As though the reveal of the NSX Concept at the Detroit Auto Show didn’t garner enough buzz, Acura is looking to reach an even wider audience by showcasing the new hybrid sports car during this weekend’s Super Bowl. And to help out they’ve employed the help of two of the word’s best known comedians, both of whom just also happen to be well-known car buffs: Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.

The spot pits the two against each other to be the very first to own the new NSX, which isn’t set to go on sale for another three years.

How does it pan out? Watch the video below and see for yourself:

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Infinti is pointing their cross hairs squarely at the Japanese luxury crossover market, hoping that their new JX will be a hot seller capable of boosting the brand, but there could be an arduous road ahead.

Their biggest competition: the Acura MDX and Lexus RX crossovers are their brand`s top sellers, meaning Infiniti will have to pick a few pockets to put the JX in their aspired sales bracket.

“It will become our second-best-seller this year, right behind [the] G [lineup],” Infiniti’s North American vice president Ben Poore said to WardsAuto in an interview.

Despite their high sales ambitions, Infiniti isn’t undercutting the competition, at least not completely. Poore said they plan to start the JX at $41,400 including the destination fee. That means it starts off cheaper than the Acura MDX’s $43,815 tag and pricier than the Lexus RX for $39,950.

As far as specifics for those ambitions are concerned, Poore didn’t name any exact sales targets. Despite that, we know the company’s best-selling G coupe and sedan sold 58,246 total units last year.

That could be a tall order given that the brands current runner-up, the QX SUV, only sold 13,428 units last year. Maybe that’s why Poore is playing coy about actual figures. His statement could suggest a relatively low sales target or a tough push against the competition.

Given that last year Lexus and Acura sold 82,595 and 123,299 RXs  and MDXs respectively, it would seem to be in Infiniti’s best interests not to irk the juggernauts, but instead to siphon off a sliver of tired customers from each when it goes on sale as a 2013 model this March.

GALLERY: 2013 Infiniti JX

[Source: Ward's Auto via Motor Trend]

After a dismal last year, Acura has hit the restart button, introducing three new concept cars at the North American International Auto Show and planning more to come. In Detroit, Acura showed off the second-generation RDX, the new ILX compact sedan and the NSX Concept. Later this year the Honda luxury division will unveil its next-generation RL at the NY Auto Show.

To go with the new product and a host of new technologies, Acura has a new brand strategy which it is calling Man Machine Synergy. The philosophy is a development of the Honda motto: man maximum, machine minimum. The idea, says Honda Canada executive vice president Gerry Chenkin is that, “When man and machine connect, the extraordinary happens.”

The new brand strategy was born out of the 2008 economic crisis that claimed the previous NSX concept explains Chenkin at an Acura strategy meeting at Honda Canada headquarters. Chenkin explained how at that time a dramatic change occurred in the industry, away from conspicuous consumption and towards more care for the environment by luxury buyers – particularly new ones.”The events made us refocus on what we wanted to do,” he said, and the failed NSX concept car, “digressed into the area of heavy vehicles,” and wasn’t, “a product unique to Acura DNA.” That said it, “would not have been able to deliver the kind of performance that Acura really speaks to,” using, “the latest technology, not necessarily the largest engine.”

Delving deeper, Alexandre Roger, assistant vice president of Acura Canada said the idea of the Man Machine Synergy philosophy is to use technology to “enable and enhance.” Roger points to European competitors, whose cars are designed for maximum capability, but if the driver’s talent isn’t at that level, the result is the, “frustration of the driver and a waste of technology”. Instead, Acura will design its systems to make drivers better.

The goal, says Roger, is to make Acura a prestigious and desired brand by matching the wants and needs of buyers with products, delivering a driving experience in tune with the Man Machine Synergy philosophy and to deliver an overall premium experience starting at the dealership. To do this Acura will follow six business principles: first, to use its Honda origin to deliver value; second, to offer products with a far sighted vision and social benefits; third, to deliver an “overwhelmingly” beautiful design; fourth, to develop strategies to communicate the new brand image; fifth, to offer superior customer care and six, to work within a stable and sustainable business model.

Of note, Roger mentioned a new Concierge Experience for customers, though stopped short of adding specific details as to what sort of services would be involved by Acura dealers.

Addressing a pre-crash statement by Acura that it was seeking to become a tier one luxury automaker Chenkin says that is still the goal, but qualifies his statement, commenting that Acura will do so by sticking to the core values of the brand and not by chasing other automakers.

