Acura cars

2016 Acura NSX

After years of teasing and concept reveals, the Acura NSX is finally going to be a reality. This was confirmed by a press release from Honda informing us that it had selected a production facility: an all-new, 184,000-square-foot Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. This production facility will be inside Honda’s former North American Logistics facility nearby Honda’s R&D and engineering operations.

Little is known about the production version of the NSX except the fact that is will carry a mid-mounted, direct-injected V-6 engine and Acura’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system. The Sport Hybrid SH-AWD uses a trio of electric motors – one mated to the engine and two driving the front wheels – to help boost the V-6 engine’s performance and overall vehicle stability. The latest concept’s engine hooked up to a dual-clutch transmission and we expect the same from the production model. Unfortunately, Honda released no information on the total output and performance of the NSX, so we are in the dark here. We do figure to see at least 400 horsepower from the 2016 NSX and a 0-to-60 mph time around 4 seconds.

The 2013 NSX Concept is likely the one that is most similar to what the NSX will actually look like, minus the crazy headlights and wheels. The red and black leather interior is very realistic for production and the body isn’t too over the top to be considered for production.

Production will begin in Ohio in 2015, making this a 2016 model year not the 2015 model year that anticipated earlier. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Click past the jump to read more about the NSX Concepts

*Image Note: All Images are of the various NSX concepts, not the production model

2013 - 2014 Acura ILX

After revealing the ILX Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January, Acura has quickly followed it up with the production version at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Carrying the same ILX name, the new sedan will be offered with a choice of two different engines, as well as a Hybrid version for those with a particular love for the environment.

The Acura ILX addresses the young buyers that are looking for their first luxury vehicle. Acura has promised the ILX will be a cheaper alternative to models like the Buick Verano and the Audi A3.

"First-time luxury buyers tend to place a high value on exterior styling, affordability and environmental issues, and that’s what we have created with the new Acura ILX," said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio. "The strategy behind this new model is to position ILX as the first opportunity for many young buyers to enter the luxury market."

UPDATE 05/13/2013: Acura has announced prices and some minor upgrades for the 2014 ILX. See more after the jump.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013-2014 Acura ILX.

2013 Acura Concept SUV-X

Sister companies Honda and Acura promised to present to distinctly different concept vehicles at the Shanghai Auto Show.

For its part, Honda delivered on that promise with the angry-looking 2013 Concept M MPV. Meanwhile, Acura unveiled its own concept, the SUV-X, and just like Honda’s Concept M, this one should have a future production model.

And by future, we mean “right now.”

The concept itself was designed to highlight the Japanese automaker’s emotional and sharp styling with driving performance, all while adhering to an environmental approach. The result is the SUV-X Concept, which combines all of that and wraps them all up in a body that looks downright stunning.

Acura has never had a reputation for building cars with cutting edge designs. But its recent offerings like the new 2013 NSX Concept and this one does paint a clear picture that the Japanese automaker is entering a new phase in its design philosophy.

Hopefully, the SUV-X Concept is one of the first in a long line of future models that adheres to this new edginess.

Click past the jump to read more about the Acura SUV-X Concept

Honda Starts Taking Pre-Orders for the NSX

One of the most awaited supercars is no doubt the 2016 NSX (or Acura NSX, depending on the market). The NSX has been up and down so many times, that at some point we had no idea what to believe anymore, but once the 2012 NSX Concept was unveiled it became pretty clear that the company was serious about getting the name back on the market.

It looks like people were very impressed by the NSX, as Honda has received an unprecedented demand for the supercar. This made the company to open a pre-order bank for the NSX and any customer depositing a total of £5,000 ($7,600 at the current exchange rates) can be among the first customers to get it. Not until 2015, unfortunately.

Honda already received a total of 25 deposits for the NSX, so maybe it will rethink its decision of offering the NSX as a limited edition.

Hit the jump to read Honda’s press release.

Acura Teases Shanghai-Bound Concept

The Shanghai Auto Show is the next auto event that a lot of people are already looking forward to. Scheduled to open in a few weeks, Shanghai is expected to be a largely attended event, particularly from the Asian automaker contingent.

Japanese brand, Acura, is one of the companies scheduled to go to Shanghai and its already gearing up for it with a new teaser of a concept that it’s scheduled to debut at the event.

Details surrounding the concept have not yet been revealed except for this teaser that shows the SUV’s side profile. Judging from what we’re looking at, the concept appears to be a completely new model that will complement the redesigned 2014 MDX. It’s got an aggressive headlight design that looks similar to the shape of the Toyota GT 86 with the rear end featuring a spoiler and an equally aggressive taillight setup that resembles what you can find in the Asian version of the new Honda CR-V.

