Factory 2013 NSX info sent to dealers

I de-blinged and de-beaked the car and added some headlights

mwedyh.jpg
 
Last edited:
This is just a guess, but I believe that "bling" you refer to may be a diffuser for the headlights. They may be hidden behind there, but in plain sight. This would be a sort of nod towards the original pop-ups. :thumbup:

Tapaderp
 
Damn, that looks much better. The hood can probably go lower a little bit.

It's different thats for sure.
Been toying with headlights this morning.
Here is what ZDX headlights would kinda look like, if Honda reused that part

11j979k.jpg
 
That really is reminiscent of an r8, not a bad thing but still not sure about appropriate for an NSX successor. It does stick w acuras new origami transformer theme I suppose. I will try and reserve judgement since I've seen the magic get sucked out of other concepts recently as well.
 
I played around a bit with colors. It is not easy as it is so dark, but here is red and silver.

red.jpg

red2.jpg

red3.jpg

silver.jpg

silver2.jpg

silver3.jpg
 
You have a point, but how man people thought the 458 Italia was ugly? Honda needs to wake up and can the Acura design team.


Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]

Guys you're looking at the avengers car. It won't be that good looking. They aren't going to let people photograph it beforehand. Some of you will call anything ugly. Bat Nazca C2, my favorite all time design.
 
The real car for production for 2013 was at acura dealer national meeting right? So I think it makes sense that the car will be on the Detroit Auto Show right? Is there any news that there will confirm with the production for the new 2013 nsx?

Thank you very much.
 
The real car for production for 2013 was at acura dealer national meeting right? So I think it makes sense that the car will be on the Detroit Auto Show right? Is there any news that there will confirm with the production for the new 2013 nsx?

Thank you very much.

It would still be preproduction so changes are inevitable.

Tapaderp
 
You have a point, but how man people thought the 458 Italia was ugly? Honda needs to wake up and can the Acura design team.


Thanks in advance!
If the Acura design team are the ones in charge of the design we should be worried :redface:
 
It would still be preproduction so changes are inevitable.

Tapaderp
Exactly. The final (production) version will only arrive arround one and half years. Until then a lot will change, I'm sure. I really don't think the car the dealers saw in the private room will be the same car that will be on dealers showrooms in "24 months".

Oh and stay realistic. This is Acura designers we're talking about. I'm sure they'll find a way to f$#k up the lines and details of the design (with the power plenum the cherry on the top:rolleyes:). The car will most likely not look as decent as the movie version. Those great looking wheels you see? don't expect them to be that nice on the production car, either.

I'm optimistic about the performance. Just cannot be about the design. I would rather the task was given to the Japanese, as it was with the original.
 
Last edited:
ooh I see. Actually the thing that I really want to know is that whether or not it is officially confirmed that there will be a new NSX available for sale in 2 or 3 years?
 
According to MT this is going to be just one of the set-ups and more likely than not this is for the the RL/TL so expect the NSX set up to be stronger. Plus man that's a lot of TQ



I'm predicting/hoping the NSX engine makes at least 350hp by itself then 50hp from the ima unit and 30-35hp from the electric wheel motors. This car maybe faster than I thought with a MINIMUM of 465lbs of instant electric tq to all four wheels.

From Autoblog December 7, 2010
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/we-try-hondas-cutting-edge-electric-sh-awd-system/
By Chris PaukertRSS feed
Posted Dec 7th 2011 2:58PM
37
8
Comments101

For decades, Honda successfully cultivated a hard-earned reputation for technological innovation and thoughtful engineering, but the Japanese automaker has seemingly grown content to let other automakers lead the way with new technologies in recent years. To this point, Honda has stubbornly resisted the engine-downsizing movement, direct injection, as well as more sophisticated gearboxes and hybrids, instead focusing on refining existing technologies and relying on its lighter weight vehicles to keep their models' performance metrics in the hunt.

Honda is hard at work on a hybrid evolution of the company's already trick Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system.

No more, says CEO Takanobu Ito. Honda has embarked on a multi-tier technology binge that Ito says will have Honda at the forefront of fuel economy metrics worldwide within three years. On the table? More advanced everything, from the aforementioned powertrain technologies including a new small-displacement diesel and a new CVT, to direct injection and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Of course, we've seen similar products brought to market from other automakers already, so excellence in execution will need to be Honda's differentiator. But we tend to expect more innovative thinking from an automaker with such a rich history of elegant engineering, so we were pleased to learn that Soichiro's crew is hard at work on a hybrid evolution of the company's already trick Super Handling All-Wheel Drive serving in vehicles like the Acura TL, RDX and MDX.

