Acura RDX production is underway at Honda's plant in Ohio.
Honda is celebrating the start of production of two new vehicle this the all-new 2019 Honda Insight in Greensburg, Indiana, and the 2019 Acura RDX at its plant in East Liberty, Ohio.
The 2019 Acura RDX is described as the first in a new generation of Acura products built around Acura’s “Precision Crafted Performance” brand direction. The new RDX was a clean-sheet, top-to-bottom redesign of Acura’s perennial top-selling five-passenger luxury SUV, brought to life through new capital investment of $54 million in new technologies and processes at the East Liberty Auto Plant.
“This new RDX defines the future of Acura, and our Ohio team did an incredible job preparing this first in a new generation of Acura vehicles for our customers,” said Jim Hefner, plant manager at the East Liberty Auto Plant.
“Paired with a new Ohio-made 2.0-liter turbo engine, an all-new platform and a host of new technologies, the 2019 RDX sets a new high bar for style, performance and sophistication in a compact luxury SUV,” he added.
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The third generation RDX is the quickest, best-handling RDX ever, with top-class cabin and cargo space.
The turbocharged 2.0-liter, VTEC Turbo engine is built at the nearby Anna, Ohio engine plant. The engine is mated to a segment-first 10-speed automatic transmission manufactured at the company’s Tallapoosa, Georgia transmission plant.
Peak output is 272 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque, with the new 10-speed automatic transmission and is available with the next-generation Acura Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive. The RDX will begin arriving at U.S. Acura dealerships in June.
The launch of the stylish and sophisticated Insight, the latest in Honda’s growing portfolio of electrified vehicles. at the Honda Manufacturing of Indiana plant reflects Honda’s increasing investment in the production of electrified vehicles in America.
“The new Honda Insight exemplifies our growing investment in the production of electrified vehicles in America and our associates in Indiana are proud to play a key role in this initiative,” said Isao Matsuzaki, president of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana. “As the lead plant for Insight production globally, we are committed to delivering the quality and reliability that our customers expect.”
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The 2019 Insight is Honda's third attempt to market a mainstream, entry-level hybrid.
Honda previously announced its intention to have two-thirds of its global auto sales electrified by 2030. Under this Honda electrification initiative, the company plans to introduce electrified powertrains to virtually all of its core models in the years ahead.
The Indiana plant will build all Insight models for the North American market and Honda has invested $32.5 million to support production of the new Insight. Three Ohio plants contribute the Insight’s powertrain.
Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America (HTM), in Russells Point, Ohio, has invested $29 million for production of the Insight’s twin electric motor unit, which is the heart of the Insight’s innovative gas-electric hybrid powertrain.
The Insight’s hybrid battery pack is assembled at the company’s Marysville, Ohio auto plant, where Honda also produces the just-launched 2019 Accord Hybrid. The Insight’s 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine is produced at the company’s Anna, Ohio engine plant.
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The 2019 Honda Insight, launching at Honda dealerships nationally early this summer, is a stylish and sophisticated hybrid sedan positioned between Civic and Accord in Honda’s U.S. lineup. It is the fifth electrified Honda model launched in the past 18 months, following the introduction of the Clarity Series – Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid – and the just-launched 2019 Accord Hybrid.