Acura 4dr Sedan w/A-SPEC Package, page #3

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10 best new car deals in late September 2021

New car sales were drastically affected in 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but things started to show signs of recovery toward the end of the year before really coming on strong in the early months of 2021. Now there's an ongoing shortage of microchips causing a great deal of pricing fluctuation and a limited supply of certain vehicles. That doesn't mean there aren't still great deals on new cars, though. Using data provided by TrueCar, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best automotive deals for September 2021. WeÂ’ve noted the original MSRP, the average transaction price, and the total savings in both dollars and as a percentage of the original sticker price. Basically, weÂ’ve done all the hard work for you! So now, all you need to do is compare deals, go on a few test drives, and maybe drive away in a great car (and an even better bargain).

2022 Acura RDX update makes a lot of good stuff standard

When the third-generation Acura RDX launched for 2019, our test drive found it to be a fine return to form for the Acura brand. Not only did it cast aside the humdrum personality of the second-gen, but it gave itself a reason to exist in the crowded luxury compact crossover field. In fact, it landed competitively mid-pack amongst the German Grossen Drei of Mercedes, Audi and disappointing BMW. Though we did have a gripe about how certain packages weren't available on certain trims, with the 2022 update Acura has rectified that very complaint. We'll get to that in a minute, but first let's start with the base RDX. Acura says that one of the biggest improvements comes in the form of noise, or lack thereof. We didn't think the 2019 model was particularly noisy, but  Acura says the cabin is "dramatically quieter." Though they don't provide a decibel reading, they do inform us that a retuned Active Sound Control system and new front fender liners help reduce road noise. New for 2022, the next-level-up Technology Package takes noise reduction even further, with thicker carpets and acoustic glass in the front doors. New sound insulation in the those doors, under the dash pad and in the D-pillars also help keep road, wind and engine noise out of the cabin. The package also comes with a rear camera washer. The top-spec Advance Package adds even more sound deadening material to the headliner, dash, hood, drivetrain tunnel and rear hatch. Here, the rear doors get acoustic glass and noise insulation to match the fronts as well. Power-folding side mirrors and a 12-volt power outlet in the cargo round out the changes for 2022. Best of all — and this is the nit we picked in our 2019 test drive — the sporty A-Spec package is at last offered with the Advance Package. This wasn't the case before, inexplicably leaving the adaptive dampers off of A-Spec models. Now the look finally matches the equipment. In addition, A-Spec cars get some of their exterior bits dipped in gunmetal and gloss black finishes set them apart visually. Inside, a flat-bottomed sport steering wheel is unique to the package, along with other interior exclusives and an available bronze finish on interior aluminum bits if you choose the Saddle Brown upholstery. If those aren't special enough, Acura is once again offering a limited-production PMC Edition of the 2022 RDX.

Acura sold all 300 of the NSX Type S, reportedly in 24 hours

If you were hoping to nab one of the last Acura NSX supercars, Acura has confirmed to Autoblog that it has already sold out the entire allocation of 300 NSX Type S models that were slated for America. However, you might still have a remote chance. "We have seen tremendous interest in the 2022 NSX Type S following its debut at Monterey Car Week. At this time, confirmed orders have far surpassed the 300-unit allocation for the U.S. market, and new orders received are being added to a waitlist," an Acura spokesperson told us. That might be an understatement, as Motor1 is reporting a Black-Friday-esque rush that cleared the shelves in 24 hours and a waiting list of more than 100. While Acura has never planned to assign the NSX to the role of moneymaker — there are RDX and MDX crossovers for that — sales of the hybrid supercar have been shockingly low. Year-to-date sales figures for July 2021 (the last metric prior to Acura's August announcement that the NSX would be canceled) crawled along at just 67 examples sold, not too far off from last year's 70. The year-to-date number for August leaped up to 98, a significant jump from last year's 73. A personal anecdote may explain why the sellout occurred so quickly. My brother, owner of a 1993 NSX, went to a Los Angeles-area Acura dealer to inquire about the 2022 Type S. The salesperson told him that the dealer was only getting one and that it had already been spoken for — by the dealership's owner. With 273 Acura stores in the U.S. and only 300 cars, if other owners are similarly minded it may be almost impossible for the average buyer to get a Type S without paying a premium over the $171,495 price tag. Hopefully, though, buyers won't have to pay more than the $1 million bid that someone made for the first NSX Type S. The Type S has 600 horsepower and 492 pound-feet of torque, a 27 pony and 16 pound-feet bonus over the standard NSX, in addition to a 58-pound weight reduction and GT3 race car-derived tuning. While that alone could compel some buyers to spring for the Type S, we're willing to bet that it's the limited production and end-of-run factors that are contributing to demand. If you miss out, though, you can always wait for the third generation. Related video:

2021 Acura TLX Long-Term Update | Pleasurable drive, puzzling gremlin

This was my first long haul behind the wheel of our long-term 2021 Acura TLX, and past experience with the brand (and Honda in general) led me to believe that if I could get past any seat comfort issues, the TLX and I would get along just fine. As it turned out, I had no cause to worry in the first place. The TLX’s seats are comfortable and supportive enough for my typical driving position – and look great in red to boot. Not having to worry about my back screaming at me after a couple solid hours on the highway, I was able to devote my attention elsewhere, and the report is largely positive. To me, the most impressive thing about the TLX is how small it feels from behind the wheel. IÂ’ve had it in my driveway for nearly two months (for various reasons, none of them good; look for more in a future update) and despite driving it rather frequently, I often forget that itÂ’s a midsize. HowÂ’d Acura accomplish that? ItÂ’s all in the feedback. The steering is dialed in pretty much perfectly and lacks the artificial and distant sensation present in AudiÂ’s FWD-based luxury sedans, for example. IÂ’d even put the TLX ahead of BMWÂ’s 2 Series Gran Coupe in this department. Sure, theyÂ’re very different vehicles, but that Acura can accomplish this with something as large as the TLX while even BMWÂ’s compacts disappoint? Well, it says something. And though it may feel small, it isnÂ’t. The TLX more than accommodated enough luggage for two people traveling to a Lake Michigan wedding over a long weekend, and did shuttle duty throughout the festivities without even a peep from rear-seat passengers, apart from commentary about the red leather. ItÂ’s a bit polarizing, IÂ’ll admit, but I think it looks great against the blue exterior. 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec View 51 Photos Over the 500-mile round trip, the TLX averaged just a hair under 30 mpg (against an EPA rating of 29 mpg highway; score one for the numbers geeks) at cruising speeds of 75-80. Michigan highways arenÂ’t known for top-notch surfaces, but even on the grooved pavement found on many of its interstates and other rural expressways, tire hum never became intrusive. Present? Sure, just not unpleasantly so. My gripes are few. I wish the cruise control would be a bit more aggressive in accelerating to a set speed when resumed, for one; it seems downright lazy under certain conditions. I could also do entirely without the silly touchpad-like infotainment interface.

UPDATE: 2003 Acura NSX-T in Long Beach Blue hammers at Cars & Bids

UPDATE: This NSX-T sold today (Wednesday) for $72,500. Previous story appears below.   OK, we get it: There's really no such thing as "reasonable" Acura NSX ownership anymore, but around here, we're fans of cars that can be appreciated, and this 66K-mile automatic NSX-T finished in Long Beach Blue Pearl with a week to go at Cars & Bids has "driver" written all over it.  "But Byron, how can you call it a 'driver' when it has an automatic?" Honestly, we can't defend that particular choice on the original buyer's behalf, but what we mean is that this car isn't begging to be garaged for eternity. Between the visible signs of use on both the interior and exterior and the grunge present on the underbody, it's clear this car has spent its life being driven, meaning you won't have to feel guilty about doing the same.  This NSX is almost entirely original (the factory radio is included in case you want to eliminate the "almost") and its interior shows very little wear considering its mileage. The tan seat leather looks excellent, even on the bolsters, and all of the plastic and metal bits appear to be where they should. Outside, the paint shows signs of normal wear and tear, but certainly nothing that couldn't easily be corrected.  It may not be the best NSX to drive – or the one with the lowest miles or the least exposure to the elements – but that's why it might also be the right NSX for you. Why, you ask? Because it probably won't break the bank. But we'll see what a week of bidding says about that. Related video:

Blackwings, a G 63 gets dirty and a wave of rad-era nostalgia | Autoblog Podcast #693

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Byron Hurd, who has spent the past few weeks sampling a near-endless string of enthusiast vehicles. They start off discussing Cadillac's 2022 CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing models, which Byron had the opportunity to drive at Virginia International Raceway. They follow that up with a discussion of the Mercedes-Benz AMG G 63, which Byron also drove on a track, albeit one of a very different sort. After that, some news. Greg and Byron run down the list of returning enthusiasts nameplates, including Integra, Z and Countach, and cap off by talking about what a third-generation Acura NSX might look like.  Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #693 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown What we're driving 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing First Drive 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing First Drive 2021 Mercedes-AMG G63 Off-Road Review News Mercedes shelves almost every V8 model for 2022 There will be a third-generation NSX, says Acura V.P. Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 revealed, basically a retro Sian 2023 Nissan Z is revealed with two turbos, 400 horsepower and six manual gears Acura Integra will return in 2022 after a long hiatus Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related Video: 2021 Mercedes-AMG G63 Off-Road Review -- The Forbidden Hoot | Autoblog

Acura files for Integra Type S trademark

It's only been a couple of weeks since Acura dropped the news bomb that it was bringing back the Integra. In that time, though, the company has quickly applied to trademark the name "Integra Type S" with the US Patent and Trademark Office. The filing, discovered by CarBuzz, was submitted on Aug. 20, a little less than a week after the Integra revival was announced. Curiously, it's under the category of "Apparel and headwear, namely, caps, hats, T-shirts, shirts, sweatshirts, knit shirts, polo shirts, jackets and vests," rather than automobiles.   It seems unlikely, though, that Acura would trademark Integra Type S for shirts and hats if it didn't plan on building a car to go along with it. So the Integra may come in standard and hotted up versions. The last time Acura offered an Type S in North America, it wasn't officially called that. During Acura's switch to an alphanumeric naming convention, the Integra name was dropped in favor of RSX, built from 2002-06. There, the Type S moniker, while not as hard-core as the previous-generation Integra Type R, still meant a considerable bump in performance. Regular RSX models had 160 horsepower, but the RSX Type S cranked out 200 to 210, depending on the year. The Type S was also available exclusively with a manual transmission, and had improved suspension and brakes. While a similar improvement in hardware would be more than welcome on an Integra Type S, we don't want to get too excited over what could just be a logo on a T-shirt. The wouldn't be the first time in recent memory a carmaker trademarked a familiar name for swag. Earlier this year Nissan trademarked Fairlady Z — the original name for the Nissan Z-car — for usage on anything from cuff links to wall clocks. Meanwhile, Ford stepped in and trademarked the name Skyline for the category of cars and trucks. So Acura should probably just go ahead and get the trademark for cars, even if it doesn't plan on offering it at all.  

There will be a third-generation NSX, says Acura V.P.

The second-generation Acura NSX might be going out in a blaze of glory, but it won't be the last we see of the supercar. This promise comes directly from Acura Vice President and Brand Officer Jon Ikeda. Furthermore, Ikeda implied that the next version might be electric. Ikeda divulged thoughts about a third-gen NSX while being interviewed by The Drive and Motor Trend. To the former, he explained Acura's mission with the the mid-engined supercar. "We make an NSX when there's something we want to say. The first-gen was gas. Second-gen was a hybrid. There's gonna be another one." Unless Ikeda is talking about hydrogen or some kind of heretofore undisclosed technology like  Mr. Fusion, this pretty much means electric. That means the NSX is likely to take another hiatus after the Type S closes out the 2022 model year. Between the first and second generations, the halo sports car had an 11-year absence on the market. Ikeda laid out the reasons for the nameplate's 2016 return when he spoke to Motor Trend. "Honda is one of the biggest gasoline engine makers in the world and needed to see what will happen in a world turning away from engines," he explained. It was always meant to be a halo car. "We didn't go into it to make a lot of money," he stated. The second generation had a much shorter lifespan than the game-changing first gen. That one spanned one and a half decades, from 1990 to 2005. The current generation, once it exits stage left in 2022, will have only had a six-year run. One could argue that the first gen overstayed its welcome, though. After thoroughly turning the supercar world on its ear, by forcing Ferrari et al to reconsider their engineering, the NSX's competitors quickly caught up to Honda's lead. While the NSX did undergo a couple of major changes during its first lifespan, by the time it left the market it was more of a dwindle. Acura is determined not to let that happen with the current NSX. In this case, they're sending it off with the most powerful iteration yet, a 600-horsepower Type S with reworked turbos, cooling system and aerodynamics and limiting production to 350 worldwide. Ikeda told Motor Trend, "We didn't want to let the NSX die on the vine either. To go quietly into the night is not what it deserves."

First 2022 Acura NSX Type S sells for over $1 million

In the same week that the 2022 Acura NSX Type S was revealed, the very first build slot was sold by Mecum at the company's auction in Monterey, Calif. Rights to the first one off the line went for $1.1 million. Compared to the base price of $171,495, that's a pretty huge markup. And adding the $13,000 lightweight package, should the owner choose to do so, doesn't close the gap much. But the right to say you have the first can go a long way. There was also the fact that the car was auctioned for charity. Proceeds will go to send STEM education activity kits put together by COSI, the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio. It's a fitting charity considering the high-tech nature of the car and the fact that it's built in Marysville, Ohio, not too far from Columbus. And as a quick refresher, the NSX Type S is the most powerful NSX ever created, making 600 horsepower and 492 pound-feet of torque. It has revised styling, too, and only 350 will be built for the world. Related video:

The Acura Integra is coming back, but what exactly will it be?

Yep, the Acura Integra is back! Acura has offered limited information about the revival of its compact nameplate, and while we suspect it will replace the ILX outright when it debuts in 2022, Honda's luxury subsidiary has yet to cough up any more useful information. That's fine; it means we can fill the void with baseless speculation educated guesses as to what form the next-generation Integra will take.  While we're all excited about its resurrection, Autoblog is not a hive mind, and each of us has a different idea of what a new Integra could (or should) be. Here are our takes, for whatever they're worth, which could easily be absolutely nothing.  Associate Editor Byron Hurd: Yes, that's a photo of a CR-Z model at Honda's design studio. Bear with me here; I promise I'm going somewhere with this. Frankly, as cool as it would be to see Acura take the fight to the likes of the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz CLA and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, I can't help but look at the (lack of) success of the ILX and wonder whether there's any hope for something so formulaic.  While I'm sure this will offend at least a few "purists," I'd love to see Honda leverage whatever equity the Integra nameplate has left to pivot its more mainstream cars toward electrification. Sure, an all-wheel-drive take on a Civic Si or Type-R sounds really cool, but how about an accessible fastback coupe or sedan with a scaled-down version of the NSX's powertrain, flipped front-to-back? Base it on a smaller (turbocharged?) ICE, stick the electrified axle in the rear, and voila. Ford has proven that hybrids don't have to be expensive; heck, even the CR-Z was cheap back in the day.  As bothersome as this idea may seem to the faithful, consider this: The ILX wasn't a bust because it was called "ILX." Small sedans just aren't worthwhile investments for automakers right now, so as abhorrent as hybridization or electrification may seem, the alternative could very well be a subtle crossoverification of the Integra nameplate. Does that sound more appealing? Because I sure don't think so.  News Editor Joel Stocksdale: So, just as was the case with the Integra and even the ILX, I have no doubt the new Integra will be based on the Honda Civic. And I think that will probably be a very good thing. The new 11th-generation Civic seems to be as good if not better than the outgoing one, so add some nicer interior pieces and some sound-deadening, and it should be a great, roomy entry-level luxury alternative.