’t get Android Auto in the car you drive right now. There are already a number of aftermarket options popping up that you can look into.

We hope this post has answered your questions about Android Auto. Be sure to share it with your friends, family, and any other Android users you might know.

If you have any questions about the technology in your Acura or an Acura you’re interested in, call or visit us today at Leith Acura in Cary.

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CarPlay is something you’ve probably heard of by now, as it was first announced around this time last year. Still, you’re probably wondering what CarPlay is, how it works, and whether it will work in your favorite brand’s cars. Hopefully we’ll be able to answer your questions with this post.

What is Apple CarPlay?

CarPlay is Apple’s solution to infotainment in vehicles. If you drive or have driven a car that was built in the past decade, chances are you’re familiar with the variety of touchscreens, buttons, and dials that make up a modern interface. The problem is these are all different, and in many cases, people have been found to wish for more seamless integration with their smartphones.

This is that seamless integration you’ve been asking for. With CarPlay, you can plug in your iPhone and the car will adopt iOS as its main interface. You’ll have access to iTunes, Apple Maps, Siri, and other compatible apps. You can even send and receive messages or phone calls, all via your car’s built-in systems.

How does CarPlay work?

Say you’re driving down the road and you get an incoming phone call. If your iPhone is plugged in, you can answer by pressing the phone button on your steering wheel. It’s your best friend and they need you to pick them up and give them a ride. With the address they give you, you press the voice prompt button on your steering wheel and ask Siri to give you directions. The route comes up on your car’s screen, and you can view and approve it either with the touchscreen or the knobs and buttons that control the display.

[Tweet “What is Apple CarPlay? Will it work in my car? All the answers to your questions are right here.”]

CarPlay makes use of all of your car’s controls while granting you the familiarity of your iPhone’s systems and functionality. You can use voice, touch, and buttons or knobs to interact with your phone just as you would your car’s default system. Think of CarPlay as an override of the basic system to give you access to the features and apps you’re most comfortable using on the go.

Does Acura support Apple CarPlay?

Apple currently lists thirty-three brands on the CarPlay page, and while Acura is not obviously listed, its parent group Honda is. This is the case with several other manufacturing groups that do not have their premium products differentiated on the CarPlay page. While there is no current information on when we’ll start seeing Acura’s that are CarPlay compatible, we feel confident in stating it as a certain eventuality, especially given that Acura already makes use of Siri Eyes Free.

It’s exciting to see this trend catch on so quickly, with so many major players taking the necessary steps to integrate this feature. We know some of you might be worried, though. Maybe you just bought a new car recently, or you aren’t currently looking for a new vehicle, but you still wish you could take advantage of Apple CarPlay. You do still have options. It’s possible to take the aftermarket route to CarPlay thanks to systems by Alpine and Pioneer.

We hope this serves as an informative primer on Apple CarPlay and the role it can play in personalizing your car even further. Let us know if you have any further questions.

If you’ve read this far and you still haven’t found a single answer you’re looking for, you might be an Android user, in which case none of this is helpful. Don’t worry, we’re planning another post like this one all about Android Auto soon. Check back regularly so you don’t miss it.

If you have questions about the technology in your Acura or an Acura you’re interested in, call or visit us at Leith Acura in Cary.

The post What is Apple CarPlay? appeared first on Leith Acura of Cary, Blog, News & Research.

Outwardly, Acura’s volume-seller looks pretty much the same, but a lot is happening underneath. The MDX retains its 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 and gains a brand new nine-speed transmission. This new gearbox will save weight and be linked to a push-button electronic shifter. There will also be a tuned up version of SH-AWD available on the 2016 model, complete with a torque-vectoring rear differential.

A variety of packages will be available that can bestow such advanced safety features as Road Departure Mitigation, lane-keeping assistance, forward collision warning, a multiview rear camera, and more to the MDX. Perhaps the best part of this announcement, though, is that the 2016 MDX is available now at our dealership. Call or visit Leith Acura of Cary if you would like us to arrange a test-drive for you.

That’s not the only news, though. You know we love to check in on the rumor mill, and lately we’re hearing that Acura might be getting a smaller crossover notched in below the RDX. Said to be based on Honda’s new HR-V, a car that size gels with the current market trend for premium-segment compact crossovers. Think about cars like the Buick Encore, the Audi Q3, or the Mercedes-Benz GLA and you’ll have an idea of the cars that have establish this segment.

What’s the source for this rumor? John Mendel, executive vice president for Honda America told WardsAuto that Acura was “looking at” the HR-V pretty closely. That makes it sound less like a rumor and more like something with a high probability of being true.

Acura previously had a third crossover called the ZDX which was on sale from 2009 to 2013. That car was based on the Honda Pilot architecture. Perhaps going smaller on the frame (and the price tag) with a luxed-up HR-V will bring Acura greater success. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Source: Car and Driver

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To determine their winners, U.S. News & World Report considers both quality and value, combining those into a composite score. There are twenty-one categories of vehicles to consider. U.S. News uses its own car rankings for the quality component, taking each vehicle’s ranking at the time of calculation into account. Value is determined by weighing a car’s five-year cost of ownership and the average price paid for that car at the time the awards are published.

For 2015, Acura had three vehicles chosen. The Acura MDX was selected for its third straight year of this recognition, the RDX was selected for its second straight year, and the newcomer TLX was selected for the first time, and hopefully not the last.

