Is it a Honda or an Acura? The Sleuth has had a good look at the 2016 Honda Accord sedan and coupe that go on sale later this summer. Although he’s impressed with what he sees, he’s bemused at the car’s mid-cycle redesign. That’s because the grille and headlight pods containing LED running lights appear decidedly Acura-like in their shape, although the nosepiece has a sizable H (for Honda) logo boldly attached to the front to avoid any confusion. As well, both front and rear bumpers are new and decidedly more aggressively styled, as are the optional alloy wheels. The 185-horsepower four-cylinder and 278-horsepower V-6 are unchanged, but The Spy Guy has been led to believe that the Accord Hybrid will improve by about five per cent.
Hyundai takes on the mighty Prius?: The Sleuth confirms that Hyundai will introduce a distinctive/dedicated gas-electric hybrid model to rival the Toyota Prius. In fact, Hyundai will offer the vehicle for the 2017 model year as a plug-in (an option on the Prius), which means it can travel an estimated 40-50 kilometres on battery power only. The combustion-engine portion of the hybrid system is expected to be a 1.6-litre four-cylinder that’s already used in several Hyundai and Kia small cars.It will be matched with a continuously variable transmission. The Spy Guy has not unearthed the name for Hyundai’s hybrid, but that info and the vehicle itself could be revealed in January at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.
New Fiat Spider will adopt the Alfa 4C engine: It’s common knowledge that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will introduce its own sporty car that shares platforms with the Mazda MX-5 Miata, to be called the Fiat 124 Spider (an homage to the sports car that Fiat created back in the late 1960s). The roadster will reportedly use a relatively modest 1.4-litre turbocharged engine that makes 135 horsepower. That should be OK for the lightweight two-seater, but The Sleuth hears that a planned Abarth-branded performance version will blow the doors off the regular-strength Spider and its MX-5 relation by employing the same 237-horsepower 1.75-litre engine that was developed for the Alfa 4C coupe. Alfa is a Fiat brand. The Abarth version of the Fiat 124 is expected to arrive by mid-2017, a year after the regular-strength model’s launch. The Sleuth thinks that Mazda should look into this for the Miata.
Volvo takes its performance partner in-house:
Many years ago, AMG of Germany took regular Mercedes-Benz models and turned them into more potent street and racing models. The company was so successful that Mercedes-Benz eventually purchased AMG and began building high-output versions of most of its vehicles under the AMG banner. Stealing a page from M-B’s playbook, Volvo is apparently purchasing its racing partner Polestar and will begin producing limited runs of sedans, wagons and even hybrid models that will each receive the full-on Polestar performance treatment. The automaker also plans to sell Polestar engines and other parts through its dealer network.
So, where’s the new NSX?:
Perhaps like you, The Sleuth was under the impression that customers could, by now, order up their new 2016 Acura NSX supercar, but with major details still unknown, that’s clearly not the case. Power output and performance numbers, and specific cost and options are nowhere to be found. Puzzling, yes, but not completely unexpected given that Acura scrapped its original drivetrain plans in the middle of development, and that a highly publicized fire burned an NSX test car to the ground in Europe a year ago. So, where does that leave us? The good news is that NSX test cars are being spotted on the road all over the place, so it does exist, and The Sleuth is hearing that the two-seater will be readyfor the road by spring 2016. Get ready to cash in your RRSPs.
Heading back to Daytona:
Just six Shelby Cobra Daytona coupes that were designed by legendary stylist Peter Brock were originally produced in 1960s and today they’re highly coveted. The company that Carroll Shelby founded produces replicas of the Daytona, but to mark the 50th anniversary of the coupe, The Sleuth hears that there will be a run of 50 (of course) special versions. The car will have a tubular chassis that copies the original design, along with rear leaf springs, Wilwood-brand disc brakes, 15-inch wheels, leather-covered seats and a wooden steering wheel. Prices range from $180,000 US for the fibreglass-bodied cars, up to $350,000 US for Daytonas with aluminum bodies. That’s pretty pricey considering buyers will still have to pony up more cash if they wish to add an authentic-style 289-cubic-inch V-8.
Hellcats get a significant boost: No, The Sleuth isn’t referring to more horsepower from the Dodge Challenger and Charger performance models, but to the confirmed rumours that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will double Hellcat production for the 2016 model year. Apparently, demand for the 707-horsepower beasts that list for about $72,000 in Canada has been so strong that about 900 orders that are in the pipeline for the 2015 model year have now been cancelled. There’s word also that customers who are forced to wait a few extra months will receive their Hellcats at a yet-unspecified discount. It might seem like a nice problem to some, but unfilled orders from anxious and frustrated buyers whose orders have been accepted isn’t the way to build loyalty.
Mitsubishi will soon be far from Normal: The Spymaster is scratching his head over news that this Japan-based automaker is shuttering its plant in Normal, Illinois. Nearly 1,000 workers who build the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport will be furloughed this fall, the plant will be sold and the factory’s tooling shipped back to Japan. Given the recent up-tick in sales of Mitsubishi products and the move by offshore automakers to increase production here in North America, it seems odd that Mitsubishi would now reverse course. Although the evidence points to the contrary, the automaker claims that it remains committed to selling cars in North America and will introduce an updated Outlander Sport for the 2016 (joining the recently revised and larger Outlander). However, the Spy Guy suspects that Mitsubishi might also follow Suzuki’s lead and close up shop for good on these shores.
You don’t know Buick from Adam: The Sleuth hears that in addition to the 2016 Cascada Convertible and 2017 Envision, the latter being a wagon-shaped model sized between the full-size Enclave and the compact Encore, Buick is seriously considering a sub-compact model. In this case, the Opel Adam, a tiny two-door hatchback, would be adapted as an entry-luxury model and given the GM brand’s distinctive toothy grille and of course a new nameplate. The likely power source would be a 150-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine. In a car the size of the Opel Adam, that output would make for a lively and probably affordable performer. There’s no word yet as to the arrival date, but sometime in 2017 as a 2018 model is The Sneakster’s best guess.