#2019 Acura TLX Type S Manual

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2019 Acura ILX Type S Specs, Release Date, Rumors

2019 Acura ILX Type S Specs, Release Date, Rumors

2019 Acura ILX Type S Specs, Release Date, Rumors – This Honda might be returning that renowned badge together with the first designs into the future utilizing it might be 2019 Acura ILX Type S. The little vehicle is at manufacturing for quite some time. The application actually started in 2012. 4 years in the future, we certainly have noticed some face lift. This kind of face lift provided…

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Acura regresa a la Semana del Automóvil de Monterey, uno de los principales puntos de encuentro a nivel mundial para los entusiastas de los automóviles, para el debut del Concepto Type S. Luego de su presentación como primicia mundial en una recepción privada de Acura el 15 de agosto, el Concepto Type S de Acura hizo su debut público en The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, para después ser exhibido en el histórico Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Concept Lawn.

Representa un paso fundamental hacia el regreso delPrecision Crafted Performance, que comenzó con el debut de NSX de segunda generación, el Concepto Type S prepara el camino para la reintroducción de las versiones de rendimiento Type S en la línea Acura después de la interrupción de una década y tendrá una marcada influencia en el carácter de la próxima segunda generación del TLX Type S.

El equipo de diseño de Acura se ha propuesto expresar la esencia Precision Crafted Performance, creando una silueta que es impactante y expresiva, pero a la vez pulcra y cohesiva. Basándose en la belleza y el estilo de Acura Precision Concept, la potente forma del Concepto Type S se caracteriza por una postura baja con un cofre que se extiende hacia adelante desde los pilares A.

“El regreso del Type S es fundamental en nuestra misión de hacer que Acura vuelva a sus raíces de rendimiento”, dijo Jon Ikeda, vicepresidente y director de la marca Acura. “Ya se trate de regresar con el NSX para ganar en el nivel más alto de las carreras de vehículos deportivos de América del Norte o de augurar una nueva generación a partir del RDX, estamos revitalizando a Acura sobre los cimientos de nuestros valores de marca originales y auténticos, pieza a pieza”.

Performance en su esencia

“Desde el debut del Precision Concept, hemos estado soñando con un nuevo vehículo concepto Acura enfocado al performance”, dijo Dave Marek, director creativo ejecutivo de Acura. “El Concepto Type S se refiere sin ambigüedades al rendimiento y a la esencia del diseño Acura”.

El Concepto Type S muestra nuevos elementos del diseño Acura incluso faros delanteros LED Jewel Eye® con cuatro luces de próxima generación, una parrilla pentagonal con diseño de diamante y luces diurnas y traseras “Chicane”, que en ambos casos se inspiran en el vehículo de carreras Acura ARX-05 Daytona Prototype.

Estilo refinado que se combina con emoción pura

A partir de su postura enérgica, la fascia frontal del Concepto Type S refleja tanto forma como función. Las grandes entradas de aire al centro y los lados son capaces de suministrar el flujo de aire requerido por un paquete de motor y freno de alto rendimiento, con detalles en la fascia que evolucionan a partir del NSX y de Acura Precision Concept. Las luces delanteras son acentuadas, literalmente, por LED “Chicane” blancos traslúcidos que cumplen una doble función como luces que funcionan durante el día y señales de giro.

La fascia frontal realiza una transición a un perfil lateral que comunica tanto fuerza como elegancia. Las superficies puras y los ángulos continuamente variables se equilibran mediante definidas líneas entrecruzadas que crean la impresión de que cada superficie cambia de forma según fluye desde la parte delantera hacia la trasera. Las superficies laterales puras gradualmente se abren hacia arriba en arcos de ruedas traseras, enfatizando la vía de rueda ancha del Concepto.

La parte posterior elegante y distintiva presenta un alerón ascendente con una línea central audazmente plegada (trazada desde el cofre) y un alerón integrado de carbono forjado. El aspecto se completa con las luces traseras LED “Chicane”, un gran difusor trasero y salidas de escape cromadas cuadradas.

El carbono forjado – creado mediante la unión de capas de carbono una sobre la otra para sobrepasar la fortaleza del carbono entrelazado tradicional – se aplica, además de al alerón trasero, a los divisores frontal y trasero, a los estribos laterales, y a las ruedas de 21 pulgadas con múltiples radios.

Una configuración “pareja” de neumáticos de la serie 285 garantiza altos niveles de agarre en las situaciones de conducción más dinámicas. Las cuatro esquinas cuentan con frenos de alto rendimiento Brembo™ con pinzas de cuatro pistones, que proporcionan una potencia de frenado más que suficiente y una apariencia agresiva.

La pintura “Double Apex Blue Pearl” personalizada para el Concepto refleja un tono líquido y eléctrico que rinde homenaje a los tradicionales modelos Type S azules, entre ellos el aclamado 2007-2008 TL Type S. “Double Apex Blue Pearl” emplea nanopigmentos y un recubrimiento transparente impregnado con color que transmite una sensación de fluidez y movimiento, al tiempo que resalta el brillo y el resplandor de la pintura.

El Concepto Type S de Acura fue concebido por Acura Design Studio en California, encabezado por el director creativo ejecutivo, Dave Marek, y el diseñador en jefe, Ben Davidson.

El legado de Acura Type S

Como un paso fundamental para cumplir la promesa Precision Crafted Performance, Acura llevará a cabo el debut de dos variantes de rendimiento del Type S en los próximos dos años, comenzando con el TLX Type S de segunda generación. Los modelos Type S proporcionarán una experiencia de conducción de alto rendimiento con aceleración más rápida, maniobrabilidad más ágil y performance más potente de frenos que los modelos Acura convencionales. Entre el 2001 y el 2008, cuatro modelos Type S establecieron el estándar para el Acura Performance en América del Norte:

2001-2003 Acura 3.2CL Type S:  Type S debutó con el Acura 3.2CL Type S 2001. El vehículo tenía un motor V6 de 3.2 litros con 260 caballos de fuerza (mejorado desde 225 hp), una trasmisión automática de 5 velocidades con una función de cambio manual, dirección más rápida, ruedas y neumáticos de 17 pulgadas y una suspensión con afinación deportiva. En su año modelo final, estaba disponible una transmisión manual de 6 velocidades.

2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL Type S: Haciendo su debut un año después del 3.2CL Type S, el 3.2TL Type S contaba con el mismo tipo de motor y transmisión con afinación hacia el rendimiento y similares mejoras en la suspensión, las ruedas y los neumáticos. A diferencia del 3.2CL Type S, el 3.2TL Type S no estaba disponible con una transmisión manual.

2002-2006 Acura RSX Type S: El RSX Type S se unió a la familia en 2002, propulsado por un nuevo motor de 4 cilindros i-VTEC® de 2.0 litros con 200 caballos de fuerza (mejorado desde 160 hp) conectado exclusivamente a una transmisión manual de 6 velocidades. En 2005, el RSX Type S recibió un aumento de potencia hasta 210 caballos de fuerza, junto con cambios de estilo que incluyeron un llamativo alerón trasero más grande.

