Honda’s
Acura luxury brand will unveil an unprecedented three
new vehicles — including the long-awaited successor to
its legendary NSX exotic sports car — on Jan. 9 at the
North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Acura
also will reveal its new ILX compact sport sedan and the
2013 model of its RDX crossover SUV at the show. The
three vehicles will be vital as the struggling brand
tries to generate excitement.
Acura
has never introduced so many vehicles at once.
Production versions of the ILX and the RDX are expected
to go on sale next year, and the new NSX could be on the
road in three years.
The
onslaught may be Acura’s chance to reinvent itself and
regain momentum in the luxury market. While luxury
brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac
have grown this year, Acura has seen its sales fall 7.1
percent.
The
ILX goes on sale in the spring. The compact sedan is
expected to be based on the same platform as the Honda
Civic, a formula that worked for two of Acura’s most
successful cars, the Integra and RSX.
"This
clearly shows Acura is back in the game," said Doug
Fox, president of Ann Arbor (Mich.) Automotive, which
includes Ann Arbor Acura. "The (ILX) gets us back
into a market segment that’s been great for
Acura."
The
ILX lineup will include Acura’s first
gasoline-electric hybrid. It’s likely to compete with
small premium cars such as the Audi A3 and Buick Verano.
The
2013 RDX gives Acura a new entry in the fiercely
competitive midsize luxury crossover market, which
includes the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac SRX and Infiniti
EX.
The
NSX concept is likely to draw the most attention. The
previous NSX was Acura’s brand icon for years. It was
the first Japanese car to challenge Porsche and Ferrari
around the world.
The
original NSX was ahead of its time when the
fuel-efficient, V-6 supercar debuted in 1990. It was
discontinued in 2005. The concept is very similar to the
planned new NSX. It promises to be one of the most
talked-about auto-show debuts of 2012.
"It
says volumes about the North American International Auto
Show that Acura is unveiling all three of these vehicles
in Detroit," Fox said.
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