In addition to the torque-vectoring rear axle already in production, Honda is incubating a new three-motor hybrid AWD architecture that it says will offer V8 power and a more nimble driving experience than typical all-wheel-drive systems, all while delivering four-cylinder fuel economy.

Just ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda bussed us to its Twin-Ring Motegi racetrack to sample its radical new SH-AWD system in an Accord mule.


Despite the plebeian bodywork of this evaluation model, make no mistake, hardware this costly will not debut in something with a Honda badge out front – it will be a technological linchpin for Acura's revival.

As shown here, this SH-AWD system relies on a direct-injected variant of Honda's 3.5-liter V6, tuned here to deliver 310 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque (for comparison's sake, the 3.5-liter six-cylinder in the 2012 Accord manages 271 hp and 254 lb-ft). Internal combustion is joined under the hood by a single 40-hp, 96-lb-ft electric motor mated directly to a Honda-developed seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Out back, a pair of 27-horsepower, 52-lb-ft electric motors power the rear wheels, providing through-the-road all-wheel drive (read: there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear wheels). By independently controlling the two motors, either positive or negative torque can be applied to an individual rear wheel, providing torque vectoring in corners while funneling power back into the lithium-ion battery. Because the system can simultaneously flow positive torque to the outside wheel and negative torque to the inside wheel in a corner, significantly improved cornering over Honda's current mechanical SH-AWD setup is possible.



The larger front-mounted motor can also drive the car independently during low-speed maneuvers when the engine is shut off by the start-stop system, as you might want while inching through rush-hour traffic or pulling away from a stoplight. Honda says the car can reach 25 mph running solely on electrons, but as this is a mule, all performance parameters remain subject to change.

So how well does it all work? Our time behind the wheel was extremely brief, consisting of little more than one lap of a handling course. Thus, we'll have to withhold judgment, but we will say that the system shows genuine promise. Whirring away from the pits under electric power and having the V6 seamlessly come to life was an encouraging start, but we didn't really get a feel for the SH-AWD until we started negotiating the corners and slalom. While carving through the orange pylons, the sedan felt significantly – and predictably – nimbler than a standard front-drive Accord, displaying genuine eagerness to change direction. In fact, with such brief exposure, it initially felt like the Honda's tail was drifting out a bit, so willing was its rump to rotate. Thankfully, the liveliness was wholly under control, with no drama or tire squealing, just quicker-than-expected turn-in and faithful tracking. While certainly swift, claims of V8 acceleration feel a bit inflated, but given excellent traction and further tuning, such assertions seem possible.



We'd love to give you the full report on how well the Honda's new dual-clutch gearbox works, how heavy the system is, and how fuel efficient the car is out in the real world, but we'll need more wheel time in a production car to do so, and for the moment, officials remain tight-lipped on when this technology will debut. Regardless, it's encouraging to see Honda pushing to regain its powertrain innovation reputation... and to see it investing in Acura.
 
The SH-AWD is very trick indeed, but I have always thought it had the most dubious applications. Who needs superior cornering in already heavy sedans and trucks? :confused: Nice idea, but wrong application. I suppose it's just a nice perk if you were looking for AWD in the first place.

Also wouldn't this new hybrid SH-AWD considered more 4WD than AWD? I hope so anyways. The option to run 2 wheels only would be a plus.
 
I respect your optimism. I am hopeful with you about the Avenger NSX.

The avenger car is just a modded out NSX that handles terribly and is just a movie prop. if you see pictures the interior is the same as our nsx's. its just a wild body kit pretty much. its not going to be anything that Acura is going to make.

As for the New NSX the CEO sent out letters enclosed with the Christmas bonus' that there is going to be a new sports car. nothing relating to the NSX, it will have hybrid technology and the SHAWD. there are going to be 4 new Acura cars to the line up, all sedans all with some sort of hybrid technology, its the direction Honda is going for. they are targeting the 28-40 year old, generation (Y) they are calling it, with these new vehicles, the sizes will be in relative size to the TSX and a coupe. the sports car is not one of these 4. We should be happy that Honda is choosing to make a sports car as since they don't even have one in their lineup. It may not be a crazy track car ranking over or equal to the GT-R or the latest mid-engine Ferrari as the NSX was to the Ferrari's back in 1991 but it will be something different and unique, that's what the NSX is and that's how Honda is going to roll with this new car. After all having fun driving the car is a huge plus, as with our NSX's.
 
