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2016 Acura ILX First Drive [w/video]

Luxury carmakers love getting 'em when they're young. Sure, it takes older, well-heeled buyers to move high-margin flagships like S-Classes, 7 Series, and LSes, but to borrow from the late, great Ms. Houston, the children are the future – specifically, the ones buying entry-level sleds like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA. Since youthful buyers tend to cultivate lifelong patterns of loyalty (and thus, spending), Acura has invested effort in shoving its entry-level ILX into more upmarket territory. "The ILX was originally conceived during the recession," one Acura executive admitted during the launch of the facelifted 2016 model, conceding that the original compact sedan's priorities were biased towards economy, not plushness. Because Acura originally didn't see the $30,000-ish competitors from Audi and Mercedes coming, they didn't think twice about equipping the base, prior-gen ILX with rather uninspired styling and a meager 150-horsepower engine, the combination of which made it more of a glorified Honda Civic than a contender for European power players. What's an aspiring Japanese automaker to do in 2015's golden age of affordable luxury? If you're Acura, you scramble to release a mid-cycle upgrade to elevate the ILX's status. Upmarket Moves: Fresher Skin And A Friskier Soul With its ho-hum sheet metal, the outgoing ILX simply couldn't stand up to its more crisply styled competitors. The 2016 model comes to the rescue by adding Acura's signature "Jewel Eye" row of LED headlights, which joins a reworked grille and fascia to form a more aggressive front end that's been moved lower and wider. A redesigned rear deck incorporates new LED taillamps, while the ILX's proportions now boast a more hunkered-down stance. The look is sexier (especially thanks to those glimmering headlights), though the stodgy, Buick-like character line and rear haunches remain. Inside, a new multimedia and navigation system brings a level of modernity to the cabin, with an eight-inch upper display and seven-inch lower touchscreen gracing Premium and Tech Plus models. A multi-view rear camera is standard on all ILXs, and the Premium gets a seven-speaker sound system while the Tech Plus receives a 10-speaker ELS premium audio setup. Acura's new Navi link feature enables iPhones to display navigation functionality on the car's screen using a $99 cable kit and a $60 app, offering an affordable way to know where you're going. The kit was not available on the models we drove.

Five signs Honda cares about enthusiasts, again

It's a great time to be an enthusiast. From high-horsepower Hellcats to the purist BRZ, engaging automobiles are found in nearly every segment of the market. Everyone wants to join the performance parade. Everyone it seemed, but Honda. The company that built some of Formula One's most successful engines, helped launch the tuner market and gave the world a seminal supercar, has watched competitors of all stripes surge by it for the hearts, minds and dollars of enthusiasts. Until now. Honda put the rest of the auto world on notice at the New York Auto Show, revealing a jaw-dropping Civic concept, confirming the Type R will come to the United States and even adding a hatchback to the 2016 Civic line. Throw in the Acura NSX and much-improved ILX for Honda's luxury sibling, and it's undeniable the company is regaining its swagger. Once again, Honda is serious about performance, and here's five reasons why enthusiasts should believe. The Honda Civic Concept Looks Great We're psyched about the Civic concept, which was a surprise reveal earlier this month at the New York Auto Show. Clad in bright neon green, the concept edged out the Lincoln Continental for first place in our Editors' Choice awards at the show. As Editor-in-Chief Sharon Carty put it, "The color hurts so good." Yes, the green is blinding, but you don't have to squint to see the 10th generation of the Civic. Honda's concepts are the real deal, and this is the car (mostly) that will launch this fall. It's attractive, with a long hood, curvaceous sides and a simple but sporty grille. The powertrain lineup will include a 1.5-liter VTEC turbo four-cylinder paired with a six-speed manual, which should be a treat for enthusiasts. With its fresh looks and intriguing mechanicals, the concept previews an everyday driver you can get excited about. Obviously, we are. The Hatchback Returns Yep, the Civic is getting a five-door hatch in the United States. It's been a while. Honda last offered a Civic hatch for a brief time in the mid-2000s, and only as the lower-volume Si model. The new hatch will be produced at Honda's factory in the United Kingdom and imported to the United States. That's a win-win for Honda: it's using excess capacity in the UK to satiate a niche market for US buyers. The annual hatch production is reportedly expected to be 30,000 to 40,000 units, which is a drop in the bucket for the Civic lineup and its massive though declining sales.

2023 Acura Integra production specs and photos revealed

We have waited five months since the Integra Prototype was revealed, and now what we’ve been long awaiting is finally here. This is the 2023 Acura Integra in final production form. Today not only gives us photos of the Integra in its final guise, but Acura also dropped all the information and details weÂ’ve been anticipating. LetÂ’s dig in. Per usual with Acura Prototype models, the production version mirrors the prototype closely. The obvious prototype elements are gone, like the big “Integra” side graphic and color exhaust inserts, but most of what we saw last year remains on this hatchback. One notable omission is the lack of photos with the yellow exterior paint Acura launched the Prototype in. A leak of the available paint colors suggested that yellow wasnÂ’t on the table for initial launch, but that doesnÂ’t mean Acura wonÂ’t introduce it as an option down the road. Just as was teased in the Proto, the only available engine will be a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and itÂ’ll be officially rated at 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque (same output as the new Civic Si). A six-speed manual transmission with auto rev-matching will be available on the A-Spec model, but a continuously variable transmission (CVT) will be standard across the line. The CVT features “Step Shift” programming to simulate shifts, and also allows you to move the engine speed around with paddle shifters. We wouldÂ’ve loved to see Acura figure out a way to use its 10-speed automatic in the Civic platform, but alas, the CivicÂ’s CVT will be the only automatic option here. If you choose the six-speed manual — which we strongly suggest you do — the Integra gains a helical limited-slip differential that is not equipped to automatic cars. Delving further into the performance realm, the Integra gets an optional adaptive damper system. If you recall, Honda dropped the adaptive dampers from this generation of Civic Si, making it a reason to upgrade to an Integra. The adaptive dampers have three settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport. Similar to other Acura models, the Integra features various drive modes to adjust throttle response, automatic transmission mapping, steering feel and gauge coloration. If you get the “A-Spec with Technology Package” model, an Individual mode is added that allows you to independently change all the modes separate from one another. It also adds an option to change the in-cabin sound.