Automotive

Honda Engine Production Hits 25 Million In Ohio

Honda Engine Production Hits 25 Million In Ohio

Associates at Honda’s Anna, Ohio engine plant celebrated a milestone this week as the facility produced its 25 millionth engine. Honda recently invested $47 million there to bolster engine production for the 2018 Accord. New are two direct-injected VTEC Turbo 4-cylinder engines and a 2.0 i-VTEC Atkinson Cycle engine for the Accord Hybrid.
“Building 25 million engines is not just a major production milestone, but symbolic of the passion and commitment invested by our associates, past and present, to satisfy 25 million customers,” said Paul Dentinger, Plant Manager, Anna Engine Plant.
Versatile Facility
The 25 millionth engine, produced on Line 4, was a 1.5-liter turbo that will be shipped to the Marysville Auto Plant, about 45 miles east of Anna. Anna Engine produces more than 1.18 million engines annually, making it Honda’s largest engine plant in the world. The 2.5 million square foot facility supplies engines and components for 14 Honda and Acura vehicles made across the globe. The plant also makes the turbo engine for the Civic Type-R, the most powerful production Honda in the United States. Further, in the spring of 2016, master technicians at the Anna plant starting building the hand-assembled twin turbo engine for the Acura NSX.
“We continue to invest in our plant and our people to build a new generation of Honda engine products for customers here and around the world,” Dentinger said.
The Anna Engine plant opened in 1985 and total investments there by Honda exceed $2.7 billion. At its current production rate, the Anna staff should reach another 25 million engines sometime in the year 2038.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photo & Source: Honda North America.

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What Makes Supercars Super: The Dream

What Makes Supercars Super: The Dream

Recently, we launched our new series What Makes Supercars Super. The first episode follows one Mike Berman, owner of the The Yellow Compass Group, a boutique Ferrari dealership. Automoblog Host Gino D’Orazio introduces us to Berman and takes us through his dealership.
We see a showroom full of classic and unique Ferrari cars and why each one is so memorable and iconic to both Berman and his customers.
Our second installment entitled The Dream builds from the themes of the first episode. From behind the wheel of his BMW, D’Orazio conveys a passion only the truest car enthusiasts will understand. The Dream shows us how supercars bring out our deepest emotions and often leave us speechless. We have set out to determine just what makes supercars super. Indeed, there are probably a thousand answers, but discovering each of them is part of the thrill.
Enjoy.

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2018 Mazda3 Hatchback Grand Touring Review

2018 Mazda3 Hatchback Grand Touring Review

If you want a stylish, fun-to-drive, fuel-efficient car with utility, you might think you need to buy a small, sub-compact city commuter. But it’s all available in the Mazda3 hatchback. Mazda is producing some fun entries and this one competes well with popular rivals like the Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, and Ford Focus.
This week we drove the 2018 Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring, which is the top trim.
What’s New For 2018
The Mazda 3 remains mostly unchanged for 2018, with a shuffling of some features and option packages. Our Grand Touring tester had LED headlights as standard equipment.
Features & Options
Our 2018 Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring ($24,945) came standard with LED exterior lights (headlights, foglights, taillights), a sunroof, digital speedometer, an upgraded display in the instrument panel, leather upholstery, a nine-speaker Bose system, and satellite radio.
The Premium Equipment package ($1,600) added adaptive headlights, automatic high beams, a heated steering wheel, paddle shifters, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation, lane departure warning and intervention, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with braking for higher speeds, and a traffic sign reader. The Appearance Package ($1,750) added a rear spoiler, front air dam, rear bumper skirt, and side sill extensions.
Total MSRP including destination: $29,770.

