Detroit Auto Show: Honda Announces Next Fit and Acura TLX: Comments

[William Maley]

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Honda is the latest automaker to announce their showings for next month's Detroit Auto Show. The company will be showing off the next Fit while Acura will be revealing a prototype of the new TLX, a model that will take the place of the TL and TSX.

First up is the 2015 Honda Fit. Honda says the new model will retain the same innovative floorplan that allows for a huge cargo area while featuring a new set of technologies. Under the skin will be the brand's EarthDreams powertrain technologies and Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure.

Honda also revealed that the 2015 Fit will be made at a brand-new factory in Celaya, Mexico for the North American market.

Meanwhile at Acura, they'll show off a prototype of the upcoming TLX sedan. The TLX is the next step in the automaker's plan to create a three-level sedan lineup, with the ILX as the base and the RLX as the flagship. The TLX will take the place of two Acura sedans, the TSX and TL.

"This all-new Acura TLX is the perfect blend of style and muscle with its elegant, well-proportioned exterior that cloaks the true sport sedan chassis and powertrain beneath. The sporty characteristics that customers found appealing in the TSX are even more pronounced in this aggressive new TLX," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda Motor, Co., Inc.

The TLX will have two different engines and drivetrain choices. Production of the TLX will begin in the second half of the year.

Source: Honda, Acura

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.

Press Releases are on Page 2

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Honda to Debut All-New 2015 Fit at North American International Auto Show

Big news in the New Year for the subcompact-car segment with the introduction of a from-the ground-up more advanced, refined and fun-to-drive Honda Fit

TORRANCE, Calif. – Dec. 19, 2013 – Honda will take the wraps off the all-new 2015 Fit at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 13. Honda will showcase significant advancements designed to further extend Fit's status as the benchmark vehicle in the subcompact-car class.

The 2015 Fit builds on the current model's innovative packaging, flexible cargo capability and fun-to-drive character with spirited new styling, an even more spacious and refined interior packed with leading-edge connected car technologies. The third generation Fit is set to offer enhanced fuel-efficiency and performance courtesy of its all-new platform and Earth Dreams Technology powertrain. Equipped with the Honda-exclusive next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, the new Fit is also anticipated to earn class-leading safety ratings.

John Mendel, executive vice president of automobile sales for American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will introduce the 2015 Fit at the company's press conference, which also will be broadcast live via webcast at http://hondanews.com/live/2014naias-honda (link will be live Jan. 13).

Named a Car and Driver '10-Best' vehicle every model year since its introduction to the U.S. market for 2007, the Fit remains one of the best-selling Honda vehicles globally, with cumulative worldwide sales of 4.87 million units1. The Fit is manufactured at ten locations around the world and sold in 123 countries. The new U.S.-market Fit will be produced for the first time in North America at an all-new plant in in Celaya, Mexico.

2015 Acura TLX Prototype to Debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show

- Newly-named TLX will feature more dynamic and sporty proportions, two new advanced powertrains and a host of signature Acura technologies

- TSX to be discontinued as Acura creates clear hierarchy for luxury sedan lineup

TORRANCE, CA., Dec. 19, 2013 – Acura today announced that the 2015 Acura TLX Prototype performance luxury sedan will debut at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. The TLX will mark the debut of a new name for Acura's mid-size modern luxury sedan entry, replacing the outgoing TL model. The all-new model will feature more emotional styling with tidier, sports sedan proportions wrapped around two all-new advanced powertrains that provide even more athletic performance, along with a host of signature Acura technologies. The 2015 TLX Prototype is designed to appeal to current and next-generation luxury sports sedan buyers including existing TL and TSX customers.

In conjunction with the launch of the production TLX in the second half of next year, Acura will discontinue sales of the TSX model in 2014, as it moves to clarify its sedan lineup with a clear hierarchy of three distinct models – the entry luxury ILX, mid-size TLX sports sedan, and flagship RLX performance sedan.

"This all-new Acura TLX is the perfect blend of style and muscle with its elegant, well-proportioned exterior that cloaks the true sport sedan chassis and powertrain beneath," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president, American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. "The sporty characteristics that customers found appealing in the TSX are even more pronounced in this aggressive new TLX."

The all-new Acura TLX will offer luxury buyers a wider range of choices with two all-new, high-performance and highly fuel-efficient direct-injected engines, each mated to an all-new advanced transmission, along with available two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. The TLX will also feature dynamic and emotional exterior styling wrapped around a mid-size luxury sports-sedan package that maintains the roomy cabin space of the current TL.

The TLX Prototype was designed in Acura's Los Angeles Design Studio and the production model is being developed by Acura engineers at the company's Ohio R&D center. It will be produced at the Marysville, Ohio auto plant1, home to the current Acura TL.

Speaking at the Acura press conference at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 14, 2014 will be Mike Accavitti, senior vice president, American Honda Motor, Co., Inc.

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[G. David Felt]

Acura needs so much help in style it will be interesting to see what they do.

In regards to the FIT, a New updated model could not come soon enough for this overly hard plastic ugly little monster. The inside is as bad as the style on the outside.

I still do not see why people want the Fit when they at least in Seattle are always fully loaded and cost more than a civic and yet are so much smaller.

[ocnblu]

Be slightly interesting to see what the new Fit is like. We've seen the JDM version, and in the yellow teaser shot, it appears there will be differences for North America (thankfully).

[Drew Dowdell]

Acura still has no direction at all.

[ocnblu]

I want to see the new Fit-based crossover in production US trim. If it is as athletic and well-planted as the concept version, I'm going to like it. Unless it has a mandatory CVT, then it will be ugly.

[smk4565]

Acura should make a version of the Fit, they can call it FLX or maybe FIX or FAX.