Each of the master technicians at Acura’s Performance Manufacturing Center at Marysville have been extensively trained for the intricate hand-building of the NSX supercar, and now they are putting their precision skills to work to manufacture a new limited edition vehicle that also features some “supercar DNA,” — the 2021 RDX PMC Edition.
Project leader Chuck Henkel said Tuesday the special edition of the sport utility vehicle shares the Thermal Orange Pearl paint color and halo finish of the NSX that is achieved through a specialty five-day paint process utilizing paint technicians and robots.
“We’re excited to ‘PMC up’ the vehicle,” Henkel said of the RDX version that combines the top-shelf features from the RDX Advance Package and the sporty styling cues of the RDX A-Spec. “We had a choice of color pallet, and the NSX Thermal Orange Pearl really stood out.
“We are loving the black exterior accents as well, and the specialty black color on the roof. In addition, the interior includes color-matched orange stitching for the seats, center console, door panels, steering wheel and floor mats.”
Only 360 of the units will be produced at the Marysville supercar factory for the North American market and will begin arriving at Acura dealerships at the end of October, carrying a sticker price in the low $50,000s.
In recent weeks, the primed bodies-in-white for the RDX PMC Edition have been arriving at the specialty manufacturing space from the Honda of America Mfg. at East Liberty. PMC master technicians have been inspecting the units and then starting the in-depth paint process. Mass production assembly of the vehicles begins Oct. 12, Henkel said.
The RDX is the third PMC special edition to be locally and exclusively produced at the Marysville supercar factory following the 2020 production of the MDX PMC Edition earlier this year and the 2019 production of the TLX PMC Edition.
During this unusual year with the COVID-19 related shutdown this spring, Henkel said upon returning to work, the atmosphere has been enthusiastic among staff members at PMC, including the chance to now begin the production of the new specialty edition SUV.
“We have been happy to get back to a sense of normalcy and back to our regular work environment — it is a rewarding to come to work and be able to experience the detailed handiwork produced in these specialty vehicles,” said Henkel, a 19-year Honda of America Mfg. employee who also has worked on the development of the NSX.
“Our associates are our most valuable assets and we’re doing everything we can to make this a safe space for them. We are able to maintain distance on the floor and have handwashing stations set up. We’ve also removed chairs and reduced capacity in the cafeteria and meeting rooms.”
Relating to the in-depth paint process, representatives said it begins with PMC’s advanced robotic paint system in multiple base coats to enhance color intensity.
A mid-coat of gold and orange mica is then applied, giving off a pearlescent effect in the sunlight. Lastly, four layers of clearcoat are applied to increase the paint’s luster and protect the finish.
Next, the PMC master technicians begin hand assembling the units, starting with installation of all drivetrain and chassis components, wiring harnesses and electronics.
Once completed, the PMC Edition 20-inch wheels and tires and exterior trim are added. The final step in the process is to fit the vehicle with its unique interior including an individually numbered serial plate affixed to the RDX’s center console.
After the hand assembly process, every RDX PMC Edition undergoes an identical quality control process as NSX, which includes a full electronic systems line-end test, expert wheel alignment, dyno run, water-leak test and final paint examination.
Before exiting the manufacturing center, each vehicle is wrapped in a protective film and loaded onto an enclosed, single-car carrier for transport to an Acura dealer,
Exclusive to the RDX PMC Edition are gloss black 20-inch alloy wheels; a body color grille surround; black chrome exhaust finishers; and gloss-black treatment for the roof, side mirrors and door handles. The vehicle also includes 10.5-inch color Head-Up Display, 16-way power Sport Seats trimmed in Ebony Milano leather and Ultrasuede, heated steering wheel and heated outboard rear seats.
The Performance Manufacturing Center opened in May 2016 utilizing experienced staff who had to complete extensive training and interviews for their new positions.