They need “more crossovers” eh?

The TL and TSX age so quickly, it’s astonishing. Something about Japanese cars - a last generastion Audi or BMW looks so good, and a current generation Acura or Infiniti that’s been out 2-3 years looks dated. Something about the design language has to be changed.

Agreed with the statements about the RL. It needs a bulky, voluminous body and a proper V8.

hmm I don’t think people would want to spend over $300,000 on an Acura if they are planning on rivaling bently. Not to mention the name Acura dose not really make you think of the brand for the Super Rich.

I like the diesel idea.

i cant imagine seeing an Acura, and looking at it with the same eyes i look at Bugatti and Maybach.

dont know about needing an image car.
Infiniti is doing well without one.
How about good styling, V8, and rear drive?

Inifini’s halo car is the G37, as ironic as that sounds. The FX is too alien, and the M45 is utterly forgettable, despite the fact that it’s one of the most underrated sporty sedans out there.

I don’t know how Acura is going to fare moving upscale. The division has been around for 30 or so years-and the inexpensive Integra is a car that will be burned into the memory banks for a long time. (And for good reason-it was an awesome car) I think they’re going to have a difficult time accomplishing this upscale move. If I were calling the shots and wanted to move upscale, I’d change the name “Acura” to something else. New name, new logo, new image. Clean slate.

You can only take front drive cars so far upscale. They dont have any cohesive design theme that makes them an Acura, the new grills are Voltronesque. Their four cylinders are better then their V-6s. Their cars are all too front heavy.
The only thing interesting in Acura lineup since killed RSX is Super Handling AWD offered on 1 or 2 models. But they dont even design their chassis with AWD from the get go.

If the company founder Soichiro Honda was alive those talking heads would be working somewhere else. During his reign no one was talking where company will go and what they will do to get there, especially if they were as knowledgeable in automotive engineering as Lutz. Engineers were developing new technology and weren’t imitating anyone design (for better or worse).
In reality consumers may realized non-utilized potential of their SUV’s carry additional costs in manufacturing and maintenance hence rise of CUV. However, BMW does not have any CUVs and Benz has a mess called R-class. I guess that CUV is not a ticket to automotive stardom, but I doubt that I can read market any better then talking heads.

Yea Acura is by far my fav brand but they do need to get a 4.2 V8 in the RL and make it larger
It can still compete with the 5 series E class GS M35/45 and Audi A6 but all those cars offer a V8
I think they should can the 4 bangers but they seem to want to keep them and I can live with that
The next TL should be SH AWD at least on the Type S model
The RDX needs a V6 and the MDX is perfect
MI dont think they need anymore vehicles in the lineup. Get the NSX out ASAP!

Start a whole new brand now. Acura’s in good shape, why would they screw with it? Move upmarket? The NSX was upmarket, probably the best sports car in the world for much of the time it was out, ultra-reliable and reasonable to service..and no one bought it. They should ask VW about their foray into the upper market echelon with the Phaeton.

Yea, Acura needs to move SH-AWD forward, not unlike Audi’s QUattro. While I still find Audi’s to be nose-heavy front-wheel drive vehicles (like Acura’s), at least Audi redeems itself with amazing interiors, great suspensions and Quattro option. If TL had SH-AWD, it might to much better vs 3-series and G35.

I think Acura can transform itself into a more upscale brand than it is now. The trouble they have had in the past is that they never quite transcended the image of their parent company. If they came up with some great styling that would visually separate them more from Honda and combined it with SH-AWD and unique powertrain options, they could put themselves in a position to be taken more seriously in the luxury market. A full scale transformation won’t happen overnight; they will have to take it a step at a time. It will take a lot of time and effort to change the public’s perception of this brand. I think their best strategy would be to target Audi with their upcoming generation of new products.

Do they feel that by moving up to a “tier 1″ luxury brand that they’ll sell more cars? Doesn’t seem likely to me. They ought to consider doing things the way they used to. Building affordable upscale cars with great powertrains, reliability, broad appeal. Piss on the automotive media, “if acura wants to be a legitimate upscale brand they need rear wheel drive and V8’s.” Does that sell cars, like I said, go back to what you used to do.

