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The long slow roll out of the 11 th  generation of Honda’s legendary Civic came to a conclusion Wednesday with the reveal of the “most powerful” model ever sold in the U.S.: the 2023 Civic Type R. The 2023 Honda Civic Type R set a new front-wheel drive production car record at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. Civic Type R is Honda’s fastest iteration of the company’s longest-selling vehicle in the U.S. For 2023, it’s also the most powerful model on U.S. soil, putting out 315 horsepower and using all of those ponies to set a new front-wheel drive production car record at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. In short, is the best performing Civic Type R since it was introduced in Japan as a 1997, officials noted. “Type R is very important for Honda as the pinnacle of our factory performance and an irreplaceable brand that enables enthusiasts to experience Honda’s racing spirit, and seek the ultimate in speed and driving pleasure,” said Hideki Kakinuma, global Civic Type R development lea...

Since its introduction 15 years ago, the venerable Rogue has been Nissan’s greatest success. Sales of the Rogue far outstrip any other Nissan product, and for good reason. The Rogue hits the sweet spot of the reasonably affordable crossover the American public wants to drive.  The 2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD, the brand’s bread-and-butter vehicle, stays the course. As their bread-and-butter vehicle, Nissan takes special care of the Rogue, keeping it up-to-date and feature rich. The most recent redesign came for the 2021 model year, and the 2022 Rogue just adds to the feature list, starting with a new 1.5-liter variable-compression turbocharged 3-cylinder engine. Nissan also keeps the Rogue ahead of the competition on the all-important technology front, with advanced driver assistance, state-of-the-art safety, and a selection of luxury tech features.  Overview The Nissan Rogue is a compact crossover SUV in the economy segment, available with front- or all-wheel drive,...

When Acura revealed its new Precision EV Concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance earlier this month, there was widespread speculation that it served as a thinly disguised version of the luxury brand’s first all-electric SUV. That seemed all the more likely when, just days later, Acura announced the production EV will be called the ZDX . Acura’s Precision EV Concept made its debut during Monterey Car Week leading most to believe it was going to be the ZDX. It turns out there’s a very different story to tell, at least according to the senior Acura executives who gathered in New York City this week to provide another look at the Precision EV Concept. The sexy, matte blue show car clearly signals the design direction that Honda Motor Co.’s luxury brand will take as it migrates from internal combustion to battery-electric propulsion. But don’t expect to see the Precision EV translate directly into a production model until at least 2026, TheDetroitBureau.com learned. Not the...

Even as Acura bids farewell to the second-generation NSX at the end of the 2022 model year, the Japanese luxury brand is giving thought to bringing back the supercar — and, as would seem appropriate, one should expect it will be all-electric, brand chief Jon Ikeda told TheDetroitBureau.com. With the run of the Acura NSX Type S limited edition winding down this year, it looks like an all-electric version is on the horizon. The two NSX models Acura has built to date were designed not only to serve as brand flagships but to explore the use of new technologies, such as the benefits of a lightweight aluminum body and the performance and handling of a three-motor hybrid powertrain. If and when the NSX would be revived, Ikeda said, it would need to explore the potential performance capabilities of going all-electric. And that means more than just neck-snapping 0 to 60 acceleration. “As long as we’re a fun-to-drive company there will always be a place for an NSX,” said Ikeda, during an...

Last December Toyota revealed plans to build a $1.29 billion battery “megasite” in North Carolina to produce batteries for EVs and hybrids in the U.S. and now it’s investing an additional $2.5 billion — a total of $3.8 billion — in the facility. Toyota’s new plant will make batteries for its fully electric vehicles, like those on Toyota’s new e-TNGA electric vehicle platform. The  additional money will add 350 new jobs to the site , which is expected to begin production in 2025, for a total of 2,100 workers. However, it also helps ensure Toyota BEV and HEV buyers can qualify for the new electric vehicle tax credits taking effect next year as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. “This marks another significant milestone for our company,” said Norm Bafunno, senior vice president, Unit Manufacturing and Engineering at Toyota Motor North America, in a statement. “This plant will serve a central role in Toyota’s leadership toward a fully el...

The average transaction prices for used vehicles are well off all-time highs achieved earlier this year. Consumers shopping for a vehicle over the Labor Day holiday could find prices edging downward if they are looking for a used vehicle as a replacement for their current car, truck or SUV. According to  a review by Edmunds of more than 200 3-year-old vehicle  models, 92.8% saw a price drop in July compared to their highest average transaction price, or ATP, during the first half of 2022. The ATP for 3-year-old vehicles was $31,302 in July, a 4.6% decrease, which equates to $1,526. This is compared to their peak ATPs of $32,828 in January, noted Edmunds, which offers car buyers guidance on pricing across the automotive market. Traditional forces impact market The biggest reason for the price drop, Edmunds analysts noted, was a return to normal seasonal trends within the used car market after a prolonged run of manufacturing stoppages causing a dearth of new vehicles t...

Datsun/Nissan North America has sold vehicles in the U.S. since 1958, with the name changing from Datsun to Nissan in the U.S. in 1985.  Nissan’s Chandra Vasser is leading the brand’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in North America. The brand is perhaps best known for the meteoric sales success of the original Datsun “Z” series, including the first of the series, the legendary 240Z. Nissan was also the first to offer a sedan with a different moniker, marketing the popular third-generation Maxima as a four-door sports car. But sales success and employee success are closely related, and Nissan has a clear path to ensuring an equitable workspace for all employees.  In keeping with the company’s diversity goals, Nissan and Infiniti recently appointed two African American C-Suite executives: Chandra Vasser, who was named Nissan vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the Americas region, and Craig Keeys, who was named vice pre...

Plenty of attention is paid these days to the sales for electric vehicles and pickup trucks. But compact utility vehicles are also coming on strong, automakers have noted.  The CX-30 benefits from Mazda’s skill at building powertrains, chassis and suspensions, giving the ute impressive performance. By one recent estimate, they could grow by 48% in the next couple of years. As a result, automakers across the board have been either adding new small utes or refining the models already in their portfolio. Overview Mazda, one of the smaller Japanese automakers, has always done well selling small cars around the world and with sales of small coupes and sedans fading, it has moved smartly into selling compact utility vehicles, such has the 2022 Mazda CX-30 AWD. As is the case with the best in this class, it offers consumers an impressive array of features in a package, which like Goldilocks’ porridge, seems just right. The CX-30 also benefits from Mazda’s skill at building power...