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Acura shows off RDX accessories and 2020 NSX at SEMA

Following its successful season on the track, Acura speeds to SEMA to showcase a range of performance and race vehicles as well as a new line of concept A-Spec and Acura-branded accessories. Also on the luxury division’s stand will be the Type S Concept sedan and the 2020 NSX, both unveiled in Monterey Car Week in August, the latter wearing the classic Indy Yellow Pearl exterior paint. Acura will show off its accessories on a 2020 RDX. Carbon fiber is the name of the game for its concept A-Spec treatment, used on the grille surround and on the lower front fascia, lower side sill, rear diffuser, lower doors and side mirror caps. ThereÂ’s also a dark chrome theme on the rear Acura badge and A-Spec emblems. A-Spec is offered as a sport appearance trim on the RDX and is supposed to be part of all core Acura models in the future, so weÂ’ll see whether this “concept” A-Spec packages eventually makes it way, whole or in part, to future variants. NSX GT3 Evo To Compete Globally in 2019 View 5 Photos The Acura Genuine Accessories to be shown on the same RDX, by contrast, are available IRL and include roof rails and crossbars, replete with a fork-mount bike attachment, 20-inch wheels with a custom dark tint finish, black lug nuts, black chrome emblems, a carbon-wrapped tailgate accent, illuminated A-Spec trim on the door sills and A-Spec carpet floor mats. ItÂ’s topped with a Thule cargo box. The 2020 NSX will wear the Indy Yellow Pearl color in homage to the old Spa Yellow, one of two yellow paints offered with the first-generation version of the supercar and a favorite among collectors. It joins two generations of championship-winning NSX cars: the 1990 pre-production model driven by Hall of Famer Peter Cunningham to 14 wins and 26 podium finishes between 1991 and 2002, and the NSX GT3 Evo that has won multiple IMSA and SRO races. The carbon fiber-bodied supercar with custom-designed livery is offered for sale globally for around $525,000, Acura says.

Acura ILX headed for Civic-like early upgrades

The not-yet-ready-for-primetime 2012 Honda Civic saw it quickly returned to sender for refurbishment, now the Acura ILX is headed in the same direction in its very first year. Automotive News reports that the small, Civic-based sedan from Honda's luxury brand isn't meeting sales expectations, with an annualized rate of 22,000 to 24,000 sales instead of the 30,000 the company is after. More telling is that the ILX "is being outsold by the Buick Verano, Volkswagen CC and Audi A4," and, except for two months since it launched, it has also been outdone by the Acura TSX it is meant to replace.
Part of the cause has been the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine: its 150 horsepower to motivate a sedan that can weigh up to 2,970 pounds doesn't offer the kind of performance or value experience that buyers in the segment respond to. Another big issue is that the top-level 2.4-liter engine is only offered with a six-speed manual even though most buyers of the highest trim don't really want to shift their own gears. Lastly, the ILX might not put enough space between it and its frugal underpinnings - our first drive review pegged it as "the world's nicest Honda Civic."
An automatic transmission is on the way for the 2.4-liter, but it isn't clear when. And while Honda admits that the 2.0-liter is underpowered and Automotive News says it's on the way out, the company hasn't yet said how that situation will be corrected.

2014 Acura RLX

Good. But Good Enough?
Spoiler alert: The 2014 Acura RLX is a good car. But that shouldn't come as a surprise. Despite the fact that Acura is subject to a lot of criticism for things like its odd positioning in the automotive landscape, questionable styling choices in recent years, and the fact that, more or less, its products feel like lux'd-up Hondas rather than something truly unique, the cars have always been inherently good - decent to drive, nice to sit in and reliable to own. That's what happens when you ride that sort of "affordable luxury" line.
Because Acura's sedans don't really fit into any one definable segment, the brand hopes it can draw customers from a broader range who aren't necessarily dedicated to a certain marque. And while there's certainly rhyme to that reason on the more entry-level end of the spectrum, that proposition makes less sense as you move toward higher price points. (Have a gander at the Hyundai Equus, if you will.) On the other hand, Acura pulled data from a 2012 Strategic Vision survey that showed the number one purchase decision for luxury buyers last year was value for the money, with manufacturer reputation coming in at a close second.