Acura betting on new 400-hp luxury sedan and coupe to compete with Tier 1 brands

Posted: Aug 12, 2008
Filed under: Acura

We keep hearing reports about Acura’s desire to become a Tier 1 luxury brand and now we get some insight into what the Honda brand has under its sleeve. In an attempt to move the brand upmarket, Honda will start offering Acura-only models that will compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus.

Following the 2009 Acura TL, Acura will get a brand new luxury sedan, rumored to be a four-door-coupe, that will compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The new model will arrive just before the next-generation NSX in 2011 and will be powered by a 4.5-liter V-8 producing more than 400-hp. It is rumored to be built on a rear-wheel-drive architecture with all-wheel-drive as an option.

Acura is also rumored to be working on a Acura-only coupe – that will replace the gap left by the CL that ended production in 2003. A retractable hardtop version of the coupe is also hanging in the rumor-mill.

As for the greenness, the new 2009 Acura TSX will get a diesel version next year. A hybrid version of the redesigned RDX 2011 is also expected along with a V6 diesel for the redesigned MDX.

 

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Related Posts:

  1. Acura no longer gunning for Teir 1 luxury, will offer ’sensible’ luxury vehicles
  2. Acura pushing forward to become Tier 1 luxury brand, NSX could be revived
  3. How long will it take? Acura still aiming to become a big-league luxury player
  4. New four-door-coupe Acura model coming before NSX
  5. Acura to make ‘huge-shift’ to tier 1 luxury, will offer Acura-only vehicles

  • Turkle
    Wait a minute Acura. If you are contemplating putting hybrid tech in any of your cars I would recommend putting it in the TSX. This car is begging for hybrid technology simply because it would return much better mileage improvements compared to the RDX. Unless Acura is getting rid of the Turbo 4 in the RDX, the car will still be driven hard to justify its sporty characteristics.
  • flex
    What they need more than anything are European designers to join their crew, because it's all good to have the desires and technologies, but dump them in guly sheet of metals makes no sense at all.

    I think some one in upper management is working for Toyota, because it doesn't add up that they should let these saturn styles comming out of a Company that brought us the beloved Legend.
  • flex
    Sorry I meant UGLY^
  • Bobmarley
    guly sounded fine

    I agree "saturn styles" is a good description of their latest designs. Its very dissapointing for acura fans who will probably turn to the cheaper better looking hondas
  • GIgan
    Hybrid RDX? Interesting since they say their IMA system only works for small cars. I say good idea anyhow, hybrids & diesels will help them a lot.
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