Honda Considering to Race the New NSX
November 17, 2009
Honda might still have a bit of fight in them when it comes to racing. They might have pulled out of F1 and have previously announced that the old NSX warhorse will be pulling out in several motorsport competition.
With their new vision of being the world’s greenest automaker and the financial crisis, the planned NSX replacement was canned.
However, rule changes in the Japanese Super GT series have now given Honda a good reason to bring out the plans again. Super GT rules will be banning mid-engined cars.
The planned NSX replacement will be front-engined and RWD making it quite perfect for the new rules. It was initially slated to get a 5.5L V10 that dishes out 600 hp until Honda decided to go green with the car.
Honda NSX Replacement Still a Go
July 22, 2009
Now would you look at that. Just last year, reports said that the NSX replacement will never come to fruition. Apparently, the project’s still pretty much alive in Honda’s development plans but they’ve taken a more conservative route when they went back to the drawing board.
A heavily-camouflaged NSX-replacement prototype was seen around the Nurburgring last year which everyone speculated to be the comeback of a true Asia supercar. Now, with Honda aiming to be the greenest car maker on the planet, the car is now reported to shift its interest in the car. The company is now calling the project its “Super Hybrid Sports.”
The new car will be powered by a 3.5L V6 that runs in tandem with a hybrid system. The total power output is 450 horses. This will be a lot lower than the initial reports of the car packing a 600-hp 5.5L V10. The car will also feature an ”SH-AWD system” to be mounted on an aluminum platform. Taking hints from the Nissan GT-R, the car will also have a rear transaxle.
The car is rumored to take on the Toyota/Lexus FT-HS as a sports hybrid leading to more speculation to what the two automakers have in store since Toyota has had no announcements on the development of the FT-HS.
Acura ZDX Confirmed for US
July 21, 2009
Honda’s Acura brand is looking to get a piece of US market share with the confirmation of the ZDX coupe/crossover. The car will be made available in dealerships lates this year.
The ZDX is positioned to take on the likes of the BMW X6. The concept was first seen in the New York show this April. The car might have gotten some positive reactions that prompted Honda to see the car to production and sale.
The production version packs a 3.7L V6 gasoline engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with flappy-paddle shifters. How’s that for a crossover with a racing feel? The powertrain dishes out 296 bhp channeled to all four wheels.
For the bling and the luxuries, the ZDX sports 19-inch alloys, hand-stitched leather and a panoramic glass roof. It also comes with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity for a bit of tech.
Pricing has yet to be determined and will most likely be made available as sale nears.
New York 2009: Acura ZDX Unveiled
May 9, 2009
Honda has unveiled its new Acura ZDX coupe-like crossover concept at the New York Auto Show, showing the world the Japanese car manufacturer’s answer to the BMW X6.
The Acura ZDX runs on a 3.7-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The car will also use Honda’s new Super Handling All-Wheel Drive System. The concept also sports 20-inch alloy wheels, C-pillar-contained rear door handles, dual chrome exhausts, and an all-glass tailgate.
The all-leather interior can accommodate five people, and they can take a gander at the sky with a panoramic sunroof that runs the length of the ZDX. Regarding safety, the ZDX also features a blind spot warning system along with a rear-view camera that offers wide-angle and top-down views.
“The ZDX is truly a luxury performance coupe – plus,” according to Acura’s vice president of sales Jeff Conrad. “The emotional coupe styling coupled with a luxurious and dramatic interior and surprising versatility, allows the ZDX to define its own segment and attract an entirely new customer.” The production Acura ZDX will be released in the autumn.
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Acura Sweeps IIHS and NHTSA Top Scores
May 5, 2009
Acura managed to score a first in automotive history, after the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave top marks for the entire car line of Honda’s luxury brand. This was assured when the new 2009 Acura TL mid-size luxury car was awarded top scores by the NHTSA and the IIHS.
Through the use of advanced safety technology, including the Acura ACE body structure and the Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), has allowed Acura to receive this distinction.
The NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) has a top rating of 5, while the IIHS ceiling is at ‘Good’, after ‘Acceptable’, ‘Marginal’, and ‘Poor’. These ratings have had revisions lately, putting a premium on improved safety features that may have made it harder to get top scores.
Some might say Acura doesn’t really have the range that other brands have. Having a limited number of models in its product line makes it easier to sweep the ratings. But, even if Acura fields a smaller lineup than most, one can’t argue with the distinction that Acura has the safest lineup car-for-car.
Source: Motor Authority
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