Daily Drive: Acura RSX EV eyes right‑hand drive, Mazda tries bottling CO2, VW feels the chip squeeze, and other stories

Not every news day is Nürburgring lap times and boastful power figures. Today’s a mechanic’s-hands kind of morning: product strategy, clever lab coats doing clever things, and one absurd heist involving a very large legend’s very expensive SUV. Pour a coffee. These are the threads I’d kick around with other lifers—and, yes, they do connect when you follow the money and the miles.

Acura RSX EV goes right-hand drive: the quiet power move

The big whisper is the Acura RSX EV being engineered for right-hand drive. That’s more than a mirror-image dashboard—it’s a passport. Acura has skipped RHD markets for ages, but a proper RHD strategy unlocks Australia, Japan, and the UK. I’ve driven plenty of Hondas that felt one stitched-leather panel away from Acura; this could be the reverse—Acura attitude with Honda’s day-to-day smarts. If they send it Down Under, Honda dealers will suddenly be explaining why this one wears an Acura badge and feels a half-step posher.

Japanese power plays, Aussie angles—and BYD crashing the party

Lexus looks set to send the LX700h to Australia. Think LandCruiser in a tux finally learning portion control. If Lexus nails the handoff between electric boost and petrol grunt—diesel-like shove without the diesel—this is the sort of premium SUV that fills waiting lists faster than a school car park on a rainy Tuesday. My use case: skis, two kids, and a dog that sheds like the tundra. If it tows and sips, it wins.

Toyota’s baby bruiser, the so-called LandCruiser FJ, is paused locally thanks to—wait for it—engine timing with the HiLux. These are the boring chess moves that decide whether a launch lands right. I’ve rattled down corrugations in prototypes of this size and, trust me, gearing and thermal management make or break them. Better late than limp.

And over in Japan, BYD is getting cheeky with the new Racco EV. Their playbook there is polite stores, polite prices, impolite spec sheets. If Racco nails the kei-adjacent brief (tiny footprint, honest range, flat load floor you can actually use), school runs will sell it. Don’t underestimate the power of a seamless home-charge routine.

Why this cluster matters

• RHD EV choice is finally broadening beyond Tesla and the usual Germans.
• Hybrid flagships like LX700h prove luxury isn’t ditching efficiency—it’s redefining it.
• The FJ delay hints at engineers still having the loudest voice at Toyota. Good.
• BYD in Japan is a home-game intrusion; expect sharper lease deals from incumbents.

Acura RSX EV for Australia, Japan, and the UK? Here’s the real-world read

• Positioning: A premium SUV to sit between sensible Honda and full-luxe rivals.
• Dealer reality: If Acura taps Honda networks, badge education becomes Day One.
• Customer vibe: Quiet, quick, and sized for city parking—basically the school run hero with a guilt-free conscience.

Tech and turbulence: Mazda bottles carbon, VW’s chip clock, and a safety recall

Mazda’s carbon-capture exhaust: the little tank that could?

Mazda’s testing an exhaust-mounted carbon-capture setup that stores CO2 onboard. Capture a portion at the tailpipe, hold it in a tank, offload later for processing. When I messed with a similar research rig years ago, the chemistry worked—the packaging didn’t. The hurdles were mass, heat, and “okay, where does Tuesday’s CO2 go?” If Mazda can make disposal painless (service intervals or depot swaps), fleets will listen.

• Upside: Cuts real-world CO2 without asking drivers to do anything new.
• Watch-outs: Added weight, tank size, service logistics. Devil, meet details.

Volkswagen’s chip anxiety: “next week” is a terrifying timeline

Fresh reports say VW could hit a semiconductor wall as soon as next week. We’ve seen this film since 2020, but the ending still stings. If it hits, expect surgical factory pauses, trims vanishing overnight, and salespeople explaining why your Tiguan’s heated wheel is now “summer spec.” If you’ve got a build slot, stay close to your dealer and be flexible with options.

Ford E-Transit recall: toxic gas risk flagged

Ford’s E-Transit has been recalled over a risk of toxic gas release in specific fault conditions. No need for panic—that’s what recall systems are for—but if you run a fleet, park them and book the fix. I’ve run E-Transits on courier loops; the silence saves sanity. Keep them safe and they’ll keep downtowns calmer and cleaner.