Michael Accavitti, Acura’s senior vice president and general manager, had this to say about the news:

“Receiving accolades for our best-selling SUVs and our new performance sedan speaks to the powerful momentum that continues to drive the Acura brand forward. Acura’s unique combination of performance, proportion and prestige is delivering value to the customer and the marketplace is taking notice. We’re proud and honored to receive these awards from U.S. News Best Cars.”

U.S. News has been publishing car rankings since 2007. If we can interest you in a test-drive for the MDX, RDX, or the TLX, please call or visit our dealership. Leith Acura is a great place to find a new Acura for sale if you live in Raleigh.

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Even weeks later, there is still a ton of buzz being generated by this car. For instance, folks at Jalopnik are a big fan of the interior. The minimalist design cuts down on a lot of the bloat and buttons that modern interiors can suffer from, and the radial drive mode nob is a perfect example of how Acura slimmed down the driver interface.

Back on the outside, Acura made history by putting Michelle Christensen in charge of the NSX’s exterior design. Christensen is the first woman to shape a supercar in this way, and Autoblog has a short piece on her path to this position. She’s only 34, so we’re sure the NSX is only the beginning and her best work is yet to come.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a car show reveal without whispers of an even more extreme model in the works. The 2016 NSX is a 550-horsepower all-wheel drive hybrid, but already there are rumors that Acura might be preparing an NSX Type R. It’s known that the original NSX had a Type R variant, so if the folks at Honda are truly looking to repeat history, this could be something special. Read more about it on Car and Driver.

Finally, for all the details you could want, Acura has published a detailed press release on the reveal.

“Specifically created to bring a ‘new sports experience’ to the supercar segment, the NSX challenges conventional beliefs about supercars — much as the first generation did a quarter century ago. The approach is realized through an all-new power unit—a twin-turbocharged 75-degree DOHC V6 engine with a 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and three-electric motor Sport Hybrid system—integrated with an ultra-rigid and lightweight multi-material body with world’s-first material applications and manufacturing processes. Developed under the concept of a ‘human-centered supercar,’ a car that puts the driver first in every aspect of its design, the next-generation NSX will leverage its state-of-the-art hybrid supercar power unit, body and chassis to deliver exceptionally intuitive and immediate response to driver inputs.”

Read more here.

Leith Acura Cary is proud to be your official Acura dealer in this area.

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Acura says that the NSX has been three years in the making, but we’ve really been waiting for about ten years, ever since the original was discontinued. Through concepts and prototypes, we’ve watched and wondered and speculated. Now that’s all over because the production NSX is here.

Actually we take back what we said about the speculation being over as Acura is still mum on many of the numbers we like to list at this juncture. All we’ve heard is “north of 550 horsepower,” which is a great thing to hear. Instead, we’ll just take this opportunity to admire the final design and share some choice links with you that elaborate further.

Autoblog and Car and Driver both have in depth breakdowns of the design changes, as well as full photo galleries.

The official reveal video can be seen on Autoblog, too.

Meanwhile, Jalopnik gives us another gallery of high-resolution photos, and discusses the dramatic changes made to the NSX late in its development period.

You can continue to count on Leith Acura of Cary for the latest news on the NSX, which goes into production this fall. Until then, our dealership is a great place to find Acura vehicles for sale in the Raleigh area.

The post 2015 NAIAS: The Production Ready Acura NSX appeared first on Leith Acura of Cary, Blog, News & Research.

Acura is set to reveal the production version of the 2016 NSX in just five days. The supercar will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 12.

It will go on sale “sometime in 2015.” That narrows down the release to about three hundred and fifty possible dates. Once we know for sure, we’ll let you know.

Leith Acura of Cary is a great place to service or repair your Acura vehicle if you’re in the Raleigh area. Visit our website for more information.

(H/T Car and Driver)

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We’ve come a long way since we started bringing you regular updates last December. Now you can come to us for the latest brand news, for cool and interesting videos, for up close and personal photos, and even for hands-on assessments of your favorite and most anticipated cars. The world at large may be looking forward to 2015 because it won’t be 2014 anymore, but we are looking forward to the new year because we know how great it will be based on what we wrote about this year. To help you remember the highlights, we’ve looked through our archives and picked out our favorite posts from the year.

I Love My Acura Test: What Is the Origin of the Logo?

Every exceptional brand needs a recognizable logo that arrests the eye. Acura’s finds its meaning in a theme established in the name of the brand itself.

Acura Features the RLX, TLX, and NSX in Its Stunning New Commercial

The 2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, 2015 TLX Prototype, and NSX Concept all reflect the future of the Japanese automaker’s designs and engineering.

Test Drive Review – 2015 Acura TLX

Compared to our seat at the helm of the 2015 Acura TLX, even the bluest skies and brightest sunshine were a much harsher, blander reality.

Flashback to 1990: Road & Track Reviews the NSX

In a special post, we shared Road & Track’s original review of the 1990 NSX, as found in the August 1990 issue of Road & Track magazine.

2016 Acura ILX Plays Catch Up

With the 2016 model, the Acura ILX is finally reaping the benefits of Acura’s upper-level technology and styling.

All of us at Leith Acura of Cary hope you have a Happy New Year.

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