Chenkin even surprised us by candidly remarking that, “We’re approaching our 25^th anniversary [as a brand in North America], so we figured this was as good a time as any to get our story straight.”

Acura will reportedly unveil the production versions of the new ILX sedan and RDX crossover at the upcoming 2012 Chicago Auto Show starting on February 8th. Both vehicles were displayed at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in concept form but we don’t expect the production models to stray much from the concepts we saw.

It’s a safe bet that the production RDX that’ll be making its way to the Chicago Auto Show will have very minimal, if any changes. The ILX sedan however, had the majority of its interior hidden at the Detroit Auto Show, so Acura will probably be showing off a more complete interior at Chicago.

The ILX will come with three different powertrains: a 2.0L four-cylinder with a five-speed automatic transmission, a 2.4L with a six-speed automatic, and a 1.5L four-cylinder hybrid powertrain borrowed from the Honda Civic Hybrid. Hopefully Acura will also confirm the pricing on their ILX sedan, which they said at Detroit Auto Show will be “well below $30,000.”

Beyond these two models, Acura’s next big reveal will be an all-new RL flagship luxury sedan, which will be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April.

GALLERY: Acura ILX At Detroit Auto Show

GALLERY: Acura RDX At Detroit Auto Show

Acura has confirmed that the next-generation RL flagship luxury sedan will make its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in April. The car will continue to use a V6 engine, but will gain a hybrid component and use direct-injection as well as an innovative new all-wheel drive system referred to as Sport Hybrid SH-AWD – similar to that showcased on the NSX Concept.

Using a V6 hybrid engine up front to power the front wheels, the system will also make use of two electric motors in the rear, individually powering each wheel. The new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system takes the RL’s current all-wheel setup and transforms it into an electronic system, removing the mechanical components and replacing them with an electronic version. Mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission the result will be an engine that delivers V8 power with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder we are told by Acura Canada senior product planner Emile Korkor.

We were treated to a few renderings of the RL at Honda Canada headquarters and while we can’t share any images with you we can say it certainly has some similarity to the current car, but with a more rear-drive design and large rear fenders – similar to styling cues shown in the new ILX. As for the size of the vehicle, Acura says it will be essentially share dimensions with the current RL, but will gain substantially on the interior. “Think of it as the interior of a 7 Series with the outside space of a 5 Series” said Korkor, stating that the RL will add roominess but not remove the soul of Acura. In addition Acura feels that the size of the RL, not to mention the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, will help deliver mid-size agility.

No details on engine power or output were provided, but Acura did confirm the RL’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will not be standard.

For more on the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, see here, and our driving impressions of an early prototype here.

If it’s  impossible, implausible or just plain awesome and you can’t have it in real life, there’s always going to be video games to let you live out the fantasy.

Amid the buzz building around the new Acura NSX, we can’t help but think to ourselves that it would be nice to just jump in and drive the thing. No waiting around, just instant gratification like a kid in Toys-R-Us. The good news is, as you get older the toys tend to get way cooler and in this case more accessible.

Polyphony Digital, the creators behind the wildly successful Gran Turismo racing game series, have released a video featuring both the old and new versions of the Acura NSX ripping around a track. In addition to teasing the distinct possibility that Playstation 3 owners may soon get to “drive” the NSX, it features some of the key details released at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, including the fact that the car is a mid-mounted V6 hybrid using three electric motors. Gamers, power up your consoles.

Watch the video on the after the jump.

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10. Chevy Tru 140S Concept

For some of the more minor auto shows, a Top 10 list of the most important cars often covers most of the new debuts, but not so at the North American International Auto Show. Held each January in Detroit it’s the obvious launch site for major products by the Big Three domestic automakers and over the years has also become the venue for important new models by the rest of the auto industry.

Domestics made their mark at this year’s Detroit show, starting with one very different concept car revealed by Chevrolet. Called the Tru 140S it may look like some outrageously fast and expensive exotic machine, but it’s neither. Based on the same front-drive platform as the Chevy Cruze, it is powered by the same 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, which makes just 138 hp in that car. Designed, along with the Code 130R concept, as part of an initiative to attract youth buyers back to the brand, Chevy seems serious about the concept, even announcing that if it made production, the target price would be around the $20,000 mark.

Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Maseratis, they all have distinct exhaust notes that turn heads from Hoboken, New Jersey to Hollywood, California. They still ain’t got nothing on the rare and raspy resonation that marks an Acura NSX.

Where an ultra-expensive Italian car says status, the NSX spits true tuner taste— especially because they aren’t in production. That’s why our ears perk up whenever news surfaces about the highly anticipated next generation of the old legend.

The latest? On Monday, Acura announced at the North American International Auto Show that they plan to do the research, development and manufacturing for the new NSX at their Marysville, Ohio facility.

“Honda associates are up to the challenge of producing the new NSX for global customers with a high degree of craftsmanship,” said Hidenobu Iwata, head of Honda’s North American manufacturing operations and president of Honda of America Mfg., Inc. in a press release.  ”Honda associates in Ohio have been building high-quality Honda and Acura vehicles for nearly 30 years, so this news in many ways is a culmination of their determined efforts.”

This is big news, considering the previous NSX was made entirely in Japan and then exported.

Hiroshi Takemura, president of Honda R&D Americas agreed, saying that the company has a rich history of creating cars in the U.S. and that the decision to build the new NSX in Ohio demonstrates the maturity and ability of Acura’s American operation.

For the most part, Acura is keeping mum on tech specs, though we do know that the car will, again, feature a mid-mounted V6, lightweight chassis and Acura’s Super Handling All Wheel Drive system. We also know that the car will be available within three years time.

After a downright miserable year with an eight percent sales decline, Acura is forecasting a massively successful 2012. On hand to debut two new models as well as the Acura NSX concept car at the Detroit Auto Show, sales VP Jeff Conrad dropped a stunning number, telling the assembled press that Acura will increase its volume by 45 percent this year.

Part of the increase will come from having production capacity back at full steam after a difficult year that included both the Japan earthquake and tsunami as well as flooding in Thailand. Prior to those natural disasters, says Conrad, Acura saw 13 months of double-digit sales increases.

The other major area of growth will come from the two new products unveiled in Detroit: the second-generation RDX, as well as an all-new compact luxury sedan called the ILX. Both the small luxury sedan and compact luxury crossover segments are expecting significant growth in the next four years says Conrad. “In fact they are the only two segments expecting double digit growth,” he says.

Past RDX sales have never been all that impressive, but Acura hopes to change that with a new V6 engine and larger overall size for the RDX with much improved power and fuel economy. As for the ILX, the addition of any new model to a lineup is certain to help sales, but perhaps the biggest factor will be the car’s entry-price, which Acura says will be well below the $30,000 mark.

GALLERY: 2013 Acura ILX

GALLERY: 2013 Acura RDX

With a new flagship supercar planned in the NSX Concept, Acura also unveiled a new entry-level model at the Detroit Auto Show this week. Called the ILX, it’s based on the new Honda Civic platform, but significantly modified. It also gets some distinct bodywork and three unique engine choices, including a hybrid option – the first time ever for an Acura.

Find out more about the Acura ILX by watching AutoGuide’s First Look Video below.

GALLERY: 2013 Acura ILX

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The star of the Detroit Auto Show, Acura has put itself back on the map by unveiling a concept car that will inspire the next NSX. Looking undeniably like an exotic, it’s actually quite a small machine – an indication of just how serious Acura is about keeping it light weight. For more details on the car, see here, or watch the video below:

GALLERY: Acura NSX Concept

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If you have been a fan of the turbo-charged motor in the current Acura RDX, you may not like what you’re about to read.

At the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit MI., Acura unveiled the 2013 RDX, which is to ditch its unique turbo-charged motor for a more conventional 3.5-liter V6 motor.

This new engine does pack a bigger punch. It develops 273-hp, that is 33-hp more than the current model. Acura said its customers were not very happy with the fuel-economy of the turbo-charged motor, so it has gone with a more conventional V6. Helping it achieve better fuel-economy will also be its new 6-speed automatic gearbox (current version has five-speeds). Acura has already carried out EPA testing for this vehicle, and the result is 20-mpg in the city and 28-mpg on the highway.

The new model will be available as either a front-wheel drive or all-wheel model.

The new RDX will also be longer than the out-going model, which didn’t offer much rear-seat legroom or much trunk space.

So in many areas, the new RDX seems to be a better vehicle than the one it replaces. Will it still be as much fun to drive? We will let you as soon as we get to drive one.

