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The RLX: Acura's ongoing train wreck sales wise. Put it out of its misery. It's a great car that few want.
I have a thread in the RLX forum going about a new exterior for the next RLX that will make people turn their heads. Pick up your light pens and do some drawing! Let's show Acura what we want instead of just whining.
The RLX: Acura's ongoing train wreck sales wise. Put it out of its misery. It's a great car that few want.
I have a thread in the RLX forum going about a new exterior for the next RLX that will make people turn their heads. Pick up your light pens and do some drawing! Let's show Acura what we want instead of just whining.
Honda was not serious when they released the RLX. The mid-sized class is hotly competitive for a small segment of buyers able to afford $50K+ sedans. Although the hybrid has class leading technology, it came out much later than the tepid release of the FWD variant. A FWD just cannot compete in this class and price range coupled with a very milquetoast appearance. Acura needs to start from the drawing board (literally) and design a very handsome and bold vehicle. The exterior appearance matters as much or more as the driving dynamics.
Honda was not serious when they released the RLX. The mid-sized class is hotly competitive for a small segment of buyers able to afford $50K+ sedans. Although the hybrid has class leading technology, it came out much later than the tepid release of the FWD variant. A FWD just cannot compete in this class and price range coupled with a very milquetoast appearance. Acura needs to start from the drawing board (literally) and design a very handsome and bold vehicle. The exterior appearance matters as much or more as the driving dynamics.
Well, like I said in the Volvo thread, if Volvo was able to create a FR-like proportion out of a FF transverse platform for the upcoming S90:
The dismal sales goes beyond the FWD issue. I mean, if it can even get half of what XTS is getting, it's already a huge improvement compared to now.
Of course FWD styling is just one of the many issues, so fixing this part of the problems is a baby step and Volvo is doing it with XC90 and S90. You have to admit that these two new models look a lot more premium than any things Acura currently offers.
I think people may have been looking at the #s I initially posted at TOV where I accidentally used Volvo's global sales instead of last month. Corrected, the RLX outsold the S80 in the US- which is not saying much but still ...
Trucks Drive Numerous American Honda September Sales Records
Oct 1, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif.
Total American Honda sales rise 13.1 percent on sales of 133,750 for a new September record
Overall American Honda truck sales also set a new September mark, increasing 26.9 percent on sales of 63,635
Honda brand sets new September record, rising 14 percent on sales of 119,046
Honda trucks also have best September, up 31.9 percent with 55,474 units sold
Acura trucks have best-ever September, gaining 0.8 percent on sales of 8,161 vehicles
Acura RDX records best September sales, rising 19.1 percent on sales of 3,848 units
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported a robust 13.1 percent September 2015 sales increase on total sales of 133,750 Honda and Acura vehicles for a new September benchmark. Honda Division sales totaled 119,046, up 14 percent for a new September record, with car sales reaching 63,572 for a 2 percent gain and truck sales rising 31.9 percent on sales of 55,474 for another September record. Acura reported 14,704 vehicle sales for a solid 6.3 percent gain, with cars capturing 6,543 sales (up 14.1 percent) and trucks setting a new September record, reaching 8,161 sales (up 0.8 percent).
Honda
Honda cars and trucks made solid sales gains in September, with double digit increases from Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Odyssey, while Accord also gained in a market that continues to lean heavily to light trucks. With Pilot leading monthly gains, total Honda truck sales were up across the entire lineup, gaining 31.9 percent on sales of 55,474 for a new September record.
Civic had a strong September with sales topping 28,000 for a 27 percent increase.
The all-new Pilot jumped out to a great start with September sales of 10,238, up 30.9 percent for the month. Pilot was joined by Odyssey, with sales of 9,924 units to bump it 13.2 percent in September.
CR-V set yet another monthly sales record, rising 26.1 percent on sales of 29,925 units, continuing on pace to mintain its position as America's best-selling SUV.
"The success of our new truck introductions has given us great momentum heading into fall," said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. "Now we see the freshened Accord and all-new Civic sedan propelling us into 2016 as we continue to bolster our lineup with exciting new products throughout the year."
Acura
Acura cars continued strong momentum in a light truck-dominated market with TLX easily surpassing the 4,500-unit mark, while ILX enjoyed a double-digit increase for the month. RDX also gained sharply in a hotly competitive market segment, setting a new September record to boost total Acura truck sales into record territory. Overall, Acura sales were up 6.3 percent.
RDX sales shot up 19.1 percent on sales of 3,848 in September to help Acura trucks to a 0.8 percent increase.
MDX posted a strong month with sales of 4,313 for the month, despite supply constraints.
Anchored by the TLX, Acura cars gained 14.1 percent on sales of 6,543 for the month:
TLX sales totaled 4,753 for an increase of 22.4 percent
ILX was up 10.2 percent on sales of 1,614 units
"In addition to strong demand for our lineup of luxury performance products what we are seeing is the growing stature of the Acura brand," said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura division. "With the reborn NSX on the horizon, Acura is poised for great things in the luxury automotive marketplace."
The current RLX just needs to be scrapped. It's too bland looking. It's FWD. The AWD is too expensive. Honda Co needs to just let Acura be Acura. The RLX seems to be designed to appease the Japanese consumer. They need to start over again. It's sales numbers are a complete joke.
