2021 Kia Seltos Named To Wards 10 Best User Experience (UX) List

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The 2021 Kia Seltos has been named to Wards 10 Best UX list for 2020. The list recognizes outstanding touchscreens, voice controls, connectivity, driver-assistance technology features and overall user friendliness.

<img id="prnejpgd32eleft" title="2021 Kia Seltos named to Wards 10 Best User Experience (UX) list" border="0" alt="2021 Kia Seltos named to…

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The 2021 Kia Seltos has been named to Wards 10 Best UX list for 2020. The list recognizes outstanding touchscreens, voice controls, connectivity, driver-assistance technology features and overall user friendliness.

2021 Kia Seltos named to Wards 10 Best User Experience (UX) list

«The Wards 10 Best UX accolade reflects Kia’s dedication to engineering an inspiring experience for both drivers and passengers,» said Sean Yoon, President & CEO, Kia Motors America, Kia Motors North America.  «Seltos makes the perfect companion for everyday driving around town or in the wilderness on the weekend.»           

Now in its fifth year, the Wards 10 Best UX competition focuses on the user experience — how the driver interacts with the vehicle as well as how easy and intuitive vehicle controls are for the driver. With its available 10.25-in. high-resolution touchscreen, the Seltos offers satellite radio, UVO telematics, navigation and split-screen display that sits high on the instrument panel for excellent accessibility. Additional available features tech-savvy consumers look for include multi-Bluetooth1 device connectivity, wireless smartphone charging, up to three USB ports and available Apple CarPlay2 and Android Auto3.  This is just the latest accolade added to the long list of awards earned by Kia’s full lineup of rugged and capable SUVs.

«The Wards 10 Best UX judging panel really enjoyed seat time in the 2021 Kia Seltos, a first-year vehicle whose designers and developers mixed up a spot-on formula right out of the box,» said Dave Zoia, executive director of content, Wards Intelligence.  «Seltos is an affordable, compact CUV with a funky vibe including mood lighting that pulses along with the music. The impressive infotainment system hands down ranks among the industry’s best, and the driver-assistance technologies perform well.»

About Kia Motors America

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the «Official Automotive Partner» of the NBA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly assembled in West Point, Georgia.*

For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

*The Telluride, Sorento and K5 are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

1 The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc., and any use of such marks by Kia is pursuant to license. A Bluetooth® enabled device is required to use Bluetooth® wireless technology.
2 Apple CarPlay™ is a trademark of Apple Inc. Requires a compatible Apple device sold separately. Apple CarPlay™ runs on your smartphone cellular data service. Data plan rates apply.
3 Vehicle user interface is a product of Google and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires the Android Auto app on Google Play and an Android compatible smartphone running Android™ 5.0 Lollipop or higher. Data plan rates apply. Android Auto is a trademark of Google LLC.

Kia Motors America logo (PRNewsfoto/Kia Motors America)

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SOURCE Kia Motors America

Acura Wins Wet & Wild Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Aug. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Helio Castroneves found traction with his Acura ARX-05 where others could not, as he and his Acura Team Penske co-driver Ricky Taylor prevailed in monsoon-like conditions in the final hour to win Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Road America.

<img id="prnejpgf453left" title="Helio Castroneves and…

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Aug. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Helio Castroneves found traction with his Acura ARX-05 where others could not, as he and his Acura Team Penske co-driver Ricky Taylor prevailed in monsoon-like conditions in the final hour to win Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Road America.

Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor celebrate their win Sunday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. (PRNewsfoto/Acura Motorsports)

In the GTD class, Mario Farnbacher survived an off-course excursion on the penultimate lap of the two hour, 40-minute contest to finish second with co-driver Matt McMurry in their Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo.

Acura Team Penske
In the premier Daytona Prototype International category, the Acura Team Penske duo of Taylor and Castroneves claimed their first victory of the 2020 season in come-from-behind fashion, as Castroneves passed Renger van der Zande’s Cadillac in the final 10 minutes of the race.  Once in front, Castroneves quickly opened up a half-second lead, then held on as the heavy rains returned and the race ended under caution.

The fourth race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season started under partly cloudy skies and remained dry for the first 90 minutes.  Starting from the pole, Taylor had an early race lead of just over three seconds, while Dane Cameron in the #6 Acura Team Penske ARX-05 battled the Mazda of Harry Tincknell for second.

Cameron and Tincknell continued to duel following the first round of pit stops, and eventually made contact, resulting in another stop for Cameron to repair damaged bodywork and a cut tire.  The unscheduled stop and a drive-through penalty for contact effectively ended the victory hopes for the #6 Acura, with further damage sustained when co-driver Juan Pablo Montoya had late-race contact with an LMP2 entry in the rain, and had to stop again for repairs, leading to a disappointing eighth-place finish.

At the front of the field, Taylor continued to lead through the first hour before handing over to co-driver Castroneves.  Briefly dropping to third following the driver change, Castroneves pulled off a clever inside/outside pass of both Mazda prototypes in the downhill run to Turn Five to regain the lead.  With just under an hour remaining, a light rain turned into a downpour in the middle of scheduled pit stops, and officials halted the race for 21 minutes following a nearby lightning strike.

The race resumed with just under 30 minutes to go and Castroneves running second to van der Zande, both on wet-weather «rain» tires.  When the latter ran wide exiting the final corner, Castroneves moved into the lead for the third and final time, as the rain returned and a multi-car GT crash resulted in the race ending under caution.

Acura NSX GT3 Evo Teams
In the always-competitive GTD category, the rains resulted in mixed fortunes for the Meyer Shank Racing and Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evos, highlighted by a second-place finish for the MSR duo of Matt McMurry and Mario Farnbacher.

Running eighth as the rain started to fall on parts of the 4.0-mile Road America circuit, Farnbacher was called to the pits for a well-timed stop that include fitting rain tires to the #86 NSX GT3 Evo.  The sudden heavy shower that followed – initially on only part of the circuit – unfortunately caught out the #57 MSR Acura of teammate Alvaro Parente, as he crashed heavily in Turn One, fortunately without injury, but ending the day for Parente and co-driver Misha Goikhberg.