GALLERY: 2013 Acura RDX

Acura‘s new ILX sedan, based on the Honda Civic sedan, officially features Acura’s first hybrid system and has made its debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. The 2013 Acura ILX will become the automaker’s new anchor in a strategy to capture entry-level luxury buyers.

Acura’s target market with the ILX are intelligent, young professionals. The 2013 ILX Concept that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show today featured 19-inch wheels and was announced to have three different powertrains, including Acura’s first hybrid. Even though Acura isn’t positioning the ILX as a technology vehicle, there is still plenty of features for technophiles to love including Pandora Internet Radio, rear-view camera and text-to-speech messaging.

The three powerplants that will be offered for the ILX include a 2.0L four-cylinder with a five-speed automatic transmission, a 2.4L with a six-speed automatic and the 1.5L four-cylinder, 93-hp hybrid powertrain from the Honda Civic hybrid. Acura did specify that its hybrid system will be tuned for more performance and as a result, will have less fuel economy than Civic’s 44-mpg.

The production version of the ILX will debut this Spring and as a result, no pricing was announced. Acura did however state that they anticipate pricing to be “well below $30,000.”

GALLERY: Acura ILX Sedan Concept Official Photos

GALLERY: Acura ILX Sedan Detroit Auto Show Reveal

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Detroit Auto Show Coverage here

And watch a first look video of the Acura ILX below:

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The past 20 years were pretty stable in the automotive industry. Mostly predictable releases with a steady rate for manufacturers to introduce new models that seemed like a consistant recipe for success.

Then, suddenly with the start of the current model year, things changed. In fact, it looks like this is just the start of a serious upswing in new releases. According to a story published on CNN Money, the auto industry replaced 16 percent of its fleet annually between 1991 and 2011.

That figure jumped to 23 percent with the 2012 model year, which started in October. Apparently keeping this fresh is the snake oil for successful car companies, because next year that number will grow to 32 percent, effectively doubling the rate new models hit the market. Given this manufacturer mayhem, we decided to round up the new cars you should expect to see soon.

Honda is an interesting case as they’ve recognized that their luxury brand, Acura, is simply being outdone by the competition at every turn. They decided to completely redesign their line to quell complaints that their cars are little more than rebadged Hondas. The first to look for: their new ILX compact sedan. As for Honda, they are already planning to release a new generation Civic after the media chastised them for an uninspired release.

Next up, Nissan. While they don’t hold a big market share in the U.S., Carlos Ghosn, their CEO is making plans to expand the 8.2 percent they have now to ten by 2015. In order to do that, they are revamping half of their entire line. Nissan is targeting the burgeoning EV market with their Leaf, which first became available last year. Look for updated Altimas, Sentras and Pathfinders in the near future.

Toyota suffered after the tsunami, but is coming back with a fury. The automaker is releasing a brand-new sports car, the FR-S, developed in partnership with Subaru and set to sell with a Scion badge. The RAV-4 and Lexus ES sedan will also get updates.

Chrysler will move toward smaller cars, something the brand has historically struggled with. The shrinkage can be attributed to Fiat, their new owners, and how their new 40 mpg Dodge Dart borrows heavily from the Italian engineers.

Ford and GM are trying to hang on to their chunky market shares, 17 and 19.7 percent respectively. Both companies are following the industry strategy: refreshing their popular sellers and releasing redesigned cars in their luxury brands. Look for a re-engineered Lincoln MKZ from Ford and Cadillac‘s new compact ATS and larger XTS sedans from GM.

Finally, there are some changes in the pipeline for German luxury cars. Audi just confirmed that their compact Q3 SUV will be sold in the U.S., along with the re-release of the compact A2 sedan. Mercedes-Benz is opting to offer their smaller B-Series and A-Series cars to remain competitive in the Yankee market.

[Source: CNN Money]

Acura closed the year on a sour sales note with the new year resolution to move on with their brand despite most car companies being on the rebound.

This year, Acura fans and new customers alike can look forward to a refreshed and redesigned Acura, less focused on competing with the luxury segment and more focused on a mid-market segment between what Honda already offers and the premium car market. So why the change?

The Acura MDX only sold 4,588 units this year, down more than 22 percent over last year. Total sales also dropped eight percent, marking a bad year for the brand.