Interior Highlights
When we stepped inside the Mazda3, we thought the cockpit was truly driver-focused. Everything is centered on driving enjoyment, with all the controls arranged symmetrically around the driver. The heads-up display is available to make it easier to have fun driving this sporty hatch. The electronic emergency brake is another small thing some might not notice, but it provides room for the gear shifter to be optimally placed.
The leather-trimmed front seats are supportive, comfortable, and among the best in the class; we think they’re near-luxury level. Mazda has some of the best interiors for this price point of any automaker. The quality of materials is top notch and the fit and finish is excellent for a vehicle under $30,000.
In the back, there’s 35.8 inches of rear legroom, so taller passengers will feel cramped. It’s fine for short rides, but not long road trips. When it comes to cargo space, the hatch is among the best. The 5-Door Grand Touring offers 20.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat. With the seats folded flat, it offers up an abundant 47.1 cubic feet of cargo space, moving it into small SUV territory.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Grand Touring comes powered by a 2.5-liter engine, producing 184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft. of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic with Sport Mode and paddle shifters. It’s a front-drive configuration and gets an EPA-estimated 26/35 city/highway and 30 combined mpg.
Driving Dynamics
The first thing we noticed after getting behind the wheel was the heads-up display. It’s one of the best features for any driver so you can keep your eyes on the road. We like it because we push our testers to the limit. The 2.5-liter had ample power for most driving situations, and small hatch buyers will like the four-cylinder with the automatic because of the excellent fuel mileage.
The 6-speed Sport Mode automatic is ideal for enthusiasts because it offers steering wheel paddles, and it shifts with the decisiveness of a dual-clutch transmission. Mazda says “Driving Matters” and this car is a good example of what they transfer to the driver. We found the Mazda3 handles the tightest curves and mountain roads like more expensive German sedans. The ride can be a bit busier than most compact cars and somewhat stiff because the suspension is tuned for sport over comfort.
But that’s why you would buy this car: for the driving enjoyment.
Conclusion
The 2018 Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring is one of the best hatchbacks for the money. It not only ramps up the fun-to-drive meter, but it offers functionality, sporty styling, a top-notch cabin, excellent fuel economy, and safety. If it were offered with all-wheel drive it would be even better.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Mazda3 5-Door Hatchback Gallery

We trust Edmunds.com to give us the best, up to date, and TRUE pricing of what people are really paying for their cars. Get a free dealer quote at Edmunds on this car:

2018 Mazda3 5-Door official site.
Photos: Mazda North American Operations.

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2018 Lexus RX 450h Review: Quiet & Comfortable

2018 Lexus RX 450h Review: Quiet & Comfortable People looking for a luxury SUV generally want a comfortable, quiet interior and a ride quality that smooths out the bumps. The 2018 Lexus RX 450h delivers in those key areas. Add in the impressive fuel economy with the hybrid powertrain, and you have a recipe for success.
We spent this week driving the 2018 Lexus RX 450h with all-wheel drive.
What’s New For 2018?
The 2018 Lexus RX 450h is less expensive than last year, but some features that were standard are now optional. These include the sunroof, roof rails, heated and ventilated front seats, driver-seat memory settings, navigation system, and blind-spot monitoring. The new Premium package adds some of these features back in, while others are sold as stand-alone options.
Standard Features
The 2018 Lexus RX 450h ($45,695) comes standard with keyless ignition, 18-inch wheels, LED exterior lighting (headlights, foglights, taillights, and running lights), automatic high beams, automatic wipers, heated mirrors, a power liftgate, and rearview camera. Safety features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and automatic braking, and lane departure warning and intervention.
Inside, the RX includes an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, 10-way power front seats, a power-adjustable tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 40/20/40-split rear seat (reclines, slides and folds), and a cargo cover.
Tech features include the Remote Touch interface, an eight-inch color display, Safety Connect emergency communications, voice controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 12-speaker sound system with HD and satellite radio, plus two USB ports.

Premium Package & Additional Options
The Premium package ($1,100) adds power-folding mirrors, driver-seat memory settings, and leather upholstery. Other options on our tester included a color heads-up display, the panoramic sunroof, hands-free liftgate, Blind spot monitor, navigation, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.
Total MSRP including destination: 54,715.
Related: The Lexus GX 460 has tons of features and is off-road ready!
Interior Highlights
The Lexus RX 450h gets top marks for luxury and comfort. The leather seats are extra comfy and come with contrast stitching. There’s abundant soft leather touches throughout the cabin that make it a comfortable place, front and back. The large display screen sits in the middle of the dash at eye level, making it easy to see.
The optional panoramic sunroof stretches all the way to the back for optimal outdoor viewing.
In the back, seats can accommodate passengers of nearly any size and there’s plenty of legroom. RX 450h riders sit about an inch higher, as the nickel-metal hydride battery goes under the back seat. The rear seats recline back for extra comfort and also slide back or forward to the desired position.
With the rear seats folded down, the Lexus RX 450h provides 55.9 cubic feet of cargo space.
Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Lexus RX 450h uses a hybrid gas-electric powertrain making 308 total system horsepower and 247 lb-ft. of torque. The luxury SUV is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 coupled with a pair of front-mounted electric motors/generators. The all-wheel drive model has an additional motor powering the rear wheels.
The RX 450h hybrid uses a planetary drive system and is able to start off on battery power alone at lower speeds. It worked well this week navigating through parking lots and especially in stop-and-go traffic in Denver.
EPA-estimated fuel economy is 31/28 city/highway and 30 combined with all-wheel drive.
Driving Dynamics
When looking for a luxury crossover, you want a certain level of quiet and comfort. You want a vehicle that will leave you rested, even after a long trip. And this one will fulfill that need. The RX 450h is exceptionally comfortable and supremely quiet on the road. It smooths out the bumps and turns them into a mere blip on the radar.
Other than the distracting remote touch interface for the radio and climate control, we have few complaints. The ride and handling is not like a European sports crossover, but families will appreciate the RX 450h no less. Lexus softened the suspension somewhat and enhanced the steering feedback for a more pleasant driving experience.

