Yup, I remember back in late 90's my company had Global headquarters in Netherlands so I had to go several times and ever time the taxi ride was in a MB, they were common place.

 

The CEO spoke after the articles came out and said they were untrue.

However.....they are giving crazy incentives, so really the effect is the same. In essence, I agree with you.

Now whether Acura will do the same to get more people to beta test the Sport Hybrid.....we'll see. It looks like the Advance trim is flying off the shelves (relatively speaking) and the Techs are just sitting. I smell deals a'comin before long!

 

I'm hoping that Acura product / sales development see this as a sign that once you hit $60k+ for a vehicle, your average buyer isn't looking to nickle and dime from a feature perspective. What it does represent is someone who wants more for their money versus the equivalent priced European brand option, but can still afford (or is willing to pay) a substantial amount to get what they think is the "best of the best".

Once you hit $60k, $2-3k difference for added features, etc etc is such a small percentage of the overall cost versus when you're dealing with lower priced vehicles. The RLX in anything BUT Advanced trim never made any sense to me. But that's just me.

 

Totally agree. I would even go as far as to say once you hit $50k. The average person that's willing to spend that much money on a vehicle expects nothing less than all available options and most don't mind spending $2-3k more to get them.

 

American Honda Kicks Off 2015 with Record January Sales

Feb 3, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif.

American Honda and the Honda Division set new January records as Fit, CR-V and Pilot top prior monthly records with double digit percentage gains over January 2014
Both the Honda and Acura Brands set new light truck sales records for January
Acura posts best January since 2007 as MDX and RDX set new monthly records

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported a new January record on Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 102,184 units, an increase of 11.5 percent versus January 2014. Overall AHM light trucks led sales gains for both brands and set a January record, increasing 25.2 percent on sales of 52,169 vehicles. The Honda brand set a January record, up 11.6 percent for the month while recording sales of 90,202 vehicles. The Acura brand posted sales of 11,982 units in January, increasing 10.7 percent over the same period last year.

Honda
2015 began on a strong note for the Honda Division with record monthly sales for the brand, its light trucks and 3 key models, CR-V, Fit and Pilot.

CR-V continued to build on its leadership as 2014's undisputed best-selling SUV in America, as the Honda's top-selling model in January with record monthly sales of 23,211 units, up 27.3 percent.
Fit continued to bring record numbers of new buyers to the Honda brand, setting a new January record, up an amazing 85.8 percent with 5,802 vehicles sold in January.
Pilot nearly doubled January 2014 sales while setting a new monthly record with 12,315 sold, up 97.9 percent.
Accord sales of 21,011 vehicles grew by 2.0 percent in January
Led by record CR-V and Pilot sales, Honda Division light truck sales surged to a new record of 44,271 units, up 27.7 percent.

"The new year is off to a strong start with three core models selling at record pace, and this is only the beginning," said Jeff Conrad, Honda division senior vice president and general manager. "With an all-new HR-V crossover coming in a few months, an all-new Pilot debuting at the Chicago Auto Show next week and more big news on the horizon, this is going to be an epic year for Honda."

Acura
The Acura Division posted its best January sales result since 2007 on the strength of record sales of the MDX and RDX and another strong showing from the all-new TLX performance luxury sedan.

MDX set its 2nd consecutive January sales record on sales of 4,381 vehicles, up 3.3 percent. It was the brand's best-selling vehicle in January.
RDX set its third consecutive January sales record, up 28.8 percent with sales of 3,517 vehicles for the month.
The all-new TLX sold 2,892 vehicles in its 1st January, easily besting the combined sales of its 2 predecessors in January 2014 by 27.9 percent. (Acura TL and TSX combined to sell 2,261 vehicles in January 2014.)

"With a major mid-cycle refresh for the ILX gateway model on the way, it's great to begin the year with such strong sales," said Mike Accavitti, Acura division senior vice president and general manager. "MDX and RDX are packing a stronger 1-2 punch than ever to create new energy and momentum for the Acura brand that we look forward to carrying through 2015."

 

to RLX sales overall. No marketing and little inventory=little sales, same issue as usual.

Additionally, it looks like everyone who wants a RLX hybrid "first" has one at this point.

 

Interesting typo in the footnote of that report...

"...RLX Hybrid and RLX Sport-Hybrid"

?

 

Makes your RLX more rare and a collectible.

 

Would this be the rarest car you've ever owned? I once had a '93 MR-2 Turbo one of ~1300 built and sold for 1993.

 

My Sport Hybrid is even rarer than my 6MT CTS-V wagon, itself a rare beast (1 of 400 or so). By comparison, my S2000 is downright plebeian, LOL! I'd better preserve it for a Barrett-Jackson auction in 30 years.....

 

LOL add in my propensity for manual transmissions and we're anything BUT mainstream buyers.

 

I don't know the actual numbers, but my old 1994 Acura Legend coupe 6-speed was made in VERY small numbers perhaps a few hundred. What a shame - like the Sport Hybrid RLX, it was an amazing car that so few got to enjoy.

 

Hondamore, your post was way too late, 1:40 am
As for the limited number of RLX Hybrid, i do enjoy having a more exclusive car than a Maserati, Rolls, etc. More to brag about.

 

Major shift to SUVs. People are going to have regrets when gasoline goes back to $4.

 

Diverse Lineup of Light Trucks and Sub-Compacts Leads American Honda February 2015 Sales Increase

Mar 3, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif.

Acura trucks set new February benchmark, with a 12.5 percent gain on sales of 8,415
Honda Fit sets new February record, rising 81 percent on sales of 5,652 units
Honda Pilot has February to remember, with sales up 82.7 percent

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported February Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 105,466 units, an increase of 5.0 percent versus February 2014. Sales of Acura light trucks set a new February record, rising 12.5 percent on sales of 8,415 vehicles. The Honda Division sold 92,474 vehicles in February—an increase of 4.1 percent for the month. The Acura brand posted sales of 12,992 units in February, rising 12.5 percent over the same period last year.

Honda
Honda's remarkable Fit subcompact set another monthly record in February, posting an 81 percent increase over year ago totals. The Pilot again showed considerable sales strength, creating strong momentum as the company prepares for the arrival of the all-new 2016 Pilot this summer. Sales of the best-selling CR-V also rose in February, gaining 7.4 percent vs. the same period last year. Pilot and CR-V pushed Honda light trucks to a total increase of 12.6 percent for the month.

Honda Fit easily smashed its previous February record, rising 81 percent on sales of 5,652.
Sales of the best-selling Honda CR-V totaled 22,298 units, up 7.4 percent for the month.
The Honda Pilot posted one of its best months in the last year with sales up 82.7 percent on sales of 12,629 vehicles.
Overall Honda truck sales totaled 43,782 for a gain of 12.6 percent in February.

"Strong February sales of both the sub-compact Fit and our 8-passenger Pilot SUV demonstrate the power of the Honda brand with individual buyers," said Jeff Conrad, Honda division senior vice president and general manager. "Honda is delivering incredible value throughout our product lineup that is resonating with our customers."

Acura
Acura trucks continue to light up the sales charts with RDX setting a new February best just ahead of the launch of the refreshed 2016 model. MDX also sold at near record levels during a transition month as the 2016 model became available at Acura dealers in early February. Combined, the RDX and MDX gave Acura trucks a new February sales record.

TLX sales remain strong, taking important share in the super-competitive mid-luxury sedan segment and spurring overall Acura car sales to 4,577 in February, an increase of 12.7 percent. And the significantly revised 2016 ILX went on sale mid-month, adding new power to a strengthening Acura sedan lineup.

RDX captured yet another monthly sales record with 3,862 units sold in February, up 32.7 percent for the month.
MDX maintained a strong pace as America's 3-row luxury SUV sales leader easily surpassed 4,500 units again.
RDX and MDX combined for a February record of 8,415 Acura trucks sold in February, an increase of 12.5 percent for the month.

"While bone-chilling winter weather takes its toll on much of the country, Acura sales continue to reflect a strong warming trend," said Mike Accavitti, Acura division senior vice president and general manager. "Our MDX and RDX luxury SUVs remain red hot—with refreshed 2016 models only adding fuel to the fire. And the substantially upgraded 2016 ILX sport sedan now in showrooms nationwide will burn brighter than ever."

 

So....
168 total Sport Hybrids sold since first reported in September last year.

 

how many SH were made?

 

Looking at the sales numbers you wonder why Honda has an Acura Division, even if the Acura sell at twice or three times the price per car of an average Honda the sales dollars will still not even come close to the sales of the Honda Division.

 

They've even been known to compete against each other.

There was a time that the Honda Prelude competed directly with the Acura Integra.

Their argument was that the two cars together still sold more than one or the other would sell by itself, and it was perhaps a good thing that the choices people made involved comparing one Honda against another.

The economics of car manufacturing has escaped this dumb old man for quite some time.

 

Doesn't make sense to me either. I am an executive in a company and with sales like the Acura we would either sell it off or kill it.

 

77 unsold RLX Sport Hybrids on cars.com today, including 10 Advance.

 

Last year Acura sold around 168000 units in the USA. If they average even $35000 per unit (conservative considering the MDX is the big seller at a big ticket price) and you are still looking at nearly $6 BILLION in revenue and that doesn't include the sales of identical or similar models worldwide. This isn't chump change and Honda also does a lot of R & D within Acura that later filters down to other models. They also share production facilities and assembly lines with their other models to keep costs down on BOTH the Honda and Acura models.

Yes, Honda would love for Acura sales to be higher than what they are, but the Acura brand is the adjunct to the core Honda models - it's the icing on the cake or the cherry on the sundae. Honda has sold many million vehicles and it only makes sense to try to keep at least some of those Honda loyalists when they move up to the luxury market.

 

The rumor was 250. With 168 sold and 77 left....245 is awfully close.

 

That 168k Acuras against 1.4 M Hondas. That like a 7 to 1 ratio. The question from a business perspective is whether it would be better to focus that money, resources and energy into the money maker Honda. I am just looking at the economic of it as a business model. Personally, I am glad they make the Acura that why I own one.

 

Let's take a "what if" example. Let's say it costs $16000 to manufacture an Accord. Honda sells this to the dealer for $18,000 on the 4 cylinder models (remember this profit must pay for R&D, warranty claims etc). Now lets say is costs $18,000 to manufacture a TLX that you sell for $30,000 to 34,000? Wouldn't that be worth it? Car makers must see value or there wouldn't be all the step up brands out there (Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Infiniti, Lexus and on).

 

There are a LOT more people in the US who can afford a $20000 car than there are people who can afford a $40000 - $60000 car. If I were to guess, I'd say there are 7 times as many.

Toyota sells several hundred thousand Corollas a year but less than 10,000 Lexus LS. Should they turn their back on those 10,000 people wishing to pay them $100000 for a car???? All manufacturers look for ways to expand their market ESPECIALLY when it comes to high-end models with bigger margins and that is all Honda is doing with their Acura brand.

 

I'll be honest, I am not a huge fan of the RLX, but with the minor enhancements for 2016 if they discounted an Advance to say $50-$52K I would lease one and give it a whirl

 

The PAWS Advance has been discounted in the past to the upper $40k's, so you may get your wish.

 

Really. We hadn't picked up on that.

 

I keep hearing that, but there are only 2 in the Atlanta area and the dealers here never seem interested.

 

I'm not sure what kind of help the dealers are getting with 2015 models.

Honda makes too much money on the Saiyama cars at MSRP because of the yen/dollar ratio and where it went after they decided on MSRP.

But I'm not sure they're passing it along to the dealers yet. It'd be hard for a dealer to knock the 10 grand off the MSRP if Honda's not helping him to do that, yet.

 

^ Keith was referring to trying a 2016 model....

 

American Honda Reports March 2015 Sales Results

Apr 1, 2015

Honda Fit continues to post major increases, gaining 58 percent in March on sales of 6,640 units while jumping 73.2 percent for the 1st quarter of 2015
Honda Pilot had another hot winter month, netting 11,937 sales for a 34.2 percent increase
Acura posts a month-over-month increase of 12.9 percent on sales of 14,670 vehicles in March

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported March 2015 Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 126,293 units, with Honda trucks gaining 0.8 percent on sales of 51,516 units, while overall sales decreased 5.3 percent versus March 2014. The Honda Division sold 111,623 vehicles in March, a decrease of 5.2 percent for the month. The Acura brand posted sales of 14,670 units, down 5.8 percent over the same period last year.

Honda
With consumers showing a growing appetite for light trucks, the Honda CR-V and Pilot continue to set a blistering sales pace, soon to be joined this spring by the new gateway crossover, the 2016 Honda HR-V. The Fit is also maintaining tremendous momentum, gaining 58 percent over March of last year.

