Houston Acura Dealer

What is Collision Mitigation Brake System?
People can be forgiven if they think or compare Acura’s Collision Mitigation Brake System or CMBS to a dead man’s’ switch.
Similar to Mercedes’ PRE SAFE Occupant Protection System, CMBS using millimeter wave length radar positioned inside the front grill that scans the area ahead.
The system warns the driver if and when the vehicle gets too close to the vehicle in front or when it advances too quickly.
If the system detects a risk of collision, it automatically determines the required braking power and applies this even without driver intervention.

To expound further, Acura’s CMBS system works in three steps.
First it will determine a possible collision then proceed to warn the driver using both audible (beeps) and visual (a flashing “Brake” sign located at the bottom of the speedometer).
Should this be ignored and the driver fails to slow down, the system will then proceed to tighten/tug at the driver’s seat belt and at the same time begin to lightly apply the brakes.
Check out the new braking system at the Houston Acura Dealership.
If these warnings still go unheeded, slack in both the driver and front passenger’s seats will be taken up and the system will apply the required braking power automatically.

Also included in the CMBS system is the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
Again similar to Mercedes’ The Distronic Plus Proximity control system, ACC keeps your vehicle at a pre determined distance from the vehicle ahead.
If the distance to the vehicle in front narrows too rapidly, the system will warn the driver and should the vehicle in front suddenly brake or stops, the system will apply the brakes and bring your vehicle if necessary, to a complete standstill.

Super Handling All Wheel Drive or SH-AWD is Acura’s all wheel drive system which is currently outfitted on the Acura RL, RDX and MDX models.

In conventional all wheel drive system sports a front and rear differential and a center differential that can direct power to the front or rear wheels only depending on where traction is most required.

The disadvantage of this setup is during cornering. In order to compensate, a traction and/or stability control system that provides yaw control is mated or paired to this system.

If and when the steering wheel does not match the actual direction of the vehicle, traction and stability control systems can apply brakes to individual wheels in order to turn the vehicle in the intended direction.

SH-AWD on the other hand has what Acura calls “Torque Vectoring” wherein up to 70 percent of the power can either be directed to the front or rear wheels or if needed to the individual rear wheels.

During cornering, the system reduces understeer by turning the outside rear wheel faster by as much as 5 percent than the rest of the wheels thus rotating the vehicle during the turn and thereby increasing stability.

Your Houston Acura dealer can tell you even more details.

What Acura built into your brake pads is a U shaped piece of metal. It acts like a KISS style reminder that you are nearing the point wherein you need to replace your brake pads. The screeching or squeaking sound you hear is the result of the ends of that U shaped piece of metal coming into contact with the rotating disk.
When the pads are brand new, there is a gap between the rotating disk and that piece of metal. As the pads get worn down, the gap gets smaller and smaller. At first contact, the noise is barely noticeable. With your windows rolled up you won’t even hear it. Pedestrians and people outside might and if you’re lucky, may call your attention to it. As the pads get thinner and thinner, contact between the rotating disk and that piece of metal becomes more pronounced, and that screeching sound you hear becomes more and more audible. There would be just a few millimeters left between of brake padding and the metal plate where the actual pad is attached.
Now, is it still safe to drive? Yes but I would not postpone replacing the brake pads for too long. Nor would I take the vehicle on long drives either. Bear in mind that the louder the screeching sound gets the thinner are your brake pads. If you really must continue to put off replacing the pads, avoid rapid deceleration as well as this wears out the pads faster. Again it is very unadvisable to ignore this sound. It really is a warning to the driver that the brake pads need to be replaced immediately and always replace them with original or Acura approved brake pads. Note that once the brake pad material is totally worn out, the metal plate where the pad material was bonded to will come into direct contact with the rotating disk which at the very least will damage the disk and add to the cost of repairs. Worst case scenario? Don’t wait to find out. Check with the service department at your local Houston Acura Dealer.

There really isn’t that much info yet on the specs of the 2010 Acura ZDX which was launched just last month at the New York International Auto Show.

I realize that there’re a lot of unknowns but with what we do know and gathered from trustworthy sources, leaves room for us to make a couple of smart, somewhat accurate guesses or assumptions.

Dimensions wise, not much separates the two except in height.

Now Kobe or a lot of other people won’t have a problem getting in the X6 but then again a lot of other people would appreciate the lower stance of the ZDX.

What we’ve heard but have not yet gotten absolute confirmation is that the Acura ZDX will be getting the same 3.7 liter, V6 VTEC engine that now powers the MDX.

If this is the case then it would be almost safe to assume that we can look forward to at least 300hp at 6000 rpm or thereabouts.

The ZDX will be sporting a 6 speed automatic transmission with Sequential SportShift.

On the outside both the ZDX and the X6 sport practically the same flowing roofline that identifies the vehicle as a Sports Activity Coupe.

But this is where the similarity ends.

The ZDX has a panoramic glass roof where “Glass extends in one graceful curve from the base of the windshield to the rear of the bumper, so both front and rear passengers enjoy a view of the sky and beyond.” Let’s just hope you still enjoy the view during the summer months.

Designed by ZDX exterior designer Michelle Christensen of the Art Center College of Design, the 2010 Acura ZDX will be new flagship vehicle, knocking the 7 seater MDX down a notch.

The 28-year-old Christensen adds “From the very first sketch of the ZDX, I wanted to create an emotional vehicle that challenged conventional thinking of what a sports coupe should be.”

Launched at the New York International Auto Show last April, the ZDX according to VP for Sales Jeff Conrad “takes the best attributes of a stylish coupe, a versatile sedan and a flexible SUV – and successfully blends them into a head-turning vehicle for active and adventurous individuals to explore their passions.”

With the ZDX, Acura is sailing into unknown waters as this is its first offering into an entirely new sales area for the brand.

Mum’s the word for the moment when it comes to performance details.

What we do know is that it will be getting 3.5-liter V-6 engine with the new 6-speed Sequential SportShift automatic transmission and naturally, Acura’s trademark SH-AWD system.

If looks were the sole judge, the ZDX will definitely give the BMW X6 and Infiniti’s FX stiff competition.

Indeed “provocative styling, contemporary luxury, and meticulous refinement” are rather obvious at first glance.

From the Panoramic glass roof to the Coupe roofline, the ZDX does as Michelle puts it “My goal was to create a strikingly beautiful exterior, and use that attraction to help draw you into the rich interior.”

On the inside, you eyes automatically take in the fine leather on the door panels, the dash, and center console.

Also new is the mono surfaced control panel that lights up when the vehicle is powered up.

The rear seatbacks can be folded down for additional cargo space with three covered storage areas.
Scheduled to be out this fall.

This said I wonder who’s next?