![Bugatti Bird-gate Followup: Driver identity revealed <b>[*UPDATE:</b> Now with actual crash video!]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bugatti-veyron-swim-1258147199_143x85.jpg)
Acura exec outlines future vehicle lineup
Acura's sales are down, and rather than try to be all cars to all buyers, filling niches is more the game plan. Product planning manager John Watts intimated that Acura's looking at segments with a narrower appeal, such as the now-defunct CL, and the possibility of a retractable hardtop vehicle, too. The MDX does well, and the new RDX is the darling of everyone who drives it, but as far as cars go, Acura's not catching anyone's hair on fire. The top-dog RL sedan is a wonderful car – beautifully drawn, SH-AWD moves, and a powerful V6 make it a very pleasant way to devour miles, but it doesn't offer the flavor du jour for premium sedans with performance leanings. The engine layout is wrong, and it's missing at least two cylinders to truly be taken seriously by some buyers who are looking for a V8 and rear drive as prerequesites.
There's talk of a new 8 or 10 cylinder powerplant in the offing. The NSX is supposedly getting a V10, which could then propagate through to other Acura cars. Analysts have noted that there's a need for a flagship sedan above the RL to offer RWD and larger engines. While Acura gets its act together developing the new NSX and readying the new TL for launch in 2009, dealers are enviously eyeing Lexus and Infiniti stores, wishing they had a big V8 boomer to throw into the fray, as well.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ron 10:13AM (9/25/2007)
The problem is that the Acura brand doesn't really do enough to distinguish itself from a really laid-out Honda.
I shopped the TL many times and ended up saying that the difference between it & a nice Accord isn't enough to justify the huge price difference. And yes, I'm an average driver who doesn't drive enough to need or notice the fine distinction between the 2 cars.
Reply
importjap 10:15AM (9/25/2007)
I really have to wonder about the NSX. News is stale on the NSX front. Make with the leaks Honda!
Despite being very nice cars, they're too bland.
Reply
psarhjinian 12:20PM (9/25/2007)
What, like the way GM whores out the Camaro (or Chrysler the Challenger) to keep people from noticing that their current lineup, well, leaves something to be desired?
No, Honda should play their cards close to their chest. When (if) a new NSX shows up, the "newness" factor will work for it. By comparison, we've already been saturated by the Camaro and Challenger to the point where people really aren't as excited as GM/Chrysler would like them to be.
Paul 10:23AM (9/25/2007)
Acura seems to lack a consistent style, each vehicle in the lineup looks a lot different than the next. That said, if the TL was rear drive, you'd have something interesting. All that power through the front wheels is just way too much. I've driven German vehicles all my life and find it hard to take anything in the Acura lineup seriously, barring the TSX, which is a handsome, well balanced vehicle.
Reply
Taylor 11:09AM (9/25/2007)
I would buy a manual V6 TSX or a diesel TSX in a heartbeat.
Stéphane Dumas 10:26AM (9/25/2007)
Also, does this upscale move will force Canadian Acura dealers to drop the Canada-only model the CSX http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acura_CSX
Reply
David 10:26AM (9/25/2007)
The RL beautifully drawn? I've been thinking amazingly bland. As much as I appreciate the idea of SH-AWD, the styling of this car is as exciting as the styling of the outgoing US Accord which it resembles far too much. It's neither big enough (barely more interior volume than a TL) or bold enough to be a range topping statement and it's road presence is nil. If had to choose between the two I'd take a TL right now and when the new TL bows with SH-AWD at a lower price point than the RL it's an even easier choice.
Honda should simply retire the RL and replace it with bolder, better looking car with the requisite V8 or V10
Reply
John 11:08AM (9/26/2007)
On the RL I say back to the future. The RL was better positioned as a front drive luxury car alternative to the LS Lexus. Yes - the original needed more power. So use the new V-6. An 8 or 10 cylinder engine with gas going sky high gives it in the same drawback of every big lux sedan. The new RL should have been three inches longer than the original with most of that space in the rear seat. A 300+ hp V-6 with a 7 speed trans and legitimate 28+ MPG, the bigger front seat of the original, a more open cabin (loose the huge console), a legit trunk like the original (the new one is smaller that a TL). In short a Real Luxury (RL) car with front drive, great power to weight ratio, and real world fuel economy. FINALLY - THE CAR SHOULD'NT REQUIRE THAT YOU READ THE BADGE TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM A TL. That car would sell.