With roughly half the 12-car GTD field on rain tires at the restart, Farnbacher quickly carved his way towards the front on the wet circuit, making a daring pass for the lead on the outside of «Canada Corner» with less than five minutes remaining in the race. On the next lap, however, Farnbacher spun while avoiding a crashing GTLM-class Porsche at the «Kink», and slipped back to his second-place finishing position.

In the #22 Gradient Racing NSX, Marc Miller was forced to enter a «closed» pit for rain tires, dropping the Acura he shared with co-driver Till Bechtolscheimer to an 11th-place finish.

Next
The 2020 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next heads to the eastern United States for the first of two GT class-only rounds on the schedule, the August 22 Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.

Acura Motorsports social media content and video links from the IMSA Road Race Showcase at Road America will be available on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD). Produced by the CoForce Digital Media, the YouTube videos can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV

Quotes
Helio Castroneves (#7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05) race winner: «Before the race, and knowing the forecast, we made sure our Acura was set up well for the wet.  And we used the experience we gained at Daytona and other wet races we had before to learn.  And this was the payoff!  I was on it.  When I lost the lead [to the #77 Mazda] the first time, I said ‘no way, we’ve worked too hard to let the leader go!’ so when I saw my chance [to regain the lead] I had to take it.  This is fantastic!»

Ricky Taylor (#7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05) race winner: «My teammate [Castroneves] is unbelievable, that was such an exciting finish.  It’s been step-by-step to get this car to where it is today, and the last ‘check in the box’ was winning a race in the rain. Three laps to go and man, he did it.»

Mario Farnbacher (#86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3) finished second in GTD: «Matt [McMurry, co-driver] had a good stint, keeping the car clean. We’d gained a bit of understeer since practice, but we were able to manage it during the race. My first stint was mega, and the team had a great pit stop which allowed us to overtake our sister car [the #57 Acura NSX GT3 Evo] in the pits. I was able to push right away, but the car has some braking issues so I just tried to survive. We came in early for rain tires [at the final pit stop] and I think that was key, so thanks to [team owner] Mike [Shank] and the guys for putting me into the right strategy – that was the reason we finished on the podium. We should have won, but that’s racing sometimes. These are good [championship] points, so on to the next one.»

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Road Race Showcase

Circuit:

Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Weather:

Partly cloudy, mild, 77 degrees F at start, heavy rain in final hour

Top 5 Prototype, Acura Results:

Ps.

Drivers  

Team 

Chassis 

Laps / Notes

1.

Helio Castroneves / Ricky Taylor 

Acura Team Penske 

Acura ARX-05 

64 laps

2.

Ryan Briscoe / Renger van der Zande 

Wayne Taylor Racing 

Cadillac DPi VR 

+0.383 seconds

3.

Pipo Derani / Felipe Nasr 

Action Express 

Cadillac DPi VR 

64 laps

4.

Joao Barbosa / Sebastien Bourdais 

JDC Motorsports 

Cadillac DPi VR 

64 laps

5.

Harry Tincknell / Jonathan Bomarito 

Mazda Team Joest 

Mazda RT24 P 

64 laps

8.

Juan Pablo Montoya / Dane Cameron 

Acura Team Penske 

Acura ARX-05 

61 laps

Top 5 GTD, Acura Results:

Ps. 

Drivers 

Team 

Chassis 

Laps / Notes         

1.

Townsend Bell / Frankie Montecalvo 

AIM Vasser-Sullivan 

Lexus RCF GT3 

58 laps

2.

Mario Farnbacher / Matt McMurry 

Meyer Shank Racing 

Acura NSX GT3 Evo 

+0.937 seconds

3.

Jack Hawksworth / Aaron Telitz 

AIM Vasser-Sullivan 

Lexus RCF GT3 

58 laps

4.

Toni Vilander / Cooper MacNeil 

Scuderia Corsa 

Ferrari 488 GT3 

58 laps

5.

Ryan Hardwick / Patrick Long 

Wright Motorsports 

Porsche 911 GT3 

58 laps

11.

Marc Miller / Till Bechtolscheimer 

Gradient Racing 

Acura NSX GT3 Evo 

laps – running

12.

Alvaro Parente / Misha Goikhberg 

Meyer Shank Racing 

Acura NSX GT3 Evo 

48 laps – crash

 

Acura Logo. (PRNewsFoto/American Honda Motor Co., Inc.)

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222810/Acura_Motorsports_Helio_Castroneves_and_Ricky_Taylor.jpg
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SOURCE Acura Motorsports

Acura Repeats Front Row Qualifying Sweep at Road America

Acura Team Penske’s Ricky Taylor and Dane Cameron top qualifying at Road America  

Acura Team Penske also qualified 1-2 at Road America in 2019

Matt McMurry heads Acura NSX GT3 effort, qualifying seventh in GTD

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Aug. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ For the second year in a row, Acura Team Penske swept qualifying…

Acura Team Penske’s Ricky Taylor and Dane Cameron top qualifying at Road America  

Acura Team Penske also qualified 1-2 at Road America in 2019

Matt McMurry heads Acura NSX GT3 effort, qualifying seventh in GTD

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Aug. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ For the second year in a row, Acura Team Penske swept qualifying for Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech Championship race at Road America, with Ricky Taylor claiming the pole, and teammate Dane Cameron qualifying second. In GTD, Meyer Shank Racing’s Matt McMurry posted the seventh-quickest GTD qualifying run in his Acura NSX GT3 Evo.

Ricky Taylor captured the pole in his #7 Acura ARX-05 prototype for Sunday’s IMSA Road Race Showcase at Road America. It is the second consecutive 1-2 qualifying result at Road America pole for Acura and Team Penske.

Acura Team Penske
Taylor hustled his #7 Acura ARX-05 to a time of 1:49.061 around the 4.0-mile Road America circuit, with teammate and defending series champion Cameron slotting in second, three-tenths of a second behind.  This is Taylor’s 20th career pole in IMSA competition, and his second for Acura Team Penske, with the first recorded last year at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The front-row sweep repeated Acura Team Penske’s qualifying performance from last year, when Cameron claimed the pole driving the #6 ARX-05, and Helio Castroneves completed the front row in the #7 Acura.  Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya went on to finish second in last year’s race en route to the IMSA Manufacturer, Driver and Team championships.

Taylor will start the #7 for Sunday’s two-hour, 40-minute contest, once again co-driving with Castroneves, while Montoya will continue to share the driving duties aboard the #6 with Cameron.

