[ILXfan]

Rumor Mill: Acura Contemplates Getting Rid of “Underpowered” 2.0 ILX

Though sales for the new 2013 Acura ILX have been anything but stellar, reports suggest the Japanese automaker is plotting a major powertrain change that may help turn things around for the premium compact sedan.

Acura plans on dropping the 2.0-liter I-4 from the lineup, as John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president said it’s “underpowered, and consumers don’t see the value,” to Automotive News. This could mean the racier 201-hp 2.4-liter will replace the less-inspiring mill to further set the ILX apart from the 140-hp Civic.

Currently, the more potent 2.4-liter unit is exclusively paired with a six-speed manual transmission, but Mendel also hints that a 2.4 automatic is in the works. Making such changes could help catapult ILX sales, which aren’t close to hitting the initial target of 30,000 units a year. “We’re hitting two-thirds of our expectations, but we’re growing every month and catching on more,” Mendel told Automotive News.

Acura spokesman Chuck Schifsky tells us a different story, however. “The ILX is slowly getting up to where we want it to be, and it’s taking quite a while to get the awareness built up, but the 2.0-liter isn’t going anywhere.” As for a 2.4 automatic, Schifsky says there’s no plan for that, either.


Read more: Rumor Mill: Acura Contemplates Getting Rid of "Underpowered" 2.0 ILX - Rumor Central
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[ILXfan]

 

[ILXfan]

 

[Trentimus]

If they dont goto the Earth Dreams motors, I don't anticipate they'll use the K24 for the Auto models.

 

[cfrp]

Why not? Maybe they should have used a K20 with an automatic transmission. It will further separate people from comparing the Civic to the ILX. Or maybe come out with a 2.4L automatic.

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[Trentimus]

I kinda think about it and the 2.0 being slashed would appear to yield greated MPG reward to goto the Hybrid.. hrm

 

[AcuraPWR]

never was a fan of the 2.0, 2.4 all the way

 

[cfrp]

I kinda think about it and the 2.0 being slashed would appear to yield greated MPG reward to goto the Hybrid.. hrm

What about pricing though? The 2.0L is the cheapest. If they slash it. What will be the base model? Are they going to introduce a base 2.4L? That would piss off some existing 2.4L owners.

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[Popeye]

............. Or maybe come out with a 2.4L automatic.

Bingo !!! That would be the best choice 200+HP should be minimum in a luxury branded car

 

[Popeye]

Are they going to introduce a base 2.4L? That would piss off some existing 2.4L owners.

Only if they price it at Base price model

 

[Trentimus]

I bet if they do it.. it's the K24W going in with a CVT.. price probably stays the same or close to.. BAM ILX sells like hot cakes.

 

[Popeye]

I'm still trying to comprehend the mentality in Torrance to put the Earth Dreams engine in the Accord and not the ILX.

 

[SK89]

Bingo !!! That would be the best choice 200+HP should be minimum in a luxury branded car

Agreed.

They could easily bring the 2.4 from the new Accord with over 200hp while increasing torque. Transmission-wise though, even though I'm not opposed to CVT's, a 6AT seems like a more appropriate choice as an auto option in this car.

They raise the compression ration to 12:1 or 13:1 and tune the car to run on premium, I wonder if they can hit 230hp on the DI 2.4. Though 210hp is pretty good for a sub-3000 lbs. car though.

 

[Trentimus]

I was under the impression that the new ED 2.4 was 180hp/180tq (ish), not over 200hp?

 

[SK89]

I was under the impression that the new ED 2.4 was 180hp/180tq (ish), not over 200hp?

On the Accord. But they could always crank it up and over 200hp for Acura products. I doubt its a big task for them to get it over that mark if they tune it for premium gas, higher compression ratio, and other things like retune the ECU, etc.