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Acura ILX Type S could get 300-hp turbo four

There's good news and bad news when it comes to the new Honda Civic Type R. The good news is that after more than a year of prototypes and concepts, the Japanese automaker's new hot hatch is about to make its production debut next month. The bad news is that it's not coming here, but there is a silver lining in even that dark rain cloud – namely, that Honda plans on slotting its 2.0-liter VTEC turbo four into something that it will actually offer Stateside. Earlier rumors suggested the US donor vehicle would also be a Civic, but the latest intel indicates it could be something different, albeit related. According to Car and Driver, which spoke recently with Acura product planning manager Gary Robinson, Honda's luxury division could be gearing up to shoehorn the engine into the recently updated ILX – which itself is based on the Civic. "Acura is always going to get the best engines Honda makes," said Robinson. "Obviously a 2.0-liter turbo is more of a must-have in the luxury world than it is in the mainstream" market, suggesting that an ILX Type S could be in the works with upwards of 300 horsepower. Getting it to fit, though, could prove a rather large challenge – and could mean the engine swap would have to wait until the next-generation model comes around. Considering that the ILX was just updated for 2016, C/D doesn't expect the full redesign to come until 2018 at the earliest. Here's hoping that if it takes that long, Honda will slot the engine into something else for US showrooms in the meantime. The revival of the Type S badge in and of itself, however, makes for an enticing prospect. The last time we saw it used was on the larger TL sedan, which upgraded the 3.2-liter V6 from the 225 horsepower to 260. Before that, the RSX jumped from 160 horsepower in the base model to 200 in the first Type S, 210 in the second and 217 in the ultimate Type R. As it stands, the new ILX (after dropping the hybrid and base 2.0 models, is powered exclusively by a 2.4-liter inline four with 201 hp on tap.

Acura is bringing back one of the first-gen NSX's coolest colors

Between 1997 and 2003, about 20 percent of first-generation Acura NSXs wore the color Spa Yellow, also known as Indy Yellow in some markets. As the legend of the NSX grew, so did the shiny color's reputation, and today, it's one of collectors' favorites. That's why it was odd that the second-generation NSX has not offered yellow paint ... until now. Acura announced the 2020 NSX will offer Indy Yellow Pearl, a similar-but-new take on the classic. Acura currently offers eight colors on the NSX: Nouvelle Blue Pearl, Valencia Red Pearl, Casino White Pearl, Source Silver Metallic, Thermal Orange Pearl, 130R White, Curva Red, and Berlina Black. Of those, Berlina Black is considered the only heritage color, and now it's getting a partner in Indy Yellow Pearl. Although Berlina Black can be ordered as a standard color, Indy Yellow Pearl will cost an extra $1,000, which seems completely worth it. Spa Yellow, which was the fifth-most-popular first-generation NSX color, was one of two yellows offered back then. For the 2004 and 2005 model years, the last two years of first-gen NSX production, Spa Yellow was replaced with Rio Yellow. The announcement comes ahead of California's famous Monterey Car Week, where the car will make its global in-person debut. It will be shown next to an NSX GT3 Evo racecar on the main strip in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.  The 2020 Acura NSX starts at $159,495, including destination.

Acura ARX-06 race car revealed with V6 hybrid powertrain

There’s a new Acura race car on the block, and itÂ’s called the ARX-06. It replaces the ARX-05, and Acura plans to race it in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTP Championship. Unfortunately, Acura makes no mention of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in all of the details provided with the reveal. That said, it sure looks like a race car that could be made to meet all of the regulations to race in the new LMDh Hypercar class. Acura engineered a new 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that is paired up with a standardized electric system for hybridization. Acura says the 2.4-liter displacement is the smallest displacement engine the HPD team has made for endurance racing yet. It features a 90-degree V-angle, and itÂ’s designed to run on more sustainable low-carbon fuel. "We've gone in a new direction for HPD in the design of the ICE,” said Pierre Descamps, HPD's powertrain design leader for the ARX-06. “It is still a V6, which of course for Honda is well-known, but we have incorporated several new elements which we believe will make best use of the electric MGU and battery pack. Our new engine will rev to the maximum 10,000 rpm set by the rules, so it also makes a wonderful sound!" The new bodywork penned by the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles sits on an ORECA chassis (one of the four chassis options required by IMSA and the WEC). Acura notes one big change versus the outgoing ARX-05 is found in the rearview mirrors. Designers were able to move them lower on the car, which improved both aerodynamic performance and visibility for the drivers. Similar to years past, these new ARX-06 race cars will be run by Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing. TheyÂ’ll make their debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona next year, where the Meyer Shank Racing team took first place earlier this year. Related video: