Acura to Highlight Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ Technology Throughout Chicago Auto Show

Featured on five of the six Acura models, SH-AWD® or Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® is available on the TLX and RLX sport sedans, RDX and MDX SUVs, and NSX supercar. Through four generations of continuous innovation Acura has raised the bar for performance-enhancing AWD. For more information on the system watch the Acura SH-AWD video.

 

Timed to the winter season and customers’ attendant focus on traction-enhancing technologies, Acura SH-AWD® stars in a new marketing campaign showing how Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ can make anyone a better, more confident driver: https://acura.us/SHAWD.

Acura SH-AWD® at Chicago Auto Show Press Days Schedule

• Acura at the Concept & Technology Garage: Wednesday, Feb. 5  (8:30-11:30 a.m.)
  • Acura SH-AWD® vehicles: RDX and MDX PMC Edition
  • Location: McCormick Place, West Building, Hall F2
•  Acura SH-AWD® focus: Thursday, Feb. 6, and Friday, Feb.7
  • Location: Acura Booth, McCormick Place South Exhibit Hall
• SH-AWD® Preview Presentation: Friday, Feb. 7 (10:00 a.m.)
  • Head of Acura Product Planning Rob Keough to present the technology and benefits of SH-AWD®
  • Location: Acura Booth, McCormick Place South Exhibit Hall

Acura SH-AWD® Key Highlights

• Acura SH-AWD® is not just about foul-weather traction. SH-AWD® uses dynamic torque vectoring to provide more accurate and predictable handling performance in all road conditions.
• Up to 70% of engine torque can be sent to the rear wheels as needed, with up to 100% of that torque apportioned to either the left or right wheels. Further, today’s SH-AWD® can overdrive the outside rear wheels by up to 2.7 percent, creating additional rotational speed that helps “pull” the car through the turn with increased grip and cornering accuracy.
• The 2020 Acura RDX features the 4th-generation SH-AWD®, the most sophisticated and capable SH-AWD® system yet, with faster response and a 40 percent increase in maximum torque capacity.
• Acura also has an advanced electronic Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® system, as featured on the NSX supercar, RLX sedan and MDX three-row luxury SUV, using twin electric motors to provide instantaneous negative (braking) and positive torque independent of the gasoline engine.
• Acura AWD sales are growing in Illinois: AWD sales in Illinois have grown 7%.
• Vast majority of Acura sales in Illinois are AWD: AWD sales now represent nearly 80% (79.1%) of all Acura sales in Illinois — compared to national average mix of 55.7%.
• Illinois is one of Acura’s top sales markets, including sales of AWD vehicles: Illinois is Acura’s #4 state for sales of AWD vehicles in the U.S.

Acura SH-AWD® History

1st Generation SH-AWD
Applied on:	About:
RL (2005-2012)	The world’s first all-wheel drive platform that actively and continually distributes torque not only to enhance traction, but also to elevate cornering performance. By overdriving the rear wheels SH-AWD can provide an inward yaw moment while accelerating into and through corners.
2nd Generation SH-AWD
MDX (2007-2015) RDX (2007-2012) TL (2009-2014) ZDX (2010-2013)	SH-AWD is enhanced with Hill Logic that automatically adjusts the front/rear torque split based on the grade of the underlying surface as well the integration of Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and, in 2009, Traction Control Systems (TCS). The rear differential is constantly overdriven by 1.7 percent.
3rd Generation SH-AWD
MDX (2016-Present) TLX (2015-Present)	The 3rd generation system uses a 25-percent lighter rear differential with reduced friction and increased yaw effect. The rear differential is constantly overdriven by 2.7 percent, providing a greater torque-vectoring effect across a broader spectrum of driving conditions to further enhance cornering capability.
4th Generation SH-AWD
RDX (2019-Present)	The newest version of Acura’s mechanical SH-AWD is more compact, while offering 30 percent faster response and a 40 percent increase in maximum torque capacity.
Sport Hybrid SH-AWD
RLX (2014-Present) NSX (2017-Present) MDX (2017-Present)	The first and still only electric torque-vectoring system in the world to enhance every element of dynamic performance – acceleration, braking and cornering – able to apply both positive and negative electric motor torque with instantaneous response on- and off-throttle.