Sens4Miles

Honda's future plans cut Acura TSX platform

Dealers still expect 2014 TSX in September

The future of Acura's TSX appears uncertain as Honda Motor prepares to abandon the platform used for the compact sedan. Acura boss Jeff Conrad says the TSX will remain in the lineup "for the foreseeable future." But when Acura moved into the entry-luxury segment with the ILX last year it jammed up its sedan lineup -- both in terms of vehicle sizes and pricing ladders.

The ILX and aging TSX are positioned close to each other, as are the TSX and mid-sized TL. The RLX has grown slightly to distance itself from comparisons to the TL, but not by much. Product plans elsewhere within Honda Motor may force Acura's hand.

The TSX is based on the aged smaller Honda Accord platform used in Japan and Europe. The U.S. Accord traditionally has been larger and has been the basis for the Acura TL. But the Accord that debuted in the United States last year is on a new global platform that is sized for the U.S. Accord, rather than the Japanese and European market versions.

The British magazine Autocar reported that slow Accord sales in Europe won't justify a new model or allow Honda to keep the old platform. That makes the TSX a car without a donor platform.

Also, the TL is being redesigned for a summer 2014 launch, and a Honda Motor source said that it will be made smaller to make room for the flagship RLX, which is priced $12,500 higher. But that would put the TL right on top of the TSX in terms of size.

The TL is Acura's best-selling car, while the ILX has struggled to outpace the old TSX. Sales of each nameplate are between 24,000 and 32,000 units a year. Acura has told dealers nothing about a shakeup in the lineup. They expect a 2014 TSX to arrive on schedule in September.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013...NEWS/130609953


They really should figure out a way to keep the TSX. This now 5-year old design just outsold the brand new ILX last month. That should tell them something.

rkyat

I definitely prefer the tsx styling vs the ilx.

IS350jet

This car company is so lost it's unbelievable. Fire Jeff Conrad.

werewolf

To me the TSX is the perfect near-luxury car. I think It's the best sedan in the lineup

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

not when the new accord is out there. Id rather have that

bagwell

I like the TSX (see sig) but for a car that came out in 2009, TSX tech is way behind the times:
no smartkey/keyless ignition(Prius had this in 2004), zero interior LEDs, no LED tail lights, tiny nav screen, no avail parking syst/sensors, no available radar cruise control, no Pandora (or internet features), and tech pkg is a whopping $3100 extra (contains only nav + back-up cam), etc

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

I like the TSX design both in and out.
However,the V6 w/tech pkg hits $40K which is a bit much.

Outrage

I think the TSX has always been outrageously priced for a small mid-sized FWD family sedan.

Whitigir

To me Acura is just another Honda Branch, it is not nearly Luxury whatsoever. Lexus is a Luxury division of Toyota

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

I like the tsx too (not so much the loaded price) over the other acura crap.

So let's get rid of it..........yay, makes perfect sense honda

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

The ILX is just a poorly thought up car. A coworker just picked up a used TSX. Pricewise she was deciding between the two but after sitting in a loaded ILX she just lost all interest in the thing

balMaster

From Acura, TSX is the only car that I would consider, but I just can't take the price. That car is Honda Accord in Japan with the price of Accord. I just checked Japanese Honda website to get the actual price. The car isn't there now... Wow.

bagwell

I would never pay $30K for one...picked mine up used for $21K.

But a select, chosen few are paying $30K for the ILX

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Well something is going to happen soon even if dealers think they are getting a 2014 model and Acura keeps saying it's going away.

The TL will soon be known as the TLX to fit in with the ILX, RLX.

edgeucated

iTrader: (4)

couldn't agree more