Production is expected to commence after the concept’s unveiling and, for now, the only market that’s been confirmed to receive the model is the China, which explains why Acura decided to pull the concept’s covers off at Shanghai.

We’ll provide more details surrounding this concept when information becomes available.

2014 Acura MDX

As we all know, the Acura MDX model that we saw in Detroit was only a prototype that gave prospective buyers "a strong indication of the styling and design direction for the third generation." Well, now that the 2013 New York Auto Show is upon us, the 2014 MDX has officially been unveiled in full-production form.

In all honesty, the prototype and the production models are very similar, but Acura basically just toned down the extreme stuff. Things like the LED bars on the front and rear bumpers are nixed. Additionally, Acura gave the front skirt a more traditional look; as opposed to the futuristic treatment it received in the prototype. From the side, the prototype and the production models are nearly indistinguishable, as they both carry almost the identical profile and the rims are identical.

One thing that we’re sure every Acura fan has been waiting for is the revealing of the new model’s interior. And Acura delivered the goods today.

UPDATE 3/29/2013: Acura has finally unveiled the production MDX at the New York Auto Show. Plus nearly all of the details have been revealed.

Click past the jump to read all about the 2014 Acura MDX.

Audi Takes Thinly-Veiled Shot at Acura’s NSX Concept On Twitter

The power of social media in today’s world appears to have no bounds. Somebody says something, others pick it up, and so on. Before you know it, we have a story to write about. Case in point: a seemingly harmless tweet by Matt Phenix (@mattphenix) suggesting that Acura’s NSX Concept looked a lot like a 22-year old concept from Audi was immediately re-tweeted by, you guessed it, Audi’s official Twitter account, @Audi.

Here’s the full text of Phenix’s tweet: "Is it rude to suggest that #Acura’s undeniably lovely #NSX looks a lot like @Audi’s 22-year-old Quattro Spyder?"

The tweet also came with a photo of the Quattro Spyder, which you can check out after the jump. But the point is, Audi saw Phenix’s tweet, retweeted it, AND sent a reply to Phenix saying: "@mattphenix is it rude to retweet? Cause we just did."

Those are fighting words, if we ever read one.

As far as we’re concerned, we’re taking Acura’s side on this one. The NSX Concept doesn’t look like the Quattro Spyder, in large part because the former is a new concept and the latter was built well over two decades ago. But we’ll leave the escalating Twitter war between fans of the two automaker’s to themselves.

At the end of the day, it just goes to show the reach Twitter has these days.

2013 Acura NSX Concept

Previous rumors suggested that Acura could be finally unveiling the production version of the Acura NSX supercar at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. However, it looks like the company decided to tease us a little bit more, as the Detroit Show only yielded another evolution of the NSX Concept. Acura did, however, confirm that this new concept could offer "a first-ever look at one possible direction for the next-generation NSX interior design."

Translated this means that the production version will look pretty much similar to all those concepts we have seen in the past few years and that when the production version finally drops onto the market, it will offer no surprises.

Just like with the previous concept versions, the new one is defined by clean, modern and simple surfacing, and the interior was founded on a "Human Support Cockpit" theme.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Acura NSX Concept.

Acura NSX is Likely to Break the $100k Mark

It looks like bad news does not cease when it comes to the upcoming Acura NSX. The supercar has been up and down so many times what we have already lost count and now it looks like when the model finally arrives on the market will be very expensive. It’s even more expensive — significantly more — than the Nissan GT-R, which comes in at a massive $97,820.

According to Honda spokesman, Chris Martin, the upcoming NSX is "going to be a technological marvel." Unfortunately, this marvel will likely come at a hefty price, as rumors suggest that it will be priced at about €100,000 – about $130,000 at the current exchange rates. Martin also confirmed the next NSX will use a mid-engine layout and a complex hybrid powertrain that will send power to all four wheels.

The NSX supercar will be built at Honda’s plant in Marysville, Ohio starting in 2015 and will be the first hand-built sports car Honda has ever built outside of Japan.

2014 Acura MDX Prototype Teased Before Detroit Debut

Acura has been testing the next-generation MDX for quite some time now, but the official debut of the production version is still months away. Before we have the chance to see it on the market, Acura will debut the first prototype version in January 2013 at the Detroit Auto Show.

The first teaser image, which Acura revealed today, shows that the prototype version will be feature a new "Aero Sculpture" design language that will affect both form and function. Expect the prototype’s alluring proportions with smooth, arching body lines to be carried over in the production version.

Acura offered no details on the new MDX’s powertrain, but rumors say it will be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that delivers a total of 310 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque. There are also rumors about a hybrid powertrain which will combine a V-6 engine with three electric motors.

Full details on the 2014 Acura MDX prototype will be unveiled during the company’s press conference in Detroit. Stay tuned!