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

I like mornings like this—coffee hot, inbox lively, and just enough weirdness in the news to make you smile. Today we’ve got a manual Acura NSX that’s been driven less than some people walk each year, a Jeep special edition that raids the Bronco’s closet, a long-forgotten Spanish badge getting a second life thanks to China, and a practical safety tweak from Wisconsin that’ll make changing a flat a little less nerve-racking.

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

Some cars are meant to be driven; some end up curated. This one’s the latter: a 1991 NSX with a stick, reportedly averaged under 270 miles a year. I’ve spent time in early NSXs before—they’re deeply analog in the best way. Thin A-pillars, a view like a fighter jet canopy, and a clutch so friendly you’ll forgive the early-morning cold idle.

For the uninitiated, the original U.S.-spec NA1 NSX packed a 3.0-liter DOHC VTEC V6 with around 270 hp and 210 lb-ft, an aluminum spaceframe, and a five-speed manual that snicks through gates like a well-oiled camera shutter. Figure mid–5-second 0–60 mph runs if you’re brave with the revs. More important than numbers is feel: steering that talks, a chassis that dances, and a cabin that still smells like Honda’s 1990s build quality—clean plastics, simple dials, nothing superfluous.

• Highlights: all-aluminum body, mid-engine balance, 8,000-rpm charm.
• Quirks: early infotainment (i.e., none), seating suited to slimmer bolsters, and the radio antenna that loves to announce itself.
• Owner tip: fresh tires and brake fluid are mandatory on low-mile examples—rubber ages even when odometers don’t.

Is a sub-270-miles-per-year NSX a tragedy or a treasure? Depends on your religion. Track-day me says: drive it. Collector me says: this is how legends survive unfaded. Either way, that five-speed deserves a few honest third-gear pulls on a cool evening. For health reasons.

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

Jeep is rolling out a new special edition that, frankly, looks like it rifled through the Bronco Heritage closet—white accents, retro graphics, chunky wheels, that whole Saturday-morning-cartoons vibe. It’s smart. Nostalgia sells, especially in the off-road aisle where personality matters as much as approach angles.

I took a Wrangler over washboard trails last month and was reminded how charmingly agricultural it still is—bouncy in the best way, steering that insists you participate. Bronco answers with a slightly more polished ride and a cheeky dashboard that winks at you. The new Jeep special seems aimed right at that Bronco Heritage energy: weekend aesthetic, weekday usability.

What I’ll watch for when I get seat time: whether Jeep tightened any ride compliance on rough corrugations (Wrangler still chatters on those), and if the retro bits compromise visibility or add glare. Also, please let the grab handles be as solid as they look. Nothing kills the mood like a creaky handle on a “heritage” trim.

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

Spain’s automotive story just turned a fresh page. A dormant Spanish marque is being revived through a partnership with a Chinese automaker, tapping modern EV and crossover platforms with local assembly in the mix. It’s a familiar playbook: global tech plus regional identity. Think MG’s renaissance under SAIC or the way some European plants are finding second lives by building vehicles on Chinese-developed architectures.

Why it matters:

• Jobs and tooling stay in (or return to) Spain, keeping industrial capacity warm.
• Faster time-to-market by re-skinning proven platforms rather than starting from zero.
• Potentially sharper pricing—Chinese supply chains are ruthlessly efficient.

My only caution: badge engineering is a fine line. If the design team nails the proportions, materials, and steering feel (yes, steering feel matters even in city EVs), this could be a well-aimed reboot. If not, you get showroom tumbleweeds. I’ll be nosing around for details on battery chemistry options, charging speeds, and whether there’s a rugged variant to honor the brand’s roots.

Road Rules Refresh: Wisconsin Expands Its Move Over Law

Anyone who’s changed a tire on the shoulder knows the feeling—traffic slamming past, mirrors wobbling, your heartbeat trying to jump a lane. Wisconsin just made that scenario safer by expanding its Move Over law to include disabled vehicles. In plain terms: if you see a stopped vehicle on the shoulder with hazards or flares, you now need to move over a lane when possible or slow way down if you can’t.

I had a roadside battery die a couple winters back north of Milwaukee. Snow, dark, trucks. This is the kind of rule that would’ve saved a few gray hairs—and, more importantly, could save lives.

• Do: Move one lane away when you spot hazards ahead.
• If you can’t: Reduce speed significantly and pass with care.
• Remember: This complements the existing rule for emergency and service vehicles.

It’s a small tweak with big upside. Drivers get clarity, stranded motorists get a buffer, and tow operators don’t have to play roulette every time they hook a car.

Quick Takes

• That low-mile NSX is the kind of car you plan a Sunday around. It deserves road time, gentle and frequent.
• Jeep leaning into retro is good fun—just keep the ride civil and the pricing reasonable.
• Spain’s comeback badge could be a smart bridge between heritage and EV reality if the tuning is right.
• Wisconsin’s Move Over expansion is common sense—expect other states to watch and follow.

Conclusion

From a time-capsule supercar to a throwback Jeep, a Spanish reboot, and a safer shoulder, today’s news blends heart and head nicely. My advice? Take the long way home, give stranded cars a wide berth, and if you see a vintage red NSX, let it breathe—both of you will be better for it.

FAQ

How rare is a manual 1991 Acura NSX?

Manuals were common on early NSXs, but low-mile, unmodified examples are increasingly rare and highly prized by collectors.

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

Think contrasting light-colored roof and trim, era-inspired graphics, and chunky wheel designs—an aesthetic nod to classic off-roaders, similar in spirit to Bronco’s Heritage trims.

Why are Chinese partnerships reviving European brands?

Chinese automakers offer ready-made EV and crossover platforms plus cost-efficient supply chains. Pairing that with local production and a familiar badge speeds up launches and keeps regional factories humming.

What does Wisconsin’s updated Move Over law require?

When approaching a disabled vehicle on the shoulder (hazards or warnings active), drivers must change lanes if safe or slow down significantly and pass with caution.

Is a super-low-mile NSX better as a collector piece or a driver?

It can be both—provided maintenance is up to date. Rubber parts, fluids, and seals should be refreshed before regular use. Many owners alternate gentle drives with meticulous storage.