Acura's Mike Accavitti introduces the 2016 version of the Acura ILX this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
In the high-tech world, companies like Apple often go for what’s known as “first-mover advantage.” By that logic, Acura should be dominating the booming compact luxury sedan segment with its once-groundbreaking ILX model. But things haven’t worked out as the maker hoped.
The ILX has been struggling to simply hold its momentum as newer entries like the Audi A3 and segment-leading Mercedes-Benz CLA race to market. Sales of the Acura offering tumbled 19.3% last month and are off 16.2% for the full calendar-year.
So, the luxury arm of Honda Motor Co. has a lot riding on the 2016 version of the Acura ILX that was unveiled this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The updated model comes as an unusually early mid-cycle refresh, and aims to address the shortfalls of the original by tweaking its appearance, boosting its power and adding plenty of new technology.
“We were really a trailblazer,” contended Mike Accavitti, the head of the Acura division, in a conversation with TheDetroitBureau.com. But while Acura did a great job initially identifying the emerging compact luxury sedan segment, he acknowledged, “The world changed a bit by” the time the first version came to market in 2013.
The 2016 Acura ILX is looking to compete with the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA.
The original concept put a premium on fuel economy and affordability. But while mileage is still important, it is no longer the top factor on the buying list for most potential ILX customers – especially if that means sacrificing performance, Accavitti said.
“People in this segment don’t want to make a compromise,” he added. “Young people, they want it all.”
So, beyond giving the 2016 Acura ILX a bit more of an aggressive appearance, with tweaks to the nose and rear including new LED taillights, the biggest change is the addition of a new 2.4-liter 16-valve iVTEC engine borrowed from the bigger, and all-new TLX sedan that was launched for 2015. Paired to an 8-speed DCT gearbox, it makes 201 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, the numbers climbing by 51 and 40, respectively.
“This will be a major game-changer for the ILX,” Accavitti proclaimed during a well-attended LA Auto Show news conference.
Acura is looking to gain some traction in the compact luxury segment with the new ILX.
To up the performance quotient, the new engine features rev-matching and will be offered with optional paddle-shifters.
Acura is also playing on its reputation for being at the front of the technology wave by adding a number of new features to the 2016 ILX. That includes an HDMI hookup for watching video on its infotainment screen. There’s also remote start on the option list. And customers can opt for either an embedded navigation system or use a new smartphone app-based navi program that can be paired with the car through Bluetooth.
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On the safety front, the ILX will now get the expansive Acura Watch suite including Lane Keep Assist, Road Departure Warning and Collision Mitigation with Auto-Braking. And optional safety features now include CrossTraffic Alert and Blind Spot Monitoring. Acura is aiming for a Top Safety Pick Plus rating for the 2015 sedan.
Acura's new ILX is laden with technology and safety advances to make it competitive in the segment.
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“The 2016 Acura ILX is now a great idea fulfilled,” Accavitti said as the news conference at the L.A. Convention Center wrapped up.
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Whether potential customers will agree remains to be seen, but Acura clearly needs to get the ILX back on track. The maker has had a strong line-up of utility vehicles, notably with the flagship MDX model. It has, however, struggled to get buyers into its sedan line. The top-end RLX has also fallen short since its launch. But the mid-range TLX finally seems to be building traction. The maker has to hope it can put the little ILX in gear, as well.