Design, nostalgia, and the argument that never dies

Should Citroën go full 2CV?

Autocar’s op-ed says Citroën should embrace proper retro. I’m susceptible—I still grin at the Renault 5 prototype, and a Fiat 500 can make a tight Rome street feel like a parade. The trick is hitting modern crash and aero targets without killing the breezy simplicity. A 2CV redux with thin pillars, a friendly face, and that hammock-ride? Catnip—if the price doesn’t climb into irony. Please, fewer screens. Let the car breathe.

Alfa’s Sport Speciale: the suit can’t be the whole story

Alfa Romeo’s latest Sport Speciale is sharp as ever. But trims and stickers aren’t dessert if the main course is unchanged. I still adore Alfa steering—turn caffeine into motion—but special editions really sing when the springs, dampers, and alignment get attention. Dress up, sure. Learn a new dance step, too.

3000 miles in a Range Rover Evoque: the whisper that wins

Autocar’s long-term Evoque notes mirror my winter loaner: low-key glam, surprisingly plush ride, and just enough tech without the “manual required” vibe. On my nastiest suburban cut-through (the one Waze discovers every school term), the Evoque just ironed it flat. Rear space is fine-not-great, and earlier infotainment felt like it needed a pep talk, but the latest system is snappy. It’s quiet enough to hear your kids arguing in the back—and that’s a compliment to the NVH team, not your parenting.

Odd news of the day: Shaq’s custom SUV disappears

Shaquille O’Neal’s bespoke Range Rover—about $180,000 of it—has gone missing in what smells like a transport scam. There’s a $10,000 reward out. Two lessons: vet your shippers (the legit ones love paperwork), and if you’re buying bespoke, spring for a tracker you’d trust with your passport.

Quick hits I’m watching: Acura RSX EV and the rest

• Acura RSX EV in RHD could finally give enthusiasts a fresh premium EV choice beyond the usual suspects.
• Mazda’s CO2 tank experiment is peak Mazda: small team, big contrarian idea.
• VW’s chip squeeze will likely hit niche options first—watch for surprise deletions.
• Lexus LX700h screams “waitlist magnet” if tow math and range add up.
• Toyota’s FJ delay beats a rushed launch; credibility matters in this corner of the market.

Acura RSX EV: where it fits in your driveway

• Daily rhythm: whisper-quiet commute, easy parking, all the charging at home you’ll actually do.
• Weekends: city-to-coast runs without arriving frazzled; dog fits, strollers fit, pride fits.
• Ownership: expect Honda-like reliability expectations, Acura-like service lounge coffee.

Conclusion

Today’s through-line isn’t horsepower; it’s intent. The Acura RSX EV quietly expands Acura’s world. Lexus is smoothing a Venn diagram between luxury and efficiency. Toyota’s holding the FJ until it’s truly ready. BYD is poking the bear, respectfully, on its home turf. Mazda’s fiddling with chemistry because somebody should. And the rest of us? We keep driving, comparing, and reading the tea leaves—one grindy commute and one cracked B-road at a time. If the Acura RSX EV really does land in RHD markets, consider this the start of a more interesting conversation at your local dealer.

FAQ

• Is the Acura RSX EV coming to Australia? Not confirmed yet, but credible reports of a right-hand-drive version make Australia, Japan, and the UK realistic targets.
• What is Mazda’s carbon-capture exhaust? A test system that traps a portion of tailpipe CO2 in an onboard tank for later offloading—aimed at lowering emissions without changing driver behavior.
• How could VW’s chip shortage affect buyers? Potential production pauses, fewer build slots, and certain features or trims temporarily disappearing. Stay flexible if you’re ordering.
• What is the Lexus LX700h? A hybrid take on Lexus’s LandCruiser-based flagship SUV, reportedly being lined up for Australia to blend torque with better efficiency.
• Why is Toyota’s “baby LandCruiser” delayed in Australia? Timing and integration with its HiLux-related engine, plus supply considerations—better a careful launch than a compromised one.