More info just released:

Much to the delight of rabid, froth-mouthed fans—and more than eight years of teasing on Acura’s part—a proper second-generation NSX sports car is on its way. The concept version debuts at the Detroit auto show in early January. (You can dive into the NSX 2.0’s decade-long gestation here, from its shifting engine placement to prototype spy photos to being repurposed as a race car. And those are just the tip of the iceberg.)

The first NSX was a technological tour de force when it arrived in 1990. The mid-engine sports car packed a dual-overhead-cam V-6 under an all-aluminum wrapper. The engine made 270 hp, a staggering number for a six-cylinder engine at the time. For all that, it was the car’s handling that was the most impressive—piloting an NSX is like having the controls hard-wired to your gray matter.

Acura has decided that the new NSX will again use a mid-engine layout and that it will follow the first car’s general philosophy: The second-gen model will be relatively lightweight, efficient, and make use of lots of new technology.

The company is still quiet about powertrain specifics, but we can offer some educated speculation. The engine will again be a V-6, but this time the gasoline engine will play a role in an ensemble hybrid-electric drivetrain. One or more electric motors likely will power the front wheels, and translation services between the gasoline engine and the tarmac will probably be provided by Honda’s new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. If this all sounds familiar, it’s because you read our own Mike Austin’s piece on Acura’s new hybrid AWD system. The impression we have is that the NSX’s powertrain will be inspired by the front-engine system Austin recently sampled in an Accord.

Styling-wise, the NSX concept we saw isn’t terribly far off from the sports car that Tony Stark (that’s Iron Man’s civilian name—or “Robert Downey, Jr.” if you want to get technical about it) drives in the upcoming Avengers movie. Proportions are similar to those of the original NSX: There’s a short, low hood, a relatively big canopy over the cabin, and a low, wide rear end. (The original car is pictured above—Acura hasn’t released official images of the concept yet.) This one’s also got side scoops to feed air to the engine.

When the car is unveiled at the Detroit show, Acura’s spokespeople are going to say this is a concept only. They may even say a decision is still yet to be made. But we hear it’s already received a green light for production, and will arrive sometime in 2012 or early 2013. It won’t be cheap, but Acura has no intention of approaching Lexus LFA pricing, either. We’d guess on a sticker in the $90,000-to-$130,000 range.


http://blog.caranddriver.com/acura-...ction-concept-to-appear-at-2012-detroit-show/

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...s-acura-to-unveil-and-sell-new-nsx-supercar/1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...oit-auto-show/2011/12/12/gIQAHuQhoO_blog.html
 
The SH-AWD is very trick indeed, but I have always thought it had the most dubious applications. Who needs superior cornering in already heavy sedans and trucks? :confused: Nice idea, but wrong application. I suppose it's just a nice perk if you were looking for AWD in the first place.

Also wouldn't this new hybrid SH-AWD considered more 4WD than AWD? I hope so anyways. The option to run 2 wheels only would be a plus.

You obviously have not driven an RL with A-Spec suspension? I have the Australian delivered '09 Legend, and it handles fantastically well! It WILL out handle an WRX STi on a race track [until the STi blasts past on the straight :biggrin: ] even giving away hundreds of kilos.

So for those who want superior handling in their medium sized land barges and trucks I think it's great. Just a pity they never put it into a decent, appropriate chassis. Apparently that is about to change :cool:
 
The avenger car is just a modded out NSX that handles terribly and is just a movie prop. if you see pictures the interior is the same as our nsx's. its just a wild body kit pretty much. its not going to be anything that Acura is going to make.

I was talking about body and engine layout direction. The Avenger NSX is a completely different modern take versus the previous HSV or HSCC, which were long nose front engine cars. An evolution of the original NSX, aka new sheet metal is all that needed besides the obvious technological leaps.

You obviously have not driven an RL with A-Spec suspension? I have the Australian delivered '09 Legend, and it handles fantastically well! It WILL out handle an WRX STi on a race track [until the STi blasts past on the straight :biggrin: ] even giving away hundreds of kilos.