Acura NSX GT3 Evo Teams
Matt McMurry led the way for Meyer Shank Racing team in the ultra-competitive GT Daytona category qualifying session, and will start his #86 Acura NSX GT3 seventh in class, sharing the driving duties with defending series champion Mario Farnbacher.

In the #57 Heinricher Racing with MSR Acura, Misha Goikhberg qualified just over a tenth of a second slower in eighth, and will share with co-driver Alvaro Parente.  Till Bechtolscheimer rounded out the Acura GTD contingent in qualifying, and will start his Gradient Racing NSX GT3 Evo from 10th before handing off to co-driver Marc Miller in tomorrow’s race.

Live US network television coverage from Road America begins at 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 2, on NBC.  Complete, flag-to-flag race coverage also will be available on the NBC Sports App and NBC Gold with NBCSN Trackpass authentication.

Acura Motorsports social media content and video links from Road America will be available on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD). Produced by the CoForce Digital Media, the YouTube videos can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV

Quotes
Ricky Taylor (#7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05) pole qualifier, first pole of 2020, 20th career IMSA pole: «It’s been a great weekend for Acura Team Penske and it’s nice to cement the strength of our ARX-05 prototypes in winning the pole position, and doing it in a 1-2 fashion. Both cars have been really fast this weekend. We kept swapping the top spot on the charts. Road America is a track that fits these cars so well, so we were hoping to come out of the box strong to get our season back on track a bit. We’ve done that to this point, but we need to continue to execute in the race the way we have so far this weekend.»

Matt McMurry (#86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo) qualified seventh in GTD: «Qualifying went pretty well today, but we had pace to be further ahead than we ended up, Unfortunately I ran into traffic on what would have been my fast lap. We’re trying to strategize for tomorrow. There’s a strong chance of rain [tomorrow] and Mario [Farnbacher, co-driver] and I are both excited for that!»

SOURCE Acura Motorsports

2021 TLX to Make Racing Debut at Pikes Peak Hill Climb; TLX Type S Prototype Serves as Official Pace Car

TORRANCE, California, July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The 2020 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb marks the official racing debut of the completely reimagined 2021 TLX, set to go on sale this fall. Acura will compete in the 98th running of the «Race to the Clouds» on Aug. 30 with two race prepared second generation TLXs powered by modified versions of the production 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, along with a «Time Attack» NSX supercar. Pacing…

TORRANCE, California, July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The 2020 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb marks the official racing debut of the completely reimagined 2021 TLX, set to go on sale this fall. Acura will compete in the 98th running of the «Race to the Clouds» on Aug. 30 with two race prepared second generation TLXs powered by modified versions of the production 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, along with a «Time Attack» NSX supercar. Pacing the race to the 14,115-foot summit will be a development prototype of the highly anticipated TLX Type S, ahead of its market introduction next spring.

2021 TLX to Make Racing Debut at Pikes Peak Hill Climb

VIDEO: 2021 Acura TLX to Make Racing Debut at Pikes Peak

Racing is a key expression of Acura’s Precision Crafted Performance DNA. For the past nine years, Acura has utilized the grueling Pikes Peak hill climb as an opportunity to grow the skills of the company’s young engineers and as a test bed for future performance technologies in Acura production vehicles. The Acura Pikes Peak race team is comprised of a group of volunteer R&D engineers and is responsible for all aspects of the competition, including the development of vehicles, race prep, crew support and navigating race cars to the finish line.

Acura’s long-standing competitive presence at Pikes Peak includes scoring numerous race records and podium finishes. In 2019, Peter Cunningham finished first in the Open Class for the third year in a row with the RealTime Racing TLX GT (9:24.433). Currently held record setting runs include a Hybrid-production car record for the Acura NSX driven by James Robinson (10:02.448) and a front-wheel drive record for the Acura TLX driven by Nick Robinson (10:48.094).

The Race Entries

TLX Type S Pace Car // Driver: Nick Robinson
The TLX Type S Pace Car, an early development prototype used for circuit testing, will be driven by Nick Robinson, a principal engineer in the company’s Chassis Development Group. The prototype TLX Type S is undergoing final development tuning before it is set to arrive in market next spring. Powering the TLX Type S is Acura’s new 3.0-liter V6 Turbo engine, expected to produce 355 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque, and distributing power to all four wheels via Acura’s fourth-generation Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®). Additionally, the TLX Type S Pace Car has been equipped with the optional lightweight Y-Spoke wheels, inspired by the NSX’s own, and several safety modifications including a roll-cage and fire suppression system. 

A Pikes Peak veteran himself, Robinson established a new front-wheel-drive record for Pikes Peak in 2018 with an Acura TLX and achieved a Time Attack 2 Class Win with a second-gen NSX in 2016. The year prior, he won the PP250 class on a Honda motorcycle. In addition, Nick Robinson serves as a driving safety expert and helps mentor new drivers throughout their careers at Honda R&D Americas.

2021 TLX 2.0T // Driver: Jordan Guitar
Both of the 2021 TLX race cars will compete in the Exhibition Class, with multiple modifications in preparation for the grueling hill climb. The TLX’s standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine has been race-tuned with a larger turbo and intercooler for increased power. Stopping performance from the electro-servo braking system is improved with 4-piston Brembo® front calipers and rotors from the TLX Type S, along with high-performance racing pads. A more aggressive suspension set up is applied, as well as unique tuning for the Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system. Lightweight 19-inch HRE wheels with Pirelli racing tires complete the TLX’s race preparation.

Driver Jordan Guitar, a member of the company’s Chassis Development Group, made his Pikes Peak debut in 2018 and returned in 2019 – piloting Acura SUVs in both instances.

2021 TLX 2.0T // Driver: Justin Lumbard
The second TLX entered into the Exhibition Class will be driven by Justin Lumbard – team manager of Acura’s Pikes Peak efforts. Lumbard’s TLX benefits from a higher-output tune for the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a more aggressive set up for the TLX’s double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. Rounding out the race-ready modifications are high performance brake pads, lightweight 18-inch HRE wheels and Pirelli racing tires.

A rookie Pikes Peak competitor, Justin Lumbard joined the Acura Pikes Peak team in 2017, and became co-leader a year later. Lumbard assumed the lead role for Acura’s Pikes Peak racing program this year, including overseeing the development of the TLX race car builds.

