Rocky ILX launch has Acura execs plotting quick changes

[2.0tspeed]

Rocky ILX launch has Acura execs plotting quick changes
Automotive News
December 10, 2012
by Mark Rechtin

Acura sales are climbing again after last year's earthquake-caused inventory crisis, but the launch of the ILX compact sedan has been a disappointment for Honda's premium brand.

Now Acura is planning a powertrain change for the ILX and will highlight technical features on the RLX flagship sedan due next spring as part of a strategy to return brand sales to the 200,000 level.

The ILX "is not hitting its sales expectations," said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president.

The ILX is based on the Honda Civic platform. And although some Audis borrow from Volkswagen and some Lexus models take from Toyota, the ILX's roots may be a bit too evident against the BMW 1 series and Lexus CT 200h.

The car was meant eventually to replace the aging, slightly larger TSX. But November was only the second time since the May introduction of the less-expensive ILX that it outsold the TSX, which is still going strong.

The ILX is being outsold by the Buick Verano, Volkswagen CC and Audi A4, though it has an edge on the CT 200h and the outgoing Audi A3.

Last month Acura sold 2,108 ILXs, compared with sales of 3,574 Veranos, 3,343 A4s and 2,197 CCs.

Full article at link.

[Ammo]

This car desperately needs a better powertrain, transmission, and the LED accent treatment. IMO it should use the Earth Dreams engine and CVT found in the Accord.

This is more of a pipe dream than anything, but SH-AWD would make it a winner.

I'm glad Honda is seeing where the mark is being missed and is changing some things.

[CrunkedRL]

This news was no surprise to me, as some of the changes made on the 2013 Civic actually makes it look more upscale than the ILX...which in current guise was only slightly better looking than the Civic from the start. The anemic paltry powertrain is a good place to start, but some exterior/interior upgrades are really needed IMHO to put the ILX on the radar of those shopping for premium compacts. The first gen TSX should've been the benchmark that Honda used for developing the ILX. Albeit conservative on the outside the first gen TSX had the right amount style, comfort, and performance.

[Quixote88]

While a decent car on its own, the ILX has the major problem of one of its main competitors, the Buick Verano, being both less expensive and a better overall car... The only thing that has held the Verano "down" in sales so far is the "Buick" nameplate. There are still hundreds of thousands of buyers who may be considering a car in this segment who still see "Buick" as being only for their grandparents. Fortunately for Buick, that perception is changing, slowly but surely.

[prowlerjc]

Ugly car with an ugly name.

[Envoy4Life]

No surprise. The car isn't special in one way.

[ponchoman49]

The 2.4 should have been the only engine from the start from the new Accord. Proof that not everything put out by the Asian marques isn't an instant home run.

[skylark68]

Looks like something Infiniti might have discarded 5 years ago as a potential replacement for the old G20.

[megeebee]

There isn't one thing wrong with the ILX that a complete re-design wouldn't cure.


This and the RLX display Acura Designers' recent obsession with desperate metal-bending across the upper body.

[johnstarnes]

I like how it looks.

[yamahr1]

Ugly car with an ugly name.

And that's one of the more flattering pictures of it I've seen at the head of this article. On the road, it just looks wrong.

[germeezy1]

Strangely the roar from those who were adamant that the Verano is a failure in the making is strangely silent.

[cdp326]

They could have said sales would go up when the TSX is discontinued. But right now the pricing puts the car at a disadvantage even before you compare it to anything. $26k to start, it's not a great value and it's not especially efficient (24/35), and tends to not be any more quicker. Whether you compare it to "mainstream" loaded compacts like a Focus Titanium, "premium" compacts like Verano, or midsize sedans like Honda's own Accord, there's not really a compelling reason to choose it. They struck a pretty good balance between limiting build varieties and offering choices on the Verano. Further, Buick seems to have a more attractive lease program.

From day 1 the powertrain setup was odd. "Earth Dreams" will be in all Honda products eventually; right now the ILX 2.4 is a little lighter and quicker than the original 2004 TSX, and adjusted for inflation a 2004 TSX would be more today ($32k) than an ILX 2.4...but between automatic models the TSX still had a 2.4 to the ILX's 2.0, and the TSX was bigger inside. The TSX was smaller than an Accord for the same money/more, but it was sportier too and didn't really give up any features. ILX isn't really sportier than a Civic on which it's based, and it's a hefty premium to pay for the extra features that even an Accord now offers for less. "Some people don't want a big car/want a well-appointed small car" isn't enough when there are other well-equipped small cars for less than the ILX.

[Orbit Orange]

Rocky 41 is out? Stallone loves cranking out this series of movies. Does he fight from a walker in this one?

[Quixote88]

Rocky 41 is out? Stallone loves cranking out this series of movies. Does he fight from a walker in this one?

Maybe I'm too many years out of grade school, but wouldn't 41 be transcribed as "XLI" in Roman numerals?