Tough economic conditions have forced several automakers to delay or completely abandon future plans, but Acura says its quest to become a Tier 1 luxury automaker is still on. Acura laid out its plan to become a Tier 1 automaker at a recent dealer meeting.
Although Acura is still making the push to join the ranks of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, it won’t be completely abandoning its value image. “Being a premium luxury brand is not just about product,†Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda , told Automotive News. “It’s the way dealers handle customers. You don’t necessarily have to have a $90,000 sedan to get there.”
Although a $90,000 sedan might not be in Acura ’s immediate future, the Japanese automaker is readying a new mid-size crossover. No details have been revealed for the CUV, but it will likely slot between the RDX and MDX and debut by the end of this year.
Colliver also revealed that the company’s NSX supercar may not be completely down and out. Colliver didn’t rule out reviving the NSX when the economic climate improved, adding that “the development [of the NSX] is mostly doneâ€. However, it seems that Acura’s V8 plans are still dead in the water.
