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Comparison test: 2019 Acura RDX vs. compact luxury SUV competitors

Truth be told, if we were to compare the all-new 2019 Acura RDX with those compact luxury crossover SUVs it would most likely be cross-shopped against, you'd be looking at a different list. Even Acura admits that Lexus and Infiniti are the most likely bogies, but with the 2019 RDX, Honda's luxury brand is attempting to attract those customers who think as much with their hearts as with their heads. And for the most part, those folks have been buying from German brands: the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. So, to show how the new RDX compares to them, Acura actually provided examples of each during the recent press drive along with a Volvo XC60. All were determined to have greater emotional appeal than the last RDX, and we would certainly agree. For, as much as the previous-generation RDX made sense on paper, it was really hard to get excited about it. And when you're paying extra for a luxury vehicle, shouldn't you get a little excited? Well, as luck would have it, Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski and I were on hand in Whistler, British Columbia, for the press launch. We didn't have an abundance of time in each RDX competitor, but in conjunction with our usual comparison chart, our impressions should provide a good first taste of how the new RDX compares. Performance and fuel economy Contributing Editor James Riswick: On paper at least, the RDX is gutsier than its comparably powered European rivals. It also weighs the same or less, which logically should mean it'll be the quickest in a straight line. During my brief drives, though, I'm not sure it really stood taller than the three Germans. It at least matches them for smoothness, which is something that can't be said about the Volvo. Fuel economy is lower than them all when you consider all but the Mercedes come standard with all-wheel drive. It's also worth noting that all the competitors are available with engine upgrades, and unless Acura's forthcoming resurrection of Type S models includes the RDX, it should stay that way. Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski: Line 'em all up in a drag race, and I have a feeling the Acura would squirt away to victory. A good bit of that, though, would be due to its 10-speed automatic transmission, which offers a huge spread of ratios and fires off extremely quick shifts. In the real world, I'd guess fuel economy will be similar across the board, so I'm willing to call that category a draw.

19% of Acura Integras have been sold with a manual transmission

While you'll need to wait another week to read our review of the upcoming 2024 Acura Integra Type S, there is a nice little nugget of information we can share in the meantime. Between May 2022 and April 2023, Acura reports that it sold 19,643 Integras. According to the figures Acura shared, so grain of salt, that is grossly more than other entry-level luxury sedans: the Audi A3 (8,866), Mercedes-Benz CLA (6,656) and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (3,913). Update: Acura confirmed to us since this was originally posted that the A3 numbers also includes S3 and RS 3. The thing that most piqued our interest, however, was Acura saying that 19% of those 19,643 Integras came with the six-speed manual transmission. Now, that's a colossal change from the earliest days of Integra orders when the manual take-rate was hovering around 70%. Clearly, late adopters weren't as eager to row their own. It's also important to note that the manual is exclusively tied to the loaded A-Spec with Technology package, so it's effectively a pricey option.  While 19% — roughly 3,732 units — may not seem like a lot, it's actually not bad these days, and not that far off the entire 2 Series Gran Coupe lineup. That number is also about to go up since the Type S is exclusively available with a six-speed manual.  A few other sales-related Integra tidbits: It has the youngest buyers in the segment, as defined by those cars listed above, with 36% being younger than 35. Also, about 70% of buyers were of the "conquest" variety, meaning they were former Spanish Conquistadors. Wait, what's that? Oh, that makes more sense: So 70% of Integra buyers previously owned a car that wasn't an Acura, although when asked, Acura mentioned that it was possible that the buyers in question owned an Acura at some point in the distant past (you know, like an Integra) and were making a return to the brand.

LoveFab headed back to Pikes Peak with NSX-based heathen [w/video]

LoveFab had a rough run at Pikes Peak 2012. During qualifying on Day Two, owner and professional driver Cody Loveland launched his car off of the course at nearly 60 miles per hour. Never ones to be dismayed by a few bruised ribs and some busted body panels, LoveFab is headed back to the hill climb for 2013, and this year, it's bringing Garrett along as a title sponsor.
Loveland's chariot of choice is officially dubbed "Turbo by Garrett/LoveFab Pikes Peak Enviate" and is loosely based on an Acura NSX. All of the stock Japanese components have been swapped for LoveFab-built pieces with the exception of the subframes and suspension.
With a dry-sump LS1 V8, chromoly-tube chassis and a full carbon fiber body, the car is about as wild as they come. With around 800 pound-feet of torque on hand and a curb weight of under 2,000 pounds, the machine should give the mountain a run for its money. The team is expected to begin testing Enviate beginning May 1. You can check out a quick interview with Loveland in the video below along with the full press release.