#AcuraCSX

On of the largest growth areas in the auto industry is the premium compact segment. Acura had it all locked-down with the Integra and then the RSX and then made the foolish move to axe the car.

A slew of new product info and rumors have popped up, detailing big (and little) changes across Acura’s product portfolio. Updates are planned for the TL, while the there’s more news about the new sub-TSX model, as well as a new direction for Acura’s flagship RL.

Acura might just be starting to get its act together. After several years of passable products, the lack of a true top-tier luxury sedan, the elimination of the RSX and cancellation of the next-generation NSX, comes word of some good products news from Honda’s luxury division.

While we’ve heard several rumors before that Acura is reconsidering getting into smaller cars, a new report by Automotive News is the most credible yet. According to AN, Jeff Conrad, the VP of Acura confirmed at a recent dealer meeting that the brand is looking at expanding its lineup with a new vehicle that would slot in underneath the TSX. While there’s some speculation that Acura would bring the Canadian CSX (essentially a rebadged and gussied-up Civic) to the U.S., the report says this new model would compete against the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30. It would also help Acura meet increasingly strict CAFE regulations.

Rumors have surfaced that Acura is planning to get back into the entry-level luxury segment, with a possible RSX successor coming in 2012. The new model would reportedly be based on the next generation Honda Civic which is due out in 2011 and would compete with vehicles like the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 in the growing premium compact segment.