So for those who want superior handling in their medium sized land barges and trucks I think it's great. Just a pity they never put it into a decent, appropriate chassis. Apparently that is about to change :cool:

I have not driven it, but I am not doubting the dynamics. You touched on my logic in the second paragraph. The demographic for the majority of the SH-AWD applications do not care for handling like the demographic for a WRX. A super handling SUV? Seriously, soccer moms track their cars? :wink: The men who own them as daily drivers probably have a real sports car for that purpose.

So I agree having it on the new "NSX" would be a great perk, but it does seems very complicated (reliability and cost) and heavy.
 
The SH-AWD is very trick indeed, but I have always thought it had the most dubious applications. Who needs superior cornering in already heavy sedans and trucks? :confused: Nice idea, but wrong application. I suppose it's just a nice perk if you were looking for AWD in the first place.

Also wouldn't this new hybrid SH-AWD considered more 4WD than AWD? I hope so anyways. The option to run 2 wheels only would be a plus.

The TL shows it to be a great application and at the track it was only a half second behind the more powerful Audi S4

More info just released:

Much to the delight of rabid, froth-mouthed fans—and more than eight years of teasing on Acura’s part—a proper second-generation NSX sports car is on its way. The concept version debuts at the Detroit auto show in early January. (You can dive into the NSX 2.0’s decade-long gestation here, from its shifting engine placement to prototype spy photos to being repurposed as a race car. And those are just the tip of the iceberg.)

The first NSX was a technological tour de force when it arrived in 1990. The mid-engine sports car packed a dual-overhead-cam V-6 under an all-aluminum wrapper. The engine made 270 hp, a staggering number for a six-cylinder engine at the time. For all that, it was the car’s handling that was the most impressive—piloting an NSX is like having the controls hard-wired to your gray matter.

Acura has decided that the new NSX will again use a mid-engine layout and that it will follow the first car’s general philosophy: The second-gen model will be relatively lightweight, efficient, and make use of lots of new technology.

The company is still quiet about powertrain specifics, but we can offer some educated speculation. The engine will again be a V-6, but this time the gasoline engine will play a role in an ensemble hybrid-electric drivetrain. One or more electric motors likely will power the front wheels, and translation services between the gasoline engine and the tarmac will probably be provided by Honda’s new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. If this all sounds familiar, it’s because you read our own Mike Austin’s piece on Acura’s new hybrid AWD system. The impression we have is that the NSX’s powertrain will be inspired by the front-engine system Austin recently sampled in an Accord.

Styling-wise, the NSX concept we saw isn’t terribly far off from the sports car that Tony Stark (that’s Iron Man’s civilian name—or “Robert Downey, Jr.” if you want to get technical about it) drives in the upcoming Avengers movie. Proportions are similar to those of the original NSX: There’s a short, low hood, a relatively big canopy over the cabin, and a low, wide rear end. (The original car is pictured above—Acura hasn’t released official images of the concept yet.) This one’s also got side scoops to feed air to the engine.

When the car is unveiled at the Detroit show, Acura’s spokespeople are going to say this is a concept only. They may even say a decision is still yet to be made. But we hear it’s already received a green light for production, and will arrive sometime in 2012 or early 2013. It won’t be cheap, but Acura has no intention of approaching Lexus LFA pricing, either. We’d guess on a sticker in the $90,000-to-$130,000 range.


http://blog.caranddriver.com/acura-...ction-concept-to-appear-at-2012-detroit-show/

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...s-acura-to-unveil-and-sell-new-nsx-supercar/1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...oit-auto-show/2011/12/12/gIQAHuQhoO_blog.html

See I told you guys to just hang on and that it would be mid engine AND I told you it would be priced around the GTR.

Does the OP work in Hondas media department as all the information they gave was far and away from the truth. Seems like typical Honda deception or that dealers never ever know what they're talking about:biggrin:
 
It better not have an aspirator fan and a huge radio antenna!:biggrin:
 
This looks promising:

http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1020643


This statement in regards to the powerplant is what excites me:

Acura wouldn't tell us anything about the engine or powertrain, but off the record they were quick to tell us that the announced Electric SH-AWD system with 3.5L DI V6 was clearly not potent enough for this car. It should be noted that THAT powertrain, with its 7-speed dual clutch gearbox and 3 electric motors, develops a peak output in the neighborhood of 400hp. Obviously with the MR layout, Honda has to engineer a very specific setup for this car, and we're assuming it will essentially be a reversed layout compared to the FF-oriented design which was revealed previously.
 