Honda Fit had another big month, rising 58 percent on sales of 6,640 units while jumping 73.2 percent for the 1st 3 months of 2015.
Sales of the best-selling CR-V crested 27,000 units in March.
The Pilot had another strong month posting sales of 11,937 vehicles, an increase of 34.2 percent, helping build momentum for the all-new 2016 Pilot coming this summer.
Total Honda truck sales were up 0.8 percent in March.

"With the best-selling CR-V continuing to set the industry pace for SUVs and a brand-new HR-V and Pilot on the way, we're in a great position to take advantage of the market shift toward trucks," said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. "We're also pleased with the stellar growth of Fit sales and the continued strength of our entire passenger car lineup."

Acura
Acura posted a month over month sales gain as trucks continue to set the pace for the luxury SUV segment. Acura sedans continue to build momentum, led by the TLX and the redesigned, repowered ILX, which is just arriving at dealerships nationwide.

Total Acura sales are up 4.5 percent through the 1st quarter of 2015.
TLX notched its 3rd straight month-over-month increase with sales of 3,430 in March.
MDX and RDX maintained a solid pace as total sales surpassed 9,400 units, even as significantly enhanced versions of each come to market.

"The continued leadership of the MDX and RDX in the luxury SUV segment demonstrates the positive direction we are taking with our Acura product lineup," said Mike Accavitti, Acura Division senior vice president and general manager. "As we turn our attention to strengthening our lineup of Acura sedans, we are buoyed by the 1st Pirelli World Challenge series victory of the Acura TLX GT race car as a sign of good things to come."

 

Hmm. I missed the RLX results. I'm sure they are in that press release somewhere!

 

When there's fewer than 200 sold per month, it's an easy thing to miss.

Congratulations owning such a rare car.

:-)

 

^^^ I am expecting that my RLX SH-AWD, like all the great and rare vintage automaobiles, will some day be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wait, for that to happen, I would immediately have to stop driving it and preserve it in a sealed garage. Never mind, too much fun to drive.

 

At this point, I'm waiting for Acura to pull the plug on the RLX and start over. They do read forum posts, and they must know they are driving loyal Acura owners away, and that the RLX is dead to the public. The few adopters of this car are either ecstatic (Hybrid owners, including me) or bitterly disappointed (many, but not all, PAWS owners). Even the dealers don't like this car and won't help to sell it.

This situation is even worse than the 4G TL debacle in that at least with the TL, there was value for the money even with the ugly look. It still took them three years to fix the issues. The RLX doesn't have that long, it's already pretty much dead.

Given the experience so far, I hope Acura has a better exterior design planned, along with more features for the money, for the RLX.

In short, we need a RLX FMC. STAT. Yeah, yeah, we'll get a MMC, but only a FMC will remove the taint that the PAWS RLX has placed on Acura. I hope that's part of the "turning our attention to our sedan lineup" meant by Acura brass, as the TLX is successful and there is oodles of positive press about the ILX MMC.

They need to move faster or the RLX will be tainted no matter what changes they make.

 

^ thank you Bob. It's nice to see honest posts from people who are just as passionate about the brand as I am that aren't afraid to talk about the realities of when something goes wrong.

If anything, all my criticisms of the RLX are nothing more than a sign that I WANT THEM TO SUCCEED with the RLX.

 

So it seems clear to me that you are not happy with your car and I am sad to read that over and over again. I love mine ever though there are things I would change if I could. No car will be perfect and I think no matter what car any of us purchase at any price, we would always have something to gripe about. If you are that dissatisfied with your RLX, go trade it in and get something else.

 

I agree with you, considering that this forum represents a very small population of RLX owners and people have the tendency for posting only negative not positive, who knows for sure what the real feeling is for the other thousands of owners of the RLX. I love mine and don't follow CR or what others have to say about a car, I buy what I like, end of story. Actually I like this forum and reading the same statement from some folks about their dissatisfaction with the car makes me wonder why are they keeping the car. If it was me, and I have done this before, I get rid of the car and buy one I like. Eating the difference is not worth the stress of owning a car I don't like. Actually this is how I got my Acura, I traded a 2014 Avalon I did not like in for the 2015 Acura.