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Five signs Honda cares about enthusiasts, again

It's a great time to be an enthusiast. From high-horsepower Hellcats to the purist BRZ, engaging automobiles are found in nearly every segment of the market. Everyone wants to join the performance parade. Everyone it seemed, but Honda. The company that built some of Formula One's most successful engines, helped launch the tuner market and gave the world a seminal supercar, has watched competitors of all stripes surge by it for the hearts, minds and dollars of enthusiasts. Until now. Honda put the rest of the auto world on notice at the New York Auto Show, revealing a jaw-dropping Civic concept, confirming the Type R will come to the United States and even adding a hatchback to the 2016 Civic line. Throw in the Acura NSX and much-improved ILX for Honda's luxury sibling, and it's undeniable the company is regaining its swagger. Once again, Honda is serious about performance, and here's five reasons why enthusiasts should believe. The Honda Civic Concept Looks Great We're psyched about the Civic concept, which was a surprise reveal earlier this month at the New York Auto Show. Clad in bright neon green, the concept edged out the Lincoln Continental for first place in our Editors' Choice awards at the show. As Editor-in-Chief Sharon Carty put it, "The color hurts so good." Yes, the green is blinding, but you don't have to squint to see the 10th generation of the Civic. Honda's concepts are the real deal, and this is the car (mostly) that will launch this fall. It's attractive, with a long hood, curvaceous sides and a simple but sporty grille. The powertrain lineup will include a 1.5-liter VTEC turbo four-cylinder paired with a six-speed manual, which should be a treat for enthusiasts. With its fresh looks and intriguing mechanicals, the concept previews an everyday driver you can get excited about. Obviously, we are. The Hatchback Returns Yep, the Civic is getting a five-door hatch in the United States. It's been a while. Honda last offered a Civic hatch for a brief time in the mid-2000s, and only as the lower-volume Si model. The new hatch will be produced at Honda's factory in the United Kingdom and imported to the United States. That's a win-win for Honda: it's using excess capacity in the UK to satiate a niche market for US buyers. The annual hatch production is reportedly expected to be 30,000 to 40,000 units, which is a drop in the bucket for the Civic lineup and its massive though declining sales.

Autoblog Minute: Ludacris talks Acura, Tesla, autonomous cars, and more

GRAMMY award winning artist and actor Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges sits down with Autoblog to talk about flying cars, Tesla and his 1993 Acura Legend. Autoblog's Eddie Sabatini reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute featuring an original interview with Ludacris. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] GRAMMY award winning artist and actor Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges sits down with Autoblog to talk about flying cars, Tesla, and his 1993 Acura Legend. I'm Eddie Sabatini and this is your Autoblog Minute. As Acura prepared for the 2015 SEMA show, the trade show for automotive aftermarket professionals and enthusiasts, they had a chance to take on a unique project: Restoring a damaged 1993 Acura Legend [00:00:30] owned by Ludacris. Autoblog Minute had a chance to sit down with the man himself and discuss why he's held onto this car for so long: [00:01:00] [Ludacris Interview] While we were with him we couldn't resist the chance to ask Ludacris some other questions, like: What does he think of Tesla's Ludicrous mode? [00:01:30] [Ludacris Interview] What does he think of autonomous vehicles? [Ludacris Interview] Does he have a favorite memory from when he first bought his Acura Legend? [00:02:00] [Ludacris Interview] And, if he could have any car today what would it be? [Ludacris Interview] It's always a pleasure to be able to interview a celebrity especially one that's a fellow enthusiast. [00:02:30] For Autoblog, I'm Eddie Sabatini. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals.

Heritage-inspired Long Beach Blue joins the Acura NSX's color palette for 2021

Acura announced it's expanding the NSX's color palette with a heritage-inspired hue named Long Beach Blue for the 2021 model year. The color was inaugurated during the 2002 model year by the first-generation NSX. Shake the thoughts of the Pacific Ocean and its sandy beaches out of your head; the color is named after the Grand Prix of Long Beach, which Acura sponsors, not after a surfing spot. It joins other motorsport-themed colors, including Indy Yellow and Thermal Orange, and is a reformulated version of the first Long Beach Blue released some 18 years ago. It looks a little bit lighter than the color that inspired it, though it's just as eye-catching. It doesn't sound as if Acura is making any major mechanical modifications to the NSX for 2021. Power still comes from a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain that consists of a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and three electric motors. The system's total output checks in 573 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque, and the NSX reaches 60 mph from a stop in three seconds flat.  Acura will begin delivering the 2021 NSX in early 2021, and pricing starts at $159,145 once a mandatory $1,995 destination charge enters the equation. 130R White, Curva Red, and Berlina Black are the only colors included in the aforementioned price. Enthusiasts who want Long Beach Blue will need to pony up and extra $1,000 for it. Colorful past Acura offered the original Long Beach Blue from 2002 to 2005. It replaced Monaco Blue Pearl, which was offered in 2000 and in 2001, but buyers shunned it. Only 88 cars were ordered in Long Beach Blue, according to the company's archives department, so it's one of the rarest first-gen NSX colors. Time will tell if it's more popular in the 2020s, or if it will be remembered as one of the rarest second-gen NSX colors, too.