Honda has often been criticized for stepping too closely within their comfort zone with the Acura variations on their cars, as many owners felt like they were driving slightly fancier Civics.

That doesn’t mean the horse is ready for the glue factory just yet, though. Honda has a plan to make Acura more competitive, including a new NSX, set to debut at next week’s North American International Auto Show.

While supercars are nice, they have never sold in high volume and can’t come close to rescuing a lame duck brand. However, writing Acura off as a lame duck, despite comparatively poor sales, is probably rash. The company plans to debut a line of totally redesigned cars starting this spring in an effort to rethink the brand.

“Acura will start off 2012 strong with the debut of three all-new products at the North American International Auto Show. Although we still had low inventory in December, our production levels are now back to normal. With a great line-up of products and all-new ILX and RDX models coming in the spring, 2012 will be a very good year for Acura,” said an Acura representative.

Stay in touch with us next week as we unveil more details about Acura’s new models and their plan for the coming year.

Honda‘s latest addition to its airbag recall affecting older Accords, Civics, Odyssey’s, Pilots and Acuras bumps the total number of recalled vehicles to more than 3.7 million.

The issue came to light three years ago, and has already caused one death and at least a dozen injuries due to airbags in some vehicles deploying with too much force. Earlier this month we reported that Honda announced 600,000 vehicles being added to this large scale recall. This latest development will include 272,000 new vehicles.

The problem incudes 2001 and 2002 Accords, Civics and Odysseys from 2001 through 2003, CR-Vs from 2002 to 2003 and 2003 Pilots. The recall also affects 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TLs and 2003 3.2 CLs. Expect notice from Honda if you own a vehicle included in the recall.

[Source: ABC News]

As the compact luxury car market continues its growth in the United States, Acura intends to join the ranks of the Lexus CT200h, Audi A3, BMW 1-series, and Mercedes A-Class.

Based on the Honda Civic, the Acura promises that the ILX will attract younger buyers that find brand name, efficiency, and styling to be most important. Acura have also found that this particular demographic have a preference to the three-box modern sedan styling, and will deliver the ILX as such, even though Acura briefly considered the possibilities of an entry two-box hatchback as well.

Starting under $30,000, Acura engineers also promised there will be enough hardware to differentiate the more upscale ILX from the plain Honda Civic, as we have seen from the Accord and TL or Pilot and MDX. Powertrains for the ILX include a 2.0-liter inline-4, producing from 150 to 160-hp and approximately 145 lb.-ft. of torque. A hybrid will be available with a 1.5-liter engine producing 90-hp and 97 lb.-ft. of torque and an electric motor delivering 23-hp and 78 lb.-ft. of torque. But best of all, a sportier 2.4-liter engine only offered with a six-speed manual gearbox is available for driving enthusiasts. Delivering 201-hp and 170 lb.-ft. of torque in Civic Si form, Acura has yet to answer whether the 2.4 liter will undergo any changes in ILX form.

The ILX will debut at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show and will be available in showrooms by early summer of 2012.

The Honda Motor Company is working hard to restore Acura‘s reputation after the latest design direction of Honda’s premier brand were negatively received.

According to Car and Driver, Acura will not only introduce its NSX concept at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, but will also reveal plans for an RL replacement in April’s New York Auto Show. The new flagship sedan will be offered with loads of on-board tech as well as its trick SH-AWD drivetrain to make an impact in the highly competitive market.

While Acura may decide to drop the RL moniker, this new sedan will remain a lightweight, nimble and economical design. Featuring a hybrid design, a V6 will send power to the front wheels while two electric motors power the rear. Clever packaging will allow the RL replacement to provide as much interior room as a BMW 7 series yet retain the exterior dimensions of a 5 series.

But that’s not all. the dimensions of the new Acura flagship has shifted the line-up, allowing Acura to only keep the TSX or the TL to slot underneath the upcoming RL. In fact, a Honda Civic-based Acura ILX sedan will be the new Acura entry sedan.

Expect more information on Acura’s developments at the upcoming New York Auto Show.

[Source: Autoblog]

Acura has officially confirmed it will reveal what it is calling a concept version of the next-generation NSX at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show in January. A brand that’s lineup has been in serious need of some fresh new product and exciting new models will get just that with the debut of this new sports car concept, as well as the world premiere of a crossover prototype that will eventually become the next RDX and what is being called the ILX concept.