Related: The 2018 Lexus ES 300h scores high marks during our summer test drive.
Conclusion
The 2018 Lexus RX 450h is more comfortable than ever and carries on the Lexus reputation for superb ride quality. The interior is a strong suite and with the extra upgrades, the cabin becomes an even more desirable place to spend time. We would have opted for the heated steering wheel and seats, however, which do not come standard on the 450h.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Lexus RX 450h Gallery

Lexus RX 450h Official Site
Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Lights! Camera! . . . Ford Edge ST?

Lights! Camera! . . . Ford Edge ST? Dearborn is going Hollywood with the Ford Edge ST Camera Car.
Pursuit Systems helped modify the Edge ST for high-speed action footage.
Quick question: Say you need to film a car scene in a movie or a TV show, how do you do it? There’s a number of tricks Hollywood can pull, but if you want to shoot an actual car, driving down an actual road, you have to use something known as a “camera car.”
These are custom-built rigs that run all the way from simple to complex. However, this Ford Edge ST is, to my knowledge, the first camera car ever made by a major manufacturer.
The Weigh It Goes
Yes, I know, technically, this is a camera truck, and not a camera car, but that’s more of a generic term. Most of them are trucks. That’s because not only do you have to haul all the gear, but also the crew. And in a lot of situations, that means the camera operator, director of photography, crane operator, and other assistants.
The Ford Edge ST Camera Car has a huge gantry arm on top. This allows the camera to hang on the far end, being panned, tilted, and swung this way and that as called for in the script. Yes, having that much added extra weight is going to change how the thing handles. And that will only be compounded by actually moving the thing around during a shot.
Ergo, this is far from a normal Ford Edge.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Action Jackson
FoMoCo partnered with camera car company Pursuit Systems to modify the Edge ST for high-speed chase scenes and action footage. The benchmarks for a typical camera car are daunting. For one thing, you have to use an industry standard crane system. Those can weigh up to 1,000 lbs.!
Next, camera cars often travel more than 100 mph, being driven with a degree of precision, braking, and handling. All while tracking to precise marks as the camera is rolling.
So, Pursuit Systems traveled from their North Hollywood headquarters to Dearborn and said that immortal line: “Hey kid, wanna be in pictures?” And of course Ford said yes, cause this is America and everyone wants to be a star.
“We’ve never done anything like this before with an SUV because there’s never been an SUV like Edge ST in our showroom,” explained Mark Grueber, Ford SUV Marketing Manager. “It has the performance chops and utility to keep up with fast-paced movie making.”
Related: Best car movies to binge watch over the weekend.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
The Purge
Ford’s first contribution to this tweaked Edge was a specially-tuned, twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost. Next, they dialed up a performance braking system, added an eight-speed transmission with selectable traction controls, and still made room for the driver and film crew.
Ford also added lots of structural support to the roof to accommodate the nearly 1,000 lbs. “Pursuit Arm.” That’s a company-specific piece of kit, but generically these things are called jib arms. And any jib arm worth its salt has to have all manner of stuff attached to it: Gyro-stabilized remote-control cameras, boom extensions, light set ups, you name it.
Shoot, back in the old days they used to hang the operator out there in a tiny seat!
To compensate for the weight of the crane and film equipment, Ford added an individual-wheel air suspension and gutted the interior. A roll cage protects occupants because things can go very wrong on movie sets. All wires are wrapped in matte black vinyl so they don’t reflect and spoil the magical illusion that is Hollywood.
Related: 2019 Ford Edge employs artificial intelligence in the name of performance.
In addition to the Ford Edge ST, Pursuit Systems has converted BMW X5 Ms, Porsche Cayenne Turbos, and a Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG into camera cars. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
A roll cage protects occupants because things can go very wrong on movie sets. Click To TweetAll In A Day’s Work
One of the reasons I got into film and TV production (way back when) was, in addition to getting to make movies and stuff, I got to play with some really cool toys, like this 2019 Ford Edge ST. Sure, the hours are long, and you’re getting yelled at a lot of the time, but you get the satisfaction of saying, “Hey! See this Cheetos commercial? I did that!”
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz

Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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Aston Martin DBS 59: Beautiful, Fast & Extremely Rare

Aston Martin DBS 59: Beautiful, Fast & Extremely Rare The Aston Martin DBS 59 pays homage to the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The DBS 59 is inspired by the DBR1 but based off the current DBS Superleggera.
In 1959, Aston Martin landed a monumental one-two finish during the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the DBR1. Despite hard competition from Ferrari, Porsche, and a team of Ecurie Ecosse Jaguars, the David Brown Racing Aston Martin DBR1 emerged victorious. Sir Stirling Moss – who helped win the 1959 World Sportscar Championship – called the DBR1 “the most important Aston Martin ever.”
Only five were built between 1956 and 1959. And when the last one went to auction at Monterey in 2017, it set a new record as the most valuable British-made car ever. Sale price? £17.5m or about $22.5 million.
Racing Green Treatments
In honor of the DBR1, Aston Martin Cambridge is producing a collection of 24 special DBS Superleggeras. With “24” representing each hour of the legendary endurance race it conquered in 1959, the DBS 59 is a rare and stunning specimen. Expect a hand-crafted interior and graphic elements similar to the original DBR1.
“When Aston Martin Cambridge expressed a desire to create a limited run of DBS Superleggeras inspired by the DBR1’s famous Le Mans victory we knew it had to be something special,” said Simon Sproule, Aston Martin Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer. “The soft metallic hue of the Aston Martin Racing Green paintwork is classy and timelessly beautiful.”
The Aston Martin DBS 59 is a rare and stunning specimen.Click To TweetGloss, Carbon Fiber & Bronze
Gloss carbon fiber treatments compliment the Racing Green paint. Obsidian Black and Chestnut Tan leather adorn the interior. The front grille surround, “Superleggera” bonnet script, rear Aston Martin script, and Q Fender Badge are each painted bronze.
“My favorite element on the DBS 59 are the seat backs that feature fabric inspired by the DBR1 seat material, but there are countless touches that will intrigue and delight,” Sproule said. “The level of thought and detailing is exceptional.”
Related: How Sir David Brown built a car for the “discerning owner driver.”
The DBS 59 collection includes just 24 models, each denoted by a small white roundel numbered one to 24 accordingly. Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Helmets, Suits & Gloves Included
The Saddle Leather Helmet Pods (rear compartment) are for storing the special crash helmets, race suits, and gloves. The set includes period blue racing overalls, string-backed racing gloves modeled after those worn by 1959 Le Mans-winning driver Caroll Shelby, and a replica 1959 race helmet.
There is even a two-piece luggage set to match the interior trim, plus a Racing Green car cover.
Essential Foundations
The DBS 59 is based off Aston Martin’s fastest production car to date, the DBS Superleggera. With a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12, the DBS Superleggera hits 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, 100 mph in 6.4 seconds, and tops out at 211. The rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic uses a mechanical limited-slip differential with torque vectoring controls.
Availability
The DBS 59 – versions one through 24 – are available to order through Aston Martin Cambridge.
Aston Martin DBS 59 Gallery

Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.

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Solar Charging Technology For Cars? Hyundai & Kia Say It’s Viable

