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Ten years later, 65% of Acura's 209K unit sales were from selling two vehicles that span $34K to $45K price range in TL and MDX. Did Acura leave the prices alone? Nope. The volume seller isn't the entry level car that the company has to offer.
That being said, I would be last person to approve status quo forever. TSX is fine at base, but why would you be against a sport trim that offers more power and SH-AWD (neither will be free)? Why would you be against the same for TL? And RL, if it were to offer more than it does now?
Any other way would be taking a good few steps backwards.
The Tl is the only one that breaks that example. The Tl moved out 63*** units, the Tsx moved 5**** units and it was a jumble for the rest of the models.
The CSX wont sell because it has to much in common with the (ivi) Si sedan like the RSX and the Si coupe. BUT the CSX would sell in the states non the less. The RSX always sold in decent figures. Honda doesn't want to do as Nissan with the Maxima and Altima but almost did it with the TL and Tsx. I think thats why the TSX doesn't have a second more powerful engine yet.
Its like an RSX sedan.
-Cj
TSX isn't an RSX sedan. It fills the void that Acura 2.5TL was meant to fill and Vigor wanted to own. Only now, the formula worked for Acura. But it needs more than what is available right now. Acura needs a proper sport sedan and there is no better place in the lineup to begin with but TSX. TL, by name, is meant to be a touring luxury sedan, implying more comfort than sporting intentions. Slight larger, slightly more plusher, and of course powerful. Sport package at the top won't hurt.
-Cj
The Canadian CSX is a rebadged (not even glorified) Honda Civic.
*srry couldn't get the damn picture on this stupid thing, but here's the link:
link title
*oh the site there, there is also a mystery pic of this new honda crossover below the CRV for honda-acura fans!
V8 link:
link title
Honda Crossover (2 links):
link title
link title
btw, the csx does have leather... otherwise, iyts the same as the jdm civic.
-Cj
2.5/I-5 makes little sense actually. I would rather see 2.5/V6.
Rocky
-Cj
I'm not against a SH-AWD TSX. I'd like to see it. My last 5 vehicles have had some version of 4WD or AWD. My point is that I think there is an unnecessary push towards RWD when the typical buyer will not notice the slight changes in dynamics. The typical buyer will notice how much less traction they have after there are a few inches of snow on the ground and all they have is RWD. While many of us who post on this forum have a passion for automobiles that lead to highly discriminating tastes. The automakers have to think about the average Joe that they are after.
I don't want to see all the automakers offering the same types of products without differentiation. I say let them be different. That's the beauty of it.
Not much of a fan for the front though. Is this the next NSX?
It is supposed to be the next NSX which will debut at the 2007 Tokyo auto show.
Let us look at history. 1999 TL spelled the new beginning for Acura and was launched with an MSRP of $27950. In late 2001, Acura added Type-S trim which was $3.5K more expensive than the base.
MY2004 model arrives with an MSRP higher than the old Type-S and sales took off to TL's best ever (actually, best ever for any Acura) at 78K units.
As for moving upmarket, was adding Type-S to TL to push the model upwards? May be it worked that way, but the cheaper TL (base) was available until it was considered necessary.
This is how Acura has managed to have 2/3 of its sales accounted for by TL and MDX, instead of entry level Integra (which was the case in the 90s).
And the CarSpace forums seem to have a pretty low tolerance for trolls, which is good. We so rarely come across trolls and when we do, their posts are generally deleted soon enough. In fact, I predict that in about four posts, we'll all be told to get back on topic.
I don't understand trolls or their motivations. I prefer to remain unbiased so as to maintain my credibility. Trolls and fanboys have no credibility whatsoever and nobody ever takes them seriously, so why bother?
Rocky
And it saves seeing a page like this:
Post 1 - fintail
Post 2 - andre1969
Post 3 - iluvmysephia
Post 4 - rockylee
Post 5 - rockylee
Post 6 - rockylee
Post 7 - rockylee
It's not really just a pet peeve of mine because most people don't actually do that.
When I reply to someone it's usually a direct response to them and is intended for them (usually)
I'm sorry that peeves you off. :surprise: I honestly wasn't aware of it and never had any complaints before from anyone else. (This is assuming I'm understanding what you are talking about)
Rocky
Just sum everything you want to say in one or two posts and don't make 3789348729482398 posts in a row.
In all my experience on the net people that do make many posts back to back normally have a screw loose and/or are fanatics.
If this is for real, which in typical Honda fashion, is about 95% production, then Honda has a handsome new offering arriving this year.
Six-speed, V6, Navigation... wow, nice design.
Plus, the front end, which I assume will be shared with the sedan, is a huge improvement for the 4-door too. Can't wait to see the production sedan.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Rocky
Many people have mentioned they would love to see the J30 in the next TSX, and I am with them.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I actually think we are going to see the J32 from the TL hiding under the hood for the next go around. The TL is supposed to grab the 3.5 when it gets redesigned. All speculation of course...
So Hexagon is going to be the grille design for Honda from now on? Makes sense, since the pentagon was utilized on the Acura line.
It already was before refresh of the Pilot...
In fact, the hexagonal shape most closely mimics the original Honda grill (on S500/S600) and the only difference was that it was wider at the top but still had hexagonal shape to it (link)
The front end reminds me more of the 1992-1993 Accord more than any other generation since. Nice front, very appealing front and well done rear. One of the rare occasions I have found virtually nothing to complain about in Honda's styling (since 2004-2006 TL).
