Autoblog

2013 Acura ILX

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST

Faint Praise For The World's Nicest Honda Civic

Acura has a long and storied history of being an innovator since its creation in 1986. As the first luxury brand from Japan, the marque brought with it the first variable valve timing technology, the first drive-by-wire electronic throttle, the first in-dash navigation system and the first instance of torque-vectoring all-wheel drive.

Laudable accomplishments, all of them, and Acura reaped rewards for the technological advancements it brought to the automotive realm. Venerable nameplates like Legend and Integra launched Acura into first place in the premium luxury car segment in 1987, the brand's first full year of sales.

And then things started to go downhill. The Legend was replaced by the poorly received RL and the discontinuation of the Integra in 2001 and the RSX a few years later in 2006 left Acura without a proper entry-level model. Acura sales peaked in 2005 and have floundered ever since.

Is Acura's new ILX the machine it needs to inject some much-needed life into its lineup?

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2013 Acura ILX originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In-car view of Evans Tuning Acura Integra crashing into the eights

Zach Bowman — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Acura, Racing

It must be a week for vehicular sacrifice. We've already seen a Lamborghini Gallardo go up in flames in the quest for the gold at the Targa High Country in Australia, but back here on American soil, Jeff Evans recently pushed his Acura Integra past the limit at the drag strip to break the eight-second barrier. The car campaigns in the True Street class with a 950-horsepower, turbocharged B-Series engine under the hood with a 67-millimeter Borg Warner turbo shoving 35 psi of boost down the intake.

That is no small number. On his third pass of the day, Evans lost control of the Acura shortly after crossing the quarter mile line, narrowly missing the EG Honda Civic in the next lane and bouncing off of two walls in the process. It wasn't until later that he was informed that he had managed to run an 8.98-second quarter mile at 167 miles per hour, which was good enough to earn him a record in his class. How's that for a bittersweet victory? Hit the jump to see the carnage for yourself, and be sure to check out the Evans Tuning site for more information on the car.

Continue reading In-car view of Evans Tuning Acura Integra crashing into the eights

In-car view of Evans Tuning Acura Integra crashing into the eights originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda stuns world by showing off surprise new Integra

Zach Bowman — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Japan, Honda, Motorcycle

Only it's not what you think. Acura won't be rolling out a new performance hatch anytime soon. Instead, Honda Motorcycles has pulled the sheets off of a new two-wheeled Integra model at this year's EICMA show. The vehicle is effectively an overgrown scooter with a 670 cc engine and an optional dual-clutch gearbox. Honda says the vehicle is meant to meld the motorcycle and scooter worlds with plenty of performance, great fuel economy and superior accessibility thanks to its feet-forward riding position. Buyers will be able to chose between two engine specifications, with most Integra models boasting somewhere in the neighborhood of 52 horsepower.

European buyers, meanwhile, will be able to opt for a slightly less potent variant with around 47 horsepower to meet 2013 European Union A2 licensing requirements. Honda says that both engines are specifically engineered for peak performance below 87 mph and 6,000 rpm, where the company says that 90 percent of riding typically occurs. All of which is well and good, but the name of this thing is a subtle jab to the ribs for those holding out hope for an affordable performance hatch from the Japanese brand. Check out the gallery and hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Honda stuns world by showing off surprise new Integra

Honda stuns world by showing off surprise new Integra originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acura preparing Civic-based RSX sedan?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Acura, Honda, Luxury

The Civic has long been a big volume model for Honda. But while it has grown in size and standards of accommodation over the years, Canadian buyers are the only ones in the world who can get their hands on an Acura version.

Called the CSX, it's essentially a rebadged Civic with some extra luxury touches. It was preceded by the EL, also based on the Civic, which in turn took the place in Acura Canada's lineup left vacant by the departure of the Integra sedan in 1996. Rumors, however, have been circulating for the past year that Acura was developing a new Civic-based model earmarked towards a broader market - including the United States.

