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It’s no secret that Acura has had a rough couple of years. After an extremely successful launch in the late 1980s, Honda’s luxury marque truly hit high gear in the mid 2000s with such successful models as the TL sedan and MDX crossover. And then things went south with a fury that sent the automaker reeling into regroup mode.

The brand’s stumbling blocks were many and diverse – from the styling of the redesigned 2009 TL and TSX, which we’ll charitably describe as divisive, to the scrapped plans for a V8-powered rear-wheel-drive RL replacement – but the net result was a precipitous drop in sales. Clearly, a new strategy was in order.

Enter the upcoming ILX sedan. While Acura isn’t calling its new compact luxury sedan a replacement for the TSX, we’re inclined to think the automaker doesn’t need four sedans, and the TSX is within spitting distance size-wise to its higher-priced sibling. Don’t be fooled by the ‘concept’ label, either – the ILX will be coming to a showroom near you in the spring of 2012 almost exactly as you see it here.

As you can see, the ILX is a mix of bold creases and flat surfaces, and it’s what we’d consider a much-toned-down version of Acura’s previous styling direction. Let’s all be thankful of that. There’s a shield-shaped grille up front, but it’s not nearly as prominently displayed as on models like the TL and TSX, instead blending in more seamlessly with the rest of the car’s overall design. Also note the boldly upswept character line highlighting the rear doors and quarters.

Three powertrain options will be available: a base 2.0-liter four cylinder mated to an automatic gearbox, a 2.4-liter four with an exclusive six-speed manual transmission and, finally, Acura’s first hybrid drivetrain, which will be very similar to the one seen in the Honda Civic Hybrid. Expect a 1.5-liter engine with Honda’s well-known IMA electric motor assist and a CVT transmission.

The Acura ILX is based on the same platform that underpins the Honda Civic, but, having seen the ILX sedan in person, we can tell you it doesn’t share any styling features with Honda’s compact. And that is a very good thing, as Acura needs its ILX to be seen as a premium product. To that end, there will be a number of high-tech options inside, including a Technology Package, Pandora internet radio and integrated text messaging functionality.

We’ll have live photos of the new ILX Concept shortly, but in the meantime, be sure to check these stock photos released by Acura, along with the press release that’s pasted after the break.

Continue reading Acura ILX Concept ushers in era of entry-level luxury

Acura ILX Concept ushers in era of entry-level luxury originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As any Acura diehard would be quick to tell you, a revival of the iconic NSX is long overdue. In true Honda fashion, the automaker decided that, if it was going to go to the trouble of producing a legitimate sportscar, it was going to take on the very best in the industry. Suffice it to say, the NSX delivered the goods.

We now have a new concept to drool over. While the last conceptual sportscar Acura showed off left NSX purists with a sour taste in their mouths – a V10 engine mounted up front was a far cry from the lightweight and high-revving mid-engine V6 of the original – we have a strong feeling that nobody is going to turn their noses up at this new NSX Concept.

Like its forebear, this latest take on the NSX promises to shed excess weight through the use of a high-tech platform made from the latest lightweight materials. Power, as with the original, will come from a V6 mounted behind the two occupants that sends its power to the rear wheels; except this time, it will be augmented by an electric motor.

Acura’s latest SH-AWD incorporates one electric motor in a dual-clutch transmission, forming a hybrid setup. Additionally, two more motors can instantly send negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering for improved handling and efficiency, and the whole package can be tailored via software. Acura says the new all-wheel-drive system will provide “supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.”

We’re not so sure environmentalists are ready to accept the notion of an eco-friendly supercar, but it’s clear Acura’s parents at Honda are keen to keep emissions and fuel usage in check. “In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities,” says Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

Acura isn’t saying how much horsepower its V6 engine and three electric motors will amount to, but we’re not expecting outlandish figures. The automaker says it’s aiming for an “extremely favorable power-to-weight ratio.” We like the sound of that, and hope the production version, which is expected within the next three years, delivers on this laudable promise. Check out the complete press release after the break.

Continue reading Acura NSX Concept portends an efficient hybrid supercar

Acura NSX Concept portends an efficient hybrid supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three years (on top of the three-plus we’ve already waited) is a long time to wait for the second coming of the Acura NSX. Measured in Internet time, it’s an infinite opportunity for speculation about the whys and hows of the new car. Aside from the new supercar’s hybrid powertrain, the most shocking part of the announcement is that the car will be built in Ohio. Honda has an engine plant, a transmission plant, two assembly plants and a research and development center in the state, so this shouldn’t be treated with the same level of surprise as if, say, Ferrari announced it would start building cars in Kansas.

Yet it’s still a big change for the exotic Acura, which was manufactured in Japan during its entire first-generation lifecycle, from 1990-2005. When the NSX debuted, part of its appeal was that it represented the pinnacle of Japanese technology and quality, at a time when Japanese automakers were absolutely crushing the competition in both. Times have changed, but we still suspect that a number of fanboys might be disappointed that the second-generation NSX will be built by gaijin.

We spoke with American Honda CEO and president Tetsuo Iwamura about the decision to develop and manufacture the NSX here in the U.S., and he told us that the decision was made for three reasons. The first is that Honda is committed to building cars in the market in which they are sold. The U.S. is the largest market for the NSX, although he said the car will be exported to Japan and other markets.

When asked if there was any concern that Japanese customers might have objections to a Japanese supercar built in the U.S., Iwamura said, “You don’t have to be so modest. American-built cars have a power, even in Japan.”

The second factor was that Honda has had positive experiences with product development of other models here in the States. Iwamura specifically mentioned the North American market-only Pilot and Odyssey as examples. The third reason for the decision to build the NSX here is that Honda believes its Ohio manufacturing facilities produce high-quality products and wants to take advantage of that expertise. Iwamura also said that assigning the halo car to the U.S. would be motivational for its American employees.

Currency fluctuation, however, was not a consideration, according to the Honda chief. While he said that would indeed be the case with a mass-market model, the limited-production nature of the NSX makes the effect of a strong yen a moot point. Regardless of where its built, Iwamura said the main consideration in bringing the NSX back to market is its technology, quality and performance, just as the original did. The NSX is an important part of modern automotive history, a literal poster-child of the ’90s, so we’re certainly rooting for this new exotic Buckeyemobile to deliver on all fronts.

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Why is the Acura NSX being built in Ohio? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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