2007-2008 Acura TL Type S: El Acura TL de tercera generación se reincorporó a la línea de vehículos Type S en 2007 y estaba propulsado por un motor V6 de 3.5 litros con una potencia de 286 caballos de fuerza (una mejora con respecto al V6 de 3.2 litros con 258 hp), una transmisión manual de 6 velocidades, frenos Brembo con 4 pistones, suspensión deportiva, mejores ruedas y neumáticos y un característico escape cuadrado.

Precision Crafted Performance: Renacimiento

Coincidiendo con su 30o aniversario en 2016, Acura trazó un nuevo curso para su futuro, retomando el enfoque a sus raíces originales y auténticas como una marca de lujo enfocada hacia el performance. El Acura NSX de segunda generación lanzado como la expresión suprema de Precision Crafted Performance dio inicio al enfoque de la marca hacia un futuro que priorizara, ante todo, el rendimiento.

En 2016, se sentaron las bases para un nuevo lenguaje de diseño con el debut del Acura Precision. Tomando su inspiración del NSX, el Precision Concept adoptó una postura de superauto y superficies puras y atractivas que apuntaban a un futuro más audaz y distintivo para el diseño Acura. El Concepto también mostró nuevas pistas claves del estilo de producción, incluso líneas más atrevidas y la nueva parrilla pentagonal con diseño de diamante distintiva de Acura, detalles que fueron adoptados rápidamente por toda la línea de producción, más recientemente por el sedán deportivo ILX 2019.

Acura también expandió su paquete deportivo A-Spec a todos sus modelos esenciales, atrayendo en el proceso a clientes más jóvenes. A principios de 2018, la marca anunció su intención de restablecer variantes de rendimiento Type S en su línea de vehículos, así como el desarrollo de un nuevo motor V6 con turbocargador exclusivo para Acura. El año pasado, Acura lanzó RDX 2019 como la primera SUV de una nueva generación de modelos Acura diseñados a partir de cero, en torno al Precision Crafted Performance. En su primer año, RDX de tercera generación se ha convertido en el modelo más vendido a nivel minorista en el mayor segmento de lujo y ha establecido múltiples récords consecutivos históricos de ventas mensuales.

La marca también ha disfrutado de un regreso extremadamente exitoso al automovilismo deportivo. Los equipos y pilotos de Acura que corren el NSX GT3 Evo y el ARX-05 Daytona Prototype actualmente lideran tanto el Campeonato de Fabricantes como el Campeonato de Pilotos en las clases GTD y DPi del IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Información proporcionada por Acura México.

Debuta Acura Type S Concept – Toma forma la filosofía Precision Crafted Performance de la marca Acura regresa a la Semana del Automóvil de Monterey, uno de los principales puntos de encuentro a nivel mundial para los entusiastas de los automóviles, para el debut del Concepto Type S.

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2019 Acura TLX Type S Release Date, Price and Redesign

2019 Acura TLX Type S Release Date, Price and Redesign

2019 Acura TLX Type S Release Date, Price and Redesign– The Acura TLX Type S Review will undoubtedly be the possible exchanging the upcoming Acura TLX Type S variations than when Acura has identified that can focus on relief of vacationers and advancement. Nevertheless, implementation is not going to assistance sometimes. Acura TLX Type S has dependably been a beautiful and providing edition from…

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Acura Gets the Brand Back Together, Again

MARYSVILLE, Ohio — This marque’s cultural high point came in 1994, when The Wolf (Harvey Keitel) warned Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) there had better not be so much as one scratch on his Acura.

The movie was Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-robbed “Pulp Fiction,” and The Wolf had lent Vega and Winnfield his Acura NSX as part of his effort to clean up their botched plan to retrieve their boss’ suitcase. And yes, it was product placement.

The movie came out just as the Acura NSX was getting some attention as not just the first Japanese car to retail for more than $60,000 in the U.S., but also as one that was worth it—an affordable Ferrari alternative that could be driven around town as easily as a Honda Civic. As an engine supplier, Honda had won the last of six Formula 1 Manufacturers Championships—four with McLaren, and two with Williams—in 1991, and for the last couple of years, the McLarens wore the Acura marque as its engine supplier for North American races.

For 2019, Acura has unified its styling, having eradicated the last of its much-derided “platypus” grilles from its lineup. Like everyone else in the industry, Acura’s sport/utility business is leading its passenger car business. For the first three quarters of 2018, Acura outsold Cadillac by just 1,243 units, with 114,483 to hold onto fifth place among luxury/premium brands in the U.S. It’s still well behind fourth-place Audi for the year, by nearly 53,000 units.

Acura marketing is playing up the marque’s technological advances and its longstanding image as a driver’s brand, led by its halo, the fabulous hybrid NSX supercar. The full-line event took place at the 170,000 square-foot NSX factory, where approximately 100 workers assemble the midengine car by hand. Here’s a quick look at what I saw and what I drove:

2019 Acura ILX A-Spec

The compact ILX is the last Acura model to benefit from a redesign featuring the new, five-point grille and the dual hood strakes. The rear license plate pocket has been moved from between the taillamps down to the bumper, giving the tail a stronger, more massive look.

The new design is handsome, if a bit anonymous, and it doesn’t fix the Acura ILX’s biggest problem. The ’19 model is a refresh, rather than a full redesign, and thus is based on the Mark IX Honda Civic and not the far superior Mark X Civic that premiered three model years ago. So the old 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four also is a holdover, combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with torque converter.

This unusual hybrid tranny is very smooth. It launches the car and shifts more smoothly than even the best wet-clutch DCTs, though it’s a bit of a downer that there are no new Acuras available with a Honda manual, still among the best gearboxes available.

The four’s 201 horsepower is adequate, though not special. The ride-handling balance seems just right for a premium compact with somewhat superficial sporting pretensions, with a smooth ride and some compliance in the corners (our Central Ohio drive route didn’t serve up any particularly challenging roads). The steering is too light, though, and lacking in feel and feedback, and the rather heavy understeer is a reminder of how far the ’16 Civic has come in this department.

In its defense, Acura has shaved $2,110 off the base price of the ILX, bringing it in at $26,895 for 2019, near the top-spec levels of the Civic. The A-Spec, with its special paint options and spectacular blood red leather seats with Alcantara center-seat trim, is $30,645 with the premium package and $32,545 with the technology package. The A-Spec still lacks a front passenger seat power lumbar control.

The ILX is the bestselling premium compact in its class, among Millennials, Acura says [the others in that segment are the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A220]. Choose an A-Spec with Still Night Pearl dark blue paint over that blood red interior, and you’ve got a vibrant look that’s hard to match in a Honda Civic, even the Si or Type R. Still, I can’t help but think that if Honda could be convinced to let Acura spend development money on something that’s not an SUV, an Acura based off the Type R, with a small rear wing and toned-down sedan body, slightly softer suspension but with the 306-hp 2.0-liter turbo and six-speed manual would make a dandy replacement for this car.