The ILX will hint strongly at Acura’s new small sedan, which until now was rumored to wear the RSX badge. While previous reports had indicated this may actually replace the TSX as a down-sized model closer in size to the Honda Civic on which it’s based, Acura will only say the ILX will be the brand’s first ever hybrid. In total, the ILX, which will go on sale in 2013, will be available with the other powertrains, the first we can safely assume is a gasoline engine, while the other remains a secret.

See AutoGuide’s complete Detroit Auto Show preview here.

Ahead of the recent Tokyo Motor Show, Honda invited a group of journalists out to its Twin Ring Motegi race track facility for an information download on its future engines and transmissions, as well as a chance to get behind the wheel of some of the new products.

Unfortunately, seat time was too minimal for even a first-drive style piece of each of the vehicles present. Still, we thought we’d share our impressions of cars that ranged from high-tech prototypes to models we’ll never see.

Read the complete story below:

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The Honda Crosstour (pictured above) is seeing lackluster sales and disappointing American Honda president and CEO Tetsuo Iwamura.

Iwamura said in a roundtable event related to the Tokyo Auto Show with journalists that it was a bad idea to originally bill the car as the Accord Crosstour because it made the CUV less individual.

Sales are down almost 36 percent at 16,679 for the Crosstour compared to last year when it sold 25,927. Those numbers were still far from Honda’s originally expected 40,000 unit figure. We liked the 2010 Crosstour when we reviewed the 2010 model despite how ugly we found it— something Iwamura wouldn’t agree with.

He sounded surprised by the poor sales numbers, calling the Crosstour a car with “beautiful styling.” Regardless of how you feel about the Crosstour’s looks, Iwamura pledged to make the Crosstour a successful vehicle in the future so it probably wont disappear any time soon.

Gallery: 2012 Honda Crosstour

[Source: Autoblog]

Honda‘s airbag woes grew significantly after they recalled an almost 1 million additional vehicles.

The issue involves airbag pressure in 2001 and 2002 Accords, Civics and Odysseys from 2001 through 2003, CR-Vs from 2002 to 2003 and 2003 Pilots. The recall also affects 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TLs and 2003 3.2 CLs.

The latest development primarily includes vehicles sold in North America. Owners can expect to receive notice soon if their car is included.

The recall started three years ago, so far Honda has recalled 2.8 million vehicles.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Much has been said about the new Honda Civic receiving a list of early updates in a bid to silence critics while restoring the car’s class-leading fuel economy. This has all but been confirmed, with the Japanese automaker revealing an entire new lineup of engines and transmissions at a press briefing held at the Twin Ring Motegi Racing Circuit on the eve of the Tokyo Motor Show.

In total, Honda unveiled five all-new engines, ranging from a new Kei car 660 cc motor, to a flagship 3.5-liter V6 powertrain. With these engines Honda has said it is committed to being both a leader in fuel economy and engine output.

Engines destined for North America include a new 1.5-liter, 1.8-liter and 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, as well as a 3.5-liter V6. Across the board, all will receive direct-injection technology. The 4-cylinder engines gain a new VTEC arrangement with an Atkinson cycle lower load cam plus extensive friction reduction technologies. The result on a car like the Civic will be a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy, plus a 5 percent increase in power over the current model. The same goes for the 2.4-liter, which one Honda representative told us the new 2012 CR-V just missed out on receiving.

As for the V6 engine, it will replace both the current 3.5-liter and 3.7-liter engines, combining the best technologies of both, including a cylinder deactivation system while gaining direct injection. Honda provided a preliminary, and conservative, estimated power output with 310-hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, with a much stronger torque band.

Of note, all of the engines included a start-stop function, although no decision has been made by Honda as to whether we’ll see this technology in North America.

Apart from the new dual-clutch 7-speed transmission (integrated into a new SH-AW, discussion of automatics at the Honda event was non-existent. Instead, Honda revealed several new CVTs (and yes, they can hear you groaning in Motegi). Of note is a new CVT designed for compact cars, as well as another for mid-size, meaning you should look for CVTs to find their way into cars like the Civic, Accord and CR-V soon. As terrible as all this may sound for Honda owners dreading the thought of a CVT, the good news is what Honda is calling “G-Design Shift”, which was created to help deliver more immediate throttle response. We did have the change to test out the new CVT in a 2.4-liter direct-injection TSX but we can’t tell you about it until the embargo lifts next week. Stay tuned.