Latest news with #AcuraNSX
The Drive
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Carmakers Can Just Disconnect Your 'Connected' Car Whenever They Feel Like It
The latest car news, reviews, and features. A few years ago, all major U.S. cell carriers began shutting down their 3G wireless networks, which subsequently took vehicles that relied upon it offline. This effectively ended remote start, location, and locking services for some of the earliest connected cars to hit the market. This week, an Acura owner shared a letter they'd received on Reddit, announcing that a range of 2014-2022 model year vehicles would also be dropping support for AcuraLink, the automaker's connected car platform. It's a disappointing reminder that no matter how long a car remains on the road, the tech inside it often carries a much shorter shelf life. The letter identifies the following vehicles as ending AcuraLink support on July 21: 2014-2020 Acura RLX 2014-2020 Acura MDX 2015-2020 Acura TLX 2016-2018 Acura RDX 2016-2022 Acura ILX 2017-2022 Acura NSX Yes, every Acura NSX ever built, including the one-last-bang Type S model from 2022, will lose its AcuraLink features, from roadside assistance to stolen vehicle tracking, remote locking, and concierge. Those who are currently subscribed to an AcuraLink term that runs beyond July 21 will receive a prorated refund. AcuraLink being discontinued on older cars byu/orange9035 inAcura It's unclear if this decision was prompted by a technical limitation, like the 3G shutdown, or some other reason. Nevertheless, the fact that vehicles up until 2022 are affected is a pretty tough pill to swallow for owners of new-ish Acuras. The Drive has reached out to the company for more insight, and to find out if any associated HondaLink vehicles are affected. We will update this story with whatever we learn. This is, unfortunately, the modern reality of car ownership. The capabilities that rely on systems automakers have no control over, like data networks, are never guaranteed to be up and running forever, and there's no replacement for them once they go dark. Yes, you could argue that these owners got the service they paid for, for an established length of time they agreed to. But many people base their vehicle purchasing decisions on technologies like these (because carmakers advertise them), completely unaware that they won't last forever. Or even just three years! The interior of a 2019 Acura NSX. Acura It's simply not a good situation for consumer confidence, and it's bound to frustrate people who purchased their vehicles intending to keep them for a good number of years. I mean, I probably have canned food products in my pantry that I bought in 2022 that still haven't expired yet. There had to be a better way Acura could've handled this situation, especially for the most recent models affected. It's frankly a surprising move from the same company that offered to retrofit late-model Accords with Wireless CarPlay for a very reasonable price. If you happen to own one of the impacted vehicles and use AcuraLink, let us know in the comments if you've received a similar notice, and how you're feeling about all this. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
Time Business News
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time Business News
Titanium Alloys in the Automobile Industry
In recent years, with the rapid development of the automobile industry, the fuel consumption, environmental protection and safety issues generated by automobiles have attracted increasing attention. Looking forward to the future development direction of the automobile industry, lightweight, low fuel consumption and low emissions are the themes of development. According to statistics from international authoritative departments, 60% of the energy of automobile fuel combustion is consumed by its own weight. Although high-strength thin steel plates, aluminum, magnesium, metal-based composite materials and plastic resin materials have played a role in reducing the weight of automobiles, the emergence of industrial titanium materials has made automobile manufacturing a better choice. Titanium metal has the advantages of low density, high specific strength and good corrosion resistance. The use of titanium materials in automobiles can greatly reduce the weight of the car body, reduce fuel consumption, improve the working efficiency of the engine, improve the environment and reduce noise. However, the high price makes titanium alloys only have some applications in luxury models and sports cars in the automobile industry, and rarely in ordinary cars. Therefore, research and development of low-cost titanium alloys manufacturing that meet market needs is the key to promoting its application in ordinary household cars. Although titanium alloys have been widely used in aerospace, petrochemical and shipbuilding industries, their application in the automotive industry has developed slowly. Since the successful development of the first all-titanium car by General Motors in the United States in 1956, titanium automotive parts did not reach the level of mass production until the 1980s. In the 1990s, with the increasing demand for luxury cars, sports cars and racing cars, titanium parts have