ILX sales are below Acura projections

[a2a4raddo]

Acura fail to make RDX popular even this SUV came out WAY before BMW X1 or Mercedes GLK.
:

I agree with most of your post except for this part. The RDX has been popular (relative to its class) since its debut. It has consistently been one of the top 3 sellers (often number 1 or 2) in its class.

Acura models always have better performance and tech than their Honda counterparts, so the ILX 2.4 lacking the LSD and NAV makes zero sense whatsoever. They need to rectify that ASAP.

I have a feeling this will be corrected once they swap over the new earth dreams engines.....at least the nav part in the performance model and possibly an auto option in that model as well.

[Prail11]

Acura really just needs to get on board with direct injection.

[NoXenons]

Acura really just needs to get on board with direct injection.

Why? Carbon buildup? Rougher engines?

[baljet]

Again, it brought people through the door....and helped Acura become the number one selling luxury brand for some time. Bringing those clients through the door is exactly what they needed as a start up brand....once In, they aspire to own a legend or an nsx and stay with the brand they so enjoyed driving, had great dealer service with, and a reliable vehicle. Get it?

Today (despite what ignorant tcl folk think), they are still selling in decent numbers ahead of Infiniti and Audi. Go back to the mid 2000's, and they were selling over 200k cars a year prior to the beak fest and economy tanking.

What acura needs are winners with the next batch of cars coming...new TL, new MDX, new RLX, and new NSX....all due to hit the maket in the next year or two. At that point, they need to expand their portfolio to Audi and Lexus levels. As a 5-6 car line won't cut it if they want to play with the big boys (mb/BMW/Lexus)

Offering an entry level car is a good thing IMHO. Doesn't always work.....but if the product is great, it will work bringing new customers to the brand. It worked for Acura, it worked for Infiniti with the first g20. Audi brought the a3 here, and BMW Floped with the 318ti but gave it another go with the 1 series.

The Integra and Legend launched at the same time. The second Integra that you say single handedly destroyed Acura's image as an upmarket brand preceded the 2nd wave of Acuras, the NSX and 2g Legend, and Vigor, but it didn't alter the formula of the Integra that helped build Acura's reputation in the first place. For the first 10 years of Acura's existence, the Integra and Legend were each about half of the sales.

I think Integra was like today's Mini Cooper. They are not luxury car. They are premium branded compact. Both "yesterday" Integra and nowadays Mini cooper definitely not compete with compacts like (old) Cavalier/Civic or (now) Cruze/Veloster.

Integra sales always did pretty good. And thanks to those retard Acura management though it would cheapen the brand, they cancelled it and gave ALL their customers to cars like Mini Cooper, VW GTI... After 7 years, they finally realize they were "doing it wrong" and reuse the Integra formula (create a more expensive car based on Civic) and here comes this ILX.

The "failure" of Acura brand definitely was not caused by the Integra. I say cars like RL fail Acura much more than a sale success Integra/RSX.

All generations of RL fail to compete BMW5/Mercedes E/or even Lexus GS
For 20+ years, Acura fail to have a BMW7/Mercedes S/Lexus LS fighter
ZDX fail as a X6 wantabe
Acura fail to make RDX popular even this SUV came out WAY before BMW X1 or Mercedes GLK.
Acura fail to have anything compete cars like Mercedes B, BMW1, CT, BMW M3, Audi R8, Mercedes GL...
Honda (parent of Acura) as a first hybrid manufacturer to hit the mass market in the NORTH AMERICA, Acura fail to have anything hybrid in their lineup (again, they can do that way before the German). Even Porsche have hybrid products sooner than them.

Guys good sales does not necessarily mean the car helped the brand. Selling a lot of low end economy cars wearing your premium badge distills the brand, and we can all agree that Acura's brand is not and has never been as strong/upmarket as other startups like Lexus or even Infiniti. The Integra so early on is partly to blame IMO.

A startup luxury brand needs to do everything it can to gain cachet, respect, and acceptance. High volume through economy car sales is not necessarily a good strategy to begin with. There was little upmarket or luxurious about the Integra yet it was half of Acura's volume. Even today when you think "Acura of the 90s" the Integra first comest to mind. When you think Lexus of the 90s, the LS400 comes to mind. Huge gap in image.

[Mike!]

Guys good sales does not necessarily mean the car helped the brand. Selling a lot of low end economy cars wearing your premium badge distills the brand, and we can all agree that Acura's brand is not and has never been as strong/upmarket as other startups like Lexus or even Infiniti. The Integra so early on is partly to blame IMO.

A startup luxury brand needs to do everything it can to gain cachet, respect, and acceptance. High volume through economy car sales is not necessarily a good strategy to begin with. There was little upmarket or luxurious about the Integra yet it was half of Acura's volume.

A startup luxury brand needs to be able to carry enough volume to support its new, dedicated dealer network. Certainly Integra was a premium product relative to the Hondas of the era in terms of power, features, and cachet. Despite its FWD orientation, it was well suited to its yuppiemobile era, when the "Baby Benz" had just been launched, and the 3-series was building its market. Its competition ran 4-cylinders as well, and with power levels of the era, FWD wasn't necessarily at a disadvantage.

That startup model clearly made sense, as when Toyota launched Lexus 4 years later, it also started with a 'gussied-up Camry' in the lineup next to its breakthrough, flagship product.

[GTRaavv]

Guys good sales does not necessarily mean the car helped the brand. Selling a lot of low end economy cars wearing your premium badge distills the brand, and we can all agree that Acura's brand is not and has never been as strong/upmarket as other startups like Lexus or even Infiniti. The Integra so early on is partly to blame IMO.

A startup luxury brand needs to do everything it can to gain cachet, respect, and acceptance. High volume through economy car sales is not necessarily a good strategy to begin with. There was little upmarket or luxurious about the Integra yet it was half of Acura's volume. Even today when you think "Acura of the 90s" the Integra first comest to mind. When you think Lexus of the 90s, the LS400 comes to mind. Huge gap in image.

I think it's a combo. Having the bulk of your sales coming from lower-priced luxury models isn't necessarily a bad thing as long as you continue to develop and expand your upper-end lineup. Lexus selling a buttload of RXs and ESs doesn't hurt them because they continue to put effort into their upper-end vehicles (although for the last few years it has been a trickle). Acura killed off the NSX, let the RL become irrelavant, never followed up with a CL coupe, and decided to target the low-selling X6 as their only new upmarket entry in a decade. Had they done more with their premium models then the Integra's impact wouldn't sway your impression so much.

[Avus]

Guys good sales does not necessarily mean the car helped the brand. Selling a lot of low end economy cars wearing your premium badge distills the brand, and we can all agree that Acura's brand is not and has never been as strong/upmarket as other startups like Lexus or even Infiniti. The Integra so early on is partly to blame IMO.

A startup luxury brand needs to do everything it can to gain cachet, respect, and acceptance. High volume through economy car sales is not necessarily a good strategy to begin with. There was little upmarket or luxurious about the Integra yet it was half of Acura's volume. Even today when you think "Acura of the 90s" the Integra first comest to mind. When you think Lexus of the 90s, the LS400 comes to mind. Huge gap in image.

This is how you see this from the angle... But i see it from the opposite side...
Acura brand failure is not from the success of a premium compact (Integra/RSX), it is their lack of "expensive stuff". Yes they had a supercar called NSX. But it only served a very very small market. (or more like a halo car) Like i said before, Acura failed to sell RL (real luxury car level start from here). They reluctant to make anything bigger (in terms of chassis or engine). A BIG GAP from RL to NSX!! To me, all Acura (Honda) did in the past 10+ years were just use the Accord platform to make as many as different "near" luxury products. This is their main failure. There is the reason why Lexus made a big deal when they start selling their $100k+ LS (600L hybrid) or $370k+ LFA. It tells the world that Lexus is a real premium brand that made expensive stuff!!

Lexus = a premium brand mainly sell cheap stuff like ES, RX, but still have expensive stuff like LS, LX, GS, LFA... (much like BMW or Audi mainly sell 3 series or A4 but have much more expensive available)
Acura = a premium brand mainly sell cheap stuff period.

Honda had been ran by bean counter for decade and the current Acura is a good example. Minimal R&D on chassis, engine and transmission on ALL current Acura products.

[NoXenons]

Guys good sales does not necessarily mean the car helped the brand. Selling a lot of low end economy cars wearing your premium badge distills the brand, and we can all agree that Acura's brand is not and has never been as strong/upmarket as other startups like Lexus or even Infiniti. The Integra so early on is partly to blame IMO.

[JustinCSVT]

Wow, cheapshot, I doubt Mr. Bus driver would've stepped to a male passenger the same way.

I bet he would've.

[MK5golf]

*sells well

I have seen more ferraris on the road this year than G20's. Actually, ive seen a LOT MORE

[Brimjolt]

expect a big sale of these this later next year

[2.0T_Convert]

Acura models always have better performance and tech than their Honda counterparts, so the ILX 2.4 lacking the LSD and NAV makes zero sense whatsoever. They need to rectify that ASAP.

I thought Honda stated take rate for the TSX + MT + Navi were so low they didn't bother with the ILX.

How would making a combo that sells to 11 people benefit Acura.

[Ross1013]

I thought Honda stated take rate for the TSX + MT + Navi were so low they didn't bother with the ILX.

How would making a combo that sells to 11 people benefit Acura.

Yes, it was less than 1%.

I feel this car would be a different story. Don't ask me why. Just a feeling.

They could at least make the 2.4L available w/Tech Package and 5AT/6AT.

[Aw614]

Finally had a chance to sit in an ILX yesterday, not too bad and I do like that it fixes that annoying dash on the Civic.

The same dealer had a 6spd TSX on the lot hmm...

[Mike!]

Screw the nav, but at least give the 2.4 car the Civic Si's LSD so it can be a proper Si-in-a-business-suit. I've seen others mention it, but nothing is more frustrating than an open diff in a manual, performance oriented fwd car. It's the main reason I never warned to the driving experience of the manual, first gen TSX.

[HI SPEED]

Saw my first ilx in person yesterday. I understand why they aren't selling now.

[anthonymindel]

Saw my first ilx in person yesterday. I understand why they aren't selling now.

I think the TSX is way better looking,and better value for money.

It is probably the ILXs biggest competitor at the moment,and customers can check them both out on the same showroom floor...

[rynodyno312]

I think the TSX is way better looking,and better value for money.

It is probably the ILXs biggest competitor at the moment,and customers can check them both out on the same showroom floor...

The TSX is about to die, probably because its a much better value than the ILX.

[anthonymindel]

The TSX is about to die, probably because its a much better value than the ILX.

The TSX is continuing as is until the end of 2013.
It and the TL are then merging into one model,the TLX for 2014,which will also be the next Honda Spirior for China,and Accord Euro for Japan,Australia,New Zealand,etc.

[dcmix5]

Screw the nav, but at least give the 2.4 car the Civic Si's LSD so it can be a proper Si-in-a-business-suit. I've seen others mention it, but nothing is more frustrating than an open diff in a manual, performance oriented fwd car. It's the main reason I never warned to the driving experience of the manual, first gen TSX.

Get the **** out of here you boy racer. Acura doesn't want you around...go buy a used RSX and bondo some **** kit on it. People like you will never allow Acura to rival the likes of Maybach and Bentley, so stop wishing they would build something your McDonalds wage can buy.

[anthonymindel]

LOL

[03GTI4Me]

Get the **** out of here you boy racer. Acura doesn't want you around...go buy a used RSX and bondo some **** kit on it. People like you will never allow Acura to rival the likes of Maybach and Bentley, so stop wishing they would build something your McDonalds wage can buy.

[GTRaavv]

The TSX is about to die, probably because its a much better value than the ILX.

The TSX is dying because there is going to be no more Euro Accord platform. But there is a silver lining here. Yes the ILX sucks as a TSX replacement. But the TLX should hopefully be a great return to form for the TL, which got way too big and bloated in its current generation. A car that positions itself inbetween the current TSX and TL in terms of size and price could hit a sweet spot.

[Ross1013]

The TSX is dying because there is going to be no more Euro Accord platform. But there is a silver lining here. Yes the ILX sucks as a TSX replacement. But the TLX should hopefully be a great return to form for the TL, which got way too big and bloated in its current generation. A car that positions itself inbetween the current TSX and TL in terms of size and price could hit a sweet spot.

I agree completely; I wonder if the TLX will have a double-wishbone suspension still, or go to struts like the Accord has.

[TetsuoShima]

First I'm hearing of this TLX...

[rynodyno312]

I agree completely; I wonder if the TLX will have a double-wishbone suspension still, or go to struts like the Accord has.

The accord doesn't even have them in the front anymore? Boo.

[Ross1013]

The accord doesn't even have them in the front anymore? Boo.

Yeah, but it's a total gas to drive, and so is my Si, so obviously they know what they're doing.

[a2a4raddo]

First I'm hearing of this TLX...

Acura is renaming all their sedans.

ILX replaces TSX as entry level
TL is being renamed TLX
RL is being renamed RLX

[Ross1013]

First I'm hearing of this TLX...

You heard it from me first: there will be a 9AT and an inline-4 option.

[above8k]

You heard it from me first: there will be a 9AT and an inline-4 option.

I thought all 4cyc will get CVT and V6 9 speed AT?

[Ross1013]

I thought all 4cyc will get CVT and V6 9 speed AT?

I didn't say those two would come together; just that they will both be there.

[TetsuoShima]

Acura is renaming all their sedans.

ILX replaces TSX as entry level
TL is being renamed TLX
RL is being renamed RLX

Hm, cool. Complete redesign for the TLX?

You heard it from me first: there will be a 9AT and an inline-4 option.

Not sure if serious..

[Ross1013]

Not sure if serious..

I am serious.

[joe97]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF_9HP_transmission#_

Only the Chrysler has been confirmed up to this point to receive the ZF unit. Honda should also get it (albeit at a year after Chrysler) but no publc confirmation as far as I know.

[a2a4raddo]

Hm, cool. Complete redesign for the TLX?
.

2014 Model year. TL is on a 5 year lifespan. Current model was released for the 2009 model year. Next gen is due for 2014.