Gripes about the TLX styling conservatism make me

The last time Acura went aggressive with the styling in this segment, we got the 4G TL. Their gun shyness with the TLX's styling is justifiable. Just needs some nice exhaust tips (I.e.: Accord V6/Sport if not 3G TL-S style).

 

haha perhaps....not sure if Honda can fix that up with a new platform..

 

So Acura just announced a Virtual Cockpit display in its near future. It does looks pretty nice with interesting graphics, but the ergonomics look bad since it only has a touchpad located far away from driver. I doubt the new 2018 TLX will have something from it though ... still VERY prototype-ish

 

Click -> Acura Precision Cockpit Reveal - Acura News

 

Isn't AUDI already doing this?

 

Isn't the touch pad pretty close by the center stack?

 

yes and far better.

 

Audi's Virtual Cockpit is really nice. It truly feels like it is a generation ahead of what anyone else is doing.

 

After looking at the video again, the placement seems a little off. To me, it looks like it's positioned where the ashtray would be, a little too far in front. Also, there's no gear selector so not sure how the hand will be placed. Lexus uses a mouse like cursor and not many people like it. Acura is already copying the Virtual Cockpit, may as well have gone with the MMI controller approach too.

The sad part is that Virtual Cockpit is available NOW from Audi, and it works rather well. Acura on the other hand promised us a prototype, God knows when It'll show up and we all know it won't look like that based on the TLX prototype.

 

Thanks for the link - design looks interesting. Only problem is it really smacks to me of concept car - wait 4 years and be disappointed by the actual execution. I probably sound like a glass half full person but this is just my experience. It only proves to me that Acura's CGI department isn't as antiquated in concepts as their actual design team for their production vehicles. The augmented reality has a ways to go - they didn't have a point system assigned to the bicyclist or the pedestrian.

 

Hands-on with Acura's novel touchpad infotainment interface - Autoblog

This review is pretty positive. And it seems it offers quite a few features that are new.

the Audi TFT is nice too. But I think to get it, you will need to get the technik package? For Acura, it seems like they are relying on economies of scale and will apply this setup to all of its cars....perhaps more affordable?

 

Thanks - it looks like the future. I hope they have it all sorted out in 5 years when I go to trade my TLX in.

 

I would expect in 5 years the glass cockpit concept will be already implemented in most mainstream cars. Even Kia has it on its top end cars since 2015MY.

 

Oh it better be done in 5 years otherwise it will be behind. Right now some of the features are already available in some competitors, while some are new.

 

I'm just waiting for a another decreased sales number report in November and the first 2 apologist replies - OH it was because the berries from Machu Picchu used in the paint were low so they couldn't supply enough cars or rains in Guatemala caused shipping delays or because the election caused a problem that only effected Acura sales numbers or sure Acura sales are down but not as much as Edsel's.

 

^^ That was funny!!

 

Sep 2015 vs Sep 2016 : Acura TLX = 4,753 --> 2,908 (-38.82%)
Oct 2015 vs Oct 2016 : Acura TLX = 5,777 --> 2,714 (-53.02%)
Nov 2015 vs Nov 2016 : Acura TLX = 2,987 —> 2,281 (- 23.64%)

Sep : Audi A4 = 2,482 --> 3,457 (+39.28%)
Oct : Audi A4 = 2,896 --> 3,864 (+33.43%)
Nov : Audi A4 = 2,719 —> 3,414 (+25.56%)

Sep : BMW 3 series = 9,145 --> 7,432 (-18.73%)
Oct : BMW 3 series = 11,012 --> 5,215 (-52.64%)
Nov : BMW 3 series = 8,433 —> 5,411 (- 35.84%)

Sep : BMW 4 series = 2,726 --> 2,289 (-16.03%)
Oct : BMW 4 series = 3,295 --> 2,853 (-13.41%)
Nov : BMW 4 series = 3,424 —> 3,240 (- 5.37%)

Sep : Buick LaCrosse = 3,880 --> 1,909 (-50.80%)
Oct : Buick LaCrosse = 2,977 --> 2,500 (-16.02%)
Nov : Buick LaCrosse = 3,351 —> 2,427 (- 27.57%)

Sep : Cadillac ATS = 2,295 --> 1,770 (-22.88%)
Oct : Cadillac ATS = 2,528 --> 1,593 (-36.99%)
Nov : Cadillac ATS = 2,055 —> 1,490 (- 27.49%)

Sep : Cadillac CTS = 1,319 --> 1,503 (+13.99%)
Oct : Cadillac CTS = 1,567 --> 1,024 (-34.65%)
Nov : Cadillac CTS = 1,244 —> 1,042 (- 16.24%)

Sep : Infiniti Q50 = 3,557 --> 4,359 (+22.55%)
Oct : Infiniti Q50 = 3,811 --> 3,689 (-3.20%)
Nov : Infiniti Q50 = 3,782 —> 3,361 (- 11.13%)

Sep : Infiniti Q60 = 258 --> 497 (+92.64%)
Oct : Infiniti Q60 = 273 --> 725 (+165.57%)
Nov : Infiniti Q60 = 206 —> 813 (+ 294.66%)

Sep : Lexus IS = 3,152 --> 2,678 (-15.04%)
Oct : Lexus IS = 2,950 --> 2,523 (-14.47%)
Nov : Lexus IS = 3,063 —> 3,571 (+ 16.59%)

Sep : Lexus ES = 5,195 --> 4,543 (-12.55)
Oct : Lexus ES = 5,426 --> 4,190 (-22.78%)
Nov : Lexus ES = 4,725 —> 4,097 (- 13.29%)

Sep : Mercedes C Class = 7,660 --> 6,600 (-13.84%)
Oct : Mercedes C Class = 7,283 --> 6,227 (-14.50%)
Nov : Mercedes C Class = 7239 —> 7,261 (+0.304%)

Sep : Nissan Maximia = 3,871 --> 6,569 (+69.70%)
Oct : Nissan Maximia = 4,903 --> 3,908 (-20.29%)
Nov : Nissan Maxima = 3,884 —> 4,093 (+ 5.38%)

 

weird how bad the ATS and TLX is selling.
CTS has low numbers too.

what makes Nissan/infiniti and MB sell better than the others?
(note - coming in mid-thread, so if explained earlier, I apologize)

 

It's not an either/or scenario. The 4G was striking in the wrong ways, that doesn't mean an attractive design wasn't possible. Likewise, the TLX looks like a Hyundai until you can see the badge. To be fair, that's a complaint you can make about most cars in this segment today. It just doesn't do Acura much good to blend in when they're priced within a German badge that can sell itself on name alone.

 

When the ATS first came out, the only good thing was its ride and handling balance. It was average for many other areas. Since then GM fixed its 2.0T engine too and it's more powerful now. But its interior is still average. It's also kinda pricey.

The TLX 2.4 is nice and is a good value. But going by the comments here for the V6 and awd models, those are not too well received.

The C class is really nice inside and out. That interior is just gorgeous. Its powertrain options are awesome too. It's also relatively new.

The Q50 just got a facelift and now has 3 engine choices. It caters to a wider customer base than before. It's always nice to have a 4-cyl option as people always think a V6 is too thirsty and also too much power.

 

Well I'm not surprised by the recent sales figures. That's what happens when you don't listen to customers, say it works as intended, and do zero changes while everyone else is busy making it better. By the time they do the update, no one will be waiting for them since no announcements were made. Honestly Acura deserves to lose money until a new TLX is made public.

 

^^ said far better than I could have done!

 

Total disappointing sales numbers across the board for Acura.

 

I admit I really really don't wan't to give up on Acura. I think the current model is underwhelming in just about every way but I still think they COULD make a good car if they wanted to - stole more of Honda's tech and then hired a designer from just about any other company (bmw, mercedes, kia, audi, Hyundai, John Deere..) and put the current one in charge of fetching coffee and sharpening pencils.

 

Hahha, ya, things like android auto, apple car play, 19" rims, wider tires, actual exhaust tips, 2.0T engine, replacement for the 9AT, TFT cluster, need to be added to the TLX asap. This is supposed to be the bread and butter sedan for Acura. The MMC with major changes can't come soon enough.

 

Another drop 2281 for November. They will do well to only drop 10K units from 2015.

 

Did anyone else get a marketing survey from Acura recently?

I got one last night asking what type of promotions would entice me back into the sales room to buy or lease an Acura.
Very long and detailed all about marketing language and not at all about the cars. I was asked to pick adjectives that best described the Acura lineup....all of their choices were positive like "Luxury", "Dynamic" , "Premium", "Exciting". No choices that I was very "excited" to check. I think that the only choice I picked was "value".
Looks like they are prepping a marketing plan to dump the last of the 2017 models (hopefully) in anticipation of a much improved redesigned TLX (and other).
I basically told them whenever possible that the current line up is uninspiring and that marketing is not going to fix what ills Acura currently has....they need to upscale and upsport eveything at least a little, in their lineup.
Marketing the TLX as "the thrill" didn't convince anyone a few years ago and we want better from a once awesome Acura!

 

What did they fix? I don't think they touched the 2.0T in the ATS since its introduction.

The transmission is now 8-sp for 2016.

 

Ya, I think it's alright to offer the existing power train choices. But to justify "thrill," then more is needed on top of these existing choices.

2013 ATS RWD 6MT
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...tober-2012.pdf
Power: 272hp
Torque: 260lbft
Weight: 3477lb
1/4 mile: 14.8@94mph

2015 ATS Coupe RWD 6MT
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe 2.0T Manual Test ? Review ? Car and Driver
Power: 272hp
Torque: 295lbft
Weight: 3479lb
1/4 mile: 14.1@101mph

The engine torque rating went up by 35lbft. And look at that difference in 1/4 mile trap speed. That's huge. That difference is similar to a BMW 320i vs a 328i.

My guess is that GM overrated its previous 2.0T, and underrated its newer 2.0T.

I purposely picked 6MT for both to minimize other factors. And although one is a coupe and one is a sedan, the weight difference is negligible.

 

I don't remember the details, but they had a design change to fix the piston problem that some 2013 models had.

 

Maybe I'm just old, but that's horrible. I don't want a car with a dash that looks like a video game setup with iPads. I would never buy anything with that kind of dash setup.

 

Even in the concept stage it looks like the monitors are an afterthought. The put a lot of effort into making an ugly dash - that looks like some college kids attempt at modern art and then strapped a couple of standard computer monitors to it after they realized it had no informational instruments.

 

have you seen Audi or MB S550 dash???
Ppl older than you rocking full LCD dash that looks straight out of a video game!!!!!! Long gone are the days of analog speedometers

 

I got one, but it was for my parents' rdx. I ended up filling it out though. Said pretty much what you said.

 

On my new Audi A4, you can set it so it looks old school, or video game like. I am mainly going with the old school look so far, but like the fact that I have a choice.

 

I like the way the instrument screen fits in a normal molding in the A4.

 

My sister has a 2016 C300 and it's actually kinda meh. I much prefer my TLX to it.

 

^^^^^

Unfortunately, the reality is that there are always way more C-class buyers than TLX buyers, as reflected by the monthly sales numbers.

 

who wouldnt want a mini-S class?

 

Agree, Local dealer has some C-300 Sport Trim that are very good looking machines.