Last edited:

1st things 1st: Acura would not allow us to take any photographs of the cars it's bringing to the 2012 Detroit auto show, so no, you will not know what the Acura NSX concept looks like -- yet. This article's associated images ARE NOT actual representations of what's described below. With that out of the way, here's what we learned about the upcoming Acura NSX concept, ILX compact car concept, and refresh of the RDX crossover for the Detroit show. Acura also shared some intel on the next-generation version of its Acura RL sedan, which is due to be revealed at next year's New York auto show.

Acura NSX Concept

Let's face it: You're here for any scrap of news we have on the Acura NSX concept, and we completely understand why.

Ever since Honda's now legendary halo sports car was mothballed after 2005, the stream of rumors, spy photos, design illustrations, media reports, and concept cars purportedly related to the NSX's eventual revival flowed like a stuck tap. In the end, we like to think each step we encountered over the past six years will have contributed in some measurable or immeasurable way to the inevitable product.

The gushing continues today. A new Acura NSX concept is scheduled to appear at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January and there's an anticipated 2014 on-sale date. The Japanese carmaker revealed what was in store for the future NSX during its recent dealer conference in Las Vegas. We're told the attending dealers and a small band of press/media representatives were the only ones who have seen the concept up close in an official capacity. We were also told it was the first time in a long time dealers stood up and delivered a rousing ovation upon seeing what will without a doubt be the brand's halo car. Of course, it certainly helps that Acura calls the concept "NSX."

Car lovers will soon be tantalized by NSX concept's striking sheetmetal. Back in September, an Acura-branded mystery roadster was spotted and photographed on the set of the upcoming superhero movie "The Avengers," leading to widespread speculation it would form the basis for the new NSX's design direction. Initially, Acura responded that "The Avengers" car was a fictional one-off produced just for the film. That may not be an untrue statement, but the NSX concept indeed takes several cues from Tony Stark's new ride, only it has a roof.

The NSX concept wears thin A-pillars, a small greenhouse, and a serious-looking rear diffuser. Its bodywork was shaped with design input from Honda and Acura teams around the globe. There is room in the back for a small trunk. The concept's tires measure 255/35-19 up front and 275/30-20 out back, and the wheels shield huge fixed calipers and brake rotors at all corners. The entire car is bodied in the toned-down yet distinctive Keen Edge design, with a cab-forward arrangement and a mid-engine layout (a la the last NSX). Acura fully acknowledges it might have reached too far with its current, provocative styling direction, but there's no doubt you'd expect to see the big A badge when looking at the front end beak -- perfect for Acura since this car is intended to dramatically boost the brand's appeal.

For a period of time, a front-mounted V-10 engine was pegged for the new NSX, until the unpleasant economic conditions of late 2008 got the better of Honda's product plans. When the V-10 sports car project was shelved (although a version of that car has been subsequently campaigned by Honda in motorsports events), it's said Honda wasn't exactly shedding tears, considering the sentiment that exerting brute force and an overreliance on performance-adding technologies was not the Honda way. Instead, Acura calls the NSX concept the "ultimate expression of man-machine synergy," where the driver and car work together in unison for an enjoyable driving experience, rather than having overly egregious machinery take the driver for a ride. In Acura's vision, an NSX is the definitive interpretation of a modern sports car, a performance halo that can be "drive[n] like a pro every day."

The belief in smart luxury without excess waste is Acura's way of differentiating itself from other luxury marques. Which explains the NSX concept's powertrain: a hybrid getup with a mid-mounted, direct-injected V-6 (likely displacing 3.5-to-3.7 liters) matched to a 7-speed twin-clutch automatic with a newly developed integrated motor. The car's hybrid system -- tentatively dubbed Sports Hybrid AWD -- uses a pair of electric motors (one for each of the front wheels) for torque vectoring and independent wheel control.

