Acura tosses out a teaser of the 2016 ILX.
Hoping to salvage its sluggish-selling entry-level model, the ILX, Acura is promising to reveal a “substantially new” version of the compact sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month.
Launched for the 2013 model-year, the ILX got off to a slow start amidst mixed reviews, though it has been bringing in some of the Gen-X and Gen-Y buyers that Acura has been desperate to win over. But playing in one of the market’s hottest – and most competitive – market segments, “good enough” clearly isn’t enough to put Acura back on the map.
“The new 2016 ILX stands to solidify and broaden its appeal with a comprehensive update that includes a potent new powertrain, more forceful, sporty exterior styling, and substantially upgraded interior design,” declared a statement from the Honda luxury brand.
Essentially replacing Acura’s older entry-lux offerings, the RSX and TSX, the 2013 ILX was notably the first of the brand’s models to offer a hybrid powertrain. Make that past tense, as Acura has abandoned the gas-electric drive for 2015 due to a decided lack of buyer interest. That leaves it with two alternatives for the coming year: a 150-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-four, and a sportier, 201-hp 2.0-liter I-4.
As to what might be added for 2015, one possibility would be to share the base engine from the bigger Acura TLX line, a 2.4-liter I-4 making 206-hp. If so, it’s also likely the 2016 Acura ILX would adopt the bigger sedan’s eight-speed automatic.
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As the teaser image Acura has supplied shows – with a subtle image enhancement by TheDetroitBureau.com – the 2016 ILX will adopt a bit more of a sporty, coupe-like appearance, with revised rear taillights and fascia.
“The 2016 ILX will bring a sharper performance focus while delivering a greater set of high-value comfort, convenience and safety features that consumers desire in the increasingly competitive entry-luxury field,” Acura added.
The segment has seen a flood of new competitors, including the likes of the Cadillac ATS and Infiniti Q50, with even more coming.
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Acura was once a reasonably strong player in the entry-lux niche but has lost momentum that the ILX was supposed to rebuild. But the little sedan has been the weakest four-door in the brand’s line-up, with year-over-year sales dipping 15.8% for the first nine months of this year. That’s all the more discouraging for Acura considering the maker sold just 20,413 ILX sedans for all of 2013.
The new 2016 version of the Acura ILX will debut exactly one month from today at the LA Auto Show.
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