We've heard this line of thinking out of the rumormill before, but it's been a while, and this is the first time we've heard talk of it reviving the RSX badge. The RSX, as you may recall, succeeded the Integra, albeit in coupe form only, and it was a favorite among front-wheel drive performance guys and gals. Whether a new RSX sedan might prove a worthy successor - or for that matter, whether a two- or three-door version might be offered as well - remain to be seen, but word on the street is that we can expect it to arrive in 2013 as a 2014 model.

Acura preparing Civic-based RSX sedan? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grassroots Motorsports' Tim Suddard picks ten future Japanese collector cars

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Japan

First generation Mazda Miata - Click above to see entire list of future Japanese Collector Cars

"Everybody wants to go to the dance, no one wants to stay and clean up." So says Robert De Niro's Sam in John Frankenheimer's spy thriller/car porno Ronin. We mention the line, because it's not only well written, but nicely sums up most people's attitudes towards classic, collector cars. Yes, we'd all love a Boss 302 Mustang or a Maserati Bora, but no one wants to pay the tens of thousands of dollars it takes to procure and maintain them. But what if in the future collector cars weren't limited to American muscle or exotic Europeans? What if relatively cheap and reliable Japanese cars came to be collectors items?

Regardless of the answer, that's the exact future that Tim Suddard, publisher of both Grassroots Motorsports and Classic Motorsports, is predicting. In fact, here's what he has to say about it:

Right now Japanese cars are generally overlooked by the collector car world, but we expect that to change. A generation that grew up on Hondas, Datsuns and Mazdas is coming of age where they're after the icons of their youth. Where previous enthusiasts paid big money for the Mopars, Chevelles and GTOs that they couldn't afford when teens, we expect the same happen soon with milestone Japanese cars.

Which, if what Suddard is saying is true, means that both demand and price should increase. Which is probably... bad. Click here to see the ten cars (with captions) that Suddard claims are going to be future classics, plus our own two cents on each selection. And of course, what do you think? Also - like what you see? If you're in the Southern California area, don't miss the 2009 Japanese Classics car show this weekend

Gallery: Tim Suddard's ten most collectable Japanese cars

Grassroots Motorsports' Tim Suddard picks ten future Japanese collector cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Used Integra, CHEAP!

Dan Roth — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Acura, Canada

Normally, the phrase "only rolled once" isn't considered a positive attribute in a used car ad. For the sellers of this distressed 1999 Acura Integra, however, it's a defining characteristic. The high points (now low, due to the vehicle's inverted status) are that the parts should be in fine shape on this 60,000 mile example. If you needed an engine, trans or interior from a low mileage donor, this might be your car. We do hope that it didn't stay upside down for long, though, for the engine's sake. If not, all the oil that's likely filled up the cylinders will make starting a challenge.

[Source: Dave's Daily]

Used Integra, CHEAP! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Huey Lewis! Michael J. Fox! Integra?

Dan Roth — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Acura

Here it is folks, the ethos of at least the second half of the 1980s, neatly encapsulated in 30 seconds. This 1989 home-market commercial launching the DOHC VTEC engine in the Honda Integra plays up the American appeal baked into the car. Badged as an Acura here in the States, the Integra was cementing the reputation of Honda's upmarket rides in a market that still viewed Honda as a maker of economical, inexpensive cars. The bludgeon-y juxtaposition of an Integra zipping around and ~~Alex P. Keaton~~ Michael J. Fox doing backflips tells you how elated the Integra is supposed to make you feel, but this commercial just makes us feel old. From the opening chord stabs on the Yamaha DX7 to the Huey Lewis soundtrack, this little spot brings 1989 flooding back with a veangance. Many a sunny summer afternoon was whiled away cruising the bike lane with a mongrel Diamondback Viper picked from the trash and resurrected. Integras were starting to get noticed as cars enthusiasts could love, and being junior enthusiasts, we took notice when one motored by. They look especially good when sunset is near, on a winding road dappled with golden sunlight. Ahh, memories - white or red are particulary striking, too. What's nice to see is that MJF could handle something other than a DeLorean, but we still want to know, "hey kid, what's with the life preserver?"

