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Acura For 2000 |
By Carey Russ |
If it appears that Acura is only making minor changes to its line for 2000, look again. Several familiar faces are gone, but certainly not forgotten -- look for their replacements in the coming year. And all other 2000 Acuras have important improvements as well.
3.2TL
The 3.2TL entry-luxury sedan was an all-new car last year. Some manufacturers would leave a new car unchanged for its sophomore year. Not Acura. A new five-speed "SportShift" sequential manually- shiftable automatic transmission replaces the previous four-speed for better performance and fuel economy. Engine enhancements improve power at the most-commonly used speeds. Standard dual-stage front air bags and new side air bags add protection. And the optional navigation system has been upgraded, now using digital video disc (DVD) technology to store a map of the entire continental U.S. on one disc.
3.5RL Acura's luxury flagship, the 3.5RL gets the "Vehicle Stability Assist" stability control system this year. It assists the driver in maintaining control in inclement conditions and during fast maneuvers, such as accident avoidance. The RL also benefits from Acura's new DVD- based navigation system.
Integra
The limited-production, high-performance Type R coupe rejoins the Integra line after a year off. Only available in white before, it's now offered in black or yellow. Other Integra models -- sedans and coupes in LS, GS, and GS-R grades -- continue with changes for greater security and lower emissions.
NSX
Acura's exotic sports car, the NSX, continues with refinements to its six-speed gearbox, perforated leather in the interior, and lower emissions levels.
