After getting bored with photo shopping the sedan, I decided to make a coupe. Several of them actually. I'll post Before and After Pictures.

**If Images Show up Dead or Broken, click on them anyway to see if it takes you to a new Window where they should load in Full Size. I hvae had that Issue before.**

Before:


After:


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Before:


After:


Recolors:









I Created the Above Using Microsoft Pain (Windows 7) and Gimp2.6.

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Jon Sibal's Acura ILX Coupe Rendering:



Let me know what you all think!

 

ehh, i believe acura is steering away from coupes.. last one that was created was the rsx and s2000.. dont think they are going to put another coupe unless its a nsx.

 

Not counting the Accord Coupe, Civic Coupe and CR-Z.

 

I think it's mostly just the economy, but with the Way Acura is headed -the whole tamed and Family oriented direction- I can agree sadly.

Its kinda dirty How Acura started out with something for everyone (Integra's to TL's to legends / Sporty compacts/ coupe'sandSedans to FlagShip Sedans) to this 'new' 'Acura' with nothing but sedans and big SUV's (That do kick some A$$). I think that Acura will bring Coupes other then the NSX back after they realize how much higher their sales could and should be. A No brainer would be a Acura ILX Coupe cause its a Civic and a Civic already has a Coupe Platform. Making it would be cheaper and easier to make!

 

But that's not how these cars are made. As noted the platform exists. It's the same chassis for the coupe and sedan. Since they'll need new sheetmetal tooling, the (additional) cost for a fourth body style is the same as the cost for the other three (Civic Coupe, Sedan and ILX). Can the sell enough to recoupe the cost in the 4 years left of this chassis?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a 2 door from Acura but I'm not sure what they could make that doesn't overlap something else. Currently all three car chassis' are already represented by coupe versions in CR-Z, Civic Coupe and Accord Coupe.

What I'd like to see is modern interpretation of the Toyota MR-2. Take a Civic Si FWD drivetrain (engine/transmission/LSD) and move the whole subframe to the rear. Move the IRS to the front and voila, you have an inexpensive MR car built with existing mechanicals. If you want to get really fancy, add some form of IMA to the front axle and you could have a poor mans NSX and an answer to the Toyobaru.

 

Sorry, this bugged me.

Are you saying bring the MR-2 back still under Toyota's Name? Why? Toyota Makes the BR-Z and FR-S I'm sure you already know. Why Would Toyota build something to compete with its self? Just cause the BR-Z has a Subi badge isnt enough to separate it from its identical Scion FR-S. Thats like chasing you tail, or shooting your own men on the battle field. Now if Honda wanted to compete with the FR-S and BR-Z, they would re-introduce the S2000. And if Honda wanted to make a poor mans NSX, they would recreate something like a Civic Del'Sol and just swap around the engine position(It's been done already actually.. Just not by Honda) and give it nothing close to the IMA(It's Earth Dreams BTW) tech in the real NSX cause thats way to expensive for a poor-man. Maybe the older SH-AWD with less sophistication, making it a tad better than the Current RDX's upscale-CR-V AWD.

And you said "Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a 2 door from Acura but I'm not sure what they could make that doesn't overlap something else. Currently all three car chassis' are already represented by coupe versions in CR-Z, Civic Coupe and Accord Coupe. " Are you Blind!?! Everything Acura MAkes OverLaps each other in most area's. The TSX V6 out performs the Base TL which is bigger but have the same poer trains. The RL and SH-AWD TL Over lap. The RDX and MDX used to Overlap, both having SH-AWD. The TSX and RSX Over lapped, TSX being bigger and just as fun and fast. If Acura wanted to not overlap, they would be extra sure not to. I doubt Acura is woried about Overlapping with Honda for some reason cause they arn't even the same segment and the Accord EX-L blow the ILX away in terms of quality and sportiness(When equipped with the V6).

About the cost, I'm sure Acura will get plenty of money out of the ILX Sedan as it was 4th(?) on the Days-to-Turn list taking the #8 Days spot. So its actually starting off hot to sell well and gathering Attention fast. And just to make it more Appealing, BR-Z and FR-S where one day ahead the ILX while the Veloster was rated at day 15. Even if Making the Coupe was a money hog for Acura, it would defiantly pay off if the set the trim levels right. (Allowing Navi on the 6Mt trim ect.)

Here is the proof.
http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...-vehicles.html

So Sorry to bite at you, I just don't see how the MR-2 vs FR-S is logical, let alone Acura not being able to sell a Coupe with Decent powertrains coming from Earth Dreams. -Which will be in the ILX soon, as the Civic will get them after its MMC next year-

 

I guess you know more than me.

 

Thanks, but are you sure? I talk more than whats possible or whats even planed. Sometimes its not even relevant or convenient. Boy I wish I was working in the Honda Model line up tho. But I also want to work in the Engeneering department. -I fear they will be leaving VTEC soon. :/ I want to stop that from even coming close to happening. But I have to wait another good 10 years. I'm Only 16. So I'm dreaming big.

 

Let me just say that if you're 16, I've been selling Acuras for as long as you've been alive. (I knew this day would come.... ) Between my wife and I we've had 3 Integra GS-Rs, 4 S2000s, a RSX, TSX and CR-Z. All with manuals. Prior to this I had a Corolla GT-S, Celica GT-S, MR-2 Supercharged and MR-2 Turbo. I know a little about cars and the car business.

Read what I wrote again. I was not saying to make a new MR-2 under the Toyota badge to compete with FRS. I was saying that Honda should do it as a way to make a reasonably priced RWD competitor to the Toyobaru twins. This is why I said to take the Si mechanicals. Does that make sense now?

As for your rant on overlap. IMO it's ok to overlap on mainstream products like sedans and SUVs, but the coupe market is so small already, you're slicing the pie too finely if there is too much overlap. Besides, once the price points get too high, nobody wants a FWD coupe from Acura. 2nd Gen Legends, and TWO generations of CL proved that. (note that I'm talking about sales not how much the internet loved it) Only the Integra coupe was ever a 'real' sales success and the Civic is covering that ground now. Thus why I said there is no room and a MR might kill two birds with one stone.

There were other things in your post that I don't have time to address....

 

I completely understand you now, thank you for clearing it up. And I guess I should have made it more clear that I was mostly talking RSX, Integra and Civic coupe sells when i said Acura could sell. -See it doesn't even make sense now but thats being a 16 yearold, and I apologize now.

But due to my opinion.. I don't think that Honda's Competitor to the FR-S and BR-Z and such should be MR. Rather it be FR like the FR-S, as thats a similar set-up to make it more comparable. Now thats on the Honda Side.

I suggest using the CR-Z as a base and get rid of the sharp hatch back shape for something closer to the ILX's or the 2012 Honda City (Who going across seas now) just so it has a mix of the S2000 and current Honda. As far as what makes the power could be interesting, a new(ED) 2.7L 50 degree V6 with VTEC on both Intake and Exhaust valves, along with VCM and Direct Injection and a Dual/Multi Air Intake and Variable intake manifolds for Max torque at RPM's below 5,000 and Max Power over 6,500. Since I like the way it all sounds, i'll even through in that it makes it all happen under 7,600 Rpm's. (277hp@7,100 /241lb-ft@4,100) All squirting through a 6 Speed DSG or Manual to the Rear only. So as you can see, i have quite a wish list and most likely a unpleasing one that most others wouldn't like to have or see ever come true. I wouldn't exactly call this one a S2000 as it might ruin the name with the V6 in place of the I4 but who knows what this could be named.

About the ILX, I think the FWD should only be offered with the Sedan along with the RDX's AWD system. For the Coupe you could chose between RWD or RDX's AWD. Of course this is all raising prices, plus that pretty little 2.4L Direct Injection engine isn't cheap either. And then you I have this Touring pkg that adds Dual Exhaust, Navi and alot more tech you would find from the new Accord (New Accord is causing this all btw). So if I somehow ever get this plans to take off, a Base ILX sedan would cost 27K+ and Coupe would be 28K pushing. Which are way over the Gen y's price limit, but lower than the few competitors. :/ Gah It's rough but I bet the reward is great after its fixed perfectly. Sorry to spill this all on you.. eh. I like discussing it though.

 

2015 Acura ILX Coupe is Dead

Just the Facts:

A coupe version of the ILX sedan was part of the original product plan for the new nameplate.
Slow sales of the ILX sedan make the coupe a less likely addition.
An Acura official refused to comment on any future product plans.

TORRANCE, California — Last year's launch of the 2013 Acura ILX sedan has consumers asking the next logical question — when will we see an ILX coupe?

The answer is, disappointingly, probably never.

Considering the ILX is based on the Honda Civic, which is available in sedan and coupe body styles, and given Acura's history with the Integra and RSX coupes, this will surprise many. Not to mention that prior to the launch of the ILX, Honda officials hinted to Edmunds that a coupe version of the ILX was in the works.

But plans change and as tempting as an ILX coupe might be to Acura enthusiasts, slow sales of the ILX sedan may have already sunk the coupe's chances for production. Sales have already fallen below projections and Honda has reduced output of the ILX to concentrate on Civic production, which occurs at the same assembly plant.

When asked to comment on the current possibility of an ILX coupe, Acura Public Relations Manager Chuck Schifsky responded, "We do not comment on future product or our product planning process for potential models."

The return of an entry-level Acura coupe has been anticipated ever since the RSX ceased production in 2006. And of course every hard-core sport compact enthusiast out there wants Acura to revive the Type R name, which has become a performance legend. The high-performance Acura Integra Type R was built in very small numbers from 1995-2000 (and sold in the U.S. from 1997-2001), and is still considered by many to be the best hot hatch ever created.

But 1st Acura needs to figure out the small premium sedan segment, which is about to become a war zone with the introductions of the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA250 and the Audi A3.

Edmunds says: It's an unlikely addition given the sedan's current weakness, but an ILX coupe would still go a long way toward injecting some excitement into Acura's lineup.

 

Acura frustrates me. Alot.

 

I totally agree with you!

There are so many missed opportunities.

First, the RLX (which should have looked much more stunning and upscale than it does now), and now the ILX fiasco. They truly did not go all out on the ILX but they really should have - Acura probably thought that whatever engine they put in there was "good enough" but then they were WRONG. That thing was so underpowered that the sales were much worse than they had anticipated. I guess the sales were so weak that the coupe is now dead. And ironically, the ILX coupe, with the properly powered engine, could have done great business for Acura. How many lessons does it take for Acura to learn???

Now I have my doubts about the TLX.... I'll bet you it's boring and plain as heck, just like the RLX!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Is there some kind of protest/ riot/ union anything we can creat and try to wake Acura up?

I understand all of their focus is probably going into China ATM as they want to start marketing there and probably feel like they could design their cars how ever they want and know they will sell cause the Chinese like that kind of stuff.. That or they are focusing all their efforts and money on the new NSX (still) and the up coming TLX..

Where is that 2Bill Honda is giving over to them at? I hope we see it else where other than on the NSX..



I go a long way, and way over my head when saying this.. but I feel like I could 'fix' Acura if I was able to take full control for just one day, assuming they would continue the 'planner' I leave for them.

 

I think everyone feels that they could run the company better, but see we're not privy to the numbers behind the decisions. They're a lot of factors that determine corporate strategy and, at the end of the day, Acura has a board to report to.

 

I think the point is they're delivering what they think people want VS actually listening to people who buy Acuras and it's hurting them lol

 

Well they just put navi in the 2.4 6MT ILX for 2014.. It's called the ILX "Dynamic" Pkg.

So far its only on the Canada website.

 

That has to be one of the funniest things I've read all year. I understand your frustration (trust me), but I'm under no illusion that I can fix the Acura product. You're talking a mega-million dollar corporation here.....
While we all have things we'd personally like to see happen, there is much more to implementing decisions than just wanting.

On a side note, I'm glad that they put the NAV in for the 2.4 version, this really increases the chances of me getting one. I just hope that package makes it to the US.

 

I am sure the engineers at Honda have our dream cars in mind.. it's the accounting team that is holding that back.

 

Obviously it's not in the plans for 2014. Maybe they'll add it for '15? Then again, if they add it and raise the price $2000, people will still complain.

They've never done this but I wonder if they could announce something like "for 2013 the MT will only be paired with Premium because there isn't enough volume for two trim levels in a manual, but for 2014 we will switch production to Tech models for customers wanting Navi and ELS. Production can alternate back to Premium trims for 2015 and Navi for 2016 depending on demand"

 

Yea, they should do that. I mean how much harder is it to have the production line put a manual trans / drivetrain in the car. I can see it being difficult / not cost effective in situations where you get really bespoke with cars by adding alternate trims, options, etc....I don't see how they can say that because of volume, we can't make that configuration available. I mean the Verano has way more potential configurations and they seem to have no issue delivering on customer needs.

 

Well, apparently it's very hard. If Buick wants to make more configurations of the car then they probably should and happen to go bankrupt in the process, I guess they can rely on the US government to bail them out. Honda's philosophy is to be fiscally responsible.

I believe that I've done the "volume math" before but just in case please feel free to play along at home in the studio audience. If the ILX sells a total of 30,000 cars per year in north America and 5% of these are manual transmissions, that is only 1500 cars per year. This is about 125 cars per month. divide this by 260 dealers in the country and you are left with less than one car per dealer per month. This is before you even begin to factor in color selection.

Even if you decide to increase the percentage of manual transmission cars purchased to 10%, it's still barely one car per dealer per month. Again, before you factor in color choice.

It is possible that if they were to add the 2.4 L to the automatic transmission that the total production numbers will go up. What is uncertain is whether the slice of the pie that is manual transmissions will also increase. Most likely it will slightly but the big advantage would be higher economies of scale which might allow them to absorb more of a loss on the manual transmissions to add additional choice. In my opinion, this is a big "if" and with the Civic (also built on the same assembly line) going full speed, it might be difficult to increase ILX production significantly anyway.