Acura Mulling Honda Vezel-Based Small Crossover for North America

At last year's Shanghai auto show, Acura presented a concept for a sub-compact crossover named the SUV-X, which it said, previewed an upcoming production model primarily targeted for China. Now we're learning that Acura is looking to offer the vehicle in North America as well.

Speaking to Autonews earlier this week, Naohisa Morishita, chief engineer for the Honda Vezel's drivetrain, told the publication that the Japanese company is studying a similar vehicle for the Acura brand in North America and pointed to the SUV-X.

"There is a market for it worldwide, not just in China," he said. "Personally, I think Acura needs it."

Honda spokeswoman Yuka Abe told the news agency that it hasn't decided yet which markets outside of China would get the production SUV-X, which will be built around the Vezel, itself loosely based on the latest generation Honda Fit / Jazz sub-compact.

The Vezel will go on sale in the Unites States later this year, though, it may be marketed under a different name.

PHOTO GALLERY

2015 Acura TLX GT Race Car Also Debuts at the Detroit Motor Show

Acura wants to give some sporting credentials to its upcoming TLX mid-size sedan with a motorsports version dubbed the 2015 TLX GT Race Car for the Pirelli World Challenge Championship, which was revealed today alongside a thinly disguised prototype of the production car at the Detroit auto show.

With the TLX GT Race Car, Acura will move up to the top GT category of the racing series where it will go head to head with the likes of the Audi R8 LMS, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes SLS, Nissan GTR, Porsche 911 and Ferrari 458.

Powered by a direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V6 engine based on the naturally aspirated unit of the production car and fitted with all-wheel drive, the racing model was developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD), which is the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co. It will be campaigned by long time Acura Motorsports partner RealTime Racing.

"The 2015 Acura TLX is a true luxury sport sedan, so it is fitting that the car be raced against several of its natural luxury competitors in the Pirelli World Challenge," said Art St. Cyr, President of HPD. "Acura and Peter Cunningham's RealTime Racing organization have a long history of success together, and we look forward to adding to that tradition with the Acura TLX GT race car in 2014."

PHOTO GALLERY

First Photos of New Acura TLX Prototype, Doesn’t Look Half Bad

While we count the minutes for Acura to begin its press conference in Detroit to tell us all about the new TLX Prototype, we thought we'd share the first official shots of the mid-size sedan.

What we know up until now is that the TLX was conceived as a common replacement for the soon-to-be discontinued TSX and the existing TL.

At least in pre-production trim, the TLX managed to capture our attention with its sleek lines (perhaps minus the grille) that build on the design and styling of the smaller ILX, but work better on a car of this size.

Do take a look at the first photos below and tell us what you think about it.

PHOTO GALLERY

2001 Acura NSX-T with a Mere 3,000 Miles will Make You Drool

Even if the Acura NSX (sold as a Honda outside of North America and Hong Kong) remained in production for a solid 15 years, we're rapidly approaching the 10 year mark since the last cars rolled off the assembly line at the end of 2005, so it's getting harder and harder to find unmolested and low mileage examples.

The odometer on this yellow 2001 NSX-T we discovered on eBay (it's listed as a 1991, but we double-checked the VIN and it's a 2001) shows a mere 3,081 miles (4,957 kilometers).

From the pictures, the car looks almost like it left the factory in the beginning of the previous decade, and the only changes made to the targa-top model from its two previous owners are the HRE alloy wheels and a high performance sound system with a custom-built speaker mounted behind the seats.

The 'Buy it Now' price for Acura's most famous sports model on eBay is $73,900 (equal to €54,300).

PHOTO GALLERY