The Acura cars with their elegant lines, easy to drive quality and safety innovations are among the most sought after by drivers all around the world. In their continuous search for safer, more maneuverable performance cares, the designers and engineers at Acura have fitted the recent models with a number of technical innovations that make the cars more reliable and easy and fun to drive. The added innovations do not only relate to the performance of the car but also to the safety of its passengers. The list of technological innovations includes Super Handling All-Wheel Drive? (also called SH-AWD?), Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC?), Advanced Compatibility Engineering? (ACE?), the Drive-by-Wire Throttle System?, the Vehicle Stability Assist system (VSA?), HandsFreeLink?, Voice Recognition?, LATCH, Occupant Position Determination System (OPDS), the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and many more.



The Super Handling All-Wheel Drive?, or SH-AWD?, is the first control system that allows independent torque-distribution. Independent torque distribution means that the wheels of your Acura car have a better grip on the road. The system is used to help increase turning precision and also to improve passenger safety. Acura is the first car builder in North America to use such a system on their models. The Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control, or VTEC?, is a cleverly designed system that helps the Acura engine with fuel efficiency at lower velocities and ads to the output of the engine at higher velocities. This fuel efficiency system was another innovation that was introduced to the North American car market by Acura.

One of the most important safety improvements added to cars today is Acura's ACE? (Advanced Compatibility Engineering?), a system that incorporates crash protection into the frame of your vehicle. The Vehicle Stability Assist, or VSA?, is a four channel system that adjusts the engine power and the pressure on your brakes to ensure added control in any driving conditions. The air bag system on an Acura car includes side curtain air bags, dual-threshold air bags and front side air bags, and the car's safety system also includes LATCH and OPDS. The Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) is designed to protect the passenger side of the cabin in case that an accident can not be avoided. The unique child seat mounting system called LATCH ensures the safety of your child passengers.

For their innovative performance and security systems several Acura models have been awarded the maximum of five stars possible after a series of tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Acura RL was awarded five stars in rollover, side and frontal tests, the Acura MDX received its stars for passenger and driver safety and the SUV earned its five stars in the side impact test.