«Time Attack» NSX // Driver: James Robinson
Returning to the Peak for the third consecutive year is the «Time Attack» NSX driven by James Robinson. A 10-time Pikes Peak veteran, Robinson’s past successes in the «Race to the Clouds» include a hybrid production car record set with NSX in 2018 (10:02.448) as well as podium finishes in the Exhibition, Open and Time Attack 1 classes.

The «Time Attack» NSX features improved aero by way of a larger rear wing and aggressive front splitter. Larger turbochargers and enhanced engine management software increases total system output to around 625 horsepower. Various weight reduction measures, including a stripped interior, reduce the «Time Attack» NSX’s weight more than 200 lbs. Finally, lightweight HRE forged wheels are wrapped in high-grip Pirelli R-compound tires.

Acura’s 2020 Pikes Peak Entry List:

Vehicle

Driver

Class

2019 Result

TLX Type S Prototype

Nick Robinson

Pace Car

2021 TLX 2.0T

Jordan Guitar

Exhibition Class

New Vehicle Entry

2021 TLX 2.0T

Justin Lumbard

Exhibition Class

Time Attack NSX

James Robinson

Time Attack 1

10:07.940 (Fourth in Class)

About the 2021 TLX
The all-new 2021 Acura TLX ushers in a new era of Acura performance as the quickest, best-handling and most well-appointed sedan in the brand’s 35-year history. With a model-exclusive body structure and chassis architecture, all turbo engine lineup, and an athletic stance with bold proportions, the new TLX delivers dramatic gains in both style and dynamic performance. The 2021 TLX will arrive at dealerships early this fall while the Type S high performance variant arrives next spring. For more information: 2021 Acura TLX Reveal

About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance – a commitment to expressive styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability. The Acura lineup features five distinctive models – the ILX and TLX sport sedans, the RDX and MDX sport-utility vehicles and the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar. All Acura models sold in North America for the 2021 model year are made in the U.S., using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Additional media information including pricing, features & specifications and high-resolution photography is available at AcuraNews.com. Consumer information is available at Acura.com.

TLX Type S Prototype Serves as Official Pikes Peak Pace Car

 

 

Acura Logo. (PRNewsFoto/American Honda Motor Co., Inc.)

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1221469/Acura_Pikes_Peak_2020_Images_001_sm.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1221468/Acura_Pikes_Peak_2020_Images_002.jpg
Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0J5g9YcDi4
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SOURCE Acura

2021 Hyundai Veloster N Offers N Eight-Speed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California, July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Hyundai today released product details for its 2021 Veloster N model, which now offers a high-performance N eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (N DCT), N Light Sport Seats, navigation and a full host of new driver-assistance features. The 2021 Veloster N, including models with the new N DCT, will arrive at Hyundai dealers in October.

<div id="prni_dvprnevid7111left" title=" " style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: left"…

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California, July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Hyundai today released product details for its 2021 Veloster N model, which now offers a high-performance N eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (N DCT), N Light Sport Seats, navigation and a full host of new driver-assistance features. The 2021 Veloster N, including models with the new N DCT, will arrive at Hyundai dealers in October.

2021 Veloster N Video Link: https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/3096 

2021 VELOSTER N

New, available N Eight-Speed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission

o

Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters

o

Thermal endurance capabilities meet sustained high-performance levels

o

Includes N Track Sense Shift with Launch Control

New standard N Light Sport Seats with Illuminated N Logo

o

Performance side bolsters and 4.4 lb. weight reduction

Performance Package equipment now standard on Veloster N

New, standard eight-inch display audio/navigation system

New, standard driver assistance features include: Forward Collision-avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Warning

New white exterior color replaces Chalk White exterior color (November production)

2021 VELOSTER (all non-N Models) 

2021 Veloster is not changed from the 2020 Veloster model

«Veloster N demonstrates Hyundai’s approach to high-performance cars. By equipping Veloster N with N DCT, drivers get performance and convenience at the same time,» said Thomas Schemera, Head of Product Division at Hyundai Motor. «Anyone who wants a fun driving experience will jump at the chance to pilot the new Veloster N – an everyday sports car with racetrack capabilities.»

N Eight-speed Wet Dual-clutch Transmission
Hyundai developed the N DCT with manual or fully-automatic modes and eight speeds for improved acceleration and efficiency. N DCT is equipped with electronic actuators that operate the dual clutch, providing ride comfort, fuel efficiency and driving fun. Unlike a dry dual-clutch transmission, the wet N DCT uses oil to significantly improve lubrication and cooling performance, as required of higher-torque applications. The new N wet-type dual-clutch transmission uses an electric oil pump for increased thermal endurance and reduced direct parasitic drag on the powertrain. The N DCT was fully-developed in-house by N engineers, with a fun-to-drive tuning focus.

Race-like Manual Shift Logic
This fun-to-drive tuning target is further enhanced via an aggressive shift feel that is accentuated by «push» actuation. Under braking, with the driver resisting forward g-forces, lower gears are selected with an ergonomic forward push of the gear selector. Conversely, under the rearward g-forces of acceleration, higher gears are selected via a natural, rearward pull of the lever.

N Grin Shift
The N DCT even comes with game-like features that enhance driving fun. N Grin Shift (NGS) increases peak torque by seven percent from 260 lb.-ft. to 278 lb.-ft. by allowing temporary turbocharger over-boost and maximizing transmission response. When activated, the N Grin Shift mode causes the powertrain to shift to its sportiest program for up to 20 seconds (such as for passing). Further, transmission customization settings are now available in the «Custom» screen mode.

N Power Shift and N Track Sense Shift
N Power Shift (NPS) engages when the car accelerates with more than 90 percent throttle demand, mitigating torque reduction by using upshifts to deliver maximum power to the wheels through each gear change. This gives the driver a responsive feeling of dynamic acceleration when shifting, with a factory-estimated zero to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. N Track Sense Shift (NTS) discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving and activates automatically, selecting the right gear and shift timing for optimal performance.

Driving Experience Customization
Along with other updated features, such as Rev Matching, Launch Control and Overboost, Veloster N is optimized to automatically sense driving styles and road conditions to optimize shift points. For example, the car will hold lower gears longer in performance driving for better acceleration out of corners. Conversely, if the driver is aggressively pushing the car on a racetrack, the car will use the full range of available engine RPM to maximize performance. All of these features can be configured in Veloster N’s improved infotainment system, using the latest operating system shown on a high-definition eight-inch display.