Derek Kreindler 11:12AM (9/25/2007)
Honda's go-it-alone pig-headed attitude has helped the company stay true to its roots , but has harmed. They feel that there is "no need" for a V8 or RWD and would rather develop high-powered low displacement powertrains and high-tech AWD systems, and that's the end of the discussion. Hopefully they'll come around; they once thought that offering a minivan, SUV or pickup was unnecessary.
Reply
SuperSkyline89 12:02PM (9/25/2007)
Simply having a V8 and rear wheel drive does not make a good car. Many manufacturers think that the only way to make power is to stuff in a V8, well guess what, they're wrong. Look at the Honda S2000 or the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO. The EVO has a 4 cylinder and is amazingly fast, the S2000 has such a well tuned engine that many aftermarket performance parts actually do more harm than good. So you can't bash them for getting as much power out of an engine as possible. It's much worse to simply say "Let's just put in a V8, if they want more power just make it even bigger", that approach is the cheap and easy way out. Small engines are what earned the Japanese their excellent reputation and big engines along with poor workmanship is why the Americans got in trouble in the first place.
naggs 1:06PM (9/25/2007)
so to sum up
small high hp/liter = good
big = bad
riiiight.....
they need a v8
Derek Kreindler 1:29PM (9/25/2007)
Remember when Honda resisted putting a V6 in an Accord?
A guy driving an RL doesnt want an F20C style engine, he just wants the "V8" badge to stick it to his neighbors.
pedro 10:31AM (9/25/2007)
The TL is not very successful because it looks like a giant Honda Accord. It is easily one of the most anonymous looking cars on the road. All of its siblings have at least a more class and style in their designs. If the TL were dynamic and gorgeous, I'm sure it would find more sales success, especially people who want a high-technology car with an efficient engine, rather than a thirsty V8.
Reply
pedro 10:32AM (9/25/2007)
ooops, I meant *RL*. The RL looks like a giant Accord. The TL looks pretty great.
Rick 10:44AM (9/25/2007)
Well if Acura designers actually designed a car and not simply repurposed a Honda and charged a premium for it's bigger engine and nicer materials, maybe they'd sell more. How's Mercury doing for Ford? Toyota at least gets it seeing most Lexus' look unique from thier Toyota counterparts.
Reply
cheezwiz 10:54AM (9/25/2007)
Your statement only captures the TSX. The TL and RL are pretty unique to the lineup.
Gardiner Westbound 10:51AM (9/25/2007)
The RDX may be "the darling of everyone who drives it," but I rarely see one on the road. The TL and MDX are doing well. The RL is dead in the water. Too little car for too much money. The severe quality problems Car & Driver reported with its RL long-term tester was probably the coup de grace.
http://www.caranddriver.com/longroadtests/10770/long-term-test-review-2005-acura-rl.html
Reply
DKB_SATX 2:21PM (9/25/2007)
Actually the TL has more in common with the North American Accord than the TSX has in common with any car HondAcura sells in the States. The TSX is the Euro Accord, judged to be too small for fatass Americans, so they created the bigger, less-attractive US Accord. I'd consider a TSX Wagon with a manual transmission (like the European Accord Tourer.)
akatsuki 11:13AM (9/25/2007)
Their styling is bland and hardly luxurious looking enough. They offer nothing exciting or interesting, they got rid of the Legend nameplate and never recovered from that and they tried to compete in a V8 market with a V6. And they wonder why they suck.
Acura would be pretty easy to fix, add a bit of Italianate styling, change over to AWD or RWD, and enter the HP wars like everyone else. Wait a minute, I think that would work for just about everyone.
Reply
Jason 11:04AM (9/25/2007)
I love my Acura. I didn't want a crazy outlandish car that stuck out all over like a sore thumb, or one that would draw unnecessary attention. My 205hp TSX can seat myself and 3 friends comfortably, is built VERY well, is trimmed nice, and gets 30+ mpgs combined - which was a must for my hour long commute one-way each day.
Plus I think it looks classy. I don't need something with a billion cylinders and 50 hood scoops and spoilers and whatnot. I don't need a car to make up for something I'm lacking or to be the showboat of the neighborhood. Believe it or not, some people actually like understated cars that serve their function with comfort and quality, while still being able to entertain with a rich amount of features.
Reply