2019 Acura ILX A-Spec Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE (as tested) $30,645 – $32,545 (with Premium Package/with Tech Package) ENGINE 2.4L DOHC 16-valve I-4, 201 hp @ 6,800 rpm/180 lb-ft. @ 3,600 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5 passenger, FWD sedan EPA MILEAGE 24/28 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 182.2 x 70.6 x 55.6 in WHEELBASE 105.1 in. WEIGHT 3,144-3,148 lbs  0-60 MPH 7 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph (est)

2019 Acura NSX

Editor-in-chief Mike Floyd has a thorough review of this supercar’s mid-cycle update, which features new, stickier Continental SportContact 6 tires designed specifically for the car, and retuned adaptive dampers, electronic power steering, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, vehicle stability assist and stiffer front and rear stabilizer bars to work better with the new tires.

I got a total of about nine laps in the 2019 Acura NSX at the Transportation Research Center’s 1.9-mile road circuit, the first three on cold tires in sub-50 degree weather. I’d rather drive the old and new cars back-to-back to confirm Acura’s claims that turn-in is quicker and rotation around the corners in the midengine car is more progressive and predictable. All I can say is that the turn-in is about as close to perfect as you could want, without the too light nose that plagues so many rear-engine Porsches, and progressive rotation that’s easier to adjust than in a mid-engine 718. The Acura NSX is as easy to drive fast, confidently, as a BRZ/86 or Miata/Fiata, though with 500 horsepower being fed to the four wheels via Super Handling AWD torque vectoring.

Acura also showed off the NSX’s new Thermal Orange Pearl paint option. Several cars were making their way through the model’s bespoke factory during our tour. The only bad news plaguing the NSX is disappointing sales—it’s hard to imagine what Honda or Acura might put in this plant to supplement capacity utilization. Acura says it has sold about 2,000 NSXes, all built in Marysville, Ohio, and shipped globally.

In the U.S., Acura sold 850 NSXes in 2016 and ’17, while McLaren sold 1,193 of its Sport Series models here in those two years. Year to date, Acura has sold just 122 in the U.S., so far. So go check out the Acura NSX, rich enthusiasts.

2019 Acura NSX Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE $159,300 (base) ENGINE 3.5-liter twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6/500 hp @ 6500-7500 rpm, 406 lb-ft @ 2000-6000 rpm, plus three electric motors. Peak power: 573 hp/476 lb-ft TRANSMISSION 9-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, mid-engine, AWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 21/22 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 176.0 X 87.3 X 47.8 in WHEELBASE 103.5 in WEIGHT 3,878 lb 0-60 MPH 3.0 sec TOP SPEED 191 mph

2019 Acura RDX A-Spec

It’s reassuring to see that young Billy Rehbock had as much trouble with the two-screen infotainment system as I had. Acura lent me a white RDX A-Spec to drive the 204 miles between Detroit and Columbus, Ohio, and back, and I gave up on using the navigation system when I couldn’t find the keyboard to type in my destination address. Instead, I plugged in my iPhone and used Apple CarPlay.

The controls for changing radio stations, or to go between FM and XM are barely more intuitive, but once underway, the RDX was the right kind of SUV for this trip. It’s not too big, although it feels more like a midsize two-row instead of a compact SUV from the inside, and it’s comfortable and compliant without being too soft. Steering turn-in is quite crisp, and my only complaint about dynamics is the steering felt a bit busy on long, straight roads, needing a bit too much minor correction. May be the tires.

The A-Spec interior has the same leather-and-Alcantara red and black seats as the ILX A-Spec, but there’s also Alcantara trim on the middle of the passenger-side dash. Nice touch.

In Marysville, Acura showed off the RDX’s fourth-generation AWD software, which can shift up to 70 percent torque to the rear and up to 100 percent to a single wheel, just like Gen III, but more quickly. On a wet skidpad, the RDX was easier to drift than an AWD TLX with Gen III software, and on a rally-style rock-and-gravel twisty road, the RDX caught itself out of a slide more quickly, though the MDX with Gen III software was looser, and thus more fun to a frustrated rally driver like me.

The all-new, 2019 Acura RDX has crisper handling than most of its Asian and American premium competitors and with a much better ride than its German and Italian competitors. The 2.0-liter turbo is more refined, with more useful power than pretty much any other downsized turbo four in an AWD SUV. The Acura RDX has the rare combination, for an SUV, of crisp handling and good ride quality, like the Mazda CX-5, but with a more premium interior and a better, more powerful engine.

2019 Acura RDX Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE (as tested) $46,895 ENGINE 2.0L turbocharged DOHC 16-valve I-4/272 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 280 lb-ft @ 1,600-4,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic LAYOUT  4-door, 5-passenger front-engine AWD sport/utility EPA MILEAGE 21/26 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 186.8 x 74.8 x 65.7 in WHEELBASE 108.3 in WEIGHT 4,068 lb  0-60 MPH 7.5 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph (est)

The Classics

Acura also gave us time to drive perfectly maintained cars from its Torrance, California museum: a ’91 NSX Formula Red, ’01 Integra Type R, and ’03 3.2CL Type-S. I didn’t get time to drive the NSX, though I drove a couple of the last first-generation models about 2004 or ’05, and I can say the new NSX faithfully captures the spirit of that car. Acura doesn’t need to replicate the stiffly suspended, high-rev/low-torque model of the ’01 Integra Type R, though a new model following my suggestion above would make a good modern interpretation.

The post Acura Gets the Brand Back Together, Again appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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Acura Gets the Brand Back Together, Again

MARYSVILLE, Ohio — This marque’s cultural high point came in 1994, when The Wolf (Harvey Keitel) warned Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) there had better not be so much as one scratch on his Acura.

The movie was Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-robbed “Pulp Fiction,” and The Wolf had lent Vega and Winnfield his Acura NSX as part of his effort to clean up their botched plan to retrieve their boss’ suitcase. And yes, it was product placement.

The movie came out just as the Acura NSX was getting some attention as not just the first Japanese car to retail for more than $60,000 in the U.S., but also as one that was worth it—an affordable Ferrari alternative that could be driven around town as easily as a Honda Civic. As an engine supplier, Honda had won the last of six Formula 1 Manufacturers Championships—four with McLaren, and two with Williams—in 1991, and for the last couple of years, the McLarens wore the Acura marque as its engine supplier for North American races.

For 2019, Acura has unified its styling, having eradicated the last of its much-derided “platypus” grilles from its lineup. Like everyone else in the industry, Acura’s sport/utility business is leading its passenger car business. For the first three quarters of 2018, Acura outsold Cadillac by just 1,243 units, with 114,483 to hold onto fifth place among luxury/premium brands in the U.S. It’s still well behind fourth-place Audi for the year, by nearly 53,000 units.

