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10. Acura TSX - 34.3%
How do you get Generation Y interested in cars? To answer that question perhaps the best move is to take a look at what cars they do already like.
Thanks to new stats provided by J.D. Power and Associates we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 cars with the highest percentage of buyers aged of 16 to 35 in 2012. And if there is one common theme, it’s that Generation Y isn’t big on domestics, with just one vehicle from the Big 3 making the list.
Kicking off the top 10 list is the Acura TSX, where 34.3 percent of its buyers were between the ages of 16 to 35. The entry-level sedan offers luxury amenities at a budget price, while providing owners with the reliability and comfort that Acura is known for. The Acura TSX had an average MSRP (the average price across all trim levels) of $32,251 last year.
Honda’s European Accord, better known in the U.S. as the Acura TSX, is under development.
To help widen the gap between the Acura TSX model from the smaller, newly-released ILX, the Japanese automaker has increased its pricing $500 across every trim level for the 2013 model year.
Acura just announced pricing for its new ILX sedan, which will start at $25,900 and runs all the way to $34,400 for the highest-priced hybrid model.
Ranging from a 2.0-liter inline four cylinder engine in the base model to the 2.4-liter powerplant sourced from the Honda Civic Si and topped out cost-wise with the 1.5-liter hybrid drivetrain, the ILX will go on sale at dealerships starting May 22.
RealTime Racing has become a staple of the SCCA World Challenge series over the last decade, racing some of the world’s top-bred Acuras to success. Now the team looks poised and ready to reclaim the manufacturer’s championship in the GTS class with their newly-upgraded V6 TSX race cars.
In 2010, RealTime Racing took home the inaugural GTS class Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ championship but last year they had to fend off V8-powered Ford Mustangs. Even though it was a fairly successful campaign with one win, two pole positions, and eight podium finishes, the second place in the manufacturers standings didn’t sit well with the team. In the off-season, RealTime Racing decided to swap out the four-cylinder powerplant in its race car for a more formidable V6.
For the 2012 season, the TSXs will be powered by Acura’s 3.5L VTEC V6 engine, which will give it the power it needs to compete with the likes of the BMW M3, Nissan 370Z, Mitsubishi Evo, Audi TT, and more.
“In order to improve the competitiveness of the TSX in World Challenge, we have moved forward with switching RealTime from the four-cylinder to the V6,” said Lee Niffenegger, Senior Engineer at Honda Performance Development. “Making the switch to the top trim level of our TSX engine line-up will enable RealTime to continue its record-setting performance in the Series, while further establishing this Acura model as one of the most successful in World Challenge history.”
Peter Cunningham, team owner and the winningest driver in World Challenge history, will be back behind the wheel of the number-42 RealTime Acura TSX, joined by teammate Nick Esayian in the number-34 TSX. You can watch the St. Petersburg doubleheader season opener live this weekend.
When the Acura TSX first went on sale in North America it broke with convention, proving a luxury sports sedan could not only use a 4-cylinder, but also be front-wheel drive. Having grown in size since then it’s lost some of its charm.
Rather than re-invent the car, Acura may look to delete it completely from the brand’s North American lineup as part of a new model strategy.
Acura is looking to introduce a Civic-based RSX sedan to North America, which would result in the brand having two smaller front-wheel drive sedans – which is perhaps one too many. In addition, Acura’s plans call for the TL to shrink in size, to avoid so much competition with the flagship RL. As a result of these changes the TSX could get squeezed out of the lineup.
If there is one thing that could save the TSX it’s that it is based on the Euro-market Honda Accord and therefore much of the R&D expense is already covered.
Honda hasn’t confirmed if it will axe the TSX, but it is one decision being considered.
[Source: Automotive News via CNET]
Honda‘s manufacturing plants will remain closed, while the heart of their company, the research & development facility in Tochigi, Japan, will undergo months of repairs after being severely damaged by the earthquake that devastated Japan earlier in March.
Honda originally planned to keep their plants closed until March 27th but has decided to extend the closures until April 3rd. Workers at Tochigi will be transferred to other locations. The company released a statement claiming “based on the expectation that it will take several months until the complete recovery of these facilities, Honda decided to temporally transfer some functions such as the automobile product development, development of manufacturing technologies and procurement to Honda operations in other locations such as Sayama, Suzuka, and Wako.”
Supplies of vehicles like the Honda Fit, CR-V and Acura TSX will be affected by the production delays. One person died and 30 were injuried when a wall at a cafeteria at the Tochigi facility collapsed. Honda held meetings at a nearby restaurant after employees were barred from entering the building for safety reasons. Honda’s parts suppliers have also told the company that it will take a week for them to resume normal production schedules.
[Source: Automotive News]
Acura‘s streak of visually dismal product introductions has finally been broken with the TSX sport wagon, a pretty interesting compact wagon that’s destined to sell like two week old carp, but will surely be a darling of auto journalists everywhere.
Based on the European market Honda Accord wagon, the TSX is curiously sold only in a 2.4L four-cylinder/5-speed automatic configuration. Why Honda doesn’t even offer their 3.5L V6 is beyond us, as it would make a seriously compelling alternative to a number of station wagons and even small crossovers.
For the added utility, you’ll have to pay $30,960, an increase $1,350 over the 2011 TSX sedan. Here’s hoping somebody buys these things.
[Source: Acura]
The Acura TSX is still a solid if overlooked choice in the entry level sports sedan segment, and possibly the only luxury sedan that’s used as a race school training car. For 2011, Acura has slightly upgraded the interior and exterior styling as well as given the car a minor bump in mpg.
The front fascia and spoiler have been slightly tweaked, while the taillights and rear license plate garnish have always been modified.New rims have also been fitted to the 4-cylinder model. Inside, the design and materials have been updated, while rear seat passengers get heating and cooling vents situated in the back of the center console.
TSXs equipped with the 2.4L engine see a 1 mpg bump in all areas, while the V6 models get a 1 mpg bump for city and highway fuel economy, and a 2 mpg bump on the combined cycle.
[Source: Acura]
Hit the jump to read the official press release