2005 Acura RL Preview Berea OH

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Introduction

NEW YORK, NY - Front-wheel-drive cars are so last year, so gauche, so passe. It's the automotive equivalent of celebrities dabbling in kabbalah. Everyone is doing rear- or all-wheel-drive, so jump on the bandwagon or be left behind in Evan Marriott-ville. Well, no, not really. For those who live in areas with iced-over roadways, there are plenty of FWD sedan choices that keep better traction in the slippery stuff than RWD and that weigh and cost less than AWD. But there is an unfounded consumer perception, perpetuated by enthusiast publications, that luxury vehicles and front-drive are diametrically opposed. True, it's a matter of physics that rear-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles handle curves better than nose-heavy front-drive cars, but not all luxury cars must be sporting machines. Nevertheless, consumers often choose more favorably reviewed rear- or all-wheel-drive luxury vehicles, and if you're not playing on that field you're in danger of losing sales.

What It Is

As such, that stalwart of front-drive, Honda, is giving its luxury division, Acura, a new 2005 RL sedan with standard all-wheel-drive. Showcased at the 2004 New York Auto Show in what Acura billed prototype format, the 2005 Acura RL's Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive System (SH-AWD) distributes torque not only between the front and rear wheels, but also to the right and left wheels. Acura claims to be the first one to offer this system. "Wait a second," you say indignantly, "Hasn't the ATTESA E-TS on the Nissan Skyline GT-R been doing this for years?" Well, yes, but that system can only take away torque from the wheel with the least amount of traction; it can't add power to the wheel with more traction as on the SH-AWD system. Score one for Acura.

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Sävy Strategic Creative

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.

1.541.359.3068
Service Rd
Bend, OK
http://www.getsavy.com/

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.
The moment one walks through the doors at German Master Tech in Bend, Oregon, its meticulously kept, white floored shop currently home to an impressive lineup of detail and restoration in progress: the bright silver Porsche spec racer being built in the center of the room, the Porsche 911 S undergoing a full restoration and the variant of others, from BMWs to Ferraris, it is quickly understood why German Master Tech, with some of the finest European auto technicians and restoration specialists in the country, supports some of the finest European cars on the West Coast. This German-apprenticed, master-trained company, that refers to its work as “a craft”, is known to many by the unmatched service and support they provide their racing and restoration clients across the country, to others by the niche expedition preparation service they provide all-terrain vehicles, and still to their most dedicated customer, the fine European car enthusiast, German Master Tech is truly the one to many in this town.
German Master Tech’s President, a BMW Master Technician, Tim Morris, brings with him over 25 years experience in the industry and has been awarded several achievement and master technician status awards though BMW specialized factory schools. Tim has also achieved BMW’s Center of Excellence Award twice and is a seven-time BMW President’s Club Technician. German Master Tech’s co-founder and past partner, Jay Audia, won the 07 SCCA Regional Championships for GT2 in his German Master Tech-prepared Panoz. The company’s third founder is one of Bend’s most passionate Porsche enthusiasts, John Audette.

“Restorations have been a large part of our focus,” said Morris, describing some of his company’s award winning roots. “From our very first restoration, a 58’ BMW Isetta 300, which we took to the Forest Grove Concours d’ Elegance in 05 and won our class, in addition to taking home the President’s Award, which was judged by Pacific College’s President as “the car the college student would most want to drive,” said Morris. “I drew on my past car show and restoration experience to pull off a surprise win. It was a good deal of timing and the right car, with the right colors. We stole the show with a micro car, it was great!” Morris said standing next to his red Porsche hot rod parked inside his shop. “Car shows and racing are my passions,” he said with a smile.
“Our tuning business is the best around,” continued Morris of the company’s capabilities. “The application of our developed performance packages to already great cars really creates a ‘wow’.” German Master Tech provides full warranty BMW performance upgrades as a Dinan-authorized dealer, and Porsche performance programs that take the 911 to the next level. “Our tuning business has led us to organized racing, which has been a life-long dream of mine.” Included in German Master Tech’s list of champion racing cars are a 64’ BMW 1800 TISA owned by Steve Walker of Salem. The 1800 TISA is BMW’s first post-war racer based on a production car in regional vintage racing. A 911 Porsche racer owned by Bend’s Mark Powell will be racing in one of the West Coast’s fastest growing amateur racing classes, Spec 911. “Mark’s car is special as it ties together the whole business: a restoration with an extreme tuning package.”

“German Master Tech has worked on all my cars, including a Range Rover, BMW, three Ferraris and a Porsche,” said Ervin Richards, a long-time German Master Tech customer. “I bring my cars here because they consistently do it better and because they’ve always gone way beyond the call of duty in their service and support of my vehicles.” “If I can bring it to German Master Tech,” said Richards, “I will.”
To learn more about German Master Tech, contact them directly at 541.322.9647.