Autoblog

Acura preparing Civic-based RSX sedan?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Acura, Honda, Luxury

The Civic has long been a big volume model for Honda. But while it has grown in size and standards of accommodation over the years, Canadian buyers are the only ones in the world who can get their hands on an Acura version.

Called the CSX, it's essentially a rebadged Civic with some extra luxury touches. It was preceded by the EL, also based on the Civic, which in turn took the place in Acura Canada's lineup left vacant by the departure of the Integra sedan in 1996. Rumors, however, have been circulating for the past year that Acura was developing a new Civic-based model earmarked towards a broader market - including the United States.

We've heard this line of thinking out of the rumormill before, but it's been a while, and this is the first time we've heard talk of it reviving the RSX badge. The RSX, as you may recall, succeeded the Integra, albeit in coupe form only, and it was a favorite among front-wheel drive performance guys and gals. Whether a new RSX sedan might prove a worthy successor - or for that matter, whether a two- or three-door version might be offered as well - remain to be seen, but word on the street is that we can expect it to arrive in 2013 as a 2014 model.

Acura preparing Civic-based RSX sedan? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acura mulling TSX coupe, Civic-based sedan?

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Acura, Rumormill

Acura is planning a host of product updates in the very near future, and along with the launch of the TSX Wagon, two new models could come down the pike. According to Autoweek, Acura is considering a coupe built atop the TSX platform and a compact sedan to capitalize on the States' newfound love of smaller vehicles.

A TSX-based coupe would fill the gap left by the CL after its demise in 2003, and while Acura already produces a compact sedan for the Canadian market - the Acura CSX pictured above - it's simply a re-badged Civic with an upgraded interior. Obviously, Acura would need to do more to woo buyers into a smaller vehicle, and its best bet is to leverage one of Honda's other platforms for the task. An Acura Fit? Not so much...

[Source: Autoweek]

Acura mulling TSX coupe, Civic-based sedan? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Honda goes back to drawing board for smaller, lighter next-gen Civic

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:26:00 EST

Filed under: Honda

2009 Honda Civic - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you introduced an '80s-era Honda Civic to its modern counterpart, it couldn't recognize what it's become. But after decades of growing dimensions, Honda's going back to the drawing board for the next-gen Civic.

The change in direction was reportedly ordered last year before the global economy took a nose-dive by product chief Tsuneo Tanai who observed a rise in oil and raw metal prices. Once the financial sector hit rock bottom, the Civic emerged as a strong player, out-selling the Ford F-Series pickup as the number one vehicle in the United States in May 2008. Not satisfied with sitting back and seeing how things shape up, though, Tanai ordered his engineers and designers to scrap their plans and redesign the next-gen Civic to be smaller, cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient.

The move coincides with Honda's re-strategizing vis-a-vis hybrids and electric vehicles, not to mention the cancellation of its V8 and rear-drive programs. But despite having put more people on the job, the decision to restart the Civic's development halfway through the process is sure to be a major setback for the company's lifecycle schedule. And not just for the Civic itself, but also for vehicles that share its platform, including the CR-V crossover, the Element sport-utility-box, the JDM Stream and European-market FR-V minivans, to say nothing of the upcoming CR-Z, Acura RDX, and of course the all-important Canadian-market Acura CSX.

Gallery: 2009 Honda Civic

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

REPORT: Honda goes back to drawing board for smaller, lighter next-gen Civic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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