Acura marketing is playing up the marque’s technological advances and its longstanding image as a driver’s brand, led by its halo, the fabulous hybrid NSX supercar. The full-line event took place at the 170,000 square-foot NSX factory, where approximately 100 workers assemble the midengine car by hand. Here’s a quick look at what I saw and what I drove:

2019 Acura ILX A-Spec

The compact ILX is the last Acura model to benefit from a redesign featuring the new, five-point grille and the dual hood strakes. The rear license plate pocket has been moved from between the taillamps down to the bumper, giving the tail a stronger, more massive look.

The new design is handsome, if a bit anonymous, and it doesn’t fix the Acura ILX’s biggest problem. The ’19 model is a refresh, rather than a full redesign, and thus is based on the Mark IX Honda Civic and not the far superior Mark X Civic that premiered three model years ago. So the old 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four also is a holdover, combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with torque converter.

This unusual hybrid tranny is very smooth. It launches the car and shifts more smoothly than even the best wet-clutch DCTs, though it’s a bit of a downer that there are no new Acuras available with a Honda manual, still among the best gearboxes available.

The four’s 201 horsepower is adequate, though not special. The ride-handling balance seems just right for a premium compact with somewhat superficial sporting pretensions, with a smooth ride and some compliance in the corners (our Central Ohio drive route didn’t serve up any particularly challenging roads). The steering is too light, though, and lacking in feel and feedback, and the rather heavy understeer is a reminder of how far the ’16 Civic has come in this department.

In its defense, Acura has shaved $2,110 off the base price of the ILX, bringing it in at $26,895 for 2019, near the top-spec levels of the Civic. The A-Spec, with its special paint options and spectacular blood red leather seats with Alcantara center-seat trim, is $30,645 with the premium package and $32,545 with the technology package. The A-Spec still lacks a front passenger seat power lumbar control.

The ILX is the bestselling premium compact in its class, among Millennials, Acura says [the others in that segment are the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A220]. Choose an A-Spec with Still Night Pearl dark blue paint over that blood red interior, and you’ve got a vibrant look that’s hard to match in a Honda Civic, even the Si or Type R. Still, I can’t help but think that if Honda could be convinced to let Acura spend development money on something that’s not an SUV, an Acura based off the Type R, with a small rear wing and toned-down sedan body, slightly softer suspension but with the 306-hp 2.0-liter turbo and six-speed manual would make a dandy replacement for this car.

2019 Acura ILX A-Spec Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE (as tested) $30,645 – $32,545 (with Premium Package/with Tech Package) ENGINE 2.4L DOHC 16-valve I-4, 201 hp @ 6,800 rpm/180 lb-ft. @ 3,600 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5 passenger, FWD sedan EPA MILEAGE 24/28 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 182.2 x 70.6 x 55.6 in WHEELBASE 105.1 in. WEIGHT 3,144-3,148 lbs  0-60 MPH 7 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph (est)

2019 Acura NSX

Editor-in-chief Mike Floyd has a thorough review of this supercar’s mid-cycle update, which features new, stickier Continental SportContact 6 tires designed specifically for the car, and retuned adaptive dampers, electronic power steering, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, vehicle stability assist and stiffer front and rear stabilizer bars to work better with the new tires.

I got a total of about nine laps in the 2019 Acura NSX at the Transportation Research Center’s 1.9-mile road circuit, the first three on cold tires in sub-50 degree weather. I’d rather drive the old and new cars back-to-back to confirm Acura’s claims that turn-in is quicker and rotation around the corners in the midengine car is more progressive and predictable. All I can say is that the turn-in is about as close to perfect as you could want, without the too light nose that plagues so many rear-engine Porsches, and progressive rotation that’s easier to adjust than in a mid-engine 718. The Acura NSX is as easy to drive fast, confidently, as a BRZ/86 or Miata/Fiata, though with 500 horsepower being fed to the four wheels via Super Handling AWD torque vectoring.

Acura also showed off the NSX’s new Thermal Orange Pearl paint option. Several cars were making their way through the model’s bespoke factory during our tour. The only bad news plaguing the NSX is disappointing sales—it’s hard to imagine what Honda or Acura might put in this plant to supplement capacity utilization. Acura says it has sold about 2,000 NSXes, all built in Marysville, Ohio, and shipped globally.

In the U.S., Acura sold 850 NSXes in 2016 and ’17, while McLaren sold 1,193 of its Sport Series models here in those two years. Year to date, Acura has sold just 122 in the U.S., so far. So go check out the Acura NSX, rich enthusiasts.

2019 Acura NSX Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE $159,300 (base) ENGINE 3.5-liter twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6/500 hp @ 6500-7500 rpm, 406 lb-ft @ 2000-6000 rpm, plus three electric motors. Peak power: 573 hp/476 lb-ft TRANSMISSION 9-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, mid-engine, AWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 21/22 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 176.0 X 87.3 X 47.8 in WHEELBASE 103.5 in WEIGHT 3,878 lb 0-60 MPH 3.0 sec TOP SPEED 191 mph

2019 Acura RDX A-Spec

It’s reassuring to see that young Billy Rehbock had as much trouble with the two-screen infotainment system as I had. Acura lent me a white RDX A-Spec to drive the 204 miles between Detroit and Columbus, Ohio, and back, and I gave up on using the navigation system when I couldn’t find the keyboard to type in my destination address. Instead, I plugged in my iPhone and used Apple CarPlay.

The controls for changing radio stations, or to go between FM and XM are barely more intuitive, but once underway, the RDX was the right kind of SUV for this trip. It’s not too big, although it feels more like a midsize two-row instead of a compact SUV from the inside, and it’s comfortable and compliant without being too soft. Steering turn-in is quite crisp, and my only complaint about dynamics is the steering felt a bit busy on long, straight roads, needing a bit too much minor correction. May be the tires.

The A-Spec interior has the same leather-and-Alcantara red and black seats as the ILX A-Spec, but there’s also Alcantara trim on the middle of the passenger-side dash. Nice touch.

In Marysville, Acura showed off the RDX’s fourth-generation AWD software, which can shift up to 70 percent torque to the rear and up to 100 percent to a single wheel, just like Gen III, but more quickly. On a wet skidpad, the RDX was easier to drift than an AWD TLX with Gen III software, and on a rally-style rock-and-gravel twisty road, the RDX caught itself out of a slide more quickly, though the MDX with Gen III software was looser, and thus more fun to a frustrated rally driver like me.

The all-new, 2019 Acura RDX has crisper handling than most of its Asian and American premium competitors and with a much better ride than its German and Italian competitors. The 2.0-liter turbo is more refined, with more useful power than pretty much any other downsized turbo four in an AWD SUV. The Acura RDX has the rare combination, for an SUV, of crisp handling and good ride quality, like the Mazda CX-5, but with a more premium interior and a better, more powerful engine.

