PEABODY, MASS. (01/16/2012)(readMedia)– As the first Americans projected to make less than their parents in the modern era, Generation Y is expected to be slower than past generations to enter the luxury-car market. With that in mind, Acura unveiled a concept version of its new affordable ILX compact sedan at the Detroit Auto Show last week.
The Acura ILX will be priced below the larger Acura TSX sedan, carrying an MSRP well below $30,000 when it goes on sale this spring at Acura dealerships. Acura noted that, as its new entry-level vehicle, the ILX will address the three most pressing factors that sway a first-time luxury-car buyer’s decision: exterior styling, affordability and environmental responsibility.
“Other luxury brands say that they offer entry-level cars, but their offerings either don’t deliver when it comes to the price tag, or they end up costing a lot more than the base price once you get the luxury features you’d expect included,” said Joel Avery, general manager of Greater Boston Acura dealer Acura of Peabody. “Not only will the ILX offer luxury styling and features that are financially attainable for a larger segment of Gen Y, it will have a hybrid option for those wanting to make the environmentally responsible choice.”
According to Bloomberg News, Honda, Acura’s parent company, believes that Generation Yers still aspire to drive luxury cars like many of their successful Baby Boomer parents even if they don’t have the same earning potential. The ILX will appeal to its Great Recession-affected audience with standard luxury amenities like a smart keyless entry system, pushbutton start, a Pandora internet radio interface and an SMS text message function.
The luxury automaker will also offer ILX customers a choice of three drivetrains, including Acura’s first-ever hybrid drivetrain. Automotive news site Autoblog has speculated that the 1.5-liter gasoline-electric powertrain will be paired with Honda’s IMA electric motor assist and a continuously variable transmission, though no official word has come from Acura. The two other gas-only drivetrains will be a 2.0-liter inline four cylinder paired with an automatic transmission and a 2.4-liter four cylinder connected to a six-speed manual transmission.
Along with its new compact ILX sedan, Acura also unveiled a prototype of its forthcoming RDX sport utility vehicle and a concept of its NSX hybrid sports car in Detroit last week. The five-passenger 2013 RDX is scheduled to go on sale at Acura dealers this spring, while the NSX is expected to launch some time in the next three years.
“The next few years are going to bring exciting changes to Acura’s lineup and the luxury-car market as a whole,” noted Avery. “The focus lately has been on making every vehicle as fuel efficient as possible, but Acura plans to do this without sacrificing style and function, which should greatly expand our customer base as another generation is introduced to the Acura brand.”
About Acura of Peabody:
Thanks to a complete commitment to the Acura Total Luxury Care (TLC) philosophy from the sales, parts and service teams, this dealership has the best customer satisfaction and retention rates of any Acura dealership in the Northeast. They offer an extensive inventory of new and used Acura models, backed by a service center with the highest customer loyalty in the Northeast. Visit their website at www.acuraofpeabody.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/acuraofpeabody, visit their Acura showroom and service center at 233 Andover Street in Peabody, MA, or call them at 888-825-7965.
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