developed rapidly. In 1990, the amount of titanium used in automobiles worldwide was only 50 tons, which reached 500 tons in 1997, 1100 tons in 2002, and 3000 tons in 2009. It is expected that the amount of titanium used in automobiles worldwide will exceed 5000 tons in 2015. At present, the following titanium alloy parts are commonly used. Titanium alloy is an ideal choice for connecting rod materials. Engine connecting rods made of titanium alloy can effectively reduce engine mass, improve fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust volume. Compared with steel connecting rods, titanium connecting rods can reduce mass by 15% to 20%. The application of titanium alloy connecting rods was first reflected in the new Italian Ferrari 3.5LV8 and Acura NSX engines. The materials used for titanium alloy connecting rods are mainly Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al, Ti-3Al-2.0V and Ti-4Al-4Mo-Sn-0.5Si, and other titanium alloy materials such as Ti-4Al-2Si-4Mn and Ti-7M-4Mo are also being developed for use in connecting rods. Automobile engine valves made of titanium alloy can not only reduce weight and extend service life, but also reduce fuel consumption and improve the reliability of the car. Compared with steel valves, titanium valves can reduce weight by 30% to 40%, and the engine limit speed can be increased by 20%. As far as current applications are concerned, the intake valve material is mainly Ti-6Al-4V, and the exhaust valve material is mainly Ti-6242S. Usually Sn and Al are added together to obtain lower brittleness and higher strength; the addition of Mo can improve the heat treatment performance of titanium alloy, enhance the strength of quenched and aged titanium alloy, and increase hardness. Other titanium alloys with development potential are: 1) The intake valve can be made of Ti-62S, which has the same characteristics as Ti-6Al-4V and is cheaper. 2) The exhaust valve can be made of Ti-6Al-2Sn-4.0Zr-0.4-Mo-0.45Si. Due to the lower Mo content, its creep resistance is better than Ti-6242S, and the oxidation resistance temperature can reach 600℃. 3) The exhaust valve can be made of γ-TiAl, which has the characteristics of high temperature resistance and light weight, but it is not suitable for processing by traditional forging methods, and is only suitable for casting and powder metallurgy. High strength and fatigue resistance are the properties that valve spring seats must have. β-titanium alloy is a heat-treatable alloy that can obtain high strength through solid solution aging treatment. The corresponding more suitable materials are Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn and Ti-15Mo-3Al-2.7Nb-0.2Si. Mitsubishi Motors uses Ti-22V-4Al titanium alloy valve spring seat on its mass-produced cars, which reduces the mass by 42% compared with the original steel lock, reduces the inertial mass of the valve mechanism by 6%, and increases the maximum engine speed by 300r/min. Titanium and its alloys have a lower elastic modulus and a large σs/E value relative to steel materials, and are suitable for manufacturing elastic components. Compared with steel automobile springs, under the premise of the same elastic work, the height of titanium springs is only 40% of that of steel springs, and the mass is only 30% to 40% of that of steel springs, which is convenient for body design. In addition, the excellent fatigue performance and corrosion resistance of titanium alloys can increase the service life of springs. At present, titanium alloy materials that can be used to manufacture automotive springs include Ti-4.5Fe6.8Mo-1.5Al and Ti-13V11C-3Al. Turbochargers can improve the combustion efficiency of the engine and enhance the power and torque of the engine. The turbine rotor of the turbocharger needs to work in high-temperature exhaust gas above 850℃ for a long time, so it requires good heat resistance. Traditional light metals such as aluminum alloys cannot be used due to their low melting point. Although ceramic materials are used in turbine rotors because of their light weight and good high-temperature resistance, their application is limited due to high cost and the inability to optimize the shape. In order to solve these problems, Tetsui et al. developed the TiAl turbine rotor. After many tests and verifications, it not only has good durability and efficiency, but also can improve the acceleration of the engine. This design has been successfully commercialized in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution series. Titanium is used in large quantities in the exhaust system of automobiles. Exhaust systems made of titanium and its alloys can not only improve reliability, extend life and improve appearance, but also reduce weight and improve fuel combustion efficiency. Compared with steel exhaust systems, titanium exhaust systems can reduce weight by about 40%. In the Golf series of cars, the weight of titanium exhaust systems can be reduced by 7 to 9 kg. At present, the titanium used in exhaust systems is mainly industrial pure titanium. The weight of a titanium muffler is only 5 to 6 kg, which is lighter than mufflers such as stainless steel. The 2000 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 uses an 11.8 kg titanium