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Why Acura should build a hybrid Integra successor using NSX tech

Yes, it sounds like a heresy. Yes, the Honda CR-Z was not a good hybrid sports car. Yes, we know the RSX officially replaced the Integra here (but was called the Integra in Japan). But, no, we're not crazy. Well, maybe a little bit. But hear us out. At the moment Acura is a bit of an unfocused mess. Its line-up is thoroughly uninspiring, save for its $200,000 NSX supercar – a great mid-engined supercar with an impressive, performance-oriented hybrid AWD system. And yet few people would draw a line connecting Acura's other SH-AWD hybrids, the RLX Sport Hybrid and MDX Sport Hybrid, to the NSX. The first NSX told the world that Acura built cars with world-class technology and performance, and the Integra carried it to people with normal pocketbooks. Since the new NSX communicates a similar message as its forbearer, so too would a new Integra. Now making an entry-level sports car with hybrid technology is tricky business. As we already established, the Honda CR-Z was a colossal flop. It's balance was all off: heavy, expensive, and not very sporty – and it didn't even get very good fuel economy. However, Honda and Acura can learn from these mistakes. First, to keep costs in check, Acura can borrow from Honda's ever-improving parts bin. It would logical to borrow the excellent Civic coupe platform – something the old Integra did as well. It could also attach the proposed hybrid powertrain to the upcoming Si turbocharged four-cylinder. Some added cost will be unavoidable, since the batteries and motors will have to go somewhere. That will cost some engineering dollars, and inflate the price tag a bit. However, since Acura is a premium brand, it has some wiggle room to bump up the price without losing buyers. Weight is another potential issue this hypothetical hybrid will face, and was one of the chief complaints with the CR-Z. Looking at the RLX and the RLX Sport Hybrid, the hybrid bits weigh about an extra 340 pounds. That's not insignificant, but added to the turbocharged Civic EX-T coupe's 2,900 pound curb weight, you would have a car that would weigh 3,240 pounds. That's comparable to the very fun Mustang EcoBoost. As long as Acura keeps the weight under 3,500 pounds, the brand should have an entertaining coupe on its hands. The final piece of the puzzle is to make sure it isn't compromised. Every bit of hybrid tech in the NSX is there for performance. It helps eliminate turbo lag, and it improves acceleration and handling.

Honda adds 4.5 million vehicles to Takata recall, none in North America

The already massive Takata airbag inflator recall is getting 4.5-million units larger across the world. Honda is issuing an expansion to its safety campaign in many foreign markets. Of those newly affected cars, about 1.63 million of them are in Japan. None of these models are in North America. According to Reuters, Honda decided on this recall expansion after analyzing 1,000 inflators from vehicles not previously covered by its campaigns. The company found that the density of the gas-producing chemicals varied in them, which could cause a safety problem in the future. The models affected include foreign versions of the Fit and CR-V with production dates between 2007 and 2011, the Associated Press reports. Research suggests that Takata's inflators can be affected by exposure to moisture. This can cause the propellant to ignite too quickly and the component to shoot metal shrapnel when the airbag deploys. The issue has been linked to eight deaths worldwide, and there was a recent report of the issue causing a vehicle fire in a Nissan in Japan. The global inflator recall has had serious affects on Honda's books, as well. The Japanese automaker recently had to revise earnings from last year to account for an extra $363 million in costs from the campaigns and has been dealing with lawsuits over the issue. To improve quality, the company decided not to set sales goals through at least 2017. Honda last expanded the recall in Japan in late May to cover another 340,000 vehicles. It has also been searching for Takata's inflators in junkyards in the US. Related Video:

Fire up your 3D printer! Honda releases data for several of its past concepts [w/video]

Futurists have been treating 3D printing like it is the second coming of the Industrial Revolution for years. Everyone will have a 3D printer in their garage and be able make practically anything at home before you know it, right? Well... not quite.
While we can imagine a piece of trim breaking on our car and being able to download the file to print a new one at home, the reality is that 3D printing is still in its earliest stages as a consumer device. Still, Honda is capitalizing on the technology by allowing people to make models of its concept cars at home.
The Honda 3D Design Archive currently consists of five models based on the Fuya-Jo, FSR, Kiwami, Puyo, and NSX concepts. The printer files can be downloaded from the web and carry Creative Commons 4.0 licenses, which allow them to be freely shared. Honda promises that more files will be added to the archive soon.