Acura Drops 2.0L Engine For ILX As Sales Lag

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Acura’s ILX is 2/3rds of the way to hitting its 30,000 unit annual sales target, and the brand is hoping that the discontinuation of the base car’s 2.0L engine will help kickstart sales.

John Mendel, Executive Vice-President of American Honda, admitted that the 2.0L was “underpowered” and that the ILX “is not hitting sales expectations”.

Automotive News reports that the ILX is lagging behind competitors like the Buick Verano, Volkswagen CC and Audi A4 – not to mention the larger Acura TSX, which the ILX is supposed to replace. Acura will re-jig the lineup, adding an automatic transmission to the 2.4L model at an undisclosed date, while axing the 2.0L motor. Which begs the question…why not just keep the TSX around to begin with?

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Gasser Gasser on Dec 12, 2012

    Honda is managing to kill off Acura. Why they thought a fancy interior could move a Civic up to the luxury class with the ILX is beyond me. The 2.4 l with the five speed auto won't do it either. I've had this drivetrain in two Accords of the past decade and this engine/tranny is good but now outdated. Acura must be able to offer a superior product to justify a premium price. A bit of chrome and leather seats don't translate to $5K or more for me. A Verano equipped a bit less than loaded and with a nice discount looks more appealing to me than the ILX

  • Richard Richard on Dec 12, 2012

    Just turned in my daughters 10 Civic EX-L nav for a ILX tech auto. $14 a month more than 13 EX-L Nav Civic. No Brainer. Salesperson presented the ILX to us a a fancy Civic. That's why the car isn't selling.Acura should train their dealers how to markeease don't but the car it deserves at least that. If they sold it as a $10000 alternative to a 3 series. IS 250, or A4 they would have sold more. Once a car gets in the hands of the dealers they usually screw it up, also the guys in the AD Agencys never sold a car. LEASE DON'T BUY RESIDUALS RULE

    • See 4 previous
    • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Dec 13, 2012

      @28-Cars-Later "So did you call the previous Audi A4 a German Cimmaron? How about the previous Audi A6? Or the Lexus ES? Or the Lexus RX? Or the Acura TL? Or the TSX? Integra? " Cimmaron by definition was a quickly put together J-body clone with a revised front/back end with a slightly more refined interior and a different engine option sold as a premium model. Sharing engineering isn't necessary cloning which is what some of those models do, but if you meet the prerequisites of Cimmaron, I will call you as such. ES/RX/Avalon are very similar but each car differentiates itself from its cousins by look and styling, TL much the same vs Accord. Integra was based on the Civic but by gen 2 it was a different kind of car than its cousin, and it was still built in Japan (at least in the mid 90s). TSX isn't sold here, its a European import, no different than Ford importing its European models for sale here. I can't really speak for Audi because I'm not knowledgeable enough regarding VAG's model lineup. But ILX, this is fitting into Cimmaron criteria. Hastily put together: unclear but possible Existing lesser model: check Revised front/rear fascia: check Revised interior: check Slightly different engine: check

  • Boxofrain Boxofrain on Dec 13, 2012

    I can't figure out the decision making process when it comes to how these packages are offered. No Tech Package on the top of the line model? Here in Canada the previous model, a CSX, which was was only offered in four door despite the Civic offering a two door also, I believe came standard with leather and the Tech package. Now they want $28,000 for 150 HP engine and cloth seats. No manual if you want one, which the smaller engine could use. Why not offer manual and auto choices on both engines? I know many people who will not look at a manual, and they are harder to sell privately. Why give up the business? Let the consumer make the choice. The 2013 Accord Sport seems like a better deal. More room, looks nice in person, 40 extra HP with the latest drivetrain. Same price.

    • Wsn Wsn on Dec 13, 2012

      By your logic, not a single VW new Beetle or Mini Cooper can be sold. You would be able to find many cars that are roomier, faster, more reliable and cheaper at the same time.

  • EChid EChid on May 15, 2013

    Woah, just noticed this: the Canadian configurator for the Acura ILX has been updated for the 2014 and now contains just one model, the Dynamic. For 2014 you can now only get the ILX with the 2.4l, 6-speed manual powertrain (no auto, no smaller engine) BUT the price went up a touch and it now comes standard with the Tech package (i.e. nav, upgraded audio, etc.). Price is up $1500 from the 2013 Dynamic (explained by the new presence of nav and the improved ELS audio) AND lower than the 2013 Tech's price (which came with the 2.0 only). You would think this would absolutely murder any sales the car was getting in the country. Possibly indicative of how few wanted the 2.0 and how many Dynamic buyers wanted nav. Still, with exactly the same featureset and powertrain this car is $8k cheaper than the TSX.

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