Okay, okay I know, now I am just being greedy. :P
Okay, maybe A LITTLE bit, with a lot of imagination that is...
Hey....somebody call Cadillac and Lincoln and tell them we've found the formula. Forget about providing products the market demands, just raise the prices! Thanks for the insight, I'll write GM and Ford today letting them know.
The increasing popularity of SUVs(MDX) and larger cars since 1995 is well documented. This is not an Acura thing, it is an industry thing.
BTW The new Accord looks great.
2003 TL: $28,980 (Base price, NAV option)
2004 TL: $32,650 (Base price, NAV option)
Is that a big enough jump? In fact, the base TL in 2004 had a price tag higher than the Type-S did in 2003. While we're at it, let us look at sales numbers too.
2003 TL: 57K (granted it was in its last year, and also includes Type-S model, number for 2003 calendar year)
2004 TL: 78K (number for 2004 calendar year)
Hey....somebody call Cadillac and Lincoln and tell them we've found the formula. Forget about providing products the market demands, just raise the prices! Thanks for the insight, I'll write GM and Ford today letting them know.
Do it! If you mention me, make sure you use my words for it, not a dismantled version. "Just raising" the price won't work. Raising the bar would help.
The increasing popularity of SUVs(MDX) and larger cars since 1995 is well documented. This is not an Acura thing, it is an industry thing.
First of all, if it were just an industry thing, we would see Acura SLX all over. That wasn't the case. It also doesn't explain the success of TL from 1999 onwards.
And secondly, you would see more TSX on the streets than TL. Is that the case? The bottomline to my point is, unlike in the years past, Acura no longer relies on entry level prices/cars towards sales volume. It managed to move up by managing resources in the right way.
Ulrich Hackenberg, head of concept development and body engineering for Audi AG, says Audi is working to integrate torque vectoring with its foundation quattro AWD system. If you can selectively apply torque, "you can get the maximum" from AWD, he says.
"We are working with (torque vectoring) demonstrators internally," Hackenberg says, adding he has driven the Acura RL and found the SH-AWD technology impressive. "We will not stand still (with conventional quattro AWD). We have to improve ourselves."
I can understand why the Audi fans would not accept how impressive SH-AWD is from Acuraphyles like myself or Robertsmx. But maybe hearing from the guy who heads Audi development will help.
Here's the full article.
On a related note, I read some questions about the various torque distribution values for different Acuras during hard acceleration. The RL goes to a 60/40 split and the RDX uses a 55/45 split. The MDX is a little fuzzy on that because they add extra programming logic for hill-climbing. It will split power 30/70, but only for hills when more weight is added to the rear wheels. Acura doesn't list a straight-line, flat surface number for the MDX.
Why don't they direct a higher percentage to the rear, and why is each vehicle different? Because those numbers closely match the weight distribution of each vehicle (with a driver). This is the same thing Porsche does with their AWD system.
Such a vehicle might cut Acura some slack when the next gen TL is released. They can continue the base model at introduction with the addition of a Type S variant at the mid-model change. But the coupe could give the enthusiasts something to chew on while they wait for the Type S sedan.
I know the CL-S was a much unloved vehicle, but for the first few years it did exactly that. It gave Acura something sporty to sell before adding the much of the same hardware to the TL. And for that first year or two, sales were not bad and reviews were pretty good. IMO two things killed the CL-S in our market: The TL-S looked better (or at least just as good) and the FWD stigma. If they get the styling right and give it SH-AWD, it would have a good chance.
The trick will be maintaining sales of this fictional coupe once the TL-S is re-introduced.
As the owner of a 2003 EX sedan (four cylinder), I don't want a bigger car...the current one is just fine. Why make it bigger?
Although the new coupe is something I would be very interested in.
Edit* you have a 2003? My bad. IMO, I can't imagine the actual profile and exterior size to grow much over the current model. They may get a little more creative with the use of interior space but the rear seat accomodations of the current one are cavernous. They'd be tredding on Avalon territory if they thought they needed to go any larger. Even my 02' EX has a generous rear seat.
Wife and I test drove an 01 CL, believe it was S model, and it was competent but inelegant. She ended up with an 01 TL and 3 years later got an 04 TL. The 01 TL had very good profile compared to CL.
Problem with last CL and previous gen Acura coupe and last 2 gen Accord coupes was proportion. There is just something wrong about the profiles. They don't look quite right. Kind of blocky, tall.
Concept Accord might be just a little to "racer-boy" flavor. Perhaps production will be toned down and grille can be improved. Maybe guys that did grille are the same that did the Ridgeline grille. Grille on concept has too many shapes, a lot going on, but somewhat a lack of integration of lines.
When Acura designers tried to make a coupe based on the TL, they tried to force the long hood/short deck profile. (That is the current design philosophy.) However, the method they chose for shortening the rear stank. Rounding it off to create the illusion of a shorter tail didn't work because the front and shoulders still had the long, level body line. Without much rake to the profile, that stubby tail looked every bit as fake as it was.
The new Civic Coupe and the Concept Coupe both have the necessary rakish profile. They also share a sloped rear end, which creates that "short decklid" look much more effectively than the bubble butt design. And, more importantly, it works with the shape of the vehicle.
With that in mind, I think Acura can develop a nice-looking CL. They have a good shape in the Concept Coupe. All they need are the right details and mechanicals.