My car is the way the RLX should have come from the factory. A nice set of wheels totally changes the look. Its absolutely stunning in person. I love it!
TLX is doing reasonably well. It's not selling in 3G TL numbers, but better than 4G TL numbers.
I don't get the ILX, shouldn't the facelift have helped the sales numbers? It seems like a decent enough entry in its segment. How many of its competitors can say they come stock with LED headlights?
My car is the way the RLX should have come from the factory. A nice set of wheels totally changes the look. Its absolutely stunning in person. I love it!
TLX is doing reasonably well. It's not selling in 3G TL numbers, but better than 4G TL numbers.
Contrary to what others say, I think the RLX AWD is a pretty good deal for what you get. Shame its exterior is a big let down.
Anyways, your car looks good man! I think a slight drop would be even better.
Originally Posted by jwong77
I don't get the ILX, shouldn't the facelift have helped the sales numbers? It seems like a decent enough entry in its segment. How many of its competitors can say they come stock with LED headlights?
lol the Corolla has stock LED headlights.....
On a serious note, the facelift is decent but came too late I think. If the ILX had the same specs in 2012, then may be things would have been different. An issue that Acura didn't fix for the facelift is that interior is rather cheap looking.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
The MDX has finally run out of steam after years of peak sales.
My understanding is that as the new Pilot is also being produced in the same Alabama plant, priority is given to that car instead. With the new Ridgeline and Odyssey coming, I hope they have another factory ready.....lol....
^^^^^^
True. The MDX cannot keep up with demand......and now the Pilot is selling well. Fit and HR-V are even worse as demand is constantly outstripping supply. In some places, you can't find a Fit or an HR-V.
Again, the Honda part of Honda is firing on all cylinders. Honda needs a sports car (not the VaporwareNSX) and to move some of that mojo to Acura....beyond the MDX.
How many of its competitors can say they come stock with LED headlights?
Almost guaranteed to become more & more common. Only 'compact' sedan I can think of immediately is the Corolla.
But, the MX5, Accourd Touring, and probably a few more non-luxury models have it as standard.
My car is the way the RLX should have come from the factory. A nice set of wheels totally changes the look. Its absolutely stunning in person. I love it!
Yes, the wheels enhance the car's appearance. But I bet those wheels aren't pothole proof.
Originally Posted by iforyou
Contrary to what others say, I think the RLX AWD is a pretty good deal for what you get. Shame its exterior is a big let down.
Anyways, your car looks good man! I think a slight drop would be even better.
I don't get the ILX, shouldn't the facelift have helped the sales numbers? It seems like a decent enough entry in its segment. How many of its competitors can say they come stock with LED headlights?
Corolla can make the same argument... but the reality is no one cares if LED comes standard. It is not a deal breaker or a deal sealer. Nice to have, but not enough for Civic buyers to buy Corolla.
In a new safety-themed commercial, Acura wants to show that crash tests aren’t emotionless tasks.
The spot, which begins airing nationally on Sunday, follows an Acura engineer as he preps for a test by delicately placing four lifelike dummies -- who are actually actors -- into the MDX crossover.
Then there’s the twist.
When the engineer finishes loading them into the vehicle and steps away, it’s revealed that he is the one in the driver’s seat. The engineer was visualizing himself and his family in place of the crash dummies the entire time.
Acura wanted to take an emotional stance with the spot instead of going with the technical approach normally seen in auto safety ads, said Leila Cesario, national advertising manager for Acura. The tag line for the commercial is, “When you don’t think of them as dummies, something amazing happens.”
Acura’s top safety engineers were consulted to ensure the ad accurately represented the test environment.
“Our goal here is to talk about how personal it is,” Cesario said in an interview. “It’s beyond just passing a test.”
The digital component of the campaign, which includes a landing page, launches today. The commercial was cut into 15-, 30- and 60-second spots.
The ad highlights how Acura is the only brand to receive 5-Star vehicle honors in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program and Top Safety Pick+ ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety across its entire model line.
The ad hit home for Acura’s engineers. Cesario said the engineers have a scrapbook in which they keep inspiring notes they receive from customers.
Cesario said, “Before we even shot the ad, just talking about the ad, everyone here was emotional about it because everyone was very quickly able to relate to it.”
Wow. That is the best ad I've seen from Acura in quite some time. It makes a great point and grabs the viewer's attention in a way that I haven't seen in a while.
(BTW, the Tesla S fanboys, i.e. Consumer Reports, now say Tesla S is not all that reliable. Whatever floats their boat, I guess - insert roll eyes here).
(BTW, the Tesla S fanboys, i.e. Consumer Reports, now say Tesla S is not all that reliable. Whatever floats their boat, I guess - insert roll eyes here).
At some point, all car marques (especially upscale ones) have to go through growing pains associated with introducing new features (transmissions, turbo engines, etc.). The Germans did it with the turbo introductions (consuming oil, etc) and now Acura is getting killed by its awful transmission choices (That ZF comes to mind in particular)
09-01-2015, 02:04 PM
Oops
Commercial