N DCT Engineering
The Veloster N DCT transmission employs two clutch assemblies, one for odd gears and one for even and reverse gears. The clutch actuator assembly utilizes a lightweight electric motor-driven system for greater efficiency, optimized shift response and compact packaging. It also deploys an external damper for improved NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). The DCT uses an electromechanical gear actuator, yielding a lightweight design, higher fuel efficiency and precise shifting control via the engine’s electronic control unit. The DCT gearing assembly uses hollow input shafts for an ultra-lightweight and extremely responsive shifting character.

N Light Sport Seats
The new N Light Sport Seats are wrapped in cloth and leatherette upholstery to firmly hold the driver in position during spirited driving. These track-ready seats are thinner and lighter, with a weight reduction of 4.4 lbs. N Light Sports Seats have an illuminated N logo on the upper side of the backrest, adding to the interior aesthetic. The N logo illumination operates in conjunction with other interior lights to create a distinctive interior ambiance.

New, Standard Advanced Driver Assistance Features
Veloster N adds a myriad of new standard driver assistance features, including: Forward Collision-avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Warning.

Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance and America’s Best Warranty®
Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance is the latest addition to the Hyundai Assurance program, which promises to create a better experience for shoppers and owners of Hyundai vehicles. Hyundai Assurance is made up of Owner Assurance, now including complimentary maintenance, and Shopper Assurance, which together offer customers a variety of ways to simplify the buying process and improve the owning and service experience. Details on these promises include:

  • America’s Best Warranty: 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and 7-year anti-perforation warranty
  • Complimentary Maintenance: 3 years/36,000 miles of normal oil changes and tire rotations

Hyundai Motor America
At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundai’s technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance—our promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.

Please visit our media website at www.HyundaiNews.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram 

 

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SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

2021 Honda Odyssey: America’s Most Popular Minivan Gets a Makeover Including an Industry-First Rear Seat Reminder with Integrated Camera

TORRANCE, California, July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Going on sale August 3, the refreshed for 2021 Honda Odyssey receives numerous updates to styling, along with upgraded technology and safety features to further strengthen its position as America’s retail best-selling minivan for the past 10 years, the top choice of American families looking for the ultimate fun family vehicle. Prices for the 2021 Odyssey start with a Manufacturer’s Suggested…

TORRANCE, California, July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Going on sale August 3, the refreshed for 2021 Honda Odyssey receives numerous updates to styling, along with upgraded technology and safety features to further strengthen its position as America’s retail best-selling minivan for the past 10 years, the top choice of American families looking for the ultimate fun family vehicle. Prices for the 2021 Odyssey start with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $31,7901 (not including $1,120 destination and handling charge).

Going on sale August 3, the refreshed for 2021 Honda Odyssey receives numerous updates to styling, along with upgraded technology and safety features to further strengthen its position as America’s retail best-selling minivan for the past 10 years, the top choice of American families looking for the ultimate fun family vehicle.

A restyled grille and front bumper fascia, revised front lighting and new black trim under the rear window give Odyssey a fresh exterior look. Inside, Odyssey offers upgrades to functionality and luxury: The second-row seats on all Odyssey trims now fold nearly flat, making them easier to remove while enhancing cargo-carrying options, and expanding on the flexibility of Odyssey’s exclusive Magic Slide™ second-row seats.

Odyssey EX and higher trim levels also get restyled seats and new tri-color floor mats, while EX-L and above receive and power lumbar support for the front passenger seat and contrast seat stitching. Odyssey Touring and Elite also get new piano black trim on the dash, doors and front door handles, while Elite receives additional luxury touches.

A new Rear Seat Reminder system is standard and can also be integrated with the available CabinWatch® child viewing system, an industry first. For the first time, Odysseys equipped with CabinTalk® and CabinWatch® can use both systems simultaneously, and the upgrade will be retroactively applied to similarly-equipped 2018-2020 model Odysseys through an over-the-air update.

Also, important upgrades to Honda Sensing® add Low-Speed Follow, Pedestrian Emergency Braking, and Traffic Sign Recognition to the newly standard suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies.

As America’s best retail-selling minivan 10 years running, American consumers have purchased more than 1.1 million Odyssey minivans during that time, and Odyssey has consistently set the standard for family-friendly features, space and sporty driving performance in a minivan. Odyssey was the first to introduce minivan innovations such as third-row seats that fold into the floor, the first built-in vacuum cleaner, HondaVAC®, and the first in-cabin rear seat viewing system, CabinWatch®.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey is made exclusively at Honda’s Lincoln, Ala. auto plant, alongside Pilot, Passport, and Ridgeline, using domestic and globally-sourced parts. Its V6 engine is also manufactured in Alabama, with its 10-speed automatic transmission manufactured exclusively at Honda’s Tallapoosa, Ga. facility.

2021 Honda Odyssey Pricing & EPA Fuel Economy Ratings

Model / Trim

MSRP1

MSRP1 Including $1,120
Destination Charge

EPA Mileage Rating
(City/Hwy/Combined)2

Odyssey LX

$31,790

$32,910

19/28/22

Odyssey EX

$35,190

$36,310

19/28/22

Odyssey EX-L

$38,460

$39,580

19/28/22

Odyssey Touring

$42,500

$43,620

19/28/22

Odyssey Elite

$47,820

$48,940

19/28/22

MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) excluding tax, license, registration, $1,120 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
2 Based on 2021 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.

Exterior Design Changes
All 2021 Odysseys now feature more powerful and efficient LED headlights as part of a new front-end design that includes a new front bumper fascia with redesigned fog light housings, and a bold new blackout grille topped by a chrome strip. The design is echoed in the rear with new gloss-black trim under the rear window, accented by a chrome strip. Odyssey Touring gets 19-inch wheels for the first time, while the Odyssey Elite receives newly styled, machined and painted Shark Gray 19-inch alloy wheels. For the 2021 model year, the premium colors Platinum White Pearl, Deep Scarlet Pearl, Pacific Pewter Metallic, and Forest Mist Metallic are available for $395.

