Acura

What the new Acura NSX, according to its detractors, lacks in emotional appeal, it more than makes up with an exceptional design likely to prove timeless. Some have criticized the NSX as looking a bit too similar to the Audi R8, but to this writer’s eyes, it’s one of the best looking performance cars on the market. This particular example, painted in Curva Red and outfitted with bespoke Strasse Wheels, is surely one of the finest on the roads today. The wheels in question measure 20×9 at the front and 21×11 at the rear and come complete with a Satin Brushed Liquid Smoke center finish, Gloss Polished Titanium on the lip, and Gloss Black across the barrel. As attractive as the wheels are, it is the red paint which makes this NSX really stand out. These pictures show that in direct sunlight, the paint shimmers and glistens like a beautiful woman’s bright red lipstick. The perfect mid-engine proportions of the NSX add further appeal to the package, with … [Read more...] about Acura NSX Looks Killer With Strasse Wheels And Curva Red Paint

The 2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid is sitting in showrooms as you read this, and although the term “sport” rankles, the addition of 31 ponies in the horsepower column and a nearly 37 percent higher city fuel economy rating does make it worth considering. Of course it’s loaded with enough tech and safety features to feel like a Starfleet shuttle and, unfortunately, has a price to match. Well, okay, it starts at $53,795, which isn’t that bad, so it’s only an unfortunate price if you have a tendency to covet sports cars in that price range (like me). Performance Layout The hybrid drivetrain in the new MDX is a variation of the hybrid drive system found in the latest NSX, which is a good idea. The foundation is a 3.0-liter, i-VTEC V6 engine coupled to a three-motor Sport Hybrid Super Handling-All Wheel Drive system. Super Handling-All Wheel Drive is Acura’s (nee Honda’s) trademark for their four wheel drive layout, and although it’s … [Read more...] about 2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid: A Mini Starfleet Shuttle

Before Honda decided to bring over the latest Civic Type R to the United States in 2017, the Acura Integra Type R was the only Type R-badged car ever to be sold Stateside. Surely, that wasn’t enough to grant it collectable status, but for some people it did the trick: after all, Honda is known for being really scrupulous with the use of the Type R badge. Thankfully, the Integra Type R fully deserved to wear the famous red “R,” as it featured many changes over the regular Integra. Those upgrades included a lighter weight, stiffer chassis, revised suspension, a big wing in the back, and the “B18C5” naturally aspirated 1.8-liter engine that delivered 195 hp at 7,300 rpm — 55 ponies more than the standard Integra’s 140 horsepower. Curiously, the Acura version sold in the US featured a different face than the Honda-badged model sold in Japan. Acura sold 3,823 Integra Type Rs in America from 1997 until 2001, but finding one today in stock … [Read more...] about $40K For A Pristine Acura Integra Type R? Are You Kidding?

The Perfect Driver’s Car We all know the NSX to be Honda’s answer to having your cake and eating it too. Designed to compete against the thoroughbred exotics and touring cars of the era, the NSX’s development took place in the late ’80s in Japan under the leadership of Soichiro Honda himself. Though the company was still building some of the most economically sound cars ever made, a dream to innovate and break technological grounds progressed with the development of Honda’s supercar. The ultimate vision was to create a well rounded machine that could give Ferraris and other exotics of the time a run for their money. The result was a sleek and timeless Italian-inspired design, featuring an 8,000rpm-revving inline six mounted behind the driver (VTEC included, of course) and a 42/58 weight distribution, which ultimately made for an unconventional Japanese supercar. Nim Divino stumbled upon this ’91 Acura NSX … [Read more...] about Just Right: A Well Balanced NSX

Acura announced the pricing details of the 2019 MDX Sport Hybrid, which will start arriving at dealerships nationwide tomorrow, August 1st. The 2019 MDX Sport Hybrid is priced from $53,795 (including a $995 destination and handling fee), which makes it just $1,500 more expensive than the conventional MDX SH-AWD with Technology package, despite coming with adaptive dampers as standard and an extra 31 horsepower. For the 2019MY, the hybrid SUV gains four new exterior color options (Gunmetal Metallic, Majestic Black Pearl, Performance Red Pearl and Canyon Bronze Metallic), as well as a new interior wood trim. The cabin also receives a few updates, including a high-contrast seat and door panel stitching, driver and front passenger four-way lumbar control, as well as driver and front passenger 12-way adjustable seats. Under the skin, the hybrid powertrain remains unchanged, with a 3.0-liter VTEC V6 paired with three electric motors for a combined output of 321 HP (325 PS) and 289 lb-ft … [Read more...] about 2019MY Acura MDX Sport Hybrid Gets New Color Options, Starts From $53,795

