Detroit, December 13, 2002 - Acura all-new sports sedan and 'Studio E' panel-side element concept vehicle are set to debut at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in January.

The new Acura sedan will go head-to-head with other premium sports sedans from Europe and Japan. It will combine a state-of-the-art, high performance i-VTEC engine and race-bred suspension with a luxuriously appointed cabin boasting the latest technological advances and room to comfortably seat four.

The 2004 model will give Acura an entry-level luxury vehicle positioned squarely between the hot-selling RSX sports coupe and the 3.2 TL luxury performance sedan. Exterior styling highlights include an aggressively chiseled design with short front and rear overhangs and 17-inch wheels and tires. Inside, the driver-oriented cockpit features a long list of high-tech appointments and luxury features.

The new car is slated to go on sale in spring of 2003.

Studio E merges a style of nightlife transportation with a high-tech, multi-function platform that can lay tracks --- both rubber and audio.

Derived from the Honda Element, which goes on sale Dec. 19 and maximizes versatility for sports equipment, people and the outdoors, the Studio E concept applies this versatility toward the urban crowd for nightlife and music. Studio E's interior operates much like a band's backstage dressing room with adaptable seating that can be configured into a lounge. Additional features include a DJ turntable and extensive on-board audio electronics capable of mixing music or showing videos. The paneled exterior styling features a passenger-side center-opening side cargo door similar to the one found in the Element. Aggressive engine tuning, high-performance suspension and a lowered body underscore the city-performance edge to Studio E.