Interior Upgrades
With its exclusive Magic Slide™ seats, available in EX and higher trim levels, Odyssey offers the ultimate in second-row seating flexibility, and for 2021 that flexibility is expanded with outboard seats that fold nearly flat, making them easier to remove for maximum cargo space. The standard three-across mode offers enough room to fit three child seats, and each second row position is equipped with lower anchors and upper tethers. Remove the center seat, and you have Wide Mode, which creates a wide pass through to the third row. With the click of a handle mounted on the outboard seats, the two can be pushed together at the middle for Buddy Mode, or moved to either side for Super Mode, allowing easy outboard access to the third row.

Odyssey’s cargo management is further improved for 2021 with the addition of grocery bag hooks on the back of the third-row seats in the rear cargo area, and an updated center console with slots to help manage charging cords for smartphones or other devices. Also for EX and above trims, the Cabin Control™ app has been redesigned with an easier-to-use interface.

Odyssey EX and above trim levels come standard with new tri-color floor mats that not only give Odyssey a more upscale look, but help maintain that look by hiding dirt better. Odyssey EX-L and up add new contrast stitching on the leather seats in all three rows, new storage pockets on the second row outboard seatbacks, and the front passenger seat receives adjustable lumbar support.

For Odyssey Touring and Elite, there’s new piano-black interior trim and a new USB charging port in the third row, for a total of five throughout the vehicle. Also, the CabinWatch® and CabinTalk® features have been more seamlessly integrated in the Display Audio system, and two additional parking sensors in front expanded the sensing zone.

The 2021 Odyssey Elite receives additional exclusive updates, giving owners a more luxurious driving experience. These include perforated leather for the first and second rows seats, with contrast stitching and piping on all three rows. Elite trims also feature exclusive dash trim with a deeper metallic look, plus newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels and auto-dimming side mirrors.

Honda Sensing® controls have been simplified with the use of a single integrated system switch to control Collision Mitigation Braking System™ and Lane Departure Warning, rather than separate controls for these functions. The single switch also controls the blind spot information system. Mounted on the dash to the left of the driver, a single press opens a menu on the Odyssey’s TFT meter display, where the driver can then turn functions on and off using steering wheel controls.

Powertrain
Odyssey drivers benefit from the confidence-inspiring power of a standard 3.5-liter V6 i-VTEC® engine producing 280 horsepower (SAE net), mated to Honda’s refined and responsive 10-speed automatic transmission. Fuel efficiency is aided by Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®), with the capacity to seamlessly switch between three- and six-cylinder operation, helping Odyssey receive EPA fuel economy ratings of 19/28/22 mpg (city/highway/combined).

Powertrain Specs

All Trims

Engine

3.5-liter V6 24-Valve SOHC i-VTEC

Transmission

10-speed automatic

Horsepower @ rpm (SAE net)

280 @ 6,000 rpm

Torque @ rpm (lb.-ft., SAE net)

262 lb.-ft. @ 4,700 rpm

Recommended fuel

Regular Unleaded

CARB emissions rating

Tier 3 Bin 70 / ULEV 70

Tune-up interval

100K +/- Miles No Scheduled Tune Ups

(does not include fluid and filter changes)

Safety and Driver-Assistive Technologies
In addition to becoming standard across the lineup, Odyssey’s Honda Sensing® suite is updated with expanded features and capability: a more advanced front radar unit enables Pedestrian Emergency Braking; Traffic Sign Recognition is newly added; and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) now includes Low-Speed Follow, which extends the automatic following capability to stop-and-go traffic situations down to 0 mph. The new Electric Brake Booster that enables ACC also enhances pedal feel for more confident braking.

Odyssey’s new Rear Seat Reminder system alerts drivers to check their rear seating area when exiting the vehicle after placing children, pets or other precious cargo there. When the vehicle is switched off, a chime sounds, and a message to check the rear seating area appears on the instrument panel. On Touring and Elite trims, the Rear-Seat Reminder system is integrated with the CabinWatch® rear-seat camera system, the first integration of a rear-seat camera into a Rear Seat Reminder system in the industry. When activated, in addition to the audible and text warnings, the Rear-Seat Reminder uses the CabinWatch® camera to display the rear seating area on the center console’s Display Audio screen.

Tragically, every year in the United States dozens of children die in vehicles from heat-related illnesses. In 2019, Honda joined other major automakers in pledging to install RSR systems in all of their vehicles by 2025, and Honda expects most of its models to feature the system by 2022.

The 2021 Odyssey earns a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA and is targeted to receive a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, including the highest available rating of «Good» in all IIHS collision tests thanks to its second-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) structural design, and a «Superior» rating for frontal cash prevention. Also, the updated standard LED headlights have been designed to provide improved illumination, and are anticipated to achieve a score of «Good» in the rigorous IIHS headlight standard.

Trim Level Summary

LX

Honda Sensing

  • Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF)
  • Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Pedestrian Detection
  • Traffic Sign Recognition
  • Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
  • Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
  • Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
  • Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)

Rear Seat Reminder

Cargo Area Seat Back Hooks

LED Headlights

LED daytime running lights

Audio System with 7 Speakers

Color LCD Screen and Multi-View Rear Camera

TFT Meter Display

Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®

USB Audio Interface

Push-Button Start

Automatic Climate Control with Air Filtration System

Driver’s 8-Way Power Seat

Front Passenger 4-Way Power Seat

Tilt & Telescopic Steering Column

Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors

Fold-Flat Second Row Seat

60/40 Fold-Down Third Row

Floor Mats

18-inch Alloy Wheels

235/60 R18 All-Season Tires

Power Door Mirrors

LED Taillights

Rear Privacy Glass

Remote Entry w/ Security System

EX – adds or replaces

LED Fog Lights

Magic Slide™ Second Row Seats

Second Row Center Seat

Display Audio

Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™ Integration

SiriusXM® Satellite Radio

HD Radio™

HondaLink® with Smart Phone Integration

USB Ports – All 2.5A and Illuminated 

CabinControl™ Capability

Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control

Driver’s 12-Way Power Seat

Heated Front Seats

Second Row Sunshades

Dual Power Sliding Doors

Blind Spot Information System (BSI) w/ Cross Traffic Monitor

Auto High-Beam

Auto-On/Off Headlights

Heated Power Door Mirrors with Turn Indicators

Chrome Outside Door Handles

Body-Color Door Mirrors

Smart Entry System

Remote Engine Start

Walk Away Auto Lock

EX-L – adds or replaces

Front Passenger Seat Power Lumbar

Second-Row Seatback Pockets

Leather-Trimmed Interior with Contrast Stitching

4 USB Ports

Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel

Driver’s 12-Way Power Seat with  2-Position Memory

Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror

HomeLink System

1-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature

Power Tailgate with Remote

TOURING – adds or replaces

Third-Row USB Port

19-inch Alloy Wheels

Front and Rear Parking Sensors (two front sensors added)