2019 Acura RDX Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE (as tested) $46,895 ENGINE 2.0L turbocharged DOHC 16-valve I-4/272 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 280 lb-ft @ 1,600-4,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic LAYOUT  4-door, 5-passenger front-engine AWD sport/utility EPA MILEAGE 21/26 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 186.8 x 74.8 x 65.7 in WHEELBASE 108.3 in WEIGHT 4,068 lb  0-60 MPH 7.5 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph (est)

The Classics

Acura also gave us time to drive perfectly maintained cars from its Torrance, California museum: a ’91 NSX Formula Red, ’01 Integra Type R, and ’03 3.2CL Type-S. I didn’t get time to drive the NSX, though I drove a couple of the last first-generation models about 2004 or ’05, and I can say the new NSX faithfully captures the spirit of that car. Acura doesn’t need to replicate the stiffly suspended, high-rev/low-torque model of the ’01 Integra Type R, though a new model following my suggestion above would make a good modern interpretation.

The post Acura Gets the Brand Back Together, Again appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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[eddiejpoplar]

Acura Gets the Brand Back Together, Again

MARYSVILLE, Ohio — This marque’s cultural high point came in 1994, when The Wolf (Harvey Keitel) warned Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) there had better not be so much as one scratch on his Acura.

The movie was Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-robbed “Pulp Fiction,” and The Wolf had lent Vega and Winnfield his Acura NSX as part of his effort to clean up their botched plan to retrieve their boss’ suitcase. And yes, it was product placement.

The movie came out just as the Acura NSX was getting some attention as not just the first Japanese car to retail for more than $60,000 in the U.S., but also as one that was worth it—an affordable Ferrari alternative that could be driven around town as easily as a Honda Civic. As an engine supplier, Honda had won the last of six Formula 1 Manufacturers Championships—four with McLaren, and two with Williams—in 1991, and for the last couple of years, the McLarens wore the Acura marque as its engine supplier for North American races.

For 2019, Acura has unified its styling, having eradicated the last of its much-derided “platypus” grilles from its lineup. Like everyone else in the industry, Acura’s sport/utility business is leading its passenger car business. For the first three quarters of 2018, Acura outsold Cadillac by just 1,243 units, with 114,483 to hold onto fifth place among luxury/premium brands in the U.S. It’s still well behind fourth-place Audi for the year, by nearly 53,000 units.

Acura marketing is playing up the marque’s technological advances and its longstanding image as a driver’s brand, led by its halo, the fabulous hybrid NSX supercar. The full-line event took place at the 170,000 square-foot NSX factory, where approximately 100 workers assemble the midengine car by hand. Here’s a quick look at what I saw and what I drove:

2019 Acura ILX A-Spec

The compact ILX is the last Acura model to benefit from a redesign featuring the new, five-point grille and the dual hood strakes. The rear license plate pocket has been moved from between the taillamps down to the bumper, giving the tail a stronger, more massive look.

The new design is handsome, if a bit anonymous, and it doesn’t fix the Acura ILX’s biggest problem. The ’19 model is a refresh, rather than a full redesign, and thus is based on the Mark IX Honda Civic and not the far superior Mark X Civic that premiered three model years ago. So the old 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four also is a holdover, combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with torque converter.

This unusual hybrid tranny is very smooth. It launches the car and shifts more smoothly than even the best wet-clutch DCTs, though it’s a bit of a downer that there are no new Acuras available with a Honda manual, still among the best gearboxes available.

The four’s 201 horsepower is adequate, though not special. The ride-handling balance seems just right for a premium compact with somewhat superficial sporting pretensions, with a smooth ride and some compliance in the corners (our Central Ohio drive route didn’t serve up any particularly challenging roads). The steering is too light, though, and lacking in feel and feedback, and the rather heavy understeer is a reminder of how far the ’16 Civic has come in this department.

In its defense, Acura has shaved $2,110 off the base price of the ILX, bringing it in at $26,895 for 2019, near the top-spec levels of the Civic. The A-Spec, with its special paint options and spectacular blood red leather seats with Alcantara center-seat trim, is $30,645 with the premium package and $32,545 with the technology package. The A-Spec still lacks a front passenger seat power lumbar control.

The ILX is the bestselling premium compact in its class, among Millennials, Acura says [the others in that segment are the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A220]. Choose an A-Spec with Still Night Pearl dark blue paint over that blood red interior, and you’ve got a vibrant look that’s hard to match in a Honda Civic, even the Si or Type R. Still, I can’t help but think that if Honda could be convinced to let Acura spend development money on something that’s not an SUV, an Acura based off the Type R, with a small rear wing and toned-down sedan body, slightly softer suspension but with the 306-hp 2.0-liter turbo and six-speed manual would make a dandy replacement for this car.

2019 Acura ILX A-Spec Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE (as tested) $30,645 – $32,545 (with Premium Package/with Tech Package) ENGINE 2.4L DOHC 16-valve I-4, 201 hp @ 6,800 rpm/180 lb-ft. @ 3,600 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5 passenger, FWD sedan EPA MILEAGE 24/28 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 182.2 x 70.6 x 55.6 in WHEELBASE 105.1 in. WEIGHT 3,144-3,148 lbs  0-60 MPH 7 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph (est)

2019 Acura NSX

Editor-in-chief Mike Floyd has a thorough review of this supercar’s mid-cycle update, which features new, stickier Continental SportContact 6 tires designed specifically for the car, and retuned adaptive dampers, electronic power steering, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, vehicle stability assist and stiffer front and rear stabilizer bars to work better with the new tires.

I got a total of about nine laps in the 2019 Acura NSX at the Transportation Research Center’s 1.9-mile road circuit, the first three on cold tires in sub-50 degree weather. I’d rather drive the old and new cars back-to-back to confirm Acura’s claims that turn-in is quicker and rotation around the corners in the midengine car is more progressive and predictable. All I can say is that the turn-in is about as close to perfect as you could want, without the too light nose that plagues so many rear-engine Porsches, and progressive rotation that’s easier to adjust than in a mid-engine 718. The Acura NSX is as easy to drive fast, confidently, as a BRZ/86 or Miata/Fiata, though with 500 horsepower being fed to the four wheels via Super Handling AWD torque vectoring.

Acura also showed off the NSX’s new Thermal Orange Pearl paint option. Several cars were making their way through the model’s bespoke factory during our tour. The only bad news plaguing the NSX is disappointing sales—it’s hard to imagine what Honda or Acura might put in this plant to supplement capacity utilization. Acura says it has sold about 2,000 NSXes, all built in Marysville, Ohio, and shipped globally.

In the U.S., Acura sold 850 NSXes in 2016 and ’17, while McLaren sold 1,193 of its Sport Series models here in those two years. Year to date, Acura has sold just 122 in the U.S., so far. So go check out the Acura NSX, rich enthusiasts.

