2007 Acura Tsx Base Sedan 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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2002 Acura NSX fondly remembered in MotorWeek's retro clip

After a long wait, the new Acura NSX is finally here, but so far the latest generation is proving polarizing among enthusiasts. Whether it's complaints about the styling, the nearly $200,000 price, or the switch to hybrid power, nearly everyone seems to have a critique about the new sports coupe. That said, nostalgia for the original NSX remains strong, and the latest MotorWeek Retro Review of the 2002 model reminds us how different the new NSX is from the original. The 2002 model year marked the NSX's transition from pop-up headlights to fixed units, and it also features less noticeable styling tweaks along the sides and at the rear. Behind the driver, there is a 3.2-liter V6 with 290 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, and it routes through a six-speed manual to get the coupe to 60 miles per hour in five seconds. There was also an available automatic gearbox with a 3.0-liter V6 that made 252 hp and 210 lb-ft. MotorWeek's review lavishes praise on the way the NSX drives by calling it "almost unflappable" and saying "body roll was almost nonexistent." With traction control off, the coupe changes character by becoming more twitchy and requiring that drivers use a careful balance of throttle and steering. Sounds perfect. Easily the best part of the review is when MotorWeek claims that a second-generation NSX is on the way. Over a decade later, that vehicle is finally, almost, on sale. Will it live up to the red-hot NSX standard of yore? We're about to find out. If you need any more nostalgia, the show previously remembered the '91 NSX, too. Related Video:

2014 Acura RLX

Good. But Good Enough?
Spoiler alert: The 2014 Acura RLX is a good car. But that shouldn't come as a surprise. Despite the fact that Acura is subject to a lot of criticism for things like its odd positioning in the automotive landscape, questionable styling choices in recent years, and the fact that, more or less, its products feel like lux'd-up Hondas rather than something truly unique, the cars have always been inherently good - decent to drive, nice to sit in and reliable to own. That's what happens when you ride that sort of "affordable luxury" line.
Because Acura's sedans don't really fit into any one definable segment, the brand hopes it can draw customers from a broader range who aren't necessarily dedicated to a certain marque. And while there's certainly rhyme to that reason on the more entry-level end of the spectrum, that proposition makes less sense as you move toward higher price points. (Have a gander at the Hyundai Equus, if you will.) On the other hand, Acura pulled data from a 2012 Strategic Vision survey that showed the number one purchase decision for luxury buyers last year was value for the money, with manufacturer reputation coming in at a close second.

Honda protective of Type R name; NSX Type R not in the works

During a roundtable during a recent event hosted by Honda, we joined in on a roundtable interview with Honda Technical Consultant Ko Yamamoto and Honda Civic Type R Project Leader Hideki Kakinuma. Questions were asked about the Type R brand broadly, as well as the potential for some new projects. The answers were both good news and disappointing news for Honda fans. The good news is that Honda takes the Type R name and brand very seriously. Yamamoto and Kakinuma explained that the name and its associated red "H" badge are only for vehicles with a racing connection, such as the Honda Civic Type R that has a couple of racing variants. As such, you won't be seeing a CR-V, Odyssey or Insight with the Type R name. Furthermore, the Type R name is only for Honda-badged vehicles, despite the existence of the Acura Integra Type R a couple decades ago. We also asked about the potential of an NSX Type R, which certainly meets the performance and racing credentials mentioned, but is much more of an Acura product and is badged as such in the U.S. Kakinuma and Yamamoto couldn't go into deep detail, but they said that there aren't plans for one at the moment, and the chances of one for the U.S. are unlikely. They noted that the previous NSX Type R was a Japanese-market exclusive, and if such a car did come to fruition, that might be the case yet again. Kakinuma did say that if he was the one in charge of NSX, he would have already had it in the works. So it's not impossible that there could be an NSX Type R in the future, but don't look for one anytime soon. Related Video: