This makes a lot of sense, too bad we don't have an insider who knows what happens. It'd make for a good read.

 

I think it had little do with money and everything to do with time. When this car debuted, we were one year removed from earthquake and flooding. It seems to me that this delayed powertrain development. No amount of money would have 'bought back' the ~9-12 months lost.

Considering how many DCTs Honda's released in the last year or two, I don't think that the 8DCT just fell out of the sky. It was clearly part of a global plan to introduce the next generation of transmissions. If the DCT wasn't ready, I suppose they could have gone with the CVT from the Accord.

 

^^ Now this is just me but why was there such a rush to push the ILX out?! If the car wasn't ready, the TSX was still there and able to fill the I4 slot. To me, while I understand the need to bring a new car to the market, pushing it out when it is not ready or equipped with a drivetrain that could potentially affect the reputation of the name (ILX), why not wait?! The RDX, they had no choice as the 1G RDX was due for an upgraded but they didn't NEED an ILX that was not ready....

Imagine the success and splash the ILX would have made coming out as is now, after the TSX would have been removed from the lineup.

That is my 2 cents of course.

 

My favorite color!

 

I never liked that grey color on the old ILX, but now I think it looks fantastic. Don't know why!

 

Maybe the cost effectiveness of the global small car chassis required X number of years to amortize the costs? If they started the ILX 3 years later, they would have had to continue to produce the old chassis along side the new 2017 Civic chassis or only have 2 model years for the 1G ILX.

As for reputation, the horrible 1G RDX didn't hurt 2G sales. The terrible 1G (4 cylinder) Odyssey didn't hurt future V6 iterations. Poorly received 3.2 TLs in '96 didn't hurt the 2G TL in '99. I wouldn't worry about the ILX nameplate. I'd be more worried about them trying to recycle the CL nameplate. This has never done well and could use a fresh start.

 

And the actual msrp with destination is 28.8, and so I was just a hundred bucks off.

Anyway, given all the stuff they've added, to me it still seems like almost a price cut of 3 grand.

The 2016 ILX is probably now the best value on the near luxury market, and should out perform any base model of the "nearly luxury" competitors that msrp for less than c. $34k.

I agree with Colin that it would have been nice to see something about SiriEyesFree. If the Accord now has it, however, I assume the top models have it too.

 

Colin....Damn it! I hate when you are so articulate and I can't get a good argument in *lol*
You owe me a complimentary week at your home in Hawaii....

 

Here's my situation, and why the 2016 ILX might be attractive for me. My current ride is a 2008 Accord EXL navi 5MT. Got it new, and it's now 7 years old and has 72k miles. I'm going to keep it at least until the end of the year, which is when my HondaCare warranty wears out, although really it seems a good bet to keep it 2 years past that.

But anyway, one of our kids is now in college on a full scholarship, and as a result we're not as broke as I thought we'd be at this point. My Accord used to be the trip car, but since my wife got a 2013 Accord CVT that's become our trip car. And so mostly in my car I'm going back and forth on the c. 10 mi drive to work by myself. The Accord is sort of fun to drive, but the acceleration is a bit lackluster, and the handling could be a little firmer. I like driving a manual, but I think I could give it up for a 8 speed DCT if they fix the issues.

Question to myself is: could I live with the base ILX vs. my Accord EXL.

Some things I don't think I'd miss. Leather is nice, but I think I'm ok with a nice leatherette. And in the long run leatherette lasts longer and looks nicer.

XM. I'm a freak in that I really like XM. Could I live without it? We do have good local radio stations in Louisville I could listen to. And maybe I could get an XM ap on my smart phone?

Navi. Also love the navi. But now that we don't use my car as the trip car, I honestly don't use it that much. But once in a while....For instance a couple of weeks ago my wife's car was in the shop, and so my car was pressed back into service for a trip. I actually didn't need the navi, but if I had....? But, if i had to I could get a Garmin 5" for what....$250 or so? or maybe my smart phone would do?

In terms of the safety stuff on the new Honda/Acura vehicles, like FCW, LDW, and side camera, I do like those, but honestly and unlike my wife I feel I can do without them.

Maybe I'm wrong, but i'm guessing by December I might be able to get c. $2000 off of msrp on a ILX.

What would I gain? Faster acceleration, sportier handling, and more nimble package.

And the luxury of Acura? Even the base model now has some of that. And compared to my 2008 Accord NVH would definitely be less. With my trade as a downpayment, and Acura financing, probably payments would be doable.

Bottom line is that I probably need to take a test drive at some point.

 

^^ I think you would enjoy the ILX. I am amazed on how fun and nimble this car truly is, and we have the 2.0L. I had a 2012 TL SH-AWD and while the acceleration in the TL was great, I still get more fun factor in the g/f ILX which says alot. If the 2016 is quieter and peppier, this will be an amazing fun little car (if you are comfortable in a smaller car....I am a tall slim guy so it is not issue for me).

Now I agree that navigation would not be required in your application although if you love XM, it would be hard to live without. At the end of the day, the difference in a tech versus base spread over the life of the car is not a show stopper so hold off a little, get a deal and get it as you want it.

That is my advice....I think this car will be amazing providing the DCT doesn't exhibit the same issues as the ILX.

For me, we'll keep our 2014 ILX as the g/f's sexy car, we have our daily driver which is a Hyundai Accent and I'll get my sexy car this spring which will be the .......... (can't say yet)

 

The base price is a little higher than I thought but the premium and the packages is right where i thought it would be....30,800 with destination vs 32300 for base TLX

I think i am going to pass up on the ASPEC though main reason is i don't like dark interior...( i am one of the rare one i know)

 

Sales leadership in this segment seems to only take sales of c. 30,000 vehicles at this point. With all the improvements, and the aggressive pricing from Acura, I'm going to go out on a limb and say they might take it. The ghost of the Integra lives on in the new ILX imho....Acura is back?

The reviews of the handling, braking, steering, transmission, and acceleration all seem very positive so far.

 

^ Yeah. If Motor Trend's original opinions hold out, it sure looks like Acura has a big winner on their hands.

Now, if only we had that old 6-speed.....

 

Car and Driver gives a mixed review, but then lists a 0-60 time of 6.2!

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review

"....New calibration to the electric assist makes the steering in the 2016 ILX a bit slower but weightier and more direct than before, which Acura says is helped in part by a beefier front subframe. The front suspension bushings are upgraded and the rear anti-roll bar increases by a millimeter in diameter to improve initial turn-in. The front brake rotors now measure 12.3 inches, up from 11.8 in the old 2.4-liter car, and the rears are bigger, as well. As would be expected from such changes, the improved brakes bite harder and the firmer pedal is easier to modulate than before...."

So I can add to my "how much is it worth" substantially upgraded brakes. Maybe that's worth c. $400 to me.

 

In the ILX forum at vtec.net someone posted this:

"I think Car and Driver nailed the new ILX's main challenge, when it said "he ILX is clearly improved over last year’s model, but Honda is still faced with the underlying problem that there’s not enough space between its mass-market products and those sold by its luxury marque."

Translation - the Accord Sport, for nearly $6k-$10k cheaper, delivers almost all of the performance, much more room, and better looks than this car...."

This is potentially a good point, since I myself might consider an Accord Sport, but let's take a closer look.

First, the price difference in msrps is significant, but actually an Accord Sport CVT lists for $24,685 while a 2016 ILX base lists for $27,900. So that's a difference of $3200, and nowhere close to 6k.

C & D says the 2016 ILX can go 0-60 in 6.2

C & D also says the Accord Sport can make it in 6.6, but that's the manual. For a more apples to apples comparison, Motor Trend lists the Sport CVT at 7.5.

Even 6.2 is a nice edge over 6.6, but there's obviously a big difference to 7.5.

In other words, for your $3k you get a large performance advantage with an ILX 8 DCT over a Sport CVT.

I myself can drive a manual, and enjoy it, and so might well consider the Accord Sport 6 MT. With that model there's a 4k difference in price with the ILX, and I'm not so picky that the difference in acceleration between 6.2 and 6.6 would mean that much to me. But, I'm ashamed to say it, at age 50 might I be ready to give up a manual? Maybe.

Back to the comparison.

The Accord Sport does have significantly more room than an ILX, but since this wouldn't be a trip car for the most part, but instead mostly for commuting with one person to work, the size actually works the other way for me. In other words, that's a negative for me that the Accord is larger. I would prefer smaller, more nimble, and more fun to drive.

In terms of looks, I also prefer the looks of the 2016 ILX over the Accord Sport. Although the Accord Sport doesn't look as "boy racer" at the Civic Si, I still don't think even the toned down spoiler on the Accord Sport fits with my image at this stage of my life. When it comes down to it, I'd get the EX or EXL Accord for that reason.

But, back to the comparison with the Sport, for $3k more it's not just the stronger engine and more sporty transmission you get, but a moonroof, better stereo, etc.

Finally, as much as I love the Accord, since they sell nearly 400,000 of them a year, it's become a very popular car on the road. The Acura ILX, which at most will probably sell 30,000 this year, will in comparison be a rather rare car to be seen.

Bottom line is that both are great cars, but for different tastes and needs a compelling case can be made for the 2016 ILX, at least for some people.

 

At least on the old ILX, you can add XM radio to the base model as a dealer accessory

 

2016 Acura ILX Review - AutoGuide.com News

The eight-speed dual clutch on the other hand is terrific. Using a torque converter, it’s incredibly smooth at slow speeds and fires off near-seamless up-shifts at redline. Best of all, drive the car in sport mode and it will aggressively rev match downshift when hard on the brakes.

 

I understand your situation, because my TSX is our family's road trip car, but that would end if/when we replace our Mazda 5 with something like a CR-V or CX-5.

And if that happened now, I wouldn't get an ILX, especially if I had a short commute. I'd go for more performance, with something like a Focus ST, GTI, or WRX. I've tested the Focus ST, and it's surprisingly quiet on the highway, so if you can live with the Recaros and pretty stiff ride, it's perfectly suitable for a daily driver IMO. And for the segment, I think the ride quality is very good. I completely understand the appeal of Honda/Acura reliability, and wouldn't go to the other extreme with a VW (been there, dealt with that), but a Focus ST or WRX should be manageable.

 

I went from 12 TSX SE to Accord Sport and be the first to tell you how well the Accord is made. I miss couple things like the sunroof and window roll down from the key fob but at least I got to keep my manual transmission. I don't like how Acura is hiding the Dual Exhaust on TLX. It looks so sexy on the Accord Sport. I say wait for see what MMC brings to 2016 Accord Sport and then make a decision.

BTW, Drive Train losses in Accord Sport MT is only 10 HP and it is putting 179 HP to the wheels.

 

Very positive Fast Lane Car video review:

 

Automobile magazine review....

2016 Acura ILX Review

"....We set out on California’s Route 29 and quickly fell in love with the dual-clutch’s quick, imperceptible shifts under normal acceleration. Thanks to its torque converter -- absent in most dual-clutch transmissions -- the 8-speed transmission avoids the clunky low-speed performance common among other twin-clutch gearboxes.

When the roads got curvier, we shifted into the transmission’s sport mode, which keeps revs higher and shifts even more quickly. Above 4,000 rpm, the direct-injected 2.4-liter four-cylinder sang, and the new engine’s broader torque curve made the ILX feel responsive and energetic as we charged up hills and zinged toward the 6,800-rpm power peak. The dual-clutch executed perfectly timed downshifts under hard braking and always managed to be in the correct gear as we exited tight hairpins. Our speed continued to climb, and the telepathic transmission caught on, shifting so well that we stopped using the shift paddles on the steering wheel to up- and downshift....."

 

Probably few people would cross shop these two, but maybe some do? They actually are somewhat similar in terms price and performance. A 4-door GTI with the DCT and a back-up camera will run you about c. $29k msrp. And so in terms of price they're very close. In terms of acceleration to 60 they are not far off either, although probably the VW is a little faster.

The are some differences though. With its boxy design, which I actually appreciate, the GTI has more headroom. And because it's a hatchback, it also has more luggage room too.

But, when it comes to reliability, as almost any former VW owner like myself can tell you, there's really no comparison between a VW and a Honda/Acura.

Finally, the GTI now comes standard with "fake engine sound"! I'm not kidding. VW has a speaker in front and a processor called Soundaktor that fills the interior of the car full of synthesized engine noises that were prerecorded and are not made by the actual engine of the GTI. What a load of cra* imho.

The engine noise in an ILX, I think, is the real deal. The sweet sound of a VTEC engine is one of the pleasures of buying a Honda or Acura, because they seem happy to run.

 

just drove it. you guys are gonna freakin love it. so much fun. put it in sport mode and it caught me by surprise. my ONLY quibble is the strange design on the center stack.

 

So no more ELS Studio Premium Audio System???

 

^^
Comes with Tech Plus iirc...

 

Acura.com ? Official Home of Acura Cars and SUVs

You can now configure your own future ILX. Wonder which person here will be the first to own one?

As someone said, you can add XM even to the base model as a dealer accessory.

With Tech Plus you get the premium sound system:


Grammy® award-winning recording engineer and producer Elliot Scheiner helped design the Acura/ELS Surround®32 Premium Audio System to reproduce music the way it is heard in the recording studio. As a result, surround sound fills the car from any stereo digital source. In addition to all the source inputs of the standard ILX audio system, features of the Acura/ELS system include:

Touchscreen operation with primary functions operable from the steering wheel controls.
Dolby® Pro Logic® II circuitry to extract surround sound from any digital stereo source.
Hard disk drive memory (HDD) media storage with shuffle, playlist creation and an updatable Gracenote® database.
DVD-A, MP3- and WMA6-compatible disc player.
The ability to interface with the Pandora®45 application loaded onto a paired, compatible iPhone.
10 speakers, including one per door, two tweeters, one center mid-range, two rear surround, one powered 8-inch subwoofer.
USB7 Audio Interface for iPod®8 or flash drive allows full operation with the audio system controls.
SiriusXM® Satellite Radio4 and HD Radio®, both offering near-CD quality digital sound.
Bluetooth®11 streaming audio, plus Aha™ and Pandora®45 compatibility.
An auxiliary input jack plays content from personal music players incompatible with the USB jack.

 

The bodykit (aero) is an interesting look! It is hard to tell from the configurator but there appears to be a "black" section to it...different for sure.

 

Wow. Title of this thread says enough, based on the reviews that I've seen this car will certainly be a hit!! One of them even said that it was more or less a return to the first gen TSX.

 

I see it as maybe putting a little of the Integra back in, but with a new state of the art engine and transmission.

 

Panamera... That makes total sense when you think about it....A similar engine (HP), same size (more or less), better quality now (sound proofing)....This is almost what the 2G TSX should have been.

If the DCT works well in this car, it will be a great seller. I am still not 100% sold on which exterior styling I like best...pre MMC or post MMC, especially on the wheel department which in my case, makes the vehicle. I love the fact they made it quieter, added some equipment (like memory seating etc) and such...

Ironically, this is the first day I was made aware of that chrome trime on teh deck spoiler...that is a nice touch. The bodykit....not sure until I see on in person.

 

I like how many of the reviewers describe the 2016 ILX as being fun to drive. Seems like they tuned not just the engine and transmission, but also the suspension and steering, for how they might like to drive it. I'm looking forward to a test drive myself at some point.

 

Seems Acura is living up to their new marketing, where they claim to be going towards more sporty cars.

Brings up the question, how's the driving compare to the TLX? Reviewers did not gush about the handling on that car like they are on the ILX, but is that because the ILX competes with FWD A3/CLA and TLX competes with the 3-series, etc? Hard to say at this point I guess, but we know that the ILX lacks the P-AWS, yet is smaller and lighter. Would be an interesting comparo!

 

$35K for the A-SPEC and Tech package seems like a lot to me... don't get me wrong, it comes loaded with features but at that price you can get a TLX I4 Tech. I would have rather seen the top trim of the ILX around $32K to give it a little more separation from the TLX with similar equipment. Overall, I like the new look though. Assuming they have the DCT all squared away, it should be a good seller.

 

I don't think its a big deal. People who can't afford 35k will simply opt for less options. People who can will not want a base TLX that lacks those features. Its about choice and Acura is providing it. Plus, other makers have really significant overlap in prices, way worse than the 3k that Acura has with the TLX and ILX.

 

Yeah, I think the price is very reasonable in any trim. An Audi A3 with nav/metallic paint/18" wheels/heated seats/drivers assistance is $35,500 and lacks power, fog lights, and LED headlights to the ILX. The CLA is outrageous, and if you put the sport package, metallic paint, nav, heated leather seats and 18" wheels, the one I built was $42,000! Considering you can get a well equipped ILX for around $30k, I'd say pricing is good.

 

I'm sure this one like others is posted in the other thread, but here's a bit of another strong review from Road and Track:

"So, the ILX is more powerful, better looking, and more luxurious....the realignment of the ILX, heir to not only the TSX but also the legendary Integra, is what really gives us hope for the Acura brand."

First Drive: 2016 Acura ILX

 

"...If you’re looking for an entry-level sports sedan, you’ll definitely want to consider the 2016 ILX now. The new drivetrain has done wonders for Acura’s gateway vehicle, giving it adequate muscle to make a stand against the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA. The engine is potent and is definitely a throwback to Honda/Acura 4-cylinders of old that once powered vehicles like the Acura Integra and Honda Prelude.

Handling will also remind you a little of the brand’s sportier performers from the past, which should be music to a Honda/Acura fan’s ears."

2016 Acura ILX drive review | Autoweek

 

For me, perhaps the toughest competition for the 2016 ILX base would be the Accord EXL.

The Accord costs just $400 more, once you factor in destination. And usually, of course, you can get about $2-3k off list with an Accord. In 6 months that might be true of the 2016 ILX as well, and so let's assume that at some point roughly equal discounts will be available.

And, not surprisingly, for that for $400 you get some things on the Accord that you don't on the base ILX. Leather is one thing, although honestly it's not a big deal to me. But you also get XM and a nicer stereo seemingly with subwoofer. Plus you get all of the "Acura Watch" features, such as FCW, LDW, and also the side LaneWatch camera. And so really the competitor for the EXL Accord is really the Premium ILX—and that model at $29,900 costs c. $1500 more than the Accord EXL. And once you get to $30k msrp, well then the Accord EXL navi is right there at $30,195.

My wife has that model and it is a sweet car.

But getting down to brass tacks, what you're getting with the ILX is a better and sportier engine and esp. transmission, plus the weight loss of 200+ lbs. That's what takes you from a sprightly family sedan cruiser into sport sedan territory.

The ILX will not just be significantly faster, but seemingly a lot more fun to drive.

Plus, inside I assume some things will be nicer than the Accord, like the carpets, etc.

Finally, there will be something exclusive about an ILX. Even though I think it will be a big hit, at most there will likely be 30,000 of the 2016 ILX on the road a year from now, and by that time there will be about 1.2 million of this generation of Accord.

 

A loaded A3 1.8 is ~$42,000 and the loaded A3 2.0 is ~$45,000, so a loaded ILX is a steal of deal in comparison. And I agree, the prices for the CLA are even more outrageous.

 

You forgot to factor in the better warranties on the ILX, and typically a better dealership experience as well.