2019 Acura NSX Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE $159,300 (base) ENGINE 3.5-liter twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6/500 hp @ 6500-7500 rpm, 406 lb-ft @ 2000-6000 rpm, plus three electric motors. Peak power: 573 hp/476 lb-ft TRANSMISSION 9-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, mid-engine, AWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 21/22 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 176.0 X 87.3 X 47.8 in WHEELBASE 103.5 in WEIGHT 3,878 lb 0-60 MPH 3.0 sec TOP SPEED 191 mph

2019 Acura RDX A-Spec

It’s reassuring to see that young Billy Rehbock had as much trouble with the two-screen infotainment system as I had. Acura lent me a white RDX A-Spec to drive the 204 miles between Detroit and Columbus, Ohio, and back, and I gave up on using the navigation system when I couldn’t find the keyboard to type in my destination address. Instead, I plugged in my iPhone and used Apple CarPlay.

The controls for changing radio stations, or to go between FM and XM are barely more intuitive, but once underway, the RDX was the right kind of SUV for this trip. It’s not too big, although it feels more like a midsize two-row instead of a compact SUV from the inside, and it’s comfortable and compliant without being too soft. Steering turn-in is quite crisp, and my only complaint about dynamics is the steering felt a bit busy on long, straight roads, needing a bit too much minor correction. May be the tires.

The A-Spec interior has the same leather-and-Alcantara red and black seats as the ILX A-Spec, but there’s also Alcantara trim on the middle of the passenger-side dash. Nice touch.

In Marysville, Acura showed off the RDX’s fourth-generation AWD software, which can shift up to 70 percent torque to the rear and up to 100 percent to a single wheel, just like Gen III, but more quickly. On a wet skidpad, the RDX was easier to drift than an AWD TLX with Gen III software, and on a rally-style rock-and-gravel twisty road, the RDX caught itself out of a slide more quickly, though the MDX with Gen III software was looser, and thus more fun to a frustrated rally driver like me.

The all-new, 2019 Acura RDX has crisper handling than most of its Asian and American premium competitors and with a much better ride than its German and Italian competitors. The 2.0-liter turbo is more refined, with more useful power than pretty much any other downsized turbo four in an AWD SUV. The Acura RDX has the rare combination, for an SUV, of crisp handling and good ride quality, like the Mazda CX-5, but with a more premium interior and a better, more powerful engine.

2019 Acura RDX Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE (as tested) $46,895 ENGINE 2.0L turbocharged DOHC 16-valve I-4/272 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 280 lb-ft @ 1,600-4,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic LAYOUT  4-door, 5-passenger front-engine AWD sport/utility EPA MILEAGE 21/26 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 186.8 x 74.8 x 65.7 in WHEELBASE 108.3 in WEIGHT 4,068 lb  0-60 MPH 7.5 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph (est)

The Classics

Acura also gave us time to drive perfectly maintained cars from its Torrance, California museum: a ’91 NSX Formula Red, ’01 Integra Type R, and ’03 3.2CL Type-S. I didn’t get time to drive the NSX, though I drove a couple of the last first-generation models about 2004 or ’05, and I can say the new NSX faithfully captures the spirit of that car. Acura doesn’t need to replicate the stiffly suspended, high-rev/low-torque model of the ’01 Integra Type R, though a new model following my suggestion above would make a good modern interpretation.

The post Acura Gets the Brand Back Together, Again appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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[robertkstone]

Refreshing or Revolting: 2019 Genesis G70 vs. The Competition

The 2019 Genesis G70 is the newest entry in the super competitive compact luxury sport sedan segment and it has its sights set on the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. Riding on a shortened version of the same platform underpinning the larger Kia Stinger, meaning the Genesis G70 is smaller and more compact. The car mark a big first step for the fledgling premium brand, but how does its styling compare to the competition? Below, we take a closer look at the G70’s design to see how it stacks up against another newcomer, the Alfa Romeo Giulia, and two class stalwarts, the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

Up front, the G70 features Genesis’ corporate face with the brand’s shield-type grille as the center piece. Its thin headlight clusters sweep back and have two LED accent strips in them that preview the automaker’s future design direction. Unlike the more conservative Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series, which have a more restrained front fascia, the G70 is more aggressive thanks to the lower center opening below the grille. The functional air curtains that give it a squared off appearance as you go lower in its front fascia. It gives the car a sense of aggression, and like another competitor, the Alfa Romeo Giulia, a presence.

The Genesis G70’s side profile is more conventional. However, its silhouette is more coupe-like than the 3 Series, A4, and Giulia, making it look sleeker and sexier. Out back, the G70 features muscular rear haunches that make it look wider and more planted than its competitors while remaining elegant. The BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4, on the other hand, have rear ends that are more conventional and less dramatic than the G70 while the Giulia’s is slightly boxy and less rounded.

In terms of interior design, the 2019 Genesis G70 has a simple but cohesive design that’s clearly aimed at user-friendliness. However, like many of its rivals including the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, the G70 has a freestanding tablet-like touchscreen as the centerpiece of the dash. The rest of the controls, on the other hand, are more conventional with knobs and buttons used for the infotainment system, in addition to the touchscreen. Many modern cars, including the A4, have minimized the number of buttons of knobs and buttons in the interior, but the aging 3 Series and the Giulia continue to use them.

When it goes on sale next year, the 2019 Genesis G70 will be available with either a 2.0-liter turbo-four or a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6. An eight-speed automatic transmission will be available with both engines but the base four-cylinder will also be offered with a six-speed manual. Rear-wheel drive is standard with both engines while all-wheel drive is optional.

So is the Genesis G70’s styling a hit or a miss compared to the rest of the class? Besides these three cars, there’s also the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, Cadillac ATS, Jaguar XE, and Acura TLX to consider.

The post Refreshing or Revolting: 2019 Genesis G70 vs. The Competition appeared first on Motor Trend.

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[superautoreviews]

2019 Acura TLX Type S Release Date, Price, Changes

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2019 Acura TLX Type S Release Date, Price, Changes

2019 Acura TLX Type S Release Date, Price, Changes – The 2019 Acura TLX will provoke the eagerness of games vehicle fans using its fresh from the pack new aspects and ad-libbed visual appeal. 2019 Acura TLX was consistently offered to get an extravagance car review plus its new redesign, the 2 in and out of.

2019 Acura TLX Price and Specs

2019 Acura TLX Type S

Do you need the personal references for purchasing a new automobile? What type of autos do you want to possess? Would it be about the great car? If yes it is actually, then you need to look at more details on 2019 Acura TLX which can be the best selections.

Perhaps you are questioning why it must be the 2019 Acura TLX Type S Changes as the guide in choosing the brand new deluxe car one particular. Would you like to determine what this is because? This is due to for those who have regarded to decide on the high-class vehicle one particular; it indicates that you simply are going to do nearly anything to get it in your palm, so this is why this new automobile is often very your best alternatives.

