Today various automotive media outlets are sharing details on what was revealed at an Acura briefing session in Las Vegas earlier this month. Yesterday’s press release announced the unveiling of the next generation NSX, 2013 RDX prototype and the ILX concept but failed to mention anything about Acura’s upcoming new flagship model.

Here is a quick summary of key points I’ve gathered from the articles:

2013 Acura ILX

• The new entry-level small sedan shares the Civic platform but will have unique styling and features. It is NOT just a rebadged Civic like the Canadian CSX.
• The ILX will be offered as a gas-electric hybrid or with a naturally aspirated 2.0L or 2.4L engine.
• Set to go on sale late spring or early summer 2012 at a starting price “well under $30,000.”

2013 RDX

• The next generation RDX will have a more conservative grille and new styling similar to the MDX.
• The four-cylinder turbo will be replaced by a V6 engine that will deliver more hp and better fuel efficiency
• A new lighter all-wheel-drive system will replace the previous SH-AWD.
• Expected to go on sale spring 2012.

Next Generation NSX

• The NSX concept shares styling of the Avengers Roadster but will have a hard-top and more developed exterior details.
• Like the first NSX it will be a mid-engined v6, but will most likely use the new hybrid SH-AWD system.
• A prototype will be revealed in Detroit to show only the exterior styling with no interior.
• Expected go on sale within three years and won’t go for “less than $100,000,”

New Flagship Sedan(RL Replacement)

• Acura’s new yet-to-be-named flagship sedan will get larger and aim to offer “7-Series cabin space, with the agility of a 5-Series,”
• It will be the first Acura model to utilize Honda’s new V6 with electric SH-AWD and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
• Set to be unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show in April and should go into production by the end of 2012.

Also mentioned was Acura’s plan for a more distinct 3 model lineup for its sedans. The new entry-level ILX will fit in as the smallest model, and the upcoming RL successor will fill the top spot. It’s rumored that either the TSX or TL might be discontinued, with the remaining survivor left to adjust and fit into the middle-ground slot.

[Source: Temple of VTEC, Automobile Magazine, Car and Driver, Inside Line]

Next Generation NSX Rendering by Walt Merchant

Acura will unveil the next generation NSX Concept at the 2012 North American International Auto Show next month, but if you’re looking for a sneak peak you’ll be hard-pressed to find any official photos.

Fortunately Automobile Magazine brings us Walt Merchant’s rendition of the future vehicle shown above. Again, this is NOT an official rendering but it does preview much of the same front end characteristics seen in the Avengers Roadster which is rumored be similar to the concept car.

Automotive News also shows their artist’s rendering of the NSX  in a post shown here, though I’ve heard it’s a poor representation of the actual concept we will see in Detroit.

[Source Automobile Magazine, Automotive News]

Official release from www.acuranews.com:

12/11/2011 – TORRANCE, Calif.

“The Super Sports concept will follow the Small Sports EV Concept that will be unveiled at this week’s Tokyo motor show. The Super Sports design will be shown at the Detroit show in January and will form a halo model that suggests a spiritual successor to the NSX.” – Autocar 

Not surprisingly, Autocar expects that a hybrid/electric powertrain will be utilized as well as an all-wheel-drive system. Above is a very rough concept rendered by an Autocar artist. 

With no official announcement yet, I don’t think we have to be reminded to take all NSX revival rumors with a grain of salt.

Head over to Autocar.co.uk to read the full article. 

UPDATE: Jeff of Temple of VTEC has reported from Tokyo that there may be some be some “BIG” news coming at around 8PM EST. Stay tuned!

[Source: Autocar.co.uk, Temple of VTEC]

“Greatness for the purposes of this list is defined as superiority in the context of the car’s production era, standard setting for future vehicles, advancing automotive technology and being plain wicked bitchin’. By those standards, every vehicle listed here slots in perfectly.” – John Pearley Huffman, Inside Line

Here’s what they had to say about the NSX:

“1. 1991 Acura NSX: It was the first car Honda sold in America with the VTEC variable valve timing system. Today it’s hard to find any car that doesn’t have variable valve timing. It was the first production car sold in America using an all-aluminum structure. Today, that’s still cutting-edge. It was a sports car so delicate in its response and so quick in its reflexes that Ferrari went back to the drawing board and started building better cars. And yet it was a sports car that could be driven and used every day like an Integra.

The midengine NSX reset the standards for every production car. Not just sports cars, every car. Not to mention that the great Ayrton Senna had a hand in its development.

Power came from an all-aluminum DOHC 3.0-liter V6 making 270 hp and an F1 soundtrack. And it revved to 8,000 rpm. Big numbers in 1991.

From two decades out, the NSX looks even better than it did back then. It was the car of the future then, and in many ways it still is.”

Visit insideline.com for the full list.

[Source: Inside Line]

Both sources claim the new NSX Successor would be a hybrid, even suggesting a new concept may be shown at this year’s Tokyo Auto Show in December. The price? “Under $100,000 - a sticker price designed to rival that of the Nissan GT-R.”

Fact or fiction? You decide.

[Source: MotorTrend, AutoExpress, AutoCar.co.uk]

Acura Sport Convertible in The Avengers, Source: WorstPreviews.com

Acura might be the vehicle of choice for Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, but it would appear Tony Stark(Iron Man) will also choose an Acura as his new ride in The Avengers. 

To the surprise of many, a never-before-seen Acura open-top sports car was captured filming on set in New York for The Avengers this past weekend. The maroon-colored mystery Acura has raised a few questions; could this be a concept for an NSX successor or a whole new model? 

Autoblog.com has thankfully done some digging and got a reponse from Acura spokesperson Gary Robinson: 

The open-top sports car that was photographed yesterday is a one-off, fictional car that was made just for the movie and will not be produced.

Due to strict photo copyright conditions from WENN.com I am unable to post additional photos, click below for direct links to the other images:

Acura sports car front 1 | Acura sports car front 2 | Acura sports car front 3
Acura sports car rear 1 | Acura sports car rear 2 | Acura sports car rear 3

A S.H.I.E.L.D. TL was also photographed on set, this one looked like it had a matte grey color and front push bars: 

Acura S.H.I.E.L.D. TL in The Avengers, Source: WorstPreviews.com

Visit superherohype.com and www.worstpreviews.com for more NYC set photos from The Avengers.

Here is a bonus video of the final scene of Captain America featuring the S.H.I.E.L.D. MDXs and preview the teaser for The Avengers. Warning, this video contains spoliers!

[Source: Autoblog | WorstPreviews.com | Superhero Hype | WENN ]

Acura Integra Type-R

The editors over at Edmunds Inside Line recently posted  ”the definitive list to end all 100 Greatest Cars lists”.

A list that would be impossible for all automotive enthusiasts to absolutely agree on considering the many different criteria a vehicle’s greatness(or lack of) could be measured on. While the eternal debate will undoubtingly continue, the list was created and three Acuras made the cut:

“100. 1997 Acura Integra Type-R: Hand-ported heads, 8,000-rpm redline, and the best-handling front-drive chassis ever. It’s still the ultimate sport compact.”

“93. 1986 Acura Legend: It’s the car that proved the Japanese could build a true luxury machine and had to be taken seriously.”

“27. 1990 Acura NSX: An all-aluminum, midengine sports car so good it forced Ferrari to build better Ferraris. Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system would be universally adopted. Honda at its peak.”

Head over to www.insideline.com for the complete list.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]