muffler and tailpipe system to replace the original 20 kg stainless steel system, reducing the weight by 41%. The strength of the replaced system remains unchanged, and the car is faster, more flexible and fuel-efficient. The titanium used in the muffler is also mainly industrial pure titanium. In order to improve the safety and reliability of the car, it is necessary to consider the design and manufacturing aspects, especially the manufacturing materials. Titanium is a good material for making body frames. It not only has high specific strength, but also has good toughness. In Japan, automobile manufacturers choose pure titanium metal welded tubes to make body frames, which can make drivers feel safe enough when driving. In addition to the above parts, titanium is also used in engine rocker arms, suspension springs, engine piston pins, automotive fasteners, lug nuts, car door protrusion beams, car stop brackets, brake caliper pistons, pin bolts, pressure plates, shift buttons and car clutch discs and other automotive parts. Titanium alloys have the advantages of lightweight, high specific strength, and good corrosion resistance, so they are widely used in the automotive industry. The most widely used titanium alloy is the automotive engine system. There are many benefits to using titanium alloys to manufacture engine parts, mainly manifested in: 1) The low density of titanium alloys can reduce the inertial mass of moving parts. At the same time, titanium valve springs can increase free vibration, reduce the vibration of the car body, and increase the engine speed and output power. 2) Reduce the inertial mass of moving parts, thereby reducing friction and improving the fuel efficiency of the engine. 3) The choice of titanium alloy can reduce the load stress of related parts and reduce the size of parts, thereby reducing the weight of the engine and the whole vehicle. 4) The reduction of the inertial mass of parts reduces vibration and noise, and improves the performance of the engine. The application of titanium alloy in other parts can improve the comfort of personnel and the beauty of the car. In the application of the automotive industry, titanium alloy plays an immeasurable role in energy saving and consumption reduction. Although titanium alloy parts have such superior performance, there is still a long way to go before titanium and its alloys are widely used in the automotive industry. The reasons include expensive prices, poor formability and poor welding performance. With the development of titanium alloy near-net forming technology and modern welding technologies such as electron beam welding, plasma arc welding, and laser welding in recent years, the forming and welding problems of titanium alloys are no longer the key factors restricting the application of titanium alloys. The main reason hindering the widespread application of titanium alloys in the automotive industry is still the high cost. Whether it is the initial smelting of the metal or the subsequent processing, the price of titanium alloys is much higher than that of other metals. The acceptable cost of titanium parts for the automotive industry is 8 to 13 US dollars/kg for titanium connecting rods, 13 to 20 US dollars/kg for titanium valves, and less than 8 US dollars/kg for titanium springs, engine exhaust systems and fasteners. However, the cost of parts produced with titanium materials is much higher than these prices. The production cost of titanium plates is mostly higher than 33 US dollars/kg, which is 6 to 15 times that of aluminum plates and 45 to 83 times that of steel plates. At present, reducing costs is the main research direction of titanium alloys for the automotive industry. In view of the characteristics of the cost distribution of titanium alloys for the automotive industry, material research and development workers mainly achieve the purpose of reducing costs from the following two aspects: developing new low-cost alloy systems and using new processing and preparation technologies. Workers from various countries have developed new low-cost titanium alloy systems, mainly focusing on the following aspects: alloy design using cheap alloy elements and alloy design to improve processing characteristics. Among them, Japan and the United States are representatives, and China has also successfully developed two low-cost titanium alloys, namely Ti8LC and Ti12LC. In the design of low-cost titanium alloy components for automobiles, the commonly used cheap alloy elements are Fe, Cr, Si, Al, etc. The processing cost of titanium alloy materials accounts for more than 60% of the total cost during the production process. Therefore, in terms of reducing costs, how to reduce the processing cost of titanium alloys has become a key research direction. The research in this area is mainly divided into two aspects: one is to improve the traditional casting and forging process, and the other is to use powder metallurgy near-net forming technology. In the research and development of new forging processes, cold forging is currently one of the most promising methods for titanium alloys to manufacture automotive parts. β-titanium alloy has low deformation resistance at room temperature and good cutting processing and forming. It is a material that can be cold forged. At present, Japan has developed three cold-deformed β-titanium alloys. β-titanium alloy also has some shortcomings. It is easy to produce uneven deformation during cold forging and is easy to adhere to the mold. Therefore, the mass production of β-titanium alloy parts using cold forging technology requires further exploration and development. In terms of reducing the processing cost of titanium alloys, powder metallurgy is a very important technology. In the manufacturing of powder metallurgy automotive parts, the traditional pressing-sintering method is still dominant, mainly including the element powder method (BE) and the pre-alloyed powder method (PA). At present, the element powder method is the most widely used in the field of low-cost automotive titanium alloy powder metallurgy because of its simple process and lower cost. In recent years, other powder metallurgy technologies have also been emerging, including laser forming technology, metal powder injection molding (MIM) and other technologies, which have been widely used in the trial production and production of complex automotive parts, which can greatly shorten the product development and production cycle and further reduce costs. The new generation of automobile design pays more attention to the lightweight body, low fuel consumption, low noise and light vibration of the engine to meet the increasingly stringent environmental requirements. In this context, light metal titanium will become a major application material for future automobiles. Taking into account the current status of low-cost titanium alloy research for automobiles, it can be found that in order to further reduce the cost of titanium alloy for automobiles, the following aspects should be mainly focused on: 1) In the development of low-cost alloy systems, try to develop alloy systems that do not use or use less expensive alloy elements without affecting performance, and at the same time, fully develop and utilize recycled titanium alloys. 2) In the development of casting and forging technology, develop in the direction of developing β titanium alloys and cold-deformed titanium alloys, and conduct feasibility studies on their mass production. 3) In powder metallurgy, while ensuring a low-cost advantage, it is necessary to further improve the performance of titanium parts. With the development of the economy and the reduction of titanium costs, more engineering designers will choose titanium parts as automotive parts. Titanium alloys will eventually occupy an important position in the production of the automotive industry. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Bloomberg
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
A Car Guy Makes a Left Turn
Matt Farah wanted to tell me about his ride. 'This is a final-year car,' he said of his 2005 Acura NSX, a mid-engined supercar he was steering through Los Angeles traffic. 'By the time they got to the very end, Acura wasn't selling very many. There were only 248 NSXs built in 2005, and this is one of 30 they built in silver.'
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Acura NSX Sets Auction Record At $370,000
Read the full story on Backfire News There's no doubt the NSX, both with the Honda and Acura badge affixed, is a hot collector item. It wasn't always that way, but it seems enough people with deep pockets feel nostalgic about the mid-engine Japanese sports car (dare we call it a supercar?) to drive up seems like records are being set and broken fairly often, and it recently happened again after a 2002 Acura NSX auctioned for $370,000 on Bring A Trailer. While that's not the highest top bid for an NSX at auction, it's apparently a new high for any NA2 NSX, which before sat at $315,000. What's more, that high bid sets a record for any NA1 or NA2 auctioned on Bring A Trailer. Needless to say, people are excited about that and what it means for future values of Honda's exotic machine. We know opinions of the NSX are varied these days. While the car was revolutionary back when Honda first revealed it back in 1989 as a concept it was boundary-pushing and a legitimate threat to Ferrari and other European exotics. However, it didn't take long for the more exclusive brands to leave it in their dust as competition heated up. By the late 90s, the NSX was considered slow and outdated by many, but Honda loyalists still revered the model. While for a time one could pick up a used NSX for a shockingly low amount, those days seem to be long gone. Values for the vehicle have climbed as younger collectors and enthusiasts with big budgets have been willing to shell out big money for clean examples. The one that just auctioned on Bring A Trailer looks exceptionally clean outside and in. Not only does it have the 6-speed manual transmission, it boasts just 9,000 original miles. That means it's still like a brand new vehicle, which surely helped drive the high bid to its lofty amount. We just wonder how much more NSX values will climb as time marches on. S See this NSX's lot listing on Bring A Trailer here. Images via Bring A Trailer
Forbes
24-03-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
How Does The First Generation Acura NSX Hold Up 35 Years Later?
On the road with the first generation Acura NSX When the Acura NSX was first unveiled at the 1989 Chicago Motor Show it was a complete step away from the brand's reputation for family cars. The mid-engined supercar was dubbed New Sportscar eXperimental and revealed with a 3.0-liter V6 engine. Acura prioritized performance with a holistic view of the vehicle, right down to crafting it to be the first mass produced car to use an all-aluminum body to save weight. Not only for presenting a memorable shift away from its standard product line, Acura's NSX quickly became known for its association with three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna. His involvement in the car's development undoubtedly helped sales and boosted the NSX's credibility as an impressive supercar. After extensive testing around the Nurburgring, the car embarked on a 15 year production run with a mid-life facelift in 2002 to ditch the pop-up headlights. The facelifted first generation NSX with fixed headlights instead Tucked away in an bustling industrial estate next to Honda's UK headquarters sits two immaculate first generation NSXs: one of the earliest and one of the latest examples. The 1989 pre-facelift model features an automatic gearbox and, of course, iconic pop-up headlights. In contrast, the 2005 facelifted model has a slightly larger 3.2-liter engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. With the automatic gearbox, the NSX feels more subdued than you expect. It's ideal to drive for long periods of time but it's lacking some of the shine I was hoping for. Because of its looks, this initial incarnation is always going to be a standout show car. If you put your foot down, it shifts down a gear and holds it until you're starting to fly. The potholed roads of the UK feel like an entirely inappropriate stage to test the capabilities of this stunning model though. Taking in the scenery with the first iteration of the NSX Despite its obvious low-slung cabin, the driving position is raised high inside giving you a good view of the road ahead but perhaps pushing taller drivers into the roof. This deceptive position makes it a shock when you go to get out and realise you're almost sat on the floor. While it's easy to keep the car on the straight and narrow, the 1989 model has a noticeably heavy steering feel after any more than a quarter turn. It stiffens up in the corners and feels reassuringly responsive, making you work to place it where you want, evoking more of a race car experience. It's no wonder then that Senna was involved in its development and was even said to have driven the 1989 model I tested. Jumping into the facelifted model, the six speed manual helps to elicit that supercar excitement. The pedals feel slightly higher so you need a slim pair of shoes to clear the bottom of the dash. Similarly, the facelifted model has a progressively weightier steering setup and strong brakes to shave off the speed when you're approaching a junction. With the slightly more powerful 3.2-litre engine and the manual gearbox, the driving experience is everything you'd hope for from a supercar of this era. Both the original and facelifted interiors are near identical Interior styling is said to have taken inspiration from the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet. At the time, you can imagine the interior being fairly high tech with its car graphic on the dashboard and tape player in the center. The center console is adorned with a number of buttons and dials to control heating, cooling and the radio. The seats are supremely comfortable and supportive. Behind the steering wheel, Acura consolidated a number of controls onto chunky stalks. The hazard lights, headlight settings and cruise control are all operated via these bulky stalks. Rather amusingly, when the pop-up headlights are deployed, the 1989 car I drove pulled power away from the dashboard so the clock display, for example, looked like a calculator display that hasn't seen enough sun, the numbers are there but they're so faint it's barely useful. The long rear end with the integrated spoiler remained on the facelifted model When the Acura NSX first hit the market, it was sold for around $60,000. By the end of its production run retail prices had climbed close to six figures. Over the years, prices haven't changed dramatically but since the original NSX is something of a rarity it holds its value quite well. On average, most early models range between $75,000 to $120,000 with pricing varying depending on condition and odometer readings. Up the budget to around $170,000 and you can get your hands on an Acura NSX T with a targa top. The most sought after and inevitably the most expensive examples typically feature mileages of under 5,000 miles and command a price tag of circa $200,000.