Rear Seat Reminder System with CabinWatch®

Rear Seat Entertainment System (RES)

Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™

235/55 R19 All-Season Tires

CabinWatch® and CabinTalk®

Mobile Hotspot Capability

Third Row Sunshades

ELITE – adds or replaces

Auto-Dimming Side Mirrors

Instrument Panel Ambient Lighting

Seat Piping (all rows)

Perforated Leather Seat Inserts (first and second rows)

19-inch Alloy Wheels with Shark Gray Finish

Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate

Premium Audio System w/ 11 Speakers

HondaVAC®

Wireless Phone Charger

Heated Steering Wheel

Heated and Ventilated Front Seats

Gloss Black Trim Pieces

Rain Sensing Wipers

Power-Folding Door Mirrors

New items in bold

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda’s electrified vehicle lineup includes the Insight hybrid-electric sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, and the Clarity series. 

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2019, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

For More Information
Additional media information including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of all 2020 Honda models is available at hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com.

Honda Logo. (PRNewsFoto/American Honda Motor Co., Inc. )

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SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Kia Telluride And Stinger Named Segment Winners In J.D. Power 2020 Automotive Performance, Execution, And Layout (APEAL) Study

IRVINE, California, July 23, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Two of Kia Motors America’s (KMA) most talked about models – the Telluride SUV and Stinger sport sedan – have earned a J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) award for their respective segments. The announcement follows Kia being named the highest ranked brand in the industry in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.

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IRVINE, California, July 23, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Two of Kia Motors America’s (KMA) most talked about models – the Telluride SUV and Stinger sport sedan – have earned a J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) award for their respective segments. The announcement follows Kia being named the highest ranked brand in the industry in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.

Kia Telluride and Stinger Named Segment Winners in J.D. Power 2020 APEAL Study

«At Kia, we take pride in delivering a world-class ownership experience, whether customers are interested in driving a bold, capable three-row SUV like the Telluride, or the head-turning, powerful Stinger,» said Sean Yoon, President & CEO, Kia Motors America, Kia Motors North America. «We are honored to win not just one, but two segments in the APEAL study, which further reinforces the brand’s ‘Give It Everything’ approach to each model we build.»

With minor enhancements and a special appearance package – Nightfall Edition – for the 2021 model year, the in-demand Telluride continues to impress with quality, design and value. The latest generation of the Telluride gains added towing capability, additional convenience with a remote engine start button, and available LED headlamps.

Now in its third year, the 2020 Stinger remains Kia’s highest-performance vehicle in a highly competitive segment. To further impress buyers and enthusiasts, the brand introduced the GT-Line on the 2.0L, featuring the eye-catching appeal of the 3.3L V6 GT with the drive and design of a genuine Grand Touring vehicle.

The J.D. Power APEAL study measures new-vehicle owners’ experiences with design, performance, safety, usability, comfort, perceived quality and overall satisfaction with their vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership. 

About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the «Official Automotive Partner» of the NBA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly assembled in West Point, Georgia.*

For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.  To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

*The Telluride, Sorento and K5 are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

Kia Telluride and Stinger Named Segment Winners in J.D. Power 2020 APEAL Study

  

Kia Motors America logo

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SOURCE Kia Motors America

Mazda To Resume Full Factory Operation Worldwide In August Amid Strong US Sales And Demand

IRVINE, Calif., July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Starting in August, Mazda Motor Corporation will return to normal factory operations, or pre-COVID-19 levels, amid increased sales and future forecast for product demand in the U.S. In June, Mazda North American Operations achieved a sales increase of nearly 11 percent year-over-year. Most notably, the three-row CX-9 and MX-5 roadster volumes grew approximately 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

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IRVINE, Calif., July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Starting in August, Mazda Motor Corporation will return to normal factory operations, or pre-COVID-19 levels, amid increased sales and future forecast for product demand in the U.S. In June, Mazda North American Operations achieved a sales increase of nearly 11 percent year-over-year. Most notably, the three-row CX-9 and MX-5 roadster volumes grew approximately 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.

Through the remainder of July, Mazda will end production adjustments implemented at plants in Japan, Mexico and Thailand caused by the pandemic. Mazda has been monitoring inventory levels and modifying production since the end of March. Currently, almost all dealerships worldwide have resumed sale operations.

Globally, Mazda remains cautious and flexible regarding the risk posed by COVID-19 and will closely monitor trends and demand in each market where Mazda vehicles are shipped.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Toyota Motor North America Announces Executive Changes

PLANO, Texas, July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced executive changes to its Social Innovation and Toyota de Mexico operations.

<img id="prnejpg855cleft" title="Toyota logo. (PRNewsFoto/Toyota Media Relations) (PRNewsfoto/Toyota Motor North America)" border="0" alt="Toyota logo. (PRNewsFoto/Toyota Media Relations) (PRNewsfoto/Toyota…

PLANO, Texas, July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced executive changes to its Social Innovation and Toyota de Mexico operations.

Toyota logo. (PRNewsFoto/Toyota Media Relations) (PRNewsfoto/Toyota Motor North America)

Effective September 1, 2020, Sean Suggs, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi (TMMMS), will be assigned as group vice president, chief social innovation officer, TMNA. Suggs will take on a dual-capped role, keeping his TMMMS responsibilities until further notice. 

In his new role, Suggs is responsible for TMNA’s philanthropic efforts, the Toyota USA Foundation, and the corporate diversity and inclusion strategy. He will report to Sandra Phillips Rogers, group vice president, general counsel, chief legal officer and chief diversity officer, TMNA.

As president of TMMMS, Suggs will continue to report to Brian Krinock, senior vice president, vehicle plants, TMNA.