Check the video after the jump.

[Source: Winding Road]

Continue reading VIDEO: Huey Lewis! Michael J. Fox! Integra?

VIDEO: Huey Lewis! Michael J. Fox! Integra? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's a madder world: Mid-engine RWD Integra GSR

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 28 May 2007 08:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Acura, Honda

There once was a man named Dave who had a '91 NSX and loved it. The problem was it cost too much to maintain, and he was petrified of the car receiving the slightest nick. When the money and the angst got too much, after 1,800 miles, he got rid of it. The car he replaced it with is far, far more interesting: a mid-engined RWD mash-up of a 97 Prelude VTEC and 94 Integra GSR.

His only goal was to build a car that rode and handled well with decent performance. Call it an NSX that wouldn't slaughter the piggy bank and that can be parked in a mall lot without its owner breaking into a sweat. After two months of R&D, the Frankenstein began. Dave doesn't give exact numbers but does indicate a budget of $10K, a total weight of 2,700 lbs, and 45/55 weight distribution.

Check out the link for finished pictures, and you can read the entire conversion story with pics written by Dave himself here.

[Source: Team Integra]

It's a madder world: Mid-engine RWD Integra GSR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 May 2007 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Honda goes mental with Hondamentalism

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 11 May 2007 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Honda

Every automaker has its own subset of dedicated enthusiasts, with varying levels of obsessive behavior. Honda is no different. Take away the misinformed ricers, and Honda's racing heritage stands alone in a sea of commuter-infused mediocrity.

In order to recognize the Big H's engineering prowess and its motorsports legacy, Honda has launched a new ad campaign in the UK that focuses on the automaker's obsessive compulsive attention to detail. Dubbed Hondamentalism, the idea is to forge a link between its racing successes and its consumer vehicles - hardly a new concept - but the way it's presented deserves a look. The new spot, posted after the jump, will give you a feel for the campaign as a whole, albeit in a somewhat melodramatic, Aphex Twin-influenced creative.

You can get your head into the campaign by heading over to the Hondamentalism website, and you can check out a brief run down on what the Red H is all about here.

[Source: Honda]

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VIDEO: Honda goes mental with Hondamentalism originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 May 2007 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo Auto Salon: Mugen-massaged Fit Spec.D

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Japan, Hatchback, Honda, Misc. Auto Shows

Back in 2004, Mugen rolled out their Fit Dynamite concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon, complete with a K20A swapped out of the JDM Integra Type-R.

This year, the tuners at Mugen decided to keep the exterior styling of the Dynamite concept, but fit it with a more manageable and, ultimately more cost-effective, supercharged 1.5-liter inline four. The tangerine five-door produces 143 HP at 5,800 RPM and 137 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 RPM, by way of a Roots-type blower.

Winding Road expects that the complete setup should be available later this year.

Make the jump for a couple more pics.

[Source: Winding Road, Mugen]

Continue reading Tokyo Auto Salon: Mugen-massaged Fit Spec.D

Tokyo Auto Salon: Mugen-massaged Fit Spec.D originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda of Japan recalling 420,000 over key interlock

Chris Paukert — Wed, 31 May 2006 23:07:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Recalls, Honda

Honda is calling back some 423,344 vehicles in its home market of Japan over faulty key interlocks which allow keys to be removed from the ignition when the gearshift is in positions other than 'park.' The problem affects a total of nine models, including the Fit, Stream, Civic and Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Mobilio, Integra. and Step WGN. Regardless of the model, all vehicles affected date from between April of 2001 and March of 2002, and all are packing automatic transmissions.

[Source: Sydney Morning Herald; Honda]

Honda of Japan recalling 420,000 over key interlock originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 May 2006 23:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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