The recent spied pics of 2016 ilx clearly shows that it has new grill design. it looks very similar to the grill design on concept suv-x ( forgot its exact name) that Acura has introduced a while ago.

Here is my quick photoshoped pic.

This is not TLX info but new grill design might be on MMC TLX later. So I would like to share this info here as well.

 

Cool - I like the grill on the SUV-X concept. Will be interesting to see it on the ILX when it officially launches. Although I'd much prefer the TLX GT's grill...

 

The shield is evolving, IMO. The NSX is supposed to have a grille similar to this one. I like it! Less of a "smile" look to it.

 

I'm considering a new grill for next summer, too. Maybe a Big Green Egg.


Acura's grille is indeed evolving. It looks fine now, but could be improved. I do like that TLX GT grille, but it would expose the radar, I guess(?).

 

Agreed! I would love this grill....and the twin turbos if they decide to throw that in at the refresh

 

The introduction of the "shield" (2009?) coincided with Acura's declining sales - likely linked to the styling of the cars... If I were running Acura, I would have re-designed the grille much earlier... So this is welcome news!

 

And yet the MDX with the same grill sells very well. The problem with the 2009 or whatever year it was is that they got the proportions of the cars features wrong. It's amazing what a difference the changes to the 2012 made even though they were very minor changes.

 

Absolutely. I was in the market for a car in 2009 and when I looked at the 4G TL I was so put off by the looks that I didn't even test drive it. But when I was in the market again in 2012 I saw the minor changes in 4G TL and at that time, though it wasn't a head turner by any means, to me it was significantly better that I liked the looks of the car - it was different but not to the point of hideous as it was before - IMO of course. I was actually surprised how those small changes made such a big difference.

 

Wow I didn't even see this thread and I just posted a rumors thread regarding a new corporate grill Acura has plans for! Nice job OP!

 

I'm actually liking the wheels on the spied ILX too. Hope Acura starts offering better wheel options than they did on the TLX.

 

I like the new grille and to me this spied car looks like a Sport version. Could it be a TypeS badge on the right part of the crossbar (tape all over)?! Or this could be a grille used for Sport models?!
The wide tires and big wheels (a la Civic Si) is a fact.

Let's hope so.

 

And all these years they've been trying to defend the grill lol

Now they consider to change it again.

Way to go building brand identity.

 

^^Well they had the stubbornness to not change it earlier when they obviously should of. Do you think they'd admit it and say "Well yea, we screwed up the whole plenum grille thing." Of course not, they're just quietly phasing it out. It's to save their ego and make it seem like it was never a mistake, just an evolution of their styling language.

Even if the MDX sells well, I am pretty sure it's not because buyers are considering how nice the grille looks. They're most probably just accepting and looking past it because the vehicle offers so much more. I'm sure many of them wish it looked different. If you ask most people I'm sure they'd tell you about an angle or feature of the design of their own car that they don't like. But it's not like they think they can do anything about it. The difference is those of us who mod can change things around to suit the look we like. I modded my grille to my liking. To most people modding doesn't even cross their mind, they just take it as it is and get used to it.

 

I speculated a while ago that Acura would maybe consider doing a Type-S on their ILX and TLX ... maybe that is true?! That would be great....

If they did, I wonder if they would place the Turbo 4 with the manual and the non Type S would receive the 2.4 with the DCT? Want a stick...upgrade to the Type S.

Then Acura would have the Type S with the V6 (tuned for greater HP) for the by MMC?

 

Are you talking about the silver part on the grille? I mentioned in the ILX forum that this looks like where it's not taped and that's pretty much where the CMBS and ACC w/ LSF radar resides. Also, in that One Pack video, Pam (we're buds... jk) said Acura was suggesting not to put any kind of paint protection or modifications there because it could interfere with the radar. "Maybe the ILX will get an Advance package or at the least ACC or CMBS" is all I took from that.

 

^^ Humm.....Good point about the radar on the shield!

 

The shield is revolting IMHO. However the rest of the car looks great once you replace the default beak.

 

<p>HONDATALOVER = Timmy on this forum.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>you're not Timmy.&nbsp;</p>

 

Totally AGREE - the proportions of the grill were way off. It worked for the MDX due to it being a much larger vehicle.

I soooo wanted that generation of the TL, but the styling and THAT GRILL put me way off so I stayed with my 03 TLS (till 130k then resale for 4k). The 2012 version was much better.

Love the proportions of this generation's grills across the line.

 

In my opinion Acura has a better face than all the other luxury cars.

 

Yes, I like the grill on the SUV-X very much!!

 

Civic is getting a new front end so its logical the ILX will change. Don't think the Accord has anything all new coming up to drive a change in the TLX

 

I like that, but doesn't it mess up the radar behind the grille?

 

The long and short is: Anything in front of the radar will reduce its range. That includes a piece of paper, snow, ice, rain, or paint.


For the most part, as long as you don't use metallic primer or paint or metallic protective film, it won't really reduce the range of the radar. The 'rough' distance readings I took both before and after this modification; I was not able to discern any difference in radar distance.


I actually checked with the local Acura body shop manager on his recommendation for primer and paint. There are many Acura dealerships who will perform this modification for you.

 

I guess my question is how do other car companies deal with their systems without putting a hideous beak on the front of their cars?