We Three Acuras Of Orient Are (Not Entirely)

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

Acura has confirmed three debuts for the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, ranging from the completely cynical to the terminally hopeful.

First off, there’s going to be a revised RDX. Not a surprise, since the RDX is a CR-V under the skin and there’s a new one of those. Next, we have the “ILX”. Hard-core Acura fans will recall that Acura has sold a variant of the Civic sedan in Canada for quite some time, starting with the 1.8 EL and continuing even unto the third generation with the outgoing CSX, which barely differs from the Civic EX sedan. The ILX will be a new Acura Civic with a twist: the IMA mild-hybrid system will be available for the first time. Autoblog explains that the ILX will compete with the BMW 1 Series. This is fantasy of a sort that would make H. Rider Haggard blush. Also of interest: the ILX will be built at Honda’s Indiana plant.

Last and certainly not least, there will be a new NSX “concept”. Typically, Honda’s idea of a concept is a production car with shiny paint and no license-plate frame, so if the NSX is in concept stage, that’s a very good thing. Honda’s focus on sustainability, green credentials, and so on suggest that the new NSX won’t take the fight to the 458 Italia the way its predecessor did to the Ferrari 348, but we can hope, right?

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

More by Jack Baruth

Comments
Join the conversation
16 of 94 comments
  • Acuraandy Acuraandy on Dec 13, 2011

    Great...corporate didn't tell us the ILX was supposed to be a hybrid. Now I need hybrid training? UGH.... I'm thinking its time for me to change industries.

  • Amendment X Amendment X on Dec 13, 2011

    Ok, I'm in full agreement that the current alphabet-soup naming scheme adopted by the luxury auto companies is completely moronic. But can we stop bitching about this for just a second? It's pretty clear, names aside, that the ILX is the new Integra. If it's a small sporty car based on the Civic, then it's picking up where the Integra left off. Forgetting about the name for just a second, this should be exciting to Integra fans (assuming Honda doesn't make it look like the ZDX or some other hideous Acura design). It's nice to see that Honda is finally learning that they can't compete with the big boys until they start at the ground-level compact premium luxury segment, which ironically, they were doing when they used to build the Integra.

    • See 2 previous
    • Amendment X Amendment X on Dec 13, 2011

      @mnm4ever If they're making it a 1-series competitor, it's not going to be a Civic with leather interior. I'd expect much more, even from Honda. And regarding the name, although this is completely anecdotal, I think I heard that Acura couldn't secure the naming rights to "CSX" in the United States because of the CSX railway company.

  • Tubacity Tubacity on Dec 13, 2011

    Not solved. Someone claimed , "The faulty automatic transmissions affected 1999-04 Hondas and Acuras equipped with a V-6 engine. The torque converters on 2005-07 Odyssseys were also problematic, but this can supposedly be solved with a software upgrade. At this point, the transmission problems are solved." Not true. I have a 1999-04. Shifts funkier by the day. Already trans replaced before. Not solved. Software upgrade to 05-07 Odyssey often does not solve the problem. Problem not solved.

    • See 8 previous
    • Acuraandy Acuraandy on Dec 14, 2011

      @acuraandy Sorry to hear that. I guess i've just been lucky so far. My Accord has 187k on original trans, my bro's Civic around 100k. And no, on MDX and Odyssey it was originally a programming fubar. Unfortunately, if the damage is already done, its done. As with ANY car, if you can help it, get a manual trans. Far less issues.

  • Zone Zone on Dec 14, 2011

    @ jmo: "Autoblog explains that the ILX will compete with the BMW 1 Series. This is fantasy of a sort that would make H. Rider Haggard blush. It will among the folks who think that reliability is the only criteria when buying a car." IF I had unlimited finances I'd have several cars. But the one I can afford has to be one that "does it all." As in an interesting design, good performance, good handling, nice interior, and EXCELLENT RELIABILITY. To me, nothing give me buyers-remorse more than having to talk to some dealership service manager because of a problem with my car - and everything that goes along with it to get it repaired. 1-Series is a nice car, but yeah, I'm starting to really question BMW's, Audi's and VW's record of reliability. Can this Acura compete - well let's first see it at DAS and see what it looks like and take it from there.

Next