Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Acura Tweaking The ILX To Provide Better Value

      The Acura ILX will be getting more value in the future.

    By William Maley

    Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

    January 9, 2013

    The Acura ILX hasn't been the success that the company has hoped for. Acura only sold 12,251 ILXs in 2012, which is way off the 30,000 goal they had set for the year. Acura admits this freely.

    “(The ILX is) not hitting our sales expectations. Consumers have told us they like the 2.4L and they wish they had an automatic, but they say the midrange vehicle is underpowered and they don’t see the value in it.” American Honda President John Mendel said to reporters at November’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

    The ILX comes in three different variations: a base 2.0L with an automatic transmission, a 2.4L with a six-speed manual, and a 1.5L hybrid model with a continuously variable transmission.

    This isn't the first mistake Acura has made with the ILX. Reviewers have complained that 2.4L doesn't offer the technology package that brings such features as navigation while the 2.0L and Hybrid offer it.

    “We’re doing some value enhancements on the car. We’re planning some as we go forward. But I think, overall, we have a good plan for ILX. It is bringing in buyers to Acura we had wanted, as in first-time luxury (buyers) or move-ups," Mendel said.

    Hopefully those enhancements include an automatic and a tech package for the 2.4L.

    Source: Wards Auto

    William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Offering the 2.4 liter ILX in the USA, or any 4-door passenger car for that matter, w/o an automatic transmission in the USA is moronic. 90% of the driver's can't drive a manual in this country!

    • Agree 3
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    ILX is not a TSX likely because the TSX chassis was too expensive, they wanted to cheapen it.

    I am slightly flabberghasted still at Honda's lack of turbo offings in the market. They dumped it on the RDX. Which for that was fine. But the ILX should have a turbo mill, i think. It's sorta expected in the lux market.

    BUT zOMG I BET IT HAS VTEC!!!!!

    Honda wanted the 2.0 as typical to keep mpg up and distance it from the TSX, which is not a heckuva lot larger.

    Honda, how about return to this for Acura.

    Integra

    Vigor

    Legend

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    It's amusing how surprised Honda is when they introduce ugly, uncompetitive vehicles and then they don't sell. I haven't driven an ILX, but I was not impressed when I sat in one.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Civic Si with the 2.4L doesn't come with an automatic either but you can get NAV. The upgraded trim, sound deadening and removal of sport suspension are not worth an extra 5 grand.



    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Word to the wise from your resident Acura dude...just because articles come out using quotations from Acura about changing things, then not, then yes again but other stuff, doesn't necessarily mean so.

    There has been chatter about the 2.0L for a while, Acura included. But it performs well in the car and would simply be even better with another gear, and direct injection. As is, peppy, efficient, and Honda smooth best describe it. I've not had any complaints about a lack of power from my clients considering or driving them. The car is smoother and quieter in ways than the larger TSX, but back to back where the TSX has a sport edge and firmer, communicative feel and more power (a few Acura drivers comparing have said "it's more BMW like" as the best way to explain), the ILX is softer and not as edgy.

    The TSX is going to remain, even as the price point of ILX to TSX causes confusion. The ILX should be just a bit less. The TSX is an upgrade in vehicle, but also very expensive to build and ship over from Japan...Acura's main issue with it right now. Lots of possibilities here.

    It's been an interesting car, just so new it has to catch traction. There is always room for advancement and adding features, updating powertrains, etc. but that's a good thing. To say the 2.0L will go away or was a mistake, that the 2.4L will be standard, etc. are just not correct yet. Intelligent blabber by Honda and writers to perk up peoples ears a bit.

    In the past month the ILX has caught nice traction, more so than before, part due to even more attractive leases and part them being on road. Hope to see it continue to advance, and it will. Not an issue like the 2012 Civic, by any means.

    We shall see. Watch and wait. Fun little car. Not necessarily what all previous larger Acura vehicle owners would expect or take to, but is getting new people from other brands into the brand.

    As for Turbo, not saying its a bad thing, but there are better options available and mainly by way of direct injection and newer transmissions. Turbos aren't for everyone and although our past RDX clients like them, the turbo surge and lower fuel economy of the last one weren't right for all. Too much for a smaller car, I think, that 2.3L at least.

    Edited by caddycruiser
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Last rumor I've heard included dropping the 2.0L so that the 2.4L is standard across the board, and the base model with a $26795 MSRP will remain but drop the cloth/manual driver's seat and get the leather and power seat from the 2nd model up standard.

    We'll see. Now that its rated 35 mpg with the 2.0L, the ratings will need to drop if the engine does get bigger. Acura/Honda at least wait until very late to release details, and then the cars go on sale days to weeks after, right away or soon after. Wish other makers did that.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Who said Germans don't have a sense of humor? Happy Sunday.
    • @Robert Hall  Thank you.  There is now some "advertising" in hotel websites calling out a "laptop safe" when it's bigger than a regular one.  What is really off-putting is when it's a brand of hotels that should have in-room safes ... and they don't.  Or, worse yet, when the description shows that there is a safe and, then, it's not there because the website description hasn't been updated: they're either transitioning to another model or they've removed them altogether. 
    • When I've traveled for work in recent years, I keep my laptop with me in my backpack usually, since I'm traveling between the hotel and the office..sometimes I'll leave it in the room when I go out for dinner or drinks after work for a few hours.    Haven't seen a hotel room safe big enough for a laptop.   A couple times in the past when I've had a laptop on vacation, I put the backpack in the trunk of my car if I'm going out of the hotel for all day or something.   My most recent vacation/road trip I only took my iPad, less bulky than my laptop... I'd put my wallet and iPad in the room safe when I'd walk down to the beach w/ my phone. 
    • If you are in a hotel and there is a (laptop) safe in the room, you'd probably use it for your laptop if leaving the room and/or hotel for a while. If you are in a hotel without one, what do you do (with your laptop)?  I often have them pass on room service ... that's for sure.  It would be beneficial for some of you to weigh in.
    • Random thoughts: Saw many German imports sporting medium enamel grey exteriors with darker red leather interiors in affluent desert communities and this combination looks nice. Was following a recent Dodge Challenger on the freeway tonight and I love that rear light bar, so I think it's the best looking of the 3 pony car rehashes. Saw an immaculate black 2007 or 2008 Cadillac DTS on the freeway tonight and they still look good, even timeless. I happened onto a dog video last night and it had "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan in it.  I read about him and he once ran a "Dog Psychology Center."  Ha. He does not have a degree in psychology, animal husbandry, or anything.  Then, L.A. douchebag groupthink shines through.  The list of celebs who used him (one refers or copies another celeb) is lengthy.  Remember when celebs were snapping up Priuses, almost as if to make a statement? About 40% of my music collection consists of African-American artists. I  notice this as I surf Bluetooth. Some of my friends joke that I was Black in a previous life.  Come on.  Some white artists - even hard rockers - are more starched than many Black artists ... smooth, earthy, sassy, passionate, gravelly, and/or powerful ... that's what I like in music and they put out some great musical tracks.   Happy Friday.
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search