2019 Acura TLX Engine

2019 Acura TLX Engine

The 2019 Acura TLX items an option of two engines: a 2.4-liter 4-tubing or even a 3.5-liter V6. The particular 2.4-liter engine generates 206 Hewlett Packard and 182 pound-ft of torque and is supplied getting an 8-10-velocity auto transmission that transmits ability to the entrance tires. The transmission can be a particular gearbox that integrates a fast moving two-clutch process automatic manual using a conventional torque converter present in regular automatic transmissions to get a stability of clean decreased-speed proposition with sporty equipment changes. In Edmunds track testing, a 4-tube Acura TLX faster from absolutely no to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, that is about the slow-moving-moving aspect to the market.

The EPA rates overall fuel economy with the 2.4-liter engine being 28 mpg merged (24 community/35 freeway). It is an appealing estimate. However, on our blended-traveling assessment loop whereby fuel economy fits or maybe higher than the EPA put together appearance, we have now observed an unsatisfying 23.6 miles per gallon. The larger 3.5-liter V6 is graded at 290 hp and 267 lb-toes of torque and is paired with a far more standard 9-rate auto that delivers opportunity to the front sidecar tires. Torque vectoring all-wheel-push product is suggested for the V6. Evaluated two V6-operated 2019 Acura TLX Hybrid Release Date models by having an all-time push. One particular attained the run to 60 mph in 6.1 secs, even though other required 6.4 secs. Though these periods can be considered quick, they’re correctly powering some segment levels of competition utilizing their totally free upgrade engines. The EPA estimations electricity economy for the V6 at 25 miles per gallon blended (21 city/34 highway) with top part-wheel traveling and 25 miles per gallon put together (21 city/31 towns). Our combined-traveling analysis loop inside an all-tire-push V6 Acura TLX yielded a selected community regular of 21.2 miles per gallon, which happens to be more dangerous than what we anticipated.

2019 Acura TLX Redesigned Exterior

2019 Acura TLX Changes

This particular alter will likewise help far more necessary adaptability in controlling and prompt to more affordable energy utilization. Acura is furthermore showing greater stability illustrates. Aside from these positive changes, a variety of plastic material adjustments may similarly be continuous to happen, particularly regarding the summarize of the front side grille alongside its lighting. It might incorporate reshaped Brought head and tail-lamps alongside standpoint divider decorative mirrors with LED traces.

2019 Acura TLX Interior

2019 Acura TLX Interior

Inside of, the 2019 Acura TLX Price and Specs boasts a modern, sleek dashboard that will keep control keys as small as possible by using Acura’s double-exhibit set up, whereby the 8-in. A top model displays the navigation and sound information and the seven-” lower touchscreen furnishes accessibility very same along with the weather conditions manage the process. Other considerations of note include a tool board multi-purpose exhibit and, on V6-engined models, an uncommon drive-switch items selector.

More boosting the Acura TLX’s cool technology quotient may be the accessible Acura Website link online connectivity system, which includes actual time website traffic and weather updates, Siri View Free of charge along with a concierge assist that can make restaurant concerns. Also, the area of the installation are cloud-structured software including Aha stereo, that may play internet streaming internet radio stations and podcasts, also, to read aloud articles from Fb, Tweets, music textbooks, and reports.

2019 Acura TLX Release Date and Price

2019 Acura TLX Price

A variety of incident avoidance technological innovation, a few of them presented about the 2019 Acura TLX Price and Specs and MDX, are prepared into the Acura TLX. Forward-accidents cautions with automatic immediate braking, lane-departure signals, lane trying to keep aid, adaptive vacation cruise handle, and sightless-place display screens can be found at the top-of-the-line variants.

The Acura TLX has accomplished a high 5-legend general ranking through the authorities, and customarily best “Excellent” grades from the IIHS, except for a “Marginal” score in the small overlap accident analyze. Cost in the decrease $30,000 range; the Acura TLX includes strength capabilities; deluxe vacation cruise control; Bluetooth; Siri Eyeballs Cost-free; plus an AM/FM/satellite stereo audio system with six lecturer systems.

[enginerumors]

Acura 2019 TLX Review, Redesign, Specs

Acura 2019 TLX Review, Redesign, Specs

Acura 2019 TLX Review, Redesign, Specs – The newest Acura 2019 TLX will likely be among the new sedan cars that could be unveiled in 2019. This car has some changes and improvements to be capable of taking on one more sedan automobile in sedan marketplace. The newest model of this car can certainly make the car look much more top quality with higher performance.

Acura 2019 TLX 

Acura 2019 TLX…

[enginerumors]

Acura 2019 TLX Changes, Configurations

Acura 2019 TLX Changes, Configurations

Acura 2019 TLX Changes, Configurations – Once the previous-calendar year facelift, it is evident in which Acura 2019 TLXis not going to attribute even more significant changes. The following design initially emerged less than lengthy in the past. It had been released around 2014, like a successor connected with TL product. Soon after three years of creation, it the middle of-sizing high-end sedan…

[eddiejpoplar]

Acura Gets the Brand Back Together, Again

MARYSVILLE, Ohio — This marque’s cultural high point came in 1994, when The Wolf (Harvey Keitel) warned Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) there had better not be so much as one scratch on his Acura.

The movie was Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-robbed “Pulp Fiction,” and The Wolf had lent Vega and Winnfield his Acura NSX as part of his effort to clean up their botched plan to retrieve their boss’ suitcase. And yes, it was product placement.

The movie came out just as the Acura NSX was getting some attention as not just the first Japanese car to retail for more than $60,000 in the U.S., but also as one that was worth it—an affordable Ferrari alternative that could be driven around town as easily as a Honda Civic. As an engine supplier, Honda had won the last of six Formula 1 Manufacturers Championships—four with McLaren, and two with Williams—in 1991, and for the last couple of years, the McLarens wore the Acura marque as its engine supplier for North American races.

For 2019, Acura has unified its styling, having eradicated the last of its much-derided “platypus” grilles from its lineup. Like everyone else in the industry, Acura’s sport/utility business is leading its passenger car business. For the first three quarters of 2018, Acura outsold Cadillac by just 1,243 units, with 114,483 to hold onto fifth place among luxury/premium brands in the U.S. It’s still well behind fourth-place Audi for the year, by nearly 53,000 units.

Acura marketing is playing up the marque’s technological advances and its longstanding image as a driver’s brand, led by its halo, the fabulous hybrid NSX supercar. The full-line event took place at the 170,000 square-foot NSX factory, where approximately 100 workers assemble the midengine car by hand. Here’s a quick look at what I saw and what I drove:

2019 Acura ILX A-Spec

The compact ILX is the last Acura model to benefit from a redesign featuring the new, five-point grille and the dual hood strakes. The rear license plate pocket has been moved from between the taillamps down to the bumper, giving the tail a stronger, more massive look.

The new design is handsome, if a bit anonymous, and it doesn’t fix the Acura ILX’s biggest problem. The ’19 model is a refresh, rather than a full redesign, and thus is based on the Mark IX Honda Civic and not the far superior Mark X Civic that premiered three model years ago. So the old 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four also is a holdover, combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with torque converter.

