egmCarTech

When you pay $35K for the Acura TL you get a loaded vehicle! No need to add any options (other than the navigation system) because it's already standard. The leather that Honda uses for the Acuras is very soft and plush as well. Tier 1 product, why not? And the TL is made in Japan so the quality is there and you know it will last! As far as spending $20 million on a dealership, that may be a bit excessive but I would like to see it though.

Well, they could first start by removing the ugly ass milk mustache grille's on their current cars!

I don't get it. Why people keep saying the Acura has conservative styling? But we all know Acura "borrow" design concepts from BMW. Does BMW look conservative to you? Not to mention Lexus, which I think really has conservative styling look.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No vehicle in thje Acura line-up is worthy of Tier-1 status!! First of all, they need a high-tech modular rear wheel drive platform ONLY for Acura vehicles!! With all of Honda's engineering prowess, they need a fuel efficient, high output V-8 that sends all the other manufacters back to the drawing boards scratching their heads like Honda used to do years ago!! OH and with loads of LOW-END torque!! Then, you need styling that blows everyone away!!!! They also need to create a design language that flows throughout the line and does NOT look like a Honda on steroids!! You have to build cars that people aspire to, not just buy because they couldn't afford what they REALLY WANTED!! Take a look at the most high end vehicles and they all look outstanding and very eye-catching, ie; AM Rapide, the new Lambo, Bentleys, etc. A Tier-1 brand should be instantly recognizable as such by looks, engineering, quality, etc...It should be a brand that the average person says, "If I win the lottery, one of my purchases will be an........................Acura????????????

The problem w/ Honda/Acura is that they are always out in left field marching to the beat of their own drummer for better or worse.

Obviously they can & have built v8s & RWDs ... they just never wanted to for Acura. If they truly have changed their minds the rest of the field better watch out ... people underestimate them & think brands like Hyundai are passing them by. The thing is, Honda/Acura let them pass them by ... it's not like they were trying & got beat. When they put forth the effort I am sure that they can be tier 1.

Better late than never I guess ...

They will NEVER because of the massive amounts of Ball Licking going on @ Acura

Allen,
Obviously Acura is not a "Top Tier" brand right now but of all the brands in the auto industry they could make make the jump quite easily. They do have some racing haritage and have always been a leader in R&D so im sure they could compete with the upper tier class....but do they really want to right now?

Investing 20 million in a dealership may be the worst expenditure of money in this new economy, that money could have been better spent.

I believe that with the design philosophy currently that Acura will need a little more tweaks to become a tier 1 brand. The model types that need to be in acura's line-up to bring it to tier 1 first off will require the RL to become a big player like a S Class, 7 Series and LS. If Hyundai can do it right with the genesis, I believe Acura can take it one step further and bring out a high power luxury car that has variable cylinder management to make it economical in the city.

The next model that needs to be introduced is a sports coupe along what the old Acura CL use to be, but compete in the ranges of 6 series and CL. And if possible one class below a 2 door version of the TL.

These items will beef up its lineup than the 3 vehicles and couple SUV's offered.

Honda has great management, and their manufacturing planning is ahead of the big 3 by large margins; now to produce a top end luxury vehicle is the only thing left.

yes, but Honda is always skeptical of growth

The TL is a step in the right direction but a tier 1 product this vehicle is not. Acura has always been a near-luxury brand and in order for them to shake that image off and move upmarket, they have to emulate Lexus. That may prove to be extremely difficult and for more than one reason. It all depends on how long the current sales slump lasts. If the recession drags on for too long, Acura may come to appreciate the fact that it's NOT a tier 1 brand.

What makes Top Tier brands "Top Tier" is a combination of things, all of which Acura doesn't have.

Step one is price: Acura's entries into the same segments as BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Lexus are all cheaper. The whole point of what we are calling "Tier 1" brands is that there is prestige and an image about it that makes it something more than just a car. Part of that Prestige is in the price: a "cheap" luxury car is not as desireable as one that is easily out of reach for the majority of car buyers (but not Tier 1 car buyers).

Step two: feel. Acura's feel like well built, reasonable, safe automobiles. Thats not what a Tier 1 car is about. The words used to describe Mercedes C 63 AMG are "insane," "blisteringly fast" and "the edge of your seat." BMW's M line of cars can be described as "poised," "controlled" and "extremely well mannered in the turns."

Hence, the way we describe an Acura is the way we'd really like to describe a Honda, not a Tier 1 luxury car.

Step three is "the givens." Its a given that RWD is the norm for these cars, Audi only pulls off AWD due to Quattro's legendary rally status (for Tier 1 buyers, there is no such thing as getting an Audi with FWD: thats for hairdressers). Its a given that it looks brilliantly good, given that there should be a history of excellence in the brand, and given that the best technologies and engineering will be used, and that you paid $58,000 for your BMW M3 because you were getting the best that engineering could make in a sports sedan.

Acura has none of these things, no rear wheel drive (or legendary racing drivetrain), no brilliant designs, and while the brand would be a great thing as second tier luxury, it doesn't have a racing pedigree and a history of excellent cars. Acura needs to enter Formula 1 and rally racing, get the best designers they can, and then do it for another decade before it can join the party.

It has a long way to go, and this $20 million showroom was an absolute waste. Acura won't be driven by the rich and famous (who get in magazines and on the nightly news anyway) for years to come, and thats only if they start giving us the proper Tier 1 package now. They aren't. End of story.

Unfortunately, Honda is probably one of the prime culprits in eliminating the edge in power, handling and interior features between luxury and middle-class cars that makes the "Tier 1" (aka expensive) cars a tough sell. I'd say what they really need to do is enforce a strict Acura-only policy for bigger engines, nav systems, and soforth - make the Honda brand about price, reliability, and mpg; Acura about advanced features and big power.

I'm curious to know what the current image is for Acura? Because i personally see them as a less flashy, quality luxury brand alternative. I would definitely consider an Acura when buying a Lexus or BMW. I do think they need to offer more RWD cars though...depending on cost though?

Step 1 - Build/Assemble ALL Acuras in Japan
Step 2 - Lose at FWD vehicles (MAYBE the RSX can retain it, all others need to be at least RWD)
Step 3 - Less conservative styling... (but NOT an ugly grill)
Step 4 - Beef up the "Type-S" trim to be more M/AMG/F-like (In fact, drop the whole "Type-S" since it's associated with rice and go with "SH")

I love Acura, but as it stands right now, "Acura" is Japanese for "Fully loaded Honda."

That is a good starter engine but of course a v8/10 is necessary .. hopefully the rumors of the 2015 debut are wrong.

RWD is another thing missing but spy shots show that they are working on it.

They are clearly taking baby steps in that direction based upon the recent debuts of softer, quieter, luxury rides ... so hopefully they are serious.

As for 20 million ... that is a lot of $. Regardless if Acura delivers Tier 1 goods or not, their vehicles still sell relatively well so he should be ok.

Let's see they need a V-8, a high-performance division, a flagship sedan, a big SUV, some four seat cabroilet, a sexy coupe-like four door, a lot of "firsts" innovation wise, some form of onstar, a design stduio in Cali, a major yearly event to subsidize, and a break into F1.. Sooo maybe 15 years from now..

The only way they're going to compete with the brands is by offering more value, horsepower, mpg, gadgets,

I love Hondas/Acuras but for all the talk of advancement, Acura (and Honda for that matter) are the ONLY companies that DONT have a 6+ speed Auto.

How can you become a tier 1 company in the next, say, 2 years if 2 years ago all you had were 5 speed autos and V6s...try more like 5+ years to really move into tier 1 territory. maybe.