[Photo: Auto Media]

Acura is recalling 167,000 units of the Acura TSX sedans. The recall will be done to replace a power steering hose and o-ring gasket found prone to premature deterioration caused by under-the-hood temperature, possibly resulting in the formation of crack that may let the steering fluid leak on the exhaust and create under-the-hood fire. As of the moment, Acura has already received report of one such incident.

Owners of the affected vehicles 2004-2008 2.4L inline 4cyl. engine TSX models in the US will be notified by mail at the end of this month. The solution to the problem would be the addition of a new hose, o-ring gasket, and steering fluid—all free.

Ever heard of a V8 engine by Honda? No? Well, neither have we. Imagine the shock an Accord owner got when her stolen car was returned to her after nearly three years, with the works - a new manual transmission, high-performance tires and an intercooled V8 engine under the hood.

The white Honda Accord was stolen back in 2006, and it’s owner, a teacher in the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan, thought it was goodbye. Well, apparently not.

Three years later, she got a call from the New York police department telling her that her Accord was found during a chop shop raid all souped up and ready for delivery to its buyer. From the looks of the car, it seems the buyer is into drag racing.

Pogany spent months dealing with police red tape just to get her ride back. Now that the car is sitting in her parents’ yard, she still has to replace its Vehicle Inspection Number, which had been filed off in the chop shop, and register it. And she has yet to learn how to drive a manual.

Pogany admits that now everyone is making an offer to buy the Honda, while some are offering to teach her how to drive a stick in exchange for a test drive. With an intercooled eight banger under the hood, who wouldn’t?

Source: Jalopnik

[Photo: How Stuff Works Automotive Consumer Guide]

It’s confirmed: Acura hybrid models are in the works. John Mendel of Honda Motors said that there will be more than one hybrid model, but we can’t tell just how many. But, the most important issue now is this: which Acura model will be the first to have a hybrid version?

According to reports across the web, it will be the Acura TSX, and it will be coming next year, 2011. Honda CEO Takanobu Ito said that the company had to focus on reducing CO2 emissions, thus the plan to introduce new hybrid models.

When the hybrid Acura models are finally introduced, they will be perfect competitors against Lexus models like the HS, GS, and RX.

[Photo: The Truth About Cars]

That’s right! For those of you who were disappointed that the Euro Accord wagon will not be offered in the US, there’s good news—it’s finally joining the car maker’s 2011 vehicle line-up! It will be added as the Acura TSX sport wagon based on the TSX sports sedan. Not much information has been released about the said model, but it will be seeing the dealership in the fall of 2010.

Check the press release below:

All-New TSX Sport Wagon to Arrive in Fall of 2010
10/28/2009 - TORRANCE, Calif. -

Acura announced today the addition of a TSX sport wagon to its 2011 vehicle lineup. Arriving at Acura dealerships in the Fall of 2010, the TSX sport wagon will be based on the popular TSX sports sedan, which features balanced performance, advanced technology and bold styling. Additional information on the 2011 TSX sport wagon will be announced at a later date.

For media information and high-resolution photos of all Acura vehicles, please visit www.acuranews.com. For consumer information, please visit www.acura.com.

Honda Civic fans are going to love this. If your in Europe, and you prefer driving a powerhouse of a Japanese front-wheel driver over a Volkswagen, then this is for you – the Mugen Honda Civic Type-R.

With a price tag of about $64,000, you’ll be greeted with 237 horsepower, from 198 in stock form, plus a ten percent increase in torque at all RPMs. All thanks to customized pistons, cams, intake manifold, plus a custom-designed exhaust system. You’re also going to get an entirely customized suspension system plus an LSD to make power-sliding a lot more fun.

As for the looks… well you’re going to get a humungous wing plus an aggressively tailored bodykit. You’ll have four pistons on each mono-block brake caliper to bring you to halt in case you have to wipe sweat off your palms.

All this for a limited offer of 20 units only. So better get on your heels and start counting your moolahs, folks. This is going to be one fast (selling) Civic.

Source: Autoblog

[Photo: Cars]

Honda’s luxury car brand Acura has been in the United States for more than two decades now, pioneering the launch of Japanese luxury cars in the US. Over all its years here, the American Honda Finance Corporation has been financing all Acura purchases.

This year, Honda plans to distinct its auto luxury brand from the company’s other offerings by launching the Acura Financial Services. The said financial arm will handle all Acura purchases, aiming to improve customer service and raise the brand’s image.

Click here to see complete press release on Auto Blog.

Honda unveiled an “affordable” hybrid family car at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday to challenge the success of rival Toyota Motor (TM). Honda described the white car which it showed off for the first time in Paris as a concept version of the production model that will be unveiled in January.

Honda Motor (HMC) CEO Takeo Fukui says the gasoline-electric Insight will hit the world market early next year. The plan is to sell 200,000 annually worldwide, half of them in North America. Insight’s expected to start about $20,000. The Toyota Prius starts at about $23,000.

Honda hasn’t announced fuel economy numbers yet. The Prius is rated by the U.S. government at 48 miles per gallon in town, 45 mpg on the highway and 46 mpg in combined driving.

Honda designed the Insight strictly as a hybrid hatchback. There is no gasoline-only version. It will be manufactured at Honda’s Suzuka, Japan, factory.

The small, five-passenger hatchback is named after Honda’s original Insight hybrid — a radical two-seater that went on sale in the U.S. in December 1999, the first time a major automaker sold a gasoline-electric hybrid in America. Toyota followed about six months later with the Prius. That two-seat Insight has been discontinued.

Honda won’t stop its hybrid rollout with Insight. Next up is a hybrid based on the CR-Z sports car first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, though not timetable has been announced. A hybrid version of the Fit small car is in the wings and the Civic hybrid will be updated in 2009.

Honda won’t stop its hybrid rollout with Insight. Next up is a hybrid based on the CR-Z sports car first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. It’s meant for the U.S. market “in a few years” is all Honda will say. A hybrid version of the Fit small car is in the wings, but that’s for overseas markets only; no plans for a U.S. version. The Civic hybrid on sale in the U.S. now was mildly updated along with the entire ‘09 Civic line, on sale since late August. Honda says there are no changes to the Civic hybrid drivetrain.

Honda’s hybrid system is quite different from the one used by Toyota and Ford Motor. Honda’s so-called Integrated Motor Assist relies on a small, fuel-efficient gasoline engine all the time, adding the power of a built-in electric motor when the gasoline engine needs more power, such as when passing or driving in the mountains.

The Toyota and Ford systems rely first on their electric motors, then start and begin adding power from their gasoline engines as the electric runs out of steam. That usually happens by 10 mph, but driven carefully, the Toyota/Ford style hybrids can run up to 30 mph or more solely on battery power.