darmok

Any indication that the ILX 2.4 will have the LSD from the Civic Si?

Overall, . Why can't Honda compete with the Focus instead of dragging Acura down?

Moog-Type-S

+2

...but then again for me, Acura has not built anything that looks good since the 3rd gen TL.

Acura has gone from bland to horribly over-cooked goofy designs, to now back to vanilla-bland.

I really fear that the new RL will suffer the same fate.

goose25

That car is uglier than a crackwhore at 3AM on a Saturday morning

ostrich

I looked at this again and again - I didn't understand why I liked it so much on the concept version but now it is just so blah.... I think that it has to do with obviously the wheels, but more importantly, the nice chrome trim pieces in the front and rear bumpers are gone. Those really gave the concept version a nice, upscale touch. Now this is just so BLAH.

What was so outrageous about those chrome pieces in the bumpers that they would not make it to the production model anyway? Are they really that much more expensive to produce!? Sigh....

AZuser

I think the front half is decent looking. It could be worse, I suppose. Would I buy one? No. I'd rather spend a little more for the TSX.

I have to agree, the 1G TSX is better looking, inside and out.

And depending on what the 9th gen Accord sedan looks like, the top of the line trim might be a better buy than the ILX.

AZuser

I'm actually glad they left out the chrome trim pieces. They looked so tacky and cheap, IMO.

I have to say that the wheels and the rotors/calipers on the concept did give the car a more sportier and upscale look. But we all knew deep down that Acura would not keep those for the production ILX. Such a shame.

neuronbob

150 hp? Really? How'd the mileage get that bad?

2.4 with an AT would be nice. I'm sure it's coming.

The TSX is a better package, so i's a good thing it will not be cancelled right away.

CarbonGray Earl

Gotta see how this much costs, but suffice it to say, I'm pretty happy to have my gen 1 TSX still. None of the current or near-future Acuras are convincing enough to trade my TSX in.

AZuser

We just need to set our expectations for any future Acura (and Honda) low.... really low.

That's what I did with Star Wars episode II and III and was not as disappointed with them as I was with episode I... but I digress.

knavinusa

Problem is the engine is a 2.0 so fuel economy won't be stellar - the Ford Focus gets 27/37 and makes a little more power and torque since it has DI (and VVT). The Focus has a 6-speed dual-clutch though.

It's an issue when Acura is supposed to sell luxury cars yet their entry-level model is competing with and being beaten (at least on paper) by Ford's mid-range sedan... the TSX didn't have this problem. Where's the progress?

Also, the hybrid ILX looks like it won't have great mileage considering the anemic powertrain. The CT200h gets 60 mpg and produces more power. I really hope they introduce the new engines quickly so it can be a serious competitior.

TSX69

Acura Estimates Hybrid ILX Compact will Get 38 MPG on Highways

Honda Motor Co., aiming for a 20% increase in U.S. sales this year, said it expects the hybrid version of the Acura ILX compact sedan to get 38 miles per gallon in highway driving.

Honda is seeking to revive the luxury brand and attract younger buyers with the ILX. It will start from between $25,000 and $30,000, said Lee DaSilva, a product planner. Almost a quarter of the 40,000 ILX sedans the company plans to sell each year will be hybrids, he said. Equipped with a 1.5-liter engine, it will be Acura's 1st gasoline-electric auto.

“Everybody cares about fuel costs,” Michael Accavitti, Honda's vice president of U.S. marketing, said in an interview in Chicago in advance of tomorrow's auto show. “I don't care how much money you make.”

The ILX will arrive in U.S. showrooms early this year with 3 powertrain options: a 2-liter engine with an automatic transmission; a sportier 2.4-liter, manual-transmission model; and the hybrid. The ILX will be built at Honda's Greensburg, Indiana, plant, which makes Civic compacts. It will be the 1st hybrid the Tokyo-based carmaker has assembled in the U.S.

The hybrid version is estimated to get 35 mpg in city driving and 38 mpg on the highway, Acura said in a statement.

DaSilva said Honda aims to keep the price tag “well below” $30,000. That's important because younger buyers “are coming to grips with maybe having less than their parents,” he said.

Honda, Japan's 3rd-largest automaker, had a 6.8% sales decline in the U.S., its biggest market, last year, as natural disasters in Japan and Thailand disrupted production, causing inventory shortages. It aims for a 20% increase this year, President Takanobu Ito said last month in Detroit.

NwTSXmt

I thought most Acura owners like boring designs...plane jane...

dom

Has he seen the MPG figures for the ILX?

ThermonMermon

drop and calipers are great.

however, i am not a fan of "nice" stock wheels. its always harder to pull the trigger to go aftermarket shittier the stock wheels the better, plus going aftermarket gives you that much more of an upgrade

spdandpwr

I just think it's funny that the current tsx gets better mpgs and is bigger (and likely much heavier)

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Before 4G TL, all of Acura products looked very sharp. Now it's pretty much bland or boring.

krio

I guess in flesh it looks better...

Rocketsfan

Autoblog.com chose it among their Top 5 at the Chicago Auto Show :

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/e...o-show-debuts/

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Let's clear something up right off the bat. Yes, the Acura Integra ILX (we really hate the name) is our #4 pick for the best car of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, but we're really only talking about one model: the 2.4-liter/six-speed manual. Why? It's basically a better-appointed, more under-the-radar Civic Si sedan, and while we have plenty of qualms with the new-for-2012 Civic range, we can't really fault the Si that much. Honda (and Acura) may be headed in a funny direction these days, but the ILX is certainly a step toward salvation.

F23A4

The TSX will be missed. I suppose we'll have to keep an eye on the Japanese and British when it comes to seeing what we're missing out on with the 3G TSX.

SSFTSX

Steerng wheel design is not so good like TSX. Just the location of buttons make it more busier.
I doubt it has rear ducts and cooler like 2011 TSX. I highly doubt about heat absorbtion thicker glass.

phile

the seams on the leather steering wheel is showing way too much thread for comfort as compared to the TSX. that, along with the wrinkled leather on the rear seats is a sign that either this is a poorly assembled pre-duction model or the fit & finish on the final product will definitely not be up to Acura standards.

TSX69

2013 Acura ILX: Up Close

The small premium car is seeing a renaissance in the U.S. Buick recently released the Verano sedan, but other players have unique entries, like Lexus with the small CT 200h hybrid, BMW with the 1 Series coupe and Audi's A3 hatchback. That leaves a lot of room for the practical, yet attractive, Acura ILX.

Based on the Honda Civic platform but with an entirely unique design and cabin, the ILX offers a lot of interior room; the rest of the cars in this group don't.

The interior is in line with the TSX and RDX in terms of materials quality. The center stack of controls is perhaps the simplest I've seen in an Acura in years. The interior design also feels sporty, but what impressed me most was the legroom in back. With the driver's seat adjusted for my 5-foot-10 frame, I had plenty of knee room in the backseat. Pardon the poor iPhone photo below.

The practical stuff is all here, including modest powertrains, but at least the ILX is a looker. This is also why I applaud automakers for bringing more than 1 exterior color. The car that was placed on the pedestal was a boring bronze, but 1 nearby in black showed off its curvaceous rear much better.

Acura's much maligned beak-like shield is also better integrated on the ILX than on the TL and RL.

Perhaps Acura is clawing its way out of the doldrums with what should be its most boring car.

TSX69

Acura Debuts Its 1st Hybrid:
The 2013 Acura ILX

Acura has officially introduced its latest model, the 2013 Acura ILX compact sedan. The ILX is based on the Honda Civic and is being positioned as a gateway into the Acura brand. The ILX will be available with 3 different powertrains, but the most noteworthy is the hybrid option, as it marks the introduction of Acura’s 1st ever hybrid model.

The Acura ILX Hybrid is powered by a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The 20-horsepower electric motor gets its power from a lithium-ion battery pack and is mainly there to provide additional power when its needed. The hybrid system has a total output 111 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 127 lb-ft of torque between 1,000-3,000 rpm. During braking and at a stop the gasoline engine deactivates to save fuel and reduce emissions. Acura estimates that the ILX Hybrid will have a fuel economy rating of 35/38 mpg. At 38 mpg on the highway, the ILX beats the 2012 Lexus HS 250h, which is only rated at 34 mpg.

The ILX comes standard with Keyless Access System with smart entry and pushbutton start, Pandora internet radio interface and an SMS text message function. The Technology Package adds a surround sound audio system, and a navigation system with real-time traffic rerouting. The Premium Package adds leather seats, heated front seats, a rear view camera and a 360-watt audio system.

Acura hasn’t announced the official pricing for the 2013 ILX, but it will arrive this spring.

spdandpwr

I have a feeling that a fully loaded 2.4 will come in at around 31k...if that's the case, I'd rather have my tech tsx.

spdandpwr

the acura site has one in blue...not bad:

spdandpwr

Interior:

Moog-Type-S

If this car breaks $30k......uh oh.

spdandpwr

well, technically it shouldn't...a fully loaded si hits 24.5...so the top of the line ilx (fully optioned) shouldn't hit more than 30k (a 6k premium is too much).

dom

I guess I'm a bland kinda guy, I like the styling in and out. Looks good in Black.

Moog-Type-S

This car does what it's supposed to do in terms of exterior design:

Do not excite. Do not offend.

Legend2TL

Interior looks good, I like the layout of the center stackup, instrument cluster and displays

03tLsNBP

iTrader: (9)

doesn't look too bad but it doesn't make me want one.

KillerG

I also think they did a good job with the interior, and it looks a LOT better in other colors than the show color that they picked for it. That being said, those hideous wheels detract alot from a previously sexy concept, and the powertrain options are lacking.

Now the next big piece of information will be the price, followed by some automotive industry first drives.

I think it will do well but that will depend heavily on how they choose to price it

MeehowsBRZ

When I first saw the concept I really liked it. But seeing this image, now all I can think is "Yeah, it is just a Civic in ILX trim."

khannie112

Why does this thing remind me of a Mazda 3??? Am I seeing things?

darmok

I've been thinking about this. The 1G TSX had a different interior than the concurrent Euro Accord - it was actually very similar to the Honda Inspire. The 2G TSX is the same as the current Euro Accord, and I recall Honda saying that Acura had a huge hand in this design. However Europe is in a world of hurt financially right now and Japan may not be far behind. I think Honda is planning to decontent the next Euro/JDM Accord. Thus we get the ILX as a replacement which as a bonus is built right here in the US, thus further isolating Acura from currency fluctuation.

spdandpwr

Considering that Acuras are only sold in north america, I'm surprised they didn't manufacture them in the US before...Japanese labor + shipping couldn't possibly have been that much cheaper per car

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Meh. I like the interior. I wouldnt buy one though.

pttl

I'd rather have this.

biker

For most of Acura's existence the exchange rate was not that bad and the cars were sold with Honda badges worldwide so it made sense to keep making them in Japan.