This unusual hybrid tranny is very smooth. It launches the car and shifts more smoothly than even the best wet-clutch DCTs, though it’s a bit of a downer that there are no new Acuras available with a Honda manual, still among the best gearboxes available.

The four’s 201 horsepower is adequate, though not special. The ride-handling balance seems just right for a premium compact with somewhat superficial sporting pretensions, with a smooth ride and some compliance in the corners (our Central Ohio drive route didn’t serve up any particularly challenging roads). The steering is too light, though, and lacking in feel and feedback, and the rather heavy understeer is a reminder of how far the ’16 Civic has come in this department.

In its defense, Acura has shaved $2,110 off the base price of the ILX, bringing it in at $26,895 for 2019, near the top-spec levels of the Civic. The A-Spec, with its special paint options and spectacular blood red leather seats with Alcantara center-seat trim, is $30,645 with the premium package and $32,545 with the technology package. The A-Spec still lacks a blind-spot system (so does the Mk X Civic) and a front passenger seat power lumbar control.

The ILX is the bestselling premium compact in its class, among Millennials, Acura says [the others in that segment are the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A220]. Choose an A-Spec with Still Night Pearl dark blue paint over that blood red interior, and you’ve got a vibrant look that’s hard to match in a Honda Civic, even the Si or Type R. Still, I can’t help but think that if Honda could be convinced to let Acura spend development money on something that’s not an SUV, an Acura based off the Type R, with a small rear wing and toned-down sedan body, slightly softer suspension but with the 306-hp 2.0-liter turbo and six-speed manual would make a dandy replacement for this car.

2019 Acura ILX A-Spec Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE (as tested) $30,645 – $32,545 (with Premium Package/with Tech Package) ENGINE 2.4L DOHC 16-valve I-4, 201 hp @ 6,800 rpm/180 lb-ft. @ 3,600 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5 passenger, FWD sedan EPA MILEAGE 24/28 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 182.2 x 70.6 x 55.6 in WHEELBASE 105.1 in. WEIGHT 3,144-3,148 lbs  0-60 MPH 8.3 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph (est)

2019 Acura NSX

Editor-in-chief Mike Floyd has a thorough review of this supercar’s mid-cycle update, which features new, stickier Continental SportContact 6 tires designed specifically for the car, and retuned adaptive dampers, electronic power steering, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, vehicle stability assist and stiffer front and rear stabilizer bars to work better with the new tires.

I got a total of about nine laps in the 2019 Acura NSX at the Transportation Research Center’s 1.9-mile road circuit, the first three on cold tires in sub-50 degree weather. I’d rather drive the old and new cars back-to-back to confirm Acura’s claims that turn-in is quicker and rotation around the corners in the midengine car is more progressive and predictable. All I can say is that the turn-in is about as close to perfect as you could want, without the too light nose that plagues so many rear-engine Porsches, and progressive rotation that’s easier to adjust than in a mid-engine 718. The Acura NSX is as easy to drive fast, confidently, as a BRZ/86 or Miata/Fiata, though with 500 horsepower being fed to the four wheels via Super Handling AWD torque vectoring.

Acura also showed off the NSX’s new Thermal Orange Pearl paint option. Several cars were making their way through the model’s bespoke factory during our tour. The only bad news plaguing the NSX is disappointing sales—it’s hard to imagine what Honda or Acura might put in this plant to supplement capacity utilization. Acura says it has sold about 2,000 NSXes, all built in Marysville, Ohio, and shipped globally.

In the U.S., Acura sold 850 NSXes in 2016 and ’17, while McLaren sold 1,193 of its Sport Series models here in those two years. Year to date, Acura has sold just 122 in the U.S., so far. So go check out the Acura NSX, rich enthusiasts.

2019 Acura NSX Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE $159,300 (base) ENGINE 3.5-liter twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6/500 hp @ 6500-7500 rpm, 406 lb-ft @ 2000-6000 rpm, plus three electric motors. Peak power: 573 hp/476 lb-ft TRANSMISSION 9-speed dual-clutch automatic LAYOUT 2-door, mid-engine, AWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 21/22 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 176.0 X 87.3 X 47.8 in WHEELBASE 103.5 in WEIGHT 3,878 lb 0-60 MPH 3.0 sec TOP SPEED 191 mph

2019 Acura RDX A-Spec

It’s reassuring to see that young Billy Rehbock had as much trouble with the two-screen infotainment system as I had. Acura lent me a white RDX A-Spec to drive the 204 miles between Detroit and Columbus, Ohio, and back, and I gave up on using the navigation system when I couldn’t find the keyboard to type in my destination address. Instead, I plugged in my iPhone and used Apple CarPlay.

The controls for changing radio stations, or to go between FM and XM are barely more intuitive, but once underway, the RSX was the right kind of SUV for this trip. It’s not too big, although it feels more like a midsize two-row instead of a compact SUV from the inside, and it’s comfortable and compliant without being too soft. Steering turn-in is quite crisp, and my only complaint about dynamics is the steering felt a bit busy on long, straight roads, needing a bit too much minor correction. May be the tires.

The A-Spec interior has the same leather-and-Alcantara red and black seats as the ILX A-Spec, but there’s also Alcantara trim on the middle of the passenger-side dash. Nice touch.

In Marysville, Acura showed off the RDX’s fourth-generation AWD software, which can shift up to 70 percent torque to the rear and up to 100 percent to a single wheel, just like Gen III, but more quickly. On a wet skidpad, the RDX was easier to drift than an AWD TLX with Gen III software, and on a rally-style rock-and-gravel twisty road, the RDX caught itself out of a slide more quickly, though the MDX with Gen III software was looser, and thus more fun to a frustrated rally driver like me.

The all-new, 2019 Acura RDX has crisper handling than most of its Asian and American premium competitors and with a much better ride than its German and Italian competitors. The 2.0-liter turbo is more refined, with more useful power than pretty much any other downsized turbo four in an AWD SUV. The Acura RDX has the rare combination, for an SUV, of crisp handling and good ride quality, like the Mazda CX-5, but with a more premium interior and a better, more powerful engine.

2019 Acura RDX Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE (as tested) $46,895 ENGINE 2.0L turbocharged DOHC 16-valve I-4/272 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 280 lb-ft @ 1,600-4,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic LAYOUT  4-door, 5-passenger front-engine AWD sport/utility EPA MILEAGE 21/26 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 186.8 x 74.8 x 65.7 in WHEELBASE 108.3 in WEIGHT 4,068 lb  0-60 MPH 7.5 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph (est)

The Classics

Acura also gave us time to drive perfectly maintained cars from its Torrance, California museum: a ’91 NSX Formula Red, ’01 Integra Type R, and ’03 3.2CL Type-S. I didn’t get time to drive the NSX, though I drove a couple of the last first-generation models about 2004 or ’05, and I can say the new NSX faithfully captures the spirit of that car. Acura doesn’t need to replicate the stiffly suspended, high-rev/low-torque model of the ’01 Integra Type R, though a new model following my suggestion above would make a good modern interpretation.

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