On paper, this type of engineering and integration should ensure a seamless driving experience where the car is not handicapped by the driver, and vice versa. From a sustainability standpoint, Acura expects V-8 performance with better-than-4-cylinder fuel economy. So hypothetically, it should be faster and more fuel-efficient than the original NSX. Motor Trend Technical director Frank Markus got firsthand experience with an early version of this next-generation SH-AWD in Japan, proclaiming his limited time with a prototype Accord "was enough to suggest the V-8-performance claims have merit and that the electrified rear axle does indeed enhance handling over a much wider set of driving circumstances." The future AWD system is being optimized for larger vehicles at the moment and is said to be very modular in its nature.

According to Markus' notations, the DCT will be a wet-clutch design. Since the IMA motor isn't hard-coupled to the engine but is affixed to an output shaft, the integrated motor enjoys a wider range of freedom than the current IMA setup. It's the increased IMA "hybridness" that should provide the NSX concept with even greener credentials.

The original NSX shocked the world and had little trouble establishing precedence in the sports car world when it debuted a little over 2 decades ago. It put the rest of the world on alert, and the new car should as well.

Acura ILX

In addition to the NSX concept, Acura presented its entry-level sedan concept, the ILX.

Visualize the Canadian-market CSX, but with more thought put into the car's execution. Rather than simply grafting the familial front end onto a Honda Civic sedan, the ILX concept we saw has a unique presence. The front beak isn't as pronounced as we've come to expect from the Keen Edge design; in fact, Acura calls the ILX's styling Arrow Fuse dynamics. Although the ILX is Civic based, its lines are more distinct and rounded than the current crop of Acuras, retaining a premium appearance absent on the Civic.

1 of Acura's presentation slides showed a projection of 17.3% growth through 2016 for the entry luxury four-door segment (one of only a few segments that showed a double-digit increase), and the ILX is the car Acura has designated to get in on that action. Generation Y buyers - the first generation in history on course to earn less than the preceding generation - are the target, and Acura expects to pair their diminished earning power with an entry price point well below $30,000. For comparison, the 2012 Buick Verano starts at $23,470 and the 2012 TSX at $30,695. Acura foresees moving about 40,000 units per year, and is striving to retain these younger customers who may opt to move up within the Acura family several years later. Categorically, it may poach some TSX sales, too.

To satisfy the Gen Y crowd, ILX features and options include all the technological bits and pieces like a hard drive to store music files, Pandora Internet radio connectivity, and text-to-voice SMS capability. A rearview camera and keyless entry are sure to be offered. Based on speculation, we'd bet the interior won't be anything like a CSX but be mocked up similarly to the rest of the Acura lineup.

There will be three powertrains. The volume 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and accompanying automatic transmission will be new, while the familiar 1.5-liter IMA system will make the ILX the brand's 1st hybrid offering. The 2.4-liter inline-4with the 6-speed manual out of the Civic Si is in place to satiate enthusiast driving.

The ILX concept will also be at the Detroit show next month and hit showrooms a few months later.

Acura RDX

The brand's entry luxury SUV will also be on the NAIAS floor next month, attired in subtly refreshed sheetmetal to update its circa-2007 looks (albeit with a circa-2010 Keen Edge beak). The RDX will be fitted with a lightened SH-AWD system and Acura expects best-in-class fuel economy (not that the RDX was handicapped enormously in the 1st place). The current RDX is rated 19/24 and 17/22 mpg city/highway with front- and all-wheel drive, respectively.

A V-6 will finagle its way into the engine bay, contributing more power than the current 2.3-liter turbo four's 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. At this point, it's hard to imagine the turbo four-cylinder is long for this world, at least in its current guise.

The third Acura to bow in Detroit next month, the RDX, will go on sale a few months later. An 11.1-percent projected growth through 2016 for the small luxury SUV segment makes the RDX more important than ever before.

Acura RL successor

It's billed as a "true Acura flagship," but we can't ascertain much, as we've only seen a handful of conceptual photos of the upcoming full-size sedan. Based on the photos alone, don't expect a dramatic departure from the current, stagnating model in terms of sheetmetal. BMW is apparently the benchmark -- specifically, Acura is pitching the next RL as having 7 Series room with 5 Series dynamics. We'll see about that, but aim high, right?

The improved packaging proposal that pushes the RL successor's backseat legroom to best-in-class is a sound one, as the relatively invisible flagship needs any and all the help it can get (1046 sold through November, down 45% year-to-date). We should see the fruits of Acura's labor on this project at the 2012 New York Auto Show.

 
Back
Top