Designed and engineered to reaffirm its place as a desirable and affordable entry point for the Acura sedan range, the all-new second-generation 2009 Acura TSX is larger, more agile, more powerful and even "more Acura" than ever before. The 2009 Acura TSX made its world premiere at the on-going 2008 New York International Auto Show . Carefully crafted to honor the original TSX's vision as a world-class sports sedan, the TSX has significantly evolved to offer more comfort, safety, convenience and driving performance - dramatically raising the standards for Acura's entry-level sedan . With sharp-edged and athletic styling, a powerful, clean and efficient i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine, a choice of automatic or manual transmission, and the kind of driving character that's an Acura trademark, the 2009 TSX continues as a valuable asset to the Acura division - and to a loyal following of customers. Major advances in handling agility, safety features, emissions reduction, ride smoothness and quietness, and interior comfort and convenience features all contribute to the new TSX's added appeal.  read more »

Engineers from Honda were spotted in the California night testing what appears to be a new Acura sport-crossover, not unlike the Infiniti FX35 and BMW X6. Despite extensive camo inside and out, the low-slung crossover had wheels and tires more appropriate for handling than off-roading, and upscale cues that tend to signal this is an Acura model rather than a new Honda. That SRX-like rear is likely fake, with the actual vehicle having a heavily sloped rear silhouette. Full spy report after the jump.  read more »

You may have already heard this, but BMW's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine took home the International Engine of the Year award for 2008. If you've experienced this powertrain you know that title is well and properly earned, as the 3.0-liter's combination of horsepower, torque and even fuel efficiency make it one of the best engines in history. But that got me thinking: What are the best engines in the history of the automobile?  read more »

Abstract: 2008 Beijing Auto Show Debut Cars: The 2009 Audi Q5.

For months now we've seen spy photos and heard speculation about Audi's new Q5 CUV. Now, we finally have the official news on the latest entry from Ingolstadt. Unlike its big brother the Q7, the Q5 doesn't share an architecture with a VW model.

The Q5 bears a strong family resemblance to the A4 Avant, while at same time being distinct. When Audi designers were discussing the rationale behind the styling, they began with the beltline that's found on all the newest four-ringed offerings.
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It was tough to sit through the two Honda press conferences today. Both the redesigned Acura TSX and the Honda Fit have been stars on the Internet for seemingly months now. The Fit was introduced in Japan last fall where it is Honda's top-selling model. And various TSX pictures and the press release have been rattling around online for a while now. So the introductions here have been awkward. With very little adieu, out rolled each car. Loud music was playing...and kept playing...and just when you thought it was done, played some more. It was as if Honda was trying to build excitement in the press corps that never quite happened.  read more »

It's time for Acura to get serious. I don't mean serious in a "no more fun" sense, I mean serious in a "We're committed to creating full-fledged premium cars, and not just really good Hondas" sense. That's what the 2009 Acura TSX feels like to me -- a really good Honda. That's great if you already love Hondas and just won the lottery, but if you're trying to bring non-Honda-philes into the fold, this car can't do it. I drove the TSX on a variety of roads, including Mulholland Drive.  read more »

A full reveal of the production-ready 2011 Chevrolet Volt took place in September after we were teased with glimpses of the electrically driven car for months. Detailed information about the Volt was finally revealed, including a production start date of...Joe Bruzek

Competes with: Infiniti M35, Lexus GS, BMW 5 Series Looks like: Last year's RL with a new grille wait, that's exactly what it is Drivetrain: 300-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 with five-speed automatic Hits dealerships: Spring 2008 Acura's RL is an underrated luxury sedan that has been hobbled by the perception that it's underpowered and a dud in the styling department. While the competition offered distinctive looks and optional V-8s, the RL stuck to a V-6 and a meek demeanor. Acura hopes to change that with the slightly revised 2009, but it doesn't seem like too much has been done. Outside, the RL has a new grille with a small "shield" similar to the large one adorning the MDX crossover, along with slightly altered headlights. The look is certainly bolder, but we're not sure it's more cohesive than the old design. Inside, the company says it's upgraded things, but besides a new shifter it all looks the same to us. The optional navigation system, however, will now come with live weather updates; the RL was also one of the first cars to offer live traffic updates. The biggest changes come to the engine, which grows to a 3.7-liter V-6 pushing out an even 300 hp, up from a 290-hp 3.5-liter. Acura has also upgraded the suspension and steering and added larger 18-inch wheels and "aggressive" tires as standard. All-wheel drive remains standard and, yes, Acura still calls it Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive. Expect prices to remain close to the current $46,280-$53,700 range when the RL goes on sale in a few months.  read more »

According to the 28th annual J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Index, car dealerships rose in customer satisfaction so far this year, due mostly to an increased satisfaction with repair work. Overall, two-thirds of the 37 brands ranked experienced gains in customer satisfaction. Dealer service overall increased to 882 on a 1,000-point scale, with Jaguar ranking highest in customer satisfaction for the second year in a row followed by Cadillac and Buick. Top ten brands below the jump.  read more »

This is actually the second time I've been able to inspect Acura's new entry-level sport sedan, because the automaker invited journalists to drive the 2009 TSX last month. A full review of the sedan hits Cars.com tomorrow morning, but here's...Mike Hanley