New Honda next-generation Acura NSX sports car

Acura: Old NSX Was “Too High a Halo,” Next Sports Car to Be Less Ambitious :-
The on-again, off-again next-generation Acura NSX sports car is pretty much off for good, at least as we have come to expect it. The low-slung, mid-engined, quasi-exotic sports car that Acura built all through the 90s and into a good part of the this millennium was expected to become a front-engine GT with extreme styling in its next iteration, but alas, due to many factors, the car has been shelved.

The NSX was “too high a halo,” said Watts. “For it to be fully effective [as a halo vehicle for the brand], it couldn’t be too far removed” from Acura’s other products. In other words, it would be less expensive than the NSX—which was expected to have an MSRP approaching six figures—and probably derived from a current product platform. That’s bad news for those who got attached to the concept of a Honda-built exotic sports car, good news for Nissan, whose GT-R won’t be facing a Honda-built rival any time soon. We are intrigued, however, by what kind of sports car Honda can build in the $50K–$60K range.

2014 Mazda6 Review

The 2014 Mazda Mazda6 ranks 2 out of 22 Affordable Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of published reviews and test drives of the Mazda Mazda6.

After a complete overhaul, reviewers say the Mazda6’s excellent fuel economy, engaging performance and large, upscale cabin make it a strong choice in its class.

The 2014 Mazda6 has a four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. A V6 engine is no longer offered on the Mazda6, but a new four-cylinder diesel is coming later this year. The EPA says Mazda6 models with the manual transmission should get 25/37 mpg city/highway, and automatic models will get 26/38 mpg, which are very good ratings for non-hybrid affordable midsize cars. The transmissions also receive praise from critics, who say that the excellent manual has precise shifts and a light clutch. Reviewers agree that the 2014 Mazda6's nimble, sporty handling makes it one of the most fun cars to drive in the class. 

The majority of reviewers think the 2014 Mazda6’s cabin is attractive and filled with upscale materials. They agree that the 2014 Mazda6 has plenty of passenger space and that its seats are comfortable. Notable standard features on the base 2014 Mazda6 with the manual transmission include push-button start, a six-speaker audio system and auxiliary and USB inputs. If you opt for the automatic transmission, you’ll also get standard Bluetooth, a rearview camera, a 5.8-inch touch-screen display, HD Radio, Pandora Internet radio connectivity, voice-controlled audio controls and hands-free text messaging capability.

The Mazda6 can be equipped with features like dual-zone automatic climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive cruise control, an 11-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system, satellite radio, navigation, a blind spot monitoring system, Mazda’s Smart City Brake Support system, a lane departure warning system, forward obstruction warning and a rear cross traffic alert system. Critics like the layout of the controls, and say that most are easy to use.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 has been on the market for eight years now, but we can’t say we’ve grown tired of it yet. In its most recent iteration, the Grand Sport Vitesse, it’s actually the fastest roadster on the planet—recently setting an open-top speed record of 254.04 mph on Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track. Now Volkswagen’s ultra-luxury subsidiary is offering the Bugatti Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille, a model designation that masks the fact that it’s actually an elaborately made-up Grand Sport Vitesse.

The Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille, of which just three examples will be built, is named after a former Bugatti test driver and two-time Le Mans winner. It’s the first in a series of six “Legend” models, which the French marque will launch throughout the year—all of them based on the Grand Sport Vitesse. And right now, Bugatti will say only that each Legend edition will bear the name of a person that has played a pivotal role in the brand’s history.