Solar Charging Technology For Cars? Hyundai & Kia Say It’s Viable Emerging technology can charge a car’s battery via body or roof-mounted solar panels.
The “translucent solar roof” is the first system of its kind for internal combustion engines.
Hyundai and Kia say the solar charging systems will help reduce harmful CO2 emissions.
Hyundai and Kia will implement solar charging technology on certain Hyundai vehicles as early as next year. The electricity-generating solar panels, on either the roof or hood, will provide additional electrical power to increase efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.
Hyundai are Kia are developing three types of solar roof charging systems, known as “generations.”
Generations One & Two
The first-generation solar roof system, applied to hybrids, includes roof-mounted silicon solar panels. The panels can charge 30 to 60 percent of the battery per day, depending on weather conditions and the environment.
By contrast, the second-generation “semi-transparent” roof system pairs with internal combustion engines. Unlike the first-generation system, the semi-transparent solar panels fit a panoramic sunroof. The idea is to maintain “transparency” while charging the battery. This way, drivers can still enjoy having the views a panoramic sunroof provides.
Hyundai and Kia say solar charging systems will help vehicles reduce CO2 emissions. Photo: Hyundai Motor Group.
Solar Lid
The third-generation, or “solar-lid” system, is undergoing a pilot study. Hence why Hyundai and Kia were slim on the details, noting only that it “mounts solar panels on the bonnet and roof in order to maximize energy output.”
“In the future, various types of electricity generating technologies, including the solar charging system, will be connected to vehicles,” explained Jeong-Gil Park, Executive Vice President, Engineering Design Division, Hyundai Motor Group. “This will enable them to develop from a passive device that consumes energy to a solution that actively generates energy.”
Related: Where are EVs most popular? The results of this study might surprise you?
Photo: Hyundai Motor Group.
How It Works
The charging systems have a solar panel, controller, and battery. Electricity is produced when sunlight hits the panel’s surface. A 100W solar panel – in 1 Sun standards (summer noon, 1000 W/m² intensity of radiation – produces 100Wh of energy per hour. In the controller, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), controls voltage and current to increase efficiency of the electricity in the solar panel.
The electricity is then transformed to the standard voltage by the controller and stored in the battery.
Hyundai will launch the first generation of this technology in 2019.
“The paradigm of the vehicle owner will shift from that of a consumer to an energy prosumer,” Gil Park said.
The Automoblog staff contributed to this report.

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Land Rover’s Limited Edition V8 Defender Caps Anniversary Celebration

Land Rover’s Limited Edition V8 Defender Caps Anniversary Celebration The Land Rover Defender, the boxy off-roader, post-war British thing that has been around for 70 years, just got a celebratory pat on the back thanks to the tried and true (American) gearhead answer of “just stuff a big V8 in it, it’ll be fine.” I’ve got to say that’s a rationale I agree with.
Indeed, the Land Rover Defender has been around for 70 years. A milestone worth observing. They are, in a number of ways, a very good British take on the American original. Yes, I know, there are Landy guys that will argue this production date or that bit of tech minutiae, but really, Jeep is the original, and Land Rover is a rather nice British copy, but a copy nonetheless.
Cheating Fate
The death of the Land Rover Defender has been hovering around on black bat wings for decades now, longer than the thing has been called the Defender, back to when they were all simply called “Land Rovers.” The gas crunch of the early 70s was going to kill it. Changing tastes in the mid-80s meant its days were numbered. Growing emissions regs preordained new Land Rovers weren’t going to be seen on the roads after 1991. Stuff like that.
But here we are, all these years later, and it’s still around. And Land Rover says this new engine is “all about celebrating the 70th anniversary,” but it really boils down to the fact someone within the company thought it sounded like a great way to pump more life into a War-era vintage carcass. At least that’s what I think. In most cases, I feel stuffing V8 engines where they don’t belong is usually a great idea. Then again, as a kid, I lived in a household where at one point there were three Sunbeam Tigers in the family’s possession.
Photo: Land Rover Classic.
Limited Run
Sadly, the new V8-equipped Defender will not just be a choice on an option box. The upcoming Land Rover Defender with a big V8 will be a limited-edition deal with only “up to” 150 examples being made to celebrate the marque’s 70th anniversary in 2018. Sad, but I understand where they’re coming from.
Noteworthy Nameplate
The Defender Works V8 (its official name) pays tribute to the early high-powered versions of the 1979 Series III Stage 1 V8 and the 50th Anniversary Edition in 1998. Which, if I’m remembering this right, were powered by the same small block alloy V8 that Rover actually bought from Buick (of all people) back in the 1960s. “Why would anyone want a small, light, fuel efficient V8,” Buick asked, and promptly sold the thing to the Brits. Next thing you know, that same engine was in Rover police cars and Triumph TR8s and not in Buicks when that aforementioned gas crunch hit in the early 70s. Oops.

