[Esrever]

Finally Acura is saying what we are all thinking. American Honda CEO Tetsuo Iwamura told Automotive News that Acura is a "big challenge" because its sedans "need to improve a lot." He also said that Acura has nice SUVs and crossovers though.

The sedans that need improvement include the TL and the ILX. The upcoming TLX is already on track to being a better sedan for the brand, and the Acura RLX Sport Hybrid should also not be terrible.

Acura, unlike Infiniti and Lexus, is focusing on the US and China instead of expanding to become a global brand.

Still no word on when we might actually see this supposed better TLX though. That would have been a nice bit of info for their starving sedan customers.

 

[tino]

well he said the TLX will be their volume model but also said TLX won't be here until sometime spring 2014...

I was also very disappointed when he said that Acura will not work to use distinctive powertrains to set themselves apart from honda..

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...da-boss-says-acura-is-his-greatest-challenge#

 

[typeess]

Acura is a big challege and when it comes to improving the brand it seems quite simple to us as to what they need to do, not sure if they get it.

Hopefully the TLX will save them, they learned a lot from previous cars and the ILX and RLX.

 

[5Gs]

Anything that goes up against the German brands is a big challenge. They should take a look at what Lexus is doing

 

[typeess]

Anything that goes up against the German brands is a big challenge. They should take a look at what Lexus is doing

Lexus is a good example of a brand on track to dethrone a bunch of german cars, not sure if thats what Acura wants but it wouldn't be a bad thing if they plan on doing it. Then again it's also good if they also stick to affordable luxury vehicles.

 

[SameButDifferent]

Acura's SUVs are doing much better than their sedans. I think a lot is riding on the TLX. It could show that Acura is making moves to get better, or it can show that Acura is really boring and on the low rung of the luxury ladder. I mean at this point Lincoln is looking like it has more of an upswing that Acura.

 

[5Gs]

Lexus is a good example of a brand on track to dethrone a bunch of german cars, not sure if thats what Acura wants but it wouldn't be a bad thing if they plan on doing it. Then again it's also good if they also stick to affordable luxury vehicles.

don't know about dethroning but on path to competing heavily is more like it.

Lexus still doesn't offer manual in ANY of their cars except the useless IS250

If they are going to go up against the Germans properly they will either have to step up their Luxury even more, offer 6 speed and fancy DCTs along with higher performance engines. Pitting anything up against the Ms and AMGs and RSs is suicidal.

 

[tino]

well autoguide did just name the MDX as the utility vehicle of the year so at theyve got that one to drink to

 

[typeess]

don't know about dethroning but on path to competing heavily is more like it.

Lexus still doesn't offer manual in ANY of their cars except the useless IS250

If they are going to go up against the Germans properly they will either have to step up their Luxury even more, offer 6 speed and fancy DCTs along with higher performance engines. Pitting anything up against the Ms and AMGs and RSs is suicidal.

Unlike Lexus, BMW has been offering manuals in a lot of it's cars for a while, it's what people expect from a BMW. Almost half of the BMW's on the road have a manual transmission. Not a lot of Lexus vehicles of the past had manuals, it was always the lower end models and trims. So it's probably why they don't care to give people the option. BMW has to in some way, as people expect it and demand it from them.

 

[5Gs]

well autoguide did just name the MDX as the utility vehicle of the year so at theyve got that one to drink to

The MDX is Acuras best selling car. The new MDX is a pretty nice car. Not surprised.

 

[Esrever]

I feel like Lincoln and Acura are at the bottom of the luxury game right now. Acura sells more now, but I think that Lincoln is on more of an upswing than Acura is.

If you were to rank the luxury brands from best to worst, or by brand reputation, would you put Acura above Lincoln, or vice-versa?

 

[SameButDifferent]

Acura is better known for quality and reliability, but Lincoln's designs are starting to overshadow Acura's. Once Lincoln adds a few more models to its line-up, assuming they are successful, Lincoln would rank above Acura. Acura could stop this by coming out with some exciting models, but right now I'm not expecting Acura to wow us from a design stand point.

 

[mr.smith]

If only Acura could take the winners that they have in the crossover segment and turn them into winners in the sedan segment. The MDX is a great car. In comparison, the TL is not nearly as nice.

 

[typeess]

If only Acura could take the winners that they have in the crossover segment and turn them into winners in the sedan segment. The MDX is a great car. In comparison, the TL is not nearly as nice.

The new MDX is good when compared to other MDX generations.
But when you compare a new MDX to the rest in it's class, it falls at the bottom. Even the MDX can use some much needed improvement.