What beats spending a Sunday alone with one of your favourite cars on some of Japan’s best mountain roads? Well, how about doing the same thing with 30 different versions of that same car… Despite Tokyo being one of the largest cities in the world, it’s surprising how often you run into the same people time and time again. On a warm June evening, fellow Speedhunter Ron Celestine and I rolled through a packed Tatsumi PA in search of a spot to park. I spied another NSX with a bit of space in front of it, so figured I could play the fellow owner card and snag the spot. I’m glad I did too, as it turned out the NSX belonged to none other than Hiroshi, one of the kind owners I serendipitously met on the first day I took Project NSX for a drive. The good news was, Hiroshi had another drive day he wanted to let us know about. Fast forward a few weeks and this is the sight that greeted Ron and I as we pulled into a small carpark … [Read more...] about When NSXs Gather In The Shadow Of Mt. Fuji

Today’s question is brought to you by kitchen-table musing and grumbling by two gearheads at the Guy household on Saturday. As it always does, the conversation turned to cars. “Nothing’s affordable anymore!” ranted my friend, waving his arms while expressing a desire to own old Alfas and other machinery with the structural integrity of wet tissue paper. The man may have a point. Do you think the values of certain desirable cars are inflated beyond reason? I argued that the auction site Bring-a-Trailer is doing to the values of certain oddball cars what Barrett-Jackson did to the values of Hemi ‘Cudas about 10 or 15 years ago. Those machines were always extremely valuable but, in the wake of televised bidding frenzies, those cars soon started changing hands for dizzying amounts, shutting out all but the 1 percent of gearheads. Their values have cooled, as the demographics of those with car-sized amounts of money burning holes in their bank accounts starts … [Read more...] about QOTD: The Price Is Wrong?

The 2019 Acura MDX has arrived at U.S. dealers and the company has announced pricing will start at $44,300. Costing $100 more than the 2018 model, the 2019 MDX boasts an upgraded interior that now comes standard with front seats that have 4-way power lumbar adjustment. The crossover also offers new Desert Olive Ash wood trim and contrast stitching. Moving on, the MDX with the Technology and Entertainment packages now has improved second row seats that offer improved access to the third row. Furthermore, the MDX with the Advance Package features wood trim on the center console. On the outside, the 2019 MDX will be offered with a handful of new colors including Apex Blue Pearl, Canyon Bronze Metallic, Gunmetal Metallic, Majestic Black Pearl and Performance Red Pearl. The MDX with the Advance Package also comes equipped with additional body-color trim and wider 20-inch aluminum wheels. The biggest change for 2019 is the introduction of the MDX A-Spec. Looking slightly more aggressive than … [Read more...] about 2019 Acura MDX Arrives At Dealers With New A-Spec Variant, Starts At $44,300

It appears the Cadillac coupe concept wasn’t the only model recently outed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as Car and Driver has discovered images of the 2019 Acura ILX. Looking instantly recognizable, the facelifted model has been equipped with a new front fascia which mimics newer models such as the TLX. The most notable change is the all-new grille which is shared with a majority of the Acura lineup. Besides the grille, the car has been equipped with restyled headlights that are shorter and sleeker than the current lighting units. The lower air intakes have also been redesigned and they appear virtually identical to those used on the TLX. There doesn’t appear to be any other changes, but it’s possible that the rear end could see some minor updates as well. If this occurs, we can expect a modified bumper and updated taillights. The images don’t hint at any interior changes but the publication says the sedan may receive a modest refreshing. … [Read more...] about 2019 Acura ILX Shows Off Its New Grille In Patent Photos

The Fast and The Furious roared into theaters 17 years ago and it helped to increase interest in Japanese sport cars as well as the tuner movement in the United States. While the movie was released nearly two decades ago, ClassicCars.com says the film continues to have an impact on prices of Japanese cars such as the Mazda RX-7 and Toyota Supra. That’s an important fact as the company notes people who were teenagers when the movie originally came out are now starting to collect cars. Starting with the Mazda RX-7, ClassicCars notes a 1993 model originally cost around $33,000. That’s roughly $57,360 with inflation factored in and buyers can expect to pay around that much for a used RX-7. News of the Toyota Supra revival has sparked renewed interest in its predecessor and the company notes Mark IV models have seen “explosive growth in value.” While the car cost around $50,000 when new, the average used model now goes for around $70,000. Acura killed the Integra … [Read more...] about The Fast And The Furious Movies Continue To Push Up Prices Of Japanese Sport Cars