Suggs is replacing Albert (Al) Smith, Jr., group vice president, chief social innovation officer, TMNA, who is retiring after 30 years with the company. Smith was instrumental in shaping the company’s Social Innovation team and its direction. Under his leadership, Toyota has been recognized by numerous organizations for its commitment to improving the communities where we operate and for its diversity and inclusion initiatives, resulting in Toyota’s rise in the rankings to 10th place on DiversityInc’s 2020 Top 50 Companies for Diversity®.

«Strong community engagement and inclusiveness have become more prevalent in our daily lives,» said Phillips Rogers. «We thank Al for all he has done for our company, and Sean will continue to uphold Toyota’s commitment for Respect for All, while helping to create future initiatives that will make a lasting, positive impact on our workplace, marketplace and society.»

In addition, effective August 3, 2020, Luis Lozano, external affairs senior director, general counsel and compliance, Toyota Motor Sales de México (TMEX) will be assigned as president of Toyota de Mexico (TdM). Lozano will replace Mike Bafan, current president of TdM.

Lozano, who joined the company in 2005, will be responsible for public affairs, including Legal and Compliance, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, and Customs and Trade Compliance for Toyota in Mexico. He will report to Chris Reynolds, chief administrative officer, manufacturing and corporate resources, TMNA. 

Bafan remains chairman of Toyota Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato (TMMGT) and group vice president, Manufacturing Project Innovation Center (MPIC), TMNA, based in Plano, Texas.

Tom Sullivan remains president of TMEX responsible for sales and working with Toyota’s dealer network in Mexico.

Additionally, Jun Umemura, who served as group vice president of Mexico Affairs, TMNA, will be retiring after more than 50 years of service with Toyota.

During Umemura’s 50-year career with Toyota, he has helped the company establish its U.S. manufacturing operations in 1984 and was involved with the planning and start-up of the company’s first wholly-owned vehicle manufacturing facilities in Kentucky and Ontario, Canada.  He was also responsible for the start-up of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Baja California (TMMBC), Toyota’s first plant in Mexico, established in 2002. In 2016, he became group vice president of TMNA, responsible for Mexico operations, as well as Board member and executive advising officer for TMEX, TMMBC and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Guanajuato (TMMGT).

«Jun’s Toyota career spans five decades and helped lay the groundwork for our manufacturing footprint, represented today by 14 plants in North America,» said Reynolds. «At the same time, Al’s career spanned three decades and his contributions to the organizations’ shared impact strategy, corporate planning, sales and service operations are unparalleled. We thank Jun and Al for their dedicated service to Toyota and our customers, and welcome Sean and Luis, both of whom are proven leaders, well-respected within the industry and passionate about our company.»

About Toyota:
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Contact:  Victor Vanov 469.292.1318

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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America

Acura’s Successful Partnership With Team Penske To End After 2020

TORRANCE, California, July 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura Motorsports today announced it has come to a mutual agreement with Team Penske to end its successful partnership at the conclusion of the current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

<img id="prnejpg0f95left" title="In addition to sweeping the major IMSA DPi championships in 2019, the Acura ARX-05 scored four race wins, 14 additional…

TORRANCE, California, July 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura Motorsports today announced it has come to a mutual agreement with Team Penske to end its successful partnership at the conclusion of the current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

In addition to sweeping the major IMSA DPi championships in 2019, the Acura ARX-05 scored four race wins, 14 additional podium finishes and nine poles from 22 races since its debut in 2018 racing against Cadillac, Mazda and Nissan.

The championship-winning program originated in 2017 in preparation for Acura’s debut in the premier class of IMSA competition at the start of the 2018 season.  Acura Team Penske scored its first Daytona Prototype International (DPi) victory – at the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio – in 2018; and captured three more victories en route to sweeping the Manufacturer, Team and Drivers titles last year.

«On behalf of everyone at Acura and HPD, we’d like to thank Team Penske for their incredible efforts and impressive results racing the ARX-05,» said Ted Klaus, president of Honda Performance Development, the competition arm for Acura Motorsports.  «The success we’ve achieved together during the first two-plus years of the program makes us even more determined to score more victories, defend our championships, and conclude our partnership on the highest of notes.»

In addition to sweeping the major IMSA DPi championships in 2019, the Acura ARX-05 scored four race wins, 14 additional podium finishes and nine poles from 22 races since its debut in 2018 racing against Cadillac, Mazda and Nissan.

The Acura ARX-05 [Acura Racing eXperimental, generation 5] is the latest in a line of endurance prototypes to be fielded by the company dating back to 1991, just five years after the 1986 launch of the Acura brand.  Together with our partner ORECA, and based on the ORECA 07 chassis, HPD led the design and development of the ARX-05; featuring Acura-specific bodywork and powered by Acura’s production-based AR35TT twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, which shares over 400 mass production components with Acura’s road going V6 products.  

The Acura ARX-05 has added to a rich legacy of Acura sports car racing campaigns and championships, including the 1991-93 IMSA Camel Lights manufacturer and driver championships; 53 IMSA and American Le Mans Series class or overall race victories; and the 2009 American Le Mans Series manufacturer, driver and team championships in both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes. Racing and competition are cornerstones of Acura’s existence, and these on track achievements continue to epitomize Acura’s tagline of Precision Crafted Performance.

Acura Motorsports also campaigns the Acura NSX GT3 Evo in the IMSA GTD category with defending GTD champion Meyer Shank Racing and the Gradient Racing organizations.

Previously, HPD was affiliated with Team Penske in Championship Auto Racing Teams Competition (CART) in 2000 and 2001.  The partnership resulted in 10 race wins, two drivers’ championships (both for Gil de Ferran), and the 2001 CART Manufacturers’ Championship.  More recently, during the single-supplier era in NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition, Penske and HPD combined for two Indianapolis 500 victories (Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006 and Helio Castroneves in 2009), plus the drivers’ title for Hornish in 2006.

«Roger Penske has long been an important part of the Acura family as one of our great Acura dealers, and it has been a privilege to have him as part of the Acura Motorsports family as well,» said Jon Ikeda, Acura vice president and brand officer. «We’ve also had a very spirited competition with Team Penske during our previous ALMS Acura prototype programs.  We will always be thankful for the contributions made by Team Penske over the three-year course of our DPi program.» 

For more information, please visit www.acuranews.com.

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SOURCE Acura Motorsports