Power & Performance
Anyway, let us not dwell on the mistakes of our Detroit-based forefathers. Landy says the Defender Works V8 is the most powerful and fastest Defender ever manufactured. The 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 cranks out 400 horsepower and 380 lb-ft. of torque versus the standard Defender’s 120 ponies and 265 lb-ft. of torque. All of those numbers are good enough for the Defender Works V8 to accelerate to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, topping out at 106 mph. Which is frighteningly quick for something as tippy as a Land Rover, as well as comically slow on that top end. But given the thing has the aerodynamic grace of the crate it’s shipped in, it kinda follows, y’know?
The 150, specially-selected and re-engineered 70th Edition Defenders will have an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with a sport mode. The brakes are updated (thankfully); the handling kit consists of springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars, plus exclusive 18-inch diamond-turned Sawtooth alloy wheels, with 265/65 R18 all-terrain tires. And all of that is good stuff, but you know these things are still going to handle like milk trucks, and it’s only a matter of time before a rich footballer from West Ipswichingham/ford-knoll-towne-on-Tyne barrel rolls one into a ditch.
Photo: Land Rover Classic.
Visual Treatments
The 70th Edition Defenders will come in eight unnamed body colors including two satin finishes. All of which will contrast nicely with the Santorini Black roof, wheel arches, and front grille. The door handles, fuel filler cap, and Defender bonnet lettering will be finished with machined aluminum (nice!). The comprehensive lighting upgrade includes bi-LED headlamps. Of course, full Windsor Leather covers the dashboard, door panels, headlining, and Recaro sports seats my dear fellow, and a Land Rover Classic Infotainment System is also fitted.
Pricing & Availability
Both 90 and 110 wheelbase Defender Works V8 versions will be available with prices starting from £150,000 for a 90 in the UK, which is around $210,000. The Defender Works V8 is available in the United Kingdom, and MENA markets on a personal import basis. European market availability is also on an individual import basis, subjected to rules on importation of vehicle conversions.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format.
Defender Works V8 Gallery

Photos & Source: Land Rover Classic.

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Acura Promises Return of Type-S & More A-Spec Variants

Acura Promises Return of Type-S & More A-Spec Variants
I bet if you were to ask Acura, they’d say the performance factor never left. But that said, they sure are making a big deal about their revitalized focus on performance and the return of the Type S at this year’s North American International Auto Show. Naturally, since I am a diehard gearhead, this is all great news for me, and for most of you out there. But what does this really mean? What will it all add up to?
Bringing It Back
All of this refocusing on performance coincides with the global debut of the 2019 Acura RDX Prototype at “The Detroit Show” (for us old skool guys). And yeah, that seems kind of silly (a performance oriented SUV? Ha!) but every car maker wants their stuff to be seen as high-tech and sporty. I bet there are guys in heavy truck hall talking about the sporty, high-performance styling of their new-for-2019 cab overs. But Acura is the luxury and performance division for Honda, so you durn well better pay attention when they say they’re bringing the performance back.
“We have made a major commitment to Acura to bring each element of Precision Crafted Performance to life through a new generation of products,” explained Toshiaki Mikoshiba, President & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Acura will pursue a unique powertrain strategy that underscores the brand’s rightful place as the performance division of Honda.”
2002 TL Type-S. Photo: Acura.
Power & Performance
Acura is trying to leverage a lot of this new performance aura from the latest NSX. In many ways that’s a good move since the latest NSX is a lot like a LaFerrari for a tenth of the price. The downside is that, for some reason, people were not buying the new NSX (I have no idea why).
Acura calls this focus “Precision Crafted Performance,” which now includes the launch of a new, turbocharged V6 powerplant for future Acura vehicles to use exclusively. It will be matched with the latest generation of Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. This means, most likely, the new turbo V6 puts out a ton of power and torque, and will need all four contact patches to make it work. By the way, the latest generation of Super Handling All-Wheel Drive is launching in the 2019 RDX.
2018 Acura TLX A-Spec. Photo: Acura.
Type-S & A-Spec Together
Acura says we can look for the return of its much-loved Type-S performance brand in the coming years, and for A-Spec variants to encompass all core models in the future. With regard to the A-Spec, expect a new 2.4-liter TLX A-Spec this spring, and an A-Spec variant of the 2019 RDX mid-year. I can almost hear the fanbois screaming from way out here. Honda kids love Type-S and A-Spec cars, so this is a dynamite move.
Exciting Times
The Type-S badge hasn’t been around for a decade, last seen on the 2008 Acura TL. So we can look forward to updated and modernized versions of what that Type-S badge brought to the 2008 Acura TL: A track-tuned chassis, more powerful engine and better brakes, high-performance tires and a general, sports-oriented exterior with interior modifications.
Looks like fast and fun times are ahead!
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format.
Photos & Source: Acura.

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