SwerveEarly: Right on!

Its good to hear there is gonna be a new TL by the fall. Now that the new Malibu is out (with the current ones styling) they have to up that cars image.

As on ‘05 TL owner, I have a soft-spot for Acura. From a consumer stand-point it just didn’t make sense to buy BMW or Audi. The G35 was a contender, but I was in the market before the G35’s interior re-design. At the time, the TL was groundbreaking with its standard features–the first surround-sound audio system, integrated Bluetooth, solar-sensing climate control, side curtain airbags, Homelink, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated side mirrors, heated seats, auto up-down front windows, etc. Only two possible options, a six-speed manual or nav (both of which I opted for… debate the nav with me at another time, but I wasn’t gonna miss out on the 6 speed).

But, I think Acura has fallen behind lately, and moving upmarket I don’t see happening. The first-year RDX didn’t have power seat memory or power front passenger seat. Seems trivial, but what luxury vehicle doesn’t have that? The RL was a bad move–bland styling with less interior space than a TL? Not smart.

Love the SH-AWD, though, so Acura has promise. Keep the redesigns coming, make SH-AWD standard on everything above a TSX, and make a TL-based coupe with even edgier styling and a Type-S powerplant standard. The Honda Civic Si is too good of a car, so the RSX will stay dead. So, enlarge the RL, and for crissakes, give in and put a V-8 under the hood. Finish the new NSX with a race-inspired V-10 (or a current F1-inspired V-8). I’d like to see it mid-engined, but I think that’s not in the cards. And someone at Acura please hear me: take the S2000 chassis and build a Z4/TT competitor, for crying out loud! Not as balls-out as the S2000, but more of a GT.

But whatever you don, don’t try to compete with Tier 1. Keep it at the level of Infiniti and the near-luxury U.S. marques. Undercut the prices of the Bimmers, Audis and Mercs, keep the feature content up, and you’ll see sales goals met again and exceeded….

^ good ideas. I have an integra gsr that I don’t see myself ever getting rid of. To me it is one of the most stylish cars I’ve ever seen. Also, it’s faster than I need it to be. I wish they could find a way to capture their old magic. SH-AWD is a good start… But definitely don’t go Tier 1.

Going the TECHNOTRONIC route of design won’t help. Civics that look like space rovers and CUVs that look wacky with front grills presenting guillotine blades … upscale isn’t the adjective I’d use.

To compete with BMW, A—a needs luxury cars. I would like to see a new NSX, though.

Htay9500: hmm “Not to mention the name A—a dose not really make you think of the brand for the Super Rich.” No, it just makes me think of a delusional Honda owner.

Comment by corvette: “i cant imagine seeing an A—a, and looking at it with the same eyes i look at Bugatti and Maybach.” Me neither.

buytheredcar: G37 seems like an image car.

Ray Sinclair: “the inexpensive Integra is a car that will be burned into the memory banks for a long time. (And for good reason-it was an awesome car.”

It was a civic.

1115: “I think they should can the 4 bangers.” I agree.

Diesel is the way to go, and I’m not surprised that Honda is beating many to the punch. Is Honda going Luxury?
To compete with BMW, A—a needs luxury cars. I would like to see a new NSX, though.

Htay9500: hmm “Not to mention the name A—a dose not really make you think of the brand for the Super Rich.” No, it just makes me think of a delusional Honda owner.

Comment by corvette: “i cant imagine seeing an A—a, and looking at it with the same eyes i look at Bugatti and Maybach.” Me neither.

buytheredcar: G37 seems like an image car.

Ray Sinclair: “the inexpensive Integra is a car that will be burned into the memory banks for a long time. (And for good reason-it was an awesome car.”

It was a civic.

1115: “I think they should can the 4 bangers.” I agree.

Comment by jackjimturkey, posted on February1 at 1:44 pm