neuronbob

This idea comes from another thread. Many of us, me included, are anxiously awaiting the upcoming release of the SH-SH-AWD RLX this fall. For those few of you who don't know, this stands for "Sport-Hybrid Super-Handling All Wheel Drive".

Understandably, that is as difficult to say as it is to type. The unwashed masses will never understand a name that is too much like a Macross mecha's name. You almost expect it to transform into a robot and announce its mode of attack loudly.


Anyway.....

Audi has "Quattro". What should Acura name the SH-SH-AWD model?

I prefer to use the "KISS" method (Keep It Simple Stupid) and just call it "Sport Hybrid AWD".

If you want one word, maybe call it "Acurasport".

What say you? From our fingertips to Acura HQ in Torrance!

getakey

ok - I'll post my suggestion from other thread

AWD with ETV
All wheel drive with electric torque vectoring

Although I'd prefer a word name like quattro as RLX and then more initials is just too many initials

Colin

HE-HAWD = Helical Electronic Honda All Wheel Drive
SH-AWDY = Sport Hybrid All Wheel Drive with Yaw control
QUAD PAWD = Precision All Wheel Drive
CLAWD = Co-Linear All Wheel Drive
OH-GAWD = Organic Hybrid Geomagnetic All Wheel Drive

GoHawks

S.H.I.T.S

Sophisticated Highly Integrated Torque Steering

getakey

Colin - obviously you have been thinking about this

Can you come up with
OH MY GAWD

Colin

Looking at that, you might not need a "G", I think people will still get the point.
Organo Hybrid Magnetic Yaw control All Wheel Drive
OH MY AWD

getakey

nope, need the G
appeals to women that way

neuronbob

You guys are just too much. Especially Colin. Brother, you've got too much time on your hands.

I'm hoping Acura really does come up with a one word name.

Colin

You would have love my fake newspaper headlines for Dick Collivers retirement.

getakey

Who is Dick Collivers?

hondamore

I think that if Acura is seeking a younger demographic for it's vehicles, the ad for the new AWD technology should read:
Dude, Four wheels sucking pavement like your prom date sucking
-
-
-
-
-
-
at algebra.
Acura Advanced

Colin

Colliver was the Executive Vice President overseeing all Honda and Acura operations in North America. It is possible that he was most responsible for the brand's huge growth during the 90s and 2000s. He stepped aside in late 2009 or 2010 if I recall correctly.

db22

Only because he is selling RLX's!

GoHawks

Ouch.

KeithL

Acronym may not be the way to go they need a name, Audi Quattro is a name most Audi people will know. So something that says and or infers traction or handling something maybe as simple as Acura TraX or Acura TraXtion, I feel it needs to have a catchy name something people will be able to equate with something. Jibberish gathering of letters will never work IMO.

JT4

^^ LMAO – Could you imagine S.H.I.T.S on the back of a car. If nothing else it would definetly draw attention to Acura.

neuronbob

OK guys, how about a serious name? at the suggestions so far.

Colin

If history teaches us anything, I could see them offering up something like iSH-AWD or eSH-AWD (much like iVTEC).

Rocket_man

Only if the exhausts were exposed lol

JonFo

I also agree that acronyms are not a great marketing tool, and not at all mnemonic for the average person.

My take: RLX Sports Hybrid

I agree that a single word would be better (a la 'Quattro'), but don't have a good one at this time. Remember, that word needs to work in multiple languages (eng/spanish/EU languages)

JonFo

Doh, just remembered 'Acura' is a North America only brand. So how about:

AcuTrack


Unfortunately, there is a company sporting that name already (CD printing/distro).

db22

I just followed a new Merc GL450. No exhaust tips on that either. Get used to it, cars with exhaust tips will show their dated design.

db22

If Acura is staying with the letter identifiers then they could use:
RLX for the AWS and RL4X for the AWD. The only problem with the 4X suffix is that it is the same name as used by a condom manufacturer and helping it slide defeats the objective of all wheel drive.

getakey

While I find this interesting, do you think there is a chance in h*ll that they would actually change the name from SH-SH-AWD?

hondamore

Agreed, one must assume that Acura execs spent some time/money trying to come up with a clever way to name the technology in a way that describes what it does and gives it the connotation that they are after. I think the SHAWD name was intended to convey the fact that the system was intended to improve handling as well as traction (all 4WD systems will improve traction). They are now faced with the task of conveying the fact that the new system is a hybrid (ie. better fuel economy) and is intended to improve the performance of the vehicle (sportiness) and so they came up with Sport Hybrid SHAWD. It is a mouthful, but I think they are desperate to differentiate the technology from other traction enhancing AWD systems and differentiate the technology from other fuel economy boosting hybrids. The handling and the improved acceleration of the system are the primary aspects that they wish to promote so it doesn't seem like a union between a Jeep and a Prius.

WheelMcCoy

If shoppers recognize "SH-AWD", then "SH-AWD Hybrid" will preserve that branding.

Thinking along the lines of Audi Quattro (4 in Spanish), how about Acura Shi (4 in Japanese)? Or play with phonetics, changing Shi to Acura Qi (energy in Chinese).

getakey

"If shoppers recognize "SH-AWD", then "SH-AWD Hybrid" will preserve that branding."

I think that is part of the problem. I doubt most people have a clue what SH-AWD is.

neuronbob

No, but it does make for interesting banter on the forum.

WheelMcCoy

I think you're right. I knew what VTEC was, but had to come to Acurazine to learn what SH-AWD meant.

If Acura stays with SH-SH-AWD, buyers will think it's an all wheel drive vehicle that's very very quiet.

WheelMcCoy

Or how about these 2:

SHH-AWD: Super Handling Hybrid AWD
Acura RLH to distinguish hybrid from gas only RLX (ditto for ILH vs ILX)

hondamore

Ok, I'll play along, how about one for George W Bush fans:
Performance Hybrid Intelligent Super Handling 4 Wheel Maximum Drive System

PHISH 4 WMD's

Apologies to mod's - I couldn't resist.

getakey

now that's funny

neuronbob

Even though I thought that was funny , we do try to stay from politics in this part of the forum.

Barev

I would go with Acura RLX Sport Hybrid.

Or maybe Acura RLX TypeS-h

Timmy18

eSH-AWD -Green letter 'e', Blue 'SH' and Silver 'AWD' coloring.

SH-AWD (Sport Hybrid - All Wheel Drive) Blue letter 'SH' and Silver 'AWD'
SH-AWD (Super Handling - All wheel Drive) Blue letter 'SH' and Silver 'AWD'

Like so:

Colin

That's actually quite good. The hyphen goes before the the "S" so Type-Sh. "Type-S" recalls Acura heritage and "SH" recalls Honda heritage.

db22

I hope we get a conclusion on the naming issue, otherwise the 4th gen model will be a SH-SH-SH-AWD-RLX.

db22

I hope we get a conclusion on the naming issue, otherwise the 4th gen model will be a SH-SH-SH-AWD-RLX.

neuronbob

Or maybe just RL Type-S.

In my dream world, this would be backed up by some performance testing. Fastest slalom in the class. Decent 0-60 (and yes I know how meaningless that is, but the masses don't) and surprising 1/4 mile for the class, class leading mileage, a surprising time around a famous track.

You know, stuff that will get the small percentage of us enthusiasts happy about trying the car out and spreading the news to our non-enthusiast brethren.

Like I said, in my dreams.

jhr3uva90

Amen