Acura 2+1 design study takes superman shield to next level
Click above for high-res gallery of the Acura 2+1 Concept
Acura's new design language, as seen on the 2009 TL, is fronted by a shield-like appendage that has received mixed reviews. The Acura 2+1 -- the numbers describe the seating arrangement -- by design student Leon Paz is what would happen if you took the shield theme to one natural conclusion. By maintaining the edge throughout the concept's "modern baroque styling," Paz has come up we something we kinda dig.
The body is fashioned from a plastic that is harder than fiberglass, and Paz has done a great job in creating lines that evoke skin stretched over a frame. The upper surface is one continuous window that shows off the twin-turbo V6 and the Acura logo for the cylinder covers. There is no hood -- at your yearly service, the dealer would lift the glass and perform any engine maintenance.
The 2+1 would be an aspirational step for those who want an NSX but can't afford one yet. Based on what we've seen of the NSX so far, we'd probably rather have the 2+1. However, our most pressing question about the car isn't about the design -- we really want to know what is the meaning of "OW AHH" scrolled in LED's across the rear? Check out the gallery of high-res images below, and maybe you can tell us...
Gallery: Acura 2+1 Concept
[Source: Diseno Art]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
P.V. 11:01AM (9/20/2008)
I'm not sure what to say...is it awesome or horrible?
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cFoo 3:35PM (9/20/2008)
It depends if you like what's coming out of the current Acura line up or not.
That's not a design study at all. It's the next gen Acura TL. Just look at the back. I could be wrong and they may push it into the up coming RL instead. "ADVANCE"
Acura designers = ex-GM designers from the 90.
Not Brad 2:34AM (9/21/2008)
I was going to post a negative comment but...You guys have already touched on what I was going to comment on. Basically it's trash--Not worth the paint or paper wasted to "design" the car.
This reflects poorly on Stewart Reed as does the majority of cracker boxes at Art Center.
Click on http://www.conceptsalad.com/pforzheim-winter-show-photogallery/ fpr a similar mess starting with post 11.
bigbear7787 11:05AM (9/20/2008)
i actually like it
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3seriesisking 11:07AM (9/20/2008)
It's still carrying over that same "shield" grille from the current lineup though.
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OubelhaNegra 11:08AM (9/20/2008)
This is not to far from beating in ugliness the design student from Lebanon LOL
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ASEVENSEE4 11:09AM (9/20/2008)
Looks just as cheap as it does on the TL.
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Leaf 11:26AM (9/20/2008)
It's a giant Hot Wheels.
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JD 11:35AM (9/20/2008)
And just when I thought the RL had just about maxed out the ugly meter with this grille..... lol.
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Soccer Mom 11:37AM (9/20/2008)
With every design idea Acura raises the bar. Just when you think that nothing can be uglier than the latest Acura, the company surprises you with a new hideousness, much worse than before.
If this HotWheels reject (for reasons it may cause incurable damages to the eyes of children who looked at it) influences future Acura models, I feel really sorry for the company that was let down not by engineers but by out-of-touch design team.
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Marc-O 4:59AM (9/21/2008)
Surely you realize this is not really from Acura...
usingthelou 11:46AM (9/20/2008)
What!? They would take this over and NSX... Wait, maybe. This doesn't look half bad, but the nsx aint looking to shabby for a concept. This seats 3, the nsx could possibly be a 2+2 arrangement. The nsx will deff. be faster. The nsx has SH-AWD with a rumored 500-550+ hp and this will probably be around 300 if that. But the nsx will probably cost 3x more. I will stay with the nsx. What about u guys and gals?
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Jaime Haber 11:46AM (9/20/2008)
At first, I thought the LEDs were a Family Guy reference, but then I looked closer and it actually says "OIU-AHH," meaning I have no blinkin' clue. Strange.
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Avinash machado 11:54AM (9/20/2008)
Even Buicks have better design than Acura these days.
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Torrent 11:57AM (9/20/2008)
Pitiful.
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DCorbett 12:00PM (9/20/2008)
The author of this article might kind of dig it, but I think it looks ugly as all hell. What are they thinking!?
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ML 12:03PM (9/20/2008)
It's fantastic! Toyota started this trend of shapes-into-shapes design (Lamborghini picked up on it with the restyling of the Gallardo's endcaps) and now Acura has taken it to the extreme . . . but very well done. There's a freshness in this concept car, an expressiveness that's exceptional with clever use of clear panels - from the front of the hood to the rear window - that's remarkable. An excellent design!
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Ming 12:14PM (9/20/2008)
nonono. As much as I like Honda, if they go in this direction...meh. The TSX is ok, but the TL is complete overkill.
And this looks like a snow plow.
ML 12:18PM (9/20/2008)
You guys who mourn the way cars used to look had better get in step with where design is going. New trends are surfacing, and new directions are being explored for the way cars in the next decade will look. These trends - you're all hating - are what's going to populate the roads sooner than you think!
BoxerFanatic 10:20PM (9/20/2008)
@ML....
Trends are not dictated. They are accepted or rejected.
If they build this, no one will buy it. Especially if the hood doesn't open, and everyone hates the look.
Acura/Honda, and any other company doesn't get to dictate style, they merely succeed or fail to lead style, or they try to follow style.
Telling people they had "better get over it, because this is what is going to be forced down your throat" is a sure way to make sure it is NEVER accepted.
It is called consumer demand, and Honda/Acura can't escape it, and remain above bankruptcy.
This may be trying to lead styling trends, but it is FAILING.
All of the current Acuras are FAILING at that.
TSX got ugly, TL got even UGLIER, RL got worse, MDX is a bit of a wallflower, and RDX started out ugly.
Accord, and most of the Hondas are not really lookers anymore, either. Their concepts are even blandly technical and soulless.
Infiniti is leading style more than Acura is, and at least Hyundai is following style by following the best very well.