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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Around this time last year, Jaguar unveiled the incredible C-X75 Concept at the Paris Motor Show. With four electric motors and two micro-gas turbines powering all four wheels, we knew the C-X75 had little chance of going to production – at least in concept form – let alone finding a place in our own garages.

Fast-forward a year later, and it’s an entirely different theme at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Earlier today, Jaguar revealed the C-X16 Concept here in Germany ahead of its auto show debut tomorrow, and we were on-hand to take it all in.

Unlike the C-X75, the C-X16 is most definitely headed for production and could actually be fairly affordable. Although it looks like a replacement for the aging XK, it isn’t. In fact, a version of the C-X16 will actually slot below the XK to battle smaller sporty coupes like the Porsche Cayman. Under the hood of the concept is a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 producing 376 horsepower and 332 lb-ft torque, and an electric motor in the eight-speed transmission delivers another 92 horsepower and 173 lb-ft torque. Jaguar estimates that the C-X16 concept can achieve 0-60 mph in just 4.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 186 mph.

You can see our live photos from the debut in our exclusive gallery above or you can read more about the C-X16 Concept in the official press release after the jump.

Continue reading Jaguar C-X16 Concept previews entry-level Porsche Cayman fighter

Jaguar C-X16 Concept previews entry-level Porsche Cayman fighter originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti is on track to have a new entry-level model that slots below the G, and the automaker has announced that it’s bringing a concept that previews this new small(er) car to the Geneva Motor Show next month. With vehicles like the Audi A1 and A3, BMW 1 Series, Lexus CT and the Mercedes-Benz A- and B-Class on the market, Infiniti would likely do well to have a contender in the small luxury car segment.

The only information we have as of this writing is the official teaser sketch you see here, previewing what could possibly be a hatchback rather than a traditional sedan or coupe. Infiniti says that the new entry-level car will be “completely different to anything currently offered by our rivals.” We’ve heard that line before, but nonetheless, we’ll see what the Japanese automaker has up its sleeve in just a few weeks. Hit the jump for Infiniti’s very brief press release.

[Source: Infiniti]

Continue reading Infiniti bringing new entry-level car concept to Geneva

Infiniti bringing new entry-level car concept to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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