Acura(R) RDX(TM) Prototype Features Panasonic Automotive's ELS Surround; Studio Quality Sound Will Surround Drivers in Acura's New SUV.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- As announced during the recent North American International Auto Show, Acura's highly-anticipated new luxury SUV - the RDX - will feature the Acura/ELS Surround(TM) Premium Audio System developed by Panasonic Automotive.

The Acura/ELS Surround system for the RDX was created in collaboration with multiple Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer Elliot Scheiner. Scheiner's partnership with Panasonic Automotive is the only one of its kind; no other automotive supplier is reaching out to a member of the music industry to enhance the audio experience in the systems it provides to vehicle manufacturers.

Since its launch as standard equipment on the 2004 Acura TL(R), the Acura/ELS Surround premium audio system has received wide acclaim from leading musicians, producers, and engineers for its ability to reproduce music as it sounds in the studio.

In addition to the accurate reproduction of music from two-channel sources, the Acura/ELS Surround system features DVD-Audio playback and a discrete multi-channel surround sound experience. By featuring discrete multi-channel the system can reproduce six independent channels of audio source material creating sound that truly surrounds the listener -- a dramatic change from standard automotive audio systems where only two channels (left and right) are available.

"With its combination of luxury and performance, the RDX is an ideal environment for the Acura/ELS Surround experience," said Vince Sarrecchia, president of Panasonic Automotive. "We're delighted to continue our relationship with Acura and especially in a vehicle that's consistent with the ELS Surround image of quality, performance and technology."

The RDX will be assembled at Honda of America Manufacturing in Marysville, Ohio and will go on sale in the summer of 2006. Pricing has not been determined.

For more information on ELS Surround visit www.elssurround.com.

About Elliot Scheiner

Elliot Scheiner is widely considered to be the world's leading authority in surround sound recording/mixing. A highly sought-after producer and engineer, his pioneering efforts in surround sound are credited with establishing the foundation for the genre. His career includes work with such music legends as The Eagles, Steely Dan, REM, Faith Hill, Queen, Sting, Van Morrison and Grover Washington Jr. In addition to working with Donald Fagen on his 2006 release of Morph The Cat, Scheiner's recent work includes mixing for the Foo Fighters, a continuing relationship with The Eagles and Beck. His extensive industry accolades include 20 Grammy Award nominations, five Grammy Awards -- his most recent for album of the year, Steely Dan's Two Against Nature - and three Emmy Award nominations. A TEC Hall of Fame inductee, Scheiner is the inaugural recipient of the Surround Pioneer Award, which was created to honor individuals who have made significant, groundbreaking contributions to the art of surround music production.

About Panasonic Automotive Systems

Based in Peachtree City, Georgia, and with Detroit area operations located in Southfield, MI, Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is a division of Secaucus, New Jersey-based Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC) of Osaka, Japan, one of the world's leading developers and producers of innovative digital and other electronic products for consumer, business and industrial use. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America also acts as the North American operating company of Panasonic Automotive Systems Company, a division of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., which coordinates global automotive industry systems and components operations. For more information on Panasonic and Matsushita Electric, visit www.panasonic.com.

About Acura

Acura offers a full line of premium performance vehicles through a nationwide network of more than 260 dealers. The Acura lineup features the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sports sedan, the race-bred RSX sports coupe, the award winning MDX luxury sport utility vehicle and the soon to be introduced RDX luxury sport utility vehicle. For more information about Acura vehicles, please visit www.acura.com. For media inquiries, please go to www.acuranews.com.