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2014 Acura MDX goes for a camouflaged cruise

While the often misunderstood (and infrequently purchased) Acura ZDX may be going the way of the dinosaur, the company's far more conventional and successful MDX SUV is evolving. In fact, the 2014 MDX seems to be coming along rather nicely, if this latest set of spy images is any indication.
In the camouflaged prototype we see here, it is evident that Acura designers are going for a beefier look for the MDX front end. The current car's pointed and beaked nose are nowhere in evidence on this tester, though some version of Acura's prominent shield grille does seem to remain.
It's a bit difficult to tell if the shape of the glasshouse is much revised on this new car, as the camo is applied in such a fashion as to obscure the post C-pillar design. But it does seem as though, when we look hard at the full-profile shots of the MDX, that the wheel-arch bulges and side character lines of the current vehicle have been replaced with much simpler surfacing.

Acura NSX will use Cosworth block, plus other neat tidbits

The blue NSX you see here was built just two weeks ago. Prototype number six, it rolled off Acura's newest assembly line in Ohio and was rushed out to the Monterey peninsula for various car week activities. We had a chance to sit down with several members of the NSX team to discuss the car, the long road from concept to production, and some interesting details. Below are some choice bits from our conversations. Acura is pretty proud of the fact that NSX version 2.0 was designed and is being built in the US. The new assembly line, called the Performance Manufacturing Center, is in Honda's hometown of Marysville, Ohio. While the line is brand new, the building has seen many uses over its lifetime, most recently as a warehouse facility. PMC staff numbers about 100, with 60 technical and 40 non-technical associates. The car uses parts sourced globally, and one of those sources is Cosworth. The engine blocks and heads come from the English firm and get assembled into twin-turbo powerhouses at Honda's nearby Anna, Ohio, engine plant. The Cosworth name is rarely associated with a bad engine, so we were geeked to hear the NSX's 550-plus-horsepower hybrid powertrain has good genes. Acura hasn't decided how many cars will come to the US each year, but supplies will be limited. We're told there is a total figure for global sales – basically anywhere Honda and Acura vehicles are sold – but they're not ready to divulge that number. Dealer allocation is also yet to be sorted out, although we're told that any dealer that has the necessary tools and equipment to service the new NSX will be able to sell them. Acura currently has 272 US dealers. The switch from the transverse engine originally planned to a longitudinal twin-turbo engine threw everyone involved for a loop. The designers had to lengthen their nearly finalized design, and the engineers working on the production process had to revise or redo much of their work. Though we've been waiting a while for the car since the concept first surfaced in 2012, it's pretty amazing to think that the car was engineered one and a half times and a new factory was built in about three years. But yeah, it's delayed, with series production now set to commence in the spring of 2016. One result of the switch to a longitudinal engine is a transmission hump in the cargo area aft of the engine. The hold is still sized to fit a bag of golf clubs, though it will be a tight fit.

Suspect leads LAPD on slow speed chase down the 405

A man wanted for attempted murder led Los Angeles police on a strange and erratic chase along the 405 freeway earlier this week. According to KABC, Marcos Tulio Flores was wanted by the LAPD for allegedly shooting his sister-in-law early on January 8. On the evening of January 9, police spotted Flores driving a silver Acura around Sherman Way at about 10:40 p.m. and gave chase. With police on his tail, Flores fled down Sherman Way. As he drove along, he sped up, slowed down, occasionally stopped, and got out of the car to taunt police. Eventually, he jumped on the 101 and then on to the 405 with dozens of cruisers and interceptors in pursuit. Once he was on the 405, which the LAPD immediately shut down in both directions, he began firing at the pursuing police vehicles. Thankfully, despite Flores and officers firing wild from moving vehicles, no one was hit during the short firefight. "This is one of the most intense chase scenes I've ever seen," said KABC reporter Desmond Shaw who was riding in the station's Sky2 helicopter. At around 12:20 a.m., Flores approached the Sunset Boulevard off ramp and pursuing officers decided that they'd had enough of his shenanigans. Police called in two SWAT vehicles which hemmed him in and forced him to stop using a PIT maneuver. Officers then sent in a K-9 unit to bring Flores down. Once the dog had him under control, police arrested him and charged Flores with attempted murder. Related Video: