2009 Hondas Debut at the NYIAS
So the Acura TSX and Honda Fit made there debuts at the New York International Auto Show a couple days...weeks...ago.
The 2nd generation TSX, is again another badge engineered Honda Accord - those of which can be found in Japan and Europe. Honda enthusiasts hoping for "Infiniti G-series like miracles" will have to wait awhile as the TSX is debuting as a heavier car that produces less horsepower than the previous generation, with styling that is pretty safe if not Honda-ish. Honda Acura has not so much denied, but left the door open to introduce another engine. Most have guessed that 2nd engine is the i-DTEC engine that debuted in Europe earlier this year as it was stated to make it's way into the Acura line. What of the rumored turbo 4-banger or V6 SH-AWD model? I guess we'll have to wait and see what's coming later on in this generation as the TSX tries to live up to the praise the previous generation garnered.
The second generation Honda Fit comes two years after it's debut to the North American market. Again, it is poised to take the market by storm as it has improved on everything that made the original Fit a hit. From increasing storage space to bumping up the power output, the Fit will be setting the bar even higher for other cars in it's class.
2009 RX-8 Debuts @ NAIAS
Launched in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 hit the global market with a serious bang. The RX-8 has won more than 50 global awards since its release including 2003 RJC Car of the Year in Japan Australia's Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 2003, 2003 International Engine of the Year, 2004 Singapore Car of the Year, the 2004 U.S. Best Sports Car and UK Car of the Year 2004. It was also named on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2004, 2005, and 2006. All together, Mazda has sold nearly 167,000 RX-8s around the world.
For 2009, Mazda will further the evolution of the four-door, four-seater sports coupe, giving RX-8 a refreshed exterior and interior design, enhanced performance and a new R3 sport package for the ultimate driving enthusiast.
Unchanged is the core of the RX-8 – a high-powered, lightweight and perfectly balanced machine powered by the world-renowned twin-rotor RENESIS rotary engine.
“Dating back to the Cosmo Sport released in 1967, every sports car ever developed by Mazda has had the same fundamental mission – to provide car lovers with a vehicle that’s fun-to-drive, exciting to look at and easy to own,” said Tetsu Nakazawa, Mazda North American Operations’ RX-8 vehicle line manager. “The 2009 RX-8 embodies that mission, conveying the unique and distinctive Mazda brand DNA to the fullest.”
To enhance the highly successful RX-8, Mazda engineers focused on innovation in three key areas for the 2009 RX-8: styling, performance and packaging. “The enhancements made to RX-8’s exterior, interior, packaging and performance takes it to a whole new level of visual and driving excitement,” remarked Nakazawa.
Hit the split for the rest of the press release...