The production version of the 2013 Acura ILX.
The production version of the new 2013 Acura ILX is blowing into the Windy City just in time for the annual Chicago Auto Show.
The new compact sedan is Acura’s attempt to gain traction with both Gen-X and Millennials, especially those entering the luxury market for the first time. But Acura won’t have it easy, the new model – which first appeared in concept form at last month’s Detroit Auto Show – will go up against an array of tough competitors, from the BMW 3-Series to the Infiniti G and even Buick’s new Regal.
The look of the production vehicle won’t surprise those who saw the earlier prototype. The basic shape is the same – minus a few of the chrome accents and high-tech details. Perhaps the most significant detail is the downsized version of the Acura chrome shield above the car’s grille – a design theme often derided as “the beak.”
Places everyone! Acura readies the new ILX for its Chicago Auto Show introduction.
The new car will be a critical addition to the line-up, Acura officials acknowledge. The maker has lost much of the momentum it had in its early years, largely supplanted among Japanese luxury buyers by the offerings of Lexus and Infiniti.
Acura is hoping that it can begin rebuilding its brand by drawing in those first-time buyers who haven’t built up loyalty elsewhere.
Ironically, the brand had a well-respected model that used to do that quite well, the old – and long-lamented — Integra, which brought of lot of first-time buyers into Acura showrooms in earlier times.
The Millennials have been surprisingly slow to embrace automobiles, shifting their discretionary spending to smartphones, tablet computers and other high-tech toys. So, no surprise Acura plans to appeal to these potential buyers by focusing on features like Bluetooth hands-free calling and wireless audio, app-based infotainment, which can let such services as Pandora be played through the car’s audio system, and even voice-controlled text messaging. (Don’t worry; it’ll limit a driver to choosing from a handful of pre-set responses to incoming messages.)
The ILX hybrid will offer buyers of any age the choice of a base-level 2.0-liter inline-four, as well as a high-performance 2.4-liter I-4 that is paired with a 6-speed manual.
The new model will also offer a Hybrid, which uses a specially tuned 111-horsepower 1.5-liter gasoline engine mated to a compact electric motor, both linked through a continuously variable, or CVT, transmission. The gas-electric driveline will be Acura’s first hybrid, something of a surprise considering parent brand Honda’s role as a pioneer in the high-mileage technology. Under the skin of the ILX, the Integrated Motor Assist system is expected to deliver 35 mpg City/38 Highway.
While final details will be released closer to the official on-sale date, Acura officials recently hinted that the ILX will carry a base MSRP of “well under” $30,000.