A sleeper hit about 20 years ago, Acura is jumping on the “let’s bring back car names that younger buyers won’t remember” bandwagon, populated mostly by Dodge and Buick.

Slipping out of a seductive one-piece cover at Detroit’s Cobo Center, NSX Concept appears to be a sleek and powerful example of Japanese luxury design. Oddly enough, the car will be produced right here in the United States (Ohio), and possibly on sale within 2 – 3 years.

It has been confirmed (at least based off of the concept) that Acura NSX will have either rear wheel drive or all wheel drive, available in both manual and automatic transmissions.

Power for those rear wheels comes from a mid-engined V6 and new SH-AWD system, “which uses the gasoline engine to power the rear wheels and provide juice for the two electric motors mounted up front.”

Yes, we said electric motor. AWD and hybrid options should be available upon completion. Check back for more details as the NSX progresses.

Images: Motorward

Acura came to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show (better known as the North American International Auto Show) with their new sports sedan concept. The “entry-luxury” ILX is setting itself up to replace the current (and slightly larger) TSX. It will arrive at dealerships next year, along with an updated RDX.

Acura is looking to re-imagine their line up over the next 18 to 24 months, hoping to reclaim slow sales due to the tsunami that ended up trashing several thousand units.

“Over the next 24 months the Acura brand will unleash a series of new models that will remake our product lineup and shake up the luxury market,” Acura General Manager Jeff Conrad said.

The ILX will share it chassis with Honda Civic, and start somewhere around $20,000 – making it one of the least expensive Acura models out there.

ILX will offer two four-cylinder engines: a 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter, as well as hybrid with added 1.5-liter. Standard features will include: keyless locks, push-button start, Pandora radio and front, side and side-curtain airbags. ILX will be built exclusively at Honda’s Greensburg, Ind., plant.

Source: Auto News

A movie-ready version of NSX will be the featured ride of Tony Stark (aka: Superhero Iron Man) in the upcoming Avengers movie! A hybrid variant is also in the cards from Honda, who actually produce the vehicle and sell it under their nameplate overseas.

Online rumors suggest this all wheel drive sports car will “hit dealer showrooms in 24 months.”

The same Acura concept will also appear LIVE in January, 2012 at the Detroit Auto Show (North American International Auto Show).

Photo: WorldCarFans

It was a popular “sleeper” car in the early 90′s. Honda produced it, Americans only saw the Acura variant. It disappeared at the turn of the century. The NSX is back, supposedly.

“We need a halo car,” Honda’s design manager Yoshikazu Kigoshi told UK TV series TopGear, “and this is a decision that’s come from Ito-san down. A new S2000 is a difficult car for us to do, because of its front-engined, rear-drive platform. But we are definitely looking at the EV-ster and a new NSX.”

NSX will get the auto maker’s new SH-AWD torque vectoring system. This set up uses independent electric motors on its rear wheels to optimize cornering.

Source: Top Gear

The 2012 Acura ZDX sees no significant changes for this year, but will 2013 bring new promises? ZDX already offers impressive standard features, including a spacious interior and a slew of tech gadgets such as in-dash infotainment system and various safety features. One drawback many are saying about Acura is that grille. But the Japanese auto maker states their face will change on 2013 models. Will ZDX make the cut?

With a starting price around $46,000, you’d expect this crossover to achieve more than an average MPG rating of 16 City, 23 Highway. But for the lack of mileage, Acura adds in many special features. The ZDX shares its all-wheel-drive undercarriage with MDX, but lowers the roofline, seating only 5 passengers (instead of MDX’s 7). Acura describes ZDX as “a personal sports coupe, a four-door sports coupe and a crossover utility vehicle.” Seems someone can’t make a decision.

Even though an entry level trim ZDX comes well-equipped, the Technology and Advance Packages are some of the key options bringing folks onto Acura dealer lots. Some of those additions include:

Milano leather upholstery, navigation system with real-time traffic information, weather information and maps shown on an 8-inch screen.

The Advance Package adds:

Standard heated, leather power front seats. Standard USB connector and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. Available voice-operated navigation system. Available surround-sound audio system with 15-gigabyte hard drive. Available solar-sensing automatic climate control.

Power for the ZDX comes from a 300-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 engine, matted to a six-speed automatic transmission. The aforementioned Advance Package adds adaptive cruise control, as well as:

Six-speed automatic allows manual shifts with steering-wheel paddle shifters, along with active damper Integrated Dynamics System.

But there’s that grille / grill. Many are hating on the latest generation of front ends from Acura. The auto maker has heard your cries, and promises to shrink or completely redesign the face of all upcoming models, beginning in 2013. Will ZDX survive? Only time, and sales figures, will tell.

Source: Cars.com

According to Word Car Fans, the vehicle is built to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary, and “the model is distinguished by modified bumpers, revised side skirts and 17-inch alloy wheels.” Inside, designers added leather, along with suede seats, red lighting, aluminum pedals and a black headliner.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. It can be mated to a six-speed manual or an optional five-speed automatic.

Source: WCF

Many…MANY of you just hated the 2010 Acura redux. Fear not – your 2012 model is receiving a new grille. After so much negative commenting about the last front end upgrade to Acura’s TL, the Honda-owned auto maker went back to its design board, and came up with something better suited to their driver’s needs.

“The 2012 Acura TL is refined, yet aggressive,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. “Already known for its great performance, the enhanced TL has a sophisticated new look and an all-new six-speed automatic transmission that will take performance to the next level.”

“The 2012 TL’s refined new look includes a redesigned front bumper with improved aerodynamics, a revised grille, updated headlights and turn signals, a new fog light design and a shorter front overhang. At the rear, a new rear bumper incorporates a significantly repositioned license plate opening and smaller rear reflectors, while updated taillights and a thinner rear trunk edge trim add to a sophisticated new look.”

Acura’s new transmission allows double downshifts (two gears at a time) while also implementing a drive-by-wire electronic throttle system, which matches gear speeds while downshifting.

These changes result in a fuel economy boost of 20 mpg city, 29 highway. For the record, it’s an increase of 3 mpg over the 2011 TL, with the car’s 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine. The base TL comes with a 280-horsepower, front-wheel-drive version. Then there’s a 305-horsepower all-wheel-drive variant.

Source: USA Today

After receiving numerous complaints about the redesigned Acura TL last year, the auto maker is reconsidering what its vehicle will look like in 2012. Luckily, if you’re one of the countless who disliked TL’s updated design, you’re getting a redo.

“It seems that Acura has heard the complaints.” This, according to Kickingtires.com. “It [Acura] will debut a “refined” TL at the Chicago Auto Show’s media days on Feb. 9. In terms of performance and the interior, we expect most of the car to remain similar to the current model shown above.”