ACURA DESIGN STUDIO

Once every few years, the veil is lifted and automakers grant civilians (us) access to the inner sanctum: their design studios. But SBT was lucky enough to know someone that works security so we fired off a few shots of the brand-new, $15-million Acura Design Studio located in Torrance.

Inside, there was an advanced CG virtual simulator with a 1:1 ratio, Acura’s new facility allows designers, product planners, engineers and executives to look at full-size, finished products in a kind of virtual reality, before expensive clay models are built.




Acura’s building itself is special, too. It’s been built to a very high level of energy efficiency with low emittance (Low-E) glass, a solar reflective roof and intelligent lighting systems able to take advantage of natural light when it’s available. The design center is expected to clear gold-level certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), just like our New York headquarters. Learn how to green-ify your home design here, or shop for Acuras and 200 other new cars here.