2016 Acura Rdx on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2017 Acura NSX First Drive [w/video]

The 2017 Acura NSX is heavy. It outweighs the original 1990 car by more than 800 pounds and is over 300 heavier than a Chevrolet Corvette Z06. The NSX is insanely complicated, with an assist motor between the twin-turbo V6 and the nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, plus two torque-vectoring electric motors at the front axle. And the NSX is expensive. It will probably cost $170,000 when it goes on sale in Spring 2016. Commence trolling. If you hadn't guessed, the new NSX isn't much like the first generation built from 1990 to 2005. But the two cars share a common philosophy. Both are Acura's interpretation of what a modern, everyday supercar should be. Based on the new car, things have changed a lot in the last 25 years. For project leader Ted Klaus, the original NSX was one reason he started working at Honda. At the 1990 Detroit Auto Show, "I sat watching that car for a while. A really long while. Even just looking at that car I could see the deep, advanced, functional beauty." The most difficult thing with the new NSX, says Klaus, is to explain how a heavier and more complicated car can outperform other cars in a way that feels like traditional lightweighting. View 33 Photos This is not the way the NSX was supposed to be at first. The original plan was a transverse-mounted, naturally aspirated engine just like the first car. The NSX has a giant bag of neat tricks, but to understand them takes a lengthy explanation that starts with the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD powertrain. Behind the cockpit is a 75-degree, twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter V6, made specifically for the NSX. On its own it puts out 500 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The rest of Honda's lineup uses a 60-degree layout, but the wider angle here lowers the center of gravity. Behind the engine is the rear assist motor, with 47 hp and 100 lb-ft. Hanging off the rear of that is the nine-speed dual-clutch, developed in-house. In between the front wheels is the Twin Motor Unit (TMU), a pair of 36-hp, 54-lb-ft electric motors that add or subtract forces to their respective sides. The Power Drive unit manages the electronics, and sits in the center spine of the car like a traditional prop shaft. A lithium-ion battery pack is behind the pair of seats, on the cold side of the firewall. Total system output is 573 hp and 476 lb-ft. This is not the way the NSX was supposed to be at first. The original plan was a transverse-mounted, naturally aspirated engine just like the first car.

There was once a Honda Civic named the Honda Integra

So it turns out there was a Honda Integra that was actually a Honda Civic. This as opposed to the Honda Integra we already knew about that was just like our Acura Integra but with Honda badges sold in different markets. We noticed the oddity while crawling about used car listings (as one is wont to do). A sedan popped up that looked suspiciously like a mid-90s Honda Civic, but there was a shiny Integra badge on the back of it. Surely, this must be somebody’s idea of being funny, right? Wrong. The Honda Integra SJ exists, and itÂ’s essentially a rebadged Honda Civic Ferio. Or "Civic Sedan" as we knew it here. In other words, that means Honda sold two Honda Integras at the same time. One of them was the Integra that we all think of upon hearing the Integra name. The other was just a Civic Ferio that was half-prettied up to increase its appeal. After all, the Integra name was luxury. Maybe you already knew all of this, but the lack of definitive information online and presence of this car for sale prompted us to do a little research. In case you were wondering, SJ stands for Sedan Joyful, so this carÂ’s full name is the Honda Integra Sedan Joyful. It was sold as such from 1996-2001 in Japan. Its mini Wikipedia entry indicates that Honda created the SJ to bring a formal sedan to the Integra range. ThatÂ’s a bit weird, though, as there was literally an Integra four-sedan at the time. You could even get it as the hot GS-R version in the United States. Japanese buyers were even luckier, as Honda offered a sedan version of the Integra Type R there. Since the Integra SJ was a rebadged Civic Ferio, it came with the same equipment and engine. The 1.5-liter D15B four-cylinder engine was being used in the Ferio at this time, so thatÂ’s what the Integra SJ was rocking. ItÂ’s one of HondaÂ’s SOHC VTEC offerings, and it made a very respectable 128 horsepower. The D15B wasnÂ’t as potent as an engine like the B16A2 found in the 1999-2000 Honda Civic Si sold here that put out 160 horses, but it was also down one camshaft. Only the intake valves are affected by the cam here, which results in less power than the DOHC VTEC engines. All that said, the engine still revved to 7,200 rpm, and its power is respectable for the size of car.  ThereÂ’s a third name for the Civic Ferio/Integra SJ, as well. If you go to Thailand, you may come across the Isuzu Vertex, which is yet another rebadged Civic Ferio.

Acura doubles CPO non-powertrain warranty to 2 years

On the same day Acura dropped a scintillating teaser for its upcoming Type S Concept, it also quietly announced some less exciting (unless you're in the market for a used Acura) news: It's improving the warranty that comes with its certified preowned (CPO) vehicles. Non-powertrain coverage is doubling from one year to two years, while powertrain coverage remains the same at seven years. Starting this year, Acura's Certified Preowned Vehicle Limited Warranty, which begins after the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, will be two years or 100,000 miles for non-powertrain coverage, a significant improvement from the previous guidelines of one year or 12,000 miles. Powertrain coverage is seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. In addition to the better warranty, Acura will offer new CPO customers a complimentary dealership maintenance service, which includes a check or change on the oil and oil filter, air intake filter, cabin air filter, rear differential fluid, brake fluid, and a tire rotation. Furthermore, CPO customers will get three free months of AcuraLink on a trial basis. Under warranty like in previous years, Acura will continue to offer "Motor Club Benefits," which includes emergency towing, flat-tire change, battery boost, emergency fuel delivery, and lockout assistance. Acura has strict rules for what can be considered for its CPO program. The car must be six model years or newer, so between 2014-2020, and it must have less than 80,000 miles on the dial.