Acura Begins Shipping XM-Equipped 2004 Acura RL Models
Model is First Luxury Performance Sedan With XM as Standard Equipment
WASHINGTON, March 17 -- Acura dealerships nationwide this week began taking delivery of the new 2004 Acura 3.5RL, the first Acura model vehicle and first luxury performance sedan to include an audio system with XM Satellite Radio as standard equipment.
"We are delighted that Acura has made XM Satellite Radio a standard feature in the exciting 2004 Acura 3.5RL," said Hugh Panero, XM President and CEO. "We look forward to American Honda equipping a wide variety of Acura and Honda models with XM throughout 2003 and beyond."
According to American Honda Motor Co., Inc., the introduction of the XM- equipped 2004 Acura RL will be followed by the all-new 2004 Acura TL this Fall. For Honda products, a dealer-installed option will be available later this spring on the 2003 Accord and Pilot. The Honda Division also expects to have XM Satellite Radio factory-installed beginning with the 2004 Accord later this year. American Honda plans to expand the availability of XM-ready radios to additional Honda and Acura models during the 2005 model year and into the future.
About XM Radio
XM had more than 360,000 subscribers as of Jan. 8, on track to exceed 1 million subscribers in 2003. XM is transforming radio, an industry that has seen little technological change since FM, almost 40 years ago. XM's programming lineup features 101 coast-to-coast digital channels: 70 music channels, many of them commercial-free, from hip hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues; and 31 channels of sports, talk, children's and entertainment. XM was named 2001 "Product of the Year" by Fortune, an "Invention of the Year" by Time and won Popular Science's 2001 "Best of What's New" Grand Award in the electronics category. XM won several awards at the 2001 CES, including "Best of CES" in the automotive category, and received a coveted "A" rating from Entertainment Weekly. XM's strategic investors include America's leading car, radio and satellite TV companies -- American Honda Motor Co. Inc., General Motors, Clear Channel Communications and DIRECTV. For more information, please visit XM's web site: http://www.xmradio.com/ . The XM service is not available in Alaska or Hawaii.
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