The Acura SH-AWD system (short for: Super Handling-All Wheel Drive) is often described ambiguously in most automobile literature. Some articles even said it is an enhanced version of the Honda VTM-4, which is incorrect.

In this article, we will analyze the SH-AWD in detail, focusing on these three questions:

1. How does the SH-AWD work?
2. Why the SH-AWD can transfer large amount of power to rear wheels constantly, without worrying about the wear and overheating issues?
3. What is the difference between the Acura SH-AWD and the Honda VTM-4 system?

Overview: The SH-AWD Systems

Currently there are 4 different types of SH-AWD:

1. The SH-AWD used on the 2005-2012 Acura RL
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For those who are in the market of buying the Audi A6, if the bigger discount on the 2015 model seems tempting to you, you may want to think twice now, since the 2016 model has some fundamental enhancements which you should seriously consider.

You may have already known major changes in the 2016 A6 are in:

– Upgraded engine output (2.0T: 220hp => 252hp, 3.0T: 310hp => 333hp)
– Minor tweaks to the exterior styling
– Better graphic chips for the LCD display

However, there is at least one more critical improvement made to the 2016 model: the front-end and passenger cabin structure are strengthened, and are more stiff to achieve the “Good” rating in the latest IIHS small ove...

2015 Acura TLX Crash Test Results

Since IIHS introduced the small overlap crash test, most Honda/Acura cars perform extremely well, therefore giving people the impression that their vehicles had paid attention to structural rigidity and safety.

This is also true for the completely-new 2015 Acura TLX, which is the successor to the previous Acura TL.

How Acura Enhanced the TLX

From test results published by IIHS today, we have a rough idea of how Acura has enhanced the TLX’s car body rigidity.  Here is a brief analysis:

1. B-pillar strength has been improved significantly...

When talking about the Accord outside of US market, please pay attention that it usually means a different car. For example the 8th-gen Honda Accord in Japan and Europe is actually the Acura TSX in US.

The foreign-market Accord also has another name in China: it is called the Honda Spirior. Last month, Honda revealed the redesigned 2015 Spirior. The higher-level Si trim, can be consider to be the equivalent to the Acura TLX 2.4 8-DCT.

The Spirior has the same wheelbase as the TLX, and the Si trim comes with the same 2.4L direct-injection 4-cylinder engine as in the TLX and also the Honda-developed 8-speed DCT. The 2...

The ZF 9HP is a 9-speed automatic transmission for transverse engine layout, which is used on the Jeep Cherokee and the upcoming Acura TLX. While there are plenty of technical analysis on this new ZF product, here I am not going to feed you with some PhD-thesis-type content. Instead I have some interesting facts you may find interesting.

First off, don’t be frightened by the below ZF 9HP internal structure image, it is for your reference only, you don’t try and memorize it all in one go. It takes time to learn.

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