Three years (on top of the three-plus we’ve already waited) is a long time to wait for the second coming of the Acura NSX. Measured in Internet time, it’s an infinite opportunity for speculation about the whys and hows of the new car. Aside from the new supercar’s hybrid powertrain, the most shocking part of the announcement is that the car will be built in Ohio. Honda has an engine plant, a transmission plant, two assembly plants and a research and development center in the state, so this shouldn’t be treated with the same level of surprise as if, say, Ferrari announced it would start building cars in Kansas.

Yet it’s still a big change for the exotic Acura, which was manufactured in Japan during its entire first-generation lifecycle, from 1990-2005. When the NSX debuted, part of its appeal was that it represented the pinnacle of Japanese technology and quality, at a time when Japanese automakers were absolutely crushing the competition in both. Times have changed, but we still suspect that a number of fanboys might be disappointed that the second-generation NSX will be built by gaijin.

We spoke with American Honda CEO and president Tetsuo Iwamura about the decision to develop and manufacture the NSX here in the U.S., and he told us that the decision was made for three reasons. The first is that Honda is committed to building cars in the market in which they are sold. The U.S. is the largest market for the NSX, although he said the car will be exported to Japan and other markets.

When asked if there was any concern that Japanese customers might have objections to a Japanese supercar built in the U.S., Iwamura said, “You don’t have to be so modest. American-built cars have a power, even in Japan.”

The second factor was that Honda has had positive experiences with product development of other models here in the States. Iwamura specifically mentioned the North American market-only Pilot and Odyssey as examples. The third reason for the decision to build the NSX here is that Honda believes its Ohio manufacturing facilities produce high-quality products and wants to take advantage of that expertise. Iwamura also said that assigning the halo car to the U.S. would be motivational for its American employees.

Currency fluctuation, however, was not a consideration, according to the Honda chief. While he said that would indeed be the case with a mass-market model, the limited-production nature of the NSX makes the effect of a strong yen a moot point. Regardless of where its built, Iwamura said the main consideration in bringing the NSX back to market is its technology, quality and performance, just as the original did. The NSX is an important part of modern automotive history, a literal poster-child of the ’90s, so we’re certainly rooting for this new exotic Buckeyemobile to deliver on all fronts.

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Why is the Acura NSX being built in Ohio? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Safety advocacy is a touchy subject when it comes to the motoring world. After all, everyone has heard the warnings about buckling up, drinking and driving, and more recently, the dangers of distracted driving. And while we applaud the intent of these messages, we can’t help but have our doubts about how effective most of these campaigns are. Still, there are many different approaches to the road safety public service announcement genre, and we’ve seen a few genuinely stirring takes on the matter, including some strikingly beautiful work like the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership seatbelt campaign.

Choosing to veer more toward the scared-straight school of thought is Australia’s Transport Accident Commission, and its ad quotes a particularly interesting (if frightening) statistic related to motorcycle riding. Admittedly, the spot is not as shocking as the UK’s teenage driver gorefest PSA of a couple years ago, but it’s still the type of thing that makes us sit up and take notice, so perhaps these more graphic PSAs have more of an impact.

What do you think, are road safety PSAs like this effective? Watch the video PSA after the jump – the whole thing – then have your say in our poll below.

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Continue reading Australia takes the fear approach to motorcycle safety [w/poll]

Australia takes the fear approach to motorcycle safety [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler has no plans (at least, none that we’re aware of) that involve bringing a 200 wagon to market. If those plans change, we think the automaker should look towards Theophilus Chin for inspiration. We’ve seen Chin’s renderings before, and his take on the 200 wagon suggests that the family hauler would also be a pretty decent looker, particularly as it forgoes the sedan’s awkward greenhouse in favor of a more traditional form.

Chin takes on the rendering from both front and rear angles, and you can take a closer look at each by clicking through the gallery.

Now that you’ve taken a look, we’d like to know what you think. Should Chrysler expand the 200 lineup with a wagon? Have a say in our informal poll below.

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Chrysler 200 wagon rendered… should it be built? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s no doubt about it. Summer is here, and Volkswagen has gone crazy with open-air motoring. The German auto giant rolled in to its 30th-annual hot-hatch festival at Lake Wörthersee in Austria with the Skoda Fabia RS 2000 roadster. Then it dropped the top on a Golf R Cabriolet concept. But just in case that wasn’t enough, VW also brought out a second Golf GTI Cabriolet.

Like the Golf R Cabrio, the formula for the GTI Cabrio is simplicity itself: take one new Golf Cabrio and one GTI, mix ‘em together and this is what you get: 207 turbocharged horsepower to redo your coif in the open air. Just for good measure, VW also outfitted the show car with a full body kit, dropped suspension and special 19-inch wheels. The Firespark Metallic paint is offset by the high-gloss black trim, a color combo continued into the cabin decked out in black leather – Wörthersee is, after all, in the Austrian province of Corinthia – with red and grey top-stitching.

Unfortunately, like the Golf R cabrio and the Skoda roadster, this is strictly a show car for the time being, but if enough fans demand it, the GTI Cabrio could become a reality. So which would you rather drive home from your local dealership? Check out the images in the high-res gallery, scope out the full press release after the jump, and cast your vote below.

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Continue reading Volkswagen brings GTI Cabriolet to join Golf R Cabrio at Wörthersee [w/poll]

Volkswagen brings GTI Cabriolet to join Golf R Cabrio at Wörthersee [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When the veil was lifted on the Audi Quattro concept at the Paris Motor Show last year, suffice it to say people stood up and paid attention. And ever since, reports have been circulating of its production potential. Call it an inside line, or call it wishful thinking, but the latest reports indicate that the Quattro coupe – a five-cylinder, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive tribute to the original rally machine – is edging ever closer to production.

According to the news from across the pond, Audi‘s namesake Quattro division – the department in charge of all the S and RS models as well as the R8 project in its entirety – has a working prototype based on the S5 coupe but considerably lighter thanks to the intensive use of aluminum and carbon-reinforced plastics. At around 1300 kilos (2,866 pounds), the vehicle is said to be about 300 kg (660 lbs) lighter than an RS5, and 225 kg (500 lbs) lighter than an R8.

The prototype is reportedly due to be driven by Audi’s board members before they sign off on its production. No word yet on what strategy the product would take – full production model or niche product – but here’s our question for you: if, for the sake of argument, it came in around the same price as an R8, which would you buy? Cast your vote in our poll below.

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Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Audi Quattro edging closer to production [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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