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2018 Acura TLX will get the Precision concept's grille

The mid-cycle refresh for the Acura TLX is upon us, and the first teaser shows a car with the new corporate face. The dimly lit image shows the car's pentagonal grille we first saw on the Precision concept at last year's Detroit auto show, and is currently found on the MDX crossover. The full reveal will come on April 11 at the New York auto show. The new fascia should be a significant improvement over the boring, generic one found on the current TLX. A closer look under brighter light also reveals that some of the character lines and creases aren't as sharp and crisp as those on the Precision concept. And while this new TLX should be more distinct that the current model, the headlights are certainly reminiscent of the scowling units on the new Opel Insignia. Acura says this refresh comes with significant updates but doesn't elaborate on what they are. Updates could include a standard 9-speed for both V6 and inline-4 engines, increased power, and a refreshed interior. We'll have all the details when the car launches in the coming weeks. Related Video:

Acura Integra Prototype will be revealed next Thursday, Nov. 11

The Acura Integra Prototype’s world reveal is officially set for next week on Thursday, Nov. 11. Those who are impatiently waiting to see the car can finally mark a time on their calendars, as itÂ’s coming to you via a livestream event at 8:35 p.m. ET (5:35 p.m. PT) that day. The reveal is taking place in Los Angeles, the week before the L.A. Auto Show begins. Do note that Acura specified that this is the reveal for the Integra “Prototype,” not the final production car. If history is any indication, though, this Integra Prototype will closely resemble the production car in both exterior and interior design. Plus, thereÂ’s a chance Acura reveals a number of vital specs in addition to the design. Ever since Acura announced the return of the Integra name at this yearÂ’s Monterey Car Week, itÂ’s been teasing us with small bits of info. The first hint came that same day with a photo of the carÂ’s headlight and “Integra” stamped into the bumper. Then came a photo from the rear three-quarter, revealing that it would be a four-door hatchback. Finally, Acura emphatically announced (with a sweet shift-banging video) that the Integra would offer a six-speed manual transmission. Hurrah! Next Thursday will see the reveal of much, much more, so make sure you tune in to see everything Acura has to show. WeÂ’ll be on the ground in L.A., and will also have the livestream waiting for you to watch when itÂ’s reveal time. Related video:

2019 Acura ILX first drive | New looks, same lackluster performance

Acura knows what it takes to make a fun, compact car that enthusiasts desire. It did so for three decades with the Integra, which eventually morphed into the still fun RSX. Then the ILX came around for the 2013 model year, and the world collectively yawned. It's actually still yawning, and the 2019 redesign isn't doing a whole lot to change that. One might expect more wholesale changes from a car entering its seventh year on the market, but we're still staring down the barrel of the same 201 horsepower 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder and trick dual-clutch automatic transmission (which also features a torque converter for low-speed smoothness) from before. These pieces aren't necessarily the problem though. It's enjoyable to thrash the engine out to 7,000 rpm, and the dual-clutch snaps off surprisingly quick shifts when using the paddles in manual mode. It's a bit of a throwback to before all of Honda's performance engines switched to turbocharging for power. It pulls harder the more you wring it out, and begs to be paired with a slick-shifting six-speed manual like it was in the ninth-gen Civic Si. Sadly, everything else outside the powertrain (still) just misses the mark. The greatest part of Acura's old performance compacts was how they made you feel when you were driving them. There was an intimate connection between the driver and road at all times that is sorely lacking from the ILX. Turn in feel is soft and doesn't offer satisfying quick changes of direction. The old chassis feels its age in controlling body movements too. It all culminates in making the ILX feel like a larger car than it actually is. That's not to say the ILX handles poorly, though; it simply does so without any eagerness or feel — just like it has from the beginning. This is unfortunate because the ILX looks better than it ever has. Acura re-did the whole front nose from the A-pillar forward, and it attacked the rear fascia too. We got to check out and drive A-Spec trimmed cars, which add even more aggression to the styling but no performance upgrades. Sure there's three-too-many fake air vents, but the car finally grew some teeth compared to the ultra-bland looks from before. Props for not following the terrible industry trend of totally unreasonably-sized fake exhaust outlets too. The interior isn't as exciting.