Daily Auto Brief: Acura NSX Manual Time‑Capsule, Jeep’s Retro Dress‑Up, Spain’s Surprise Comeback, and Safer Roadsides in Wisconsin

Coffee in hand, inbox buzzing, and a headline that made me grin: “Acura NSX Manual Drives into Collector Spotlight.” That’s the vibe today—a unicorn supercar with barely any miles, a Jeep playing dress-up in a Bronco’s closet, a Spanish badge getting a second life with Chinese backing, and a Wisconsin law tweak that’ll make roadside tire swaps a touch less terrifying.

Collector Corner: A 1991 Acura NSX Manual That Barely Left the Garage

I’ve driven a few early NSXs over the years, and every time I slide into one, my shoulders drop. You notice it right away: the thin A-pillars, the honest sightlines, the way the five-speed lever clicks like a Leica shutter. This particular car? It reportedly averaged less than 270 miles a year. That’s museum stuff—though part of me wants to grab the keys and go find a quiet road at sunset.

Quick refresher: the U.S.-spec NA1 Acura NSX manual got a 3.0-liter DOHC VTEC V6 with about 270 hp and 210 lb-ft, an aluminum spaceframe that felt space-age in the early ’90s, and a five-speed that rewards deliberate wrists and high revs. If you’re not shy with the throttle, it’ll do the 0–60 dash in the mid-5s. But the numbers are just the headline. The byline is feel—steering that actually chats back, balance that flatters you, and a cabin that still smells like Honda’s golden era of plastics and switchgear.

• Highlights: all-aluminum body, mid-engine poise, 8,000-rpm VTEC crescendo.
• Quirks: “infotainment” is a radio with opinions, seats favor narrower frames, and that power antenna announces itself like a curtain call.
• Owner tip: on low-mileage heroes, replace tires, belts, and brake fluid before you go hunting apexes—rubber ages in silence.

Why the Acura NSX Manual Still Matters

Because analog magic is getting rarer by the month. The Acura NSX manual is a reminder that simplicity, lightweight construction, and honest feedback can trump spec-sheet one‑upmanship. When I hopped between a modern supercar and an early NSX recently, the Honda felt like driving in perfectly broken-in slippers—light controls, no learning curve, and an immediate bond with the driver.

Living With an Acura NSX Manual Today

Short answer: delightfully easy. Visibility is superb, the clutch won’t punish your left calf in traffic, and it’s quiet enough to hear your passenger’s laugh—unless you’re stretching it past 7,000 rpm. Practicality? Middling. A weekend bag fits; two if you pack like a Tetris champion. And yes, you’ll chat with strangers at gas stations. They’ll tell you about the red one they saw in ’95. You’ll smile and nod, because of course they did.

Should You Drive a Collector‑Grade Acura NSX Manual?

I wrestle with this every time someone shows me an ultra‑low‑mile car. My collector brain says preserve; my driver brain says cars don’t stay happy sitting still. The compromise I’ve seen owners adopt: meticulous maintenance, gentle but regular drives, and a few measured third‑gear pulls on cold evenings—for health reasons, obviously.

Off‑Road Fashion Wars: Jeep Tries on the Bronco’s Heritage Outfit

Jeep’s latest special edition leans hard into retro—contrasting light trim, stripy graphics, chunky steel‑look wheels—the whole Saturday morning cartoons vibe. It’s no secret who they’re eyeing. Ford’s Bronco Heritage has been printing nostalgia money, and Jeep wants a slice. Fair play.

I wrangled a Wrangler over washboard trails recently and was reminded it still has that lovable farm‑tool energy—bouncy, honest, makes you part of the process. The Bronco counters with a touch more polish and a dash that’s permanently winking at you. This new Jeep trim? Feels aimed squarely at that vibe: weekend aesthetic, weekday livability.

When I get seat time, I’ll be listening for less chatter over corrugations (Wrangler still bangs and bounces there) and checking whether the white bits glare in bright sun. Also, sturdier grab handles, please. Nothing breaks the “heritage” spell faster than a creak from the thing you use to brace over ruts.

Industry Watch: A Forgotten Spanish Brand Returns—With Chinese Help

Spain’s car story just added a new chapter. A dormant Spanish marque is being revived via a Chinese automaker partnership—think proven EV/crossover platforms with local assembly, local jobs, and a familiar badge out front. It’s the MG playbook all over again, and honestly, it makes sense in 2025: global tech, regional flavor, quicker time to market.

Why you should care:

• Factory lights stay on in Spain; suppliers keep humming; skills don’t atrophy.
• Re‑skinning established platforms is faster and cheaper than clean‑sheet dreams.
• Sharper pricing is likely—China’s supply chains are ruthlessly efficient.

The trap to avoid? Badge engineering that feels pasted on. If they nail proportions, materials, and steering feel (please, not another numb city EV), this could be a sweet reboot. I’ll be digging for battery chemistries, charge rates, and whether a rugged, Iberian‑flavored variant makes the cut.

Road Rules Refresh: Wisconsin Expands Its Move Over Law

If you’ve ever wrestled a jack on a shoulder while semis thunder by, you know the pulse jump. Wisconsin just did something about it—expanding its Move Over law to cover disabled vehicles. Translation: hazards or flares on the shoulder mean you move over a lane if you can, or slow way down if you can’t.

Two winters ago near Milwaukee, my battery tapped out in a snow squall. Dark, gusty, trucks clipping by close enough to wobble the mirrors. This rule would’ve shaved a few gray hairs—more importantly, it’ll save lives and protect the pros who tow us out of our own bad luck.

• Do: Move one lane away when you spot hazards or flares ahead.
• If you can’t: Reduce speed significantly and pass wide and slow.
• Bonus: This adds to the existing protections for emergency and service vehicles.

Quick Takes

• The low‑mile Acura NSX manual is a “plan your Sunday around it” kind of car—drive it gently and often.
• Jeep’s retro trim is good theater; just keep the ride settled and the sticker shock minimal.
• Spain’s revival play could bridge heritage and EV reality if the tuning team sweats the details.
• Wisconsin’s Move Over expansion is simple, smart policy—expect copycats.

Conclusion

From a time‑capsule Acura NSX manual to a Jeep in retro cosplay, a Spanish badge’s second act, and safer shoulders in the Midwest, today’s mix is equal parts heart and head. My two cents? Take the long way home, leave room for hazard lights, and if you spot a red NSX idling into the golden hour, let it breathe. You’ll both feel better.

FAQ

How rare is a manual 1991 Acura NSX?

Manuals were common early on, but low‑mile, unmodified examples are now thin on the ground. The best cars have documented maintenance and original parts, which collectors prize.

Is an Acura NSX manual comfortable to daily?

Surprisingly, yes. The clutch is friendly, sightlines are superb, and cabin noise is civilized at sane speeds. Just pack light and be ready for gas‑station conversations.

What makes Jeep’s new special edition “retro”?

Contrasting light‑colored trim and roof cues, period‑inspired graphics, and steel‑look wheels—very much in the vein of Ford’s Bronco Heritage but with Jeep DNA.

Why are Chinese partnerships reviving European brands?

They pair cost‑effective, ready‑to‑go EV/crossover platforms with local assembly and familiar badges. That shrinks development timelines and keeps regional factories busy.

What does Wisconsin’s updated Move Over law change?

Drivers must now move over or slow way down for disabled vehicles on the shoulder, not just for emergency or service vehicles. Think of it as a bigger safety bubble for everyone.