If you‘ve followed my analysis of automakers over the years, you‘ll know I‘m bullish on Honda‘s upstart luxury brand Acura as an underdog ready to shake up the industry. What started in 1986 as an experiment bringing Japanese principles of quality design and driving enjoyment to America has evolved into a formidable contender on the global stage.
In this deep dive feature, I‘ll give you an insider‘s overview of the storied Acura lineup, from its performance sedan roots to recent SUV expansion and forthcoming electric reinvention. You‘ll see how models like the reborn Integra and TLX sedan stack up on specs and pricing compared to German benchmarks. We‘ll take a peek under the sheet metal at the technology and connectivity innovations that set Acura apart. And we‘ll get a driver‘s seat view of two battery-powered concepts – the upcoming ZDX crossover and farther-future Precision EV halo car – that point toward Acura‘s electric dreams.
So buckle that racing harness and let‘s get up to speed! This is the untold history of Acura.
Birth of a Benchmark: Acura Makes a Daring Luxury Entrance
It might be ubiquitous today, but the launch of the Acura brand in 1986 was a bold move by Honda into unknown territory. Seeking to infuse its lineup with a new dimension of performance luxury, executives took inspiration from the elegant design and handling balance found in the best European and domestic sedans.
The result was Acura – combining Japanese words meaning "precision" and "integrity" – storming onto the scene with two head-turning models. The midsize Legend sedan brought a modern twist with exceptional cabin space and features for the price, while the lively Integra hatchback became an instant tuner favorite. By focusing as much on driving enjoyment as luxury trappings, Acura‘s lively and value-packed entries found fans lacking pretension.
"We brought an energy and spirit of driving enjoyment to the luxury space that set us apart," notes Arnold Wu, Acura‘s assistant VP of brand marketing since 2001.
I remember the infectious Acura attitude catching on quickly in that decade. By sponsoring events like pro skiing championships and scoring prominent screen time tuner culture movies like The Fast and The Furious, Acura cemented a performance image that still runs strong today. Now into its fourth decade though, can the company capture the imagination of a new generation of digital natives careening toward an electric future?
Present Power Players: ICE Models Anchoring Acura‘s Lineup
While much buzz surrounds its coming electric entries, internally combustion engine (ICE) powered sedans and SUVs still make up the bread-and-butter of Acura‘s business in 2023. Let‘s analyze how four key models positioned:
Acura Integra – Born Again Hatchback
Reviving a renowned nameplate from the 1990s, today‘s Integra recaptures the essence of the third and fourth generation cars that drove like go-karts. More than just nostalgia-bait though, the new liftback positions itself as a more polished alternative to compacts like Honda‘s Civic Si. With pricing below $32,000 out the door and a 200 horsepower turbo-4, Acura pitches the Integra specifically at younger enthusiasts.
Considering inflation, the modern model even slightly undercuts the 2000 Integra on sticker price – an astounding value for the performance. Between that and the practical 5-door design, it‘s easy to see the 2023 car pulling the same tuner heartstrings as its forebear despite increasing electrification.
| Spec | 2023 Acura Integra |
|---|---|
| Base Price | $31,895 |
| Engine | 1.5L Turbo I-4 |
| Power | 200 hp |
| Transmission | CVT / 6-speed manual |
Acura TLX – Athletic Sedan Alternative
In many ways the TLX picks up where the discontinued TL left off, combining crisp handling with the space of a midsize luxury sedan. Taut suspension tuning, torque vectoring AWD and an eager 272hp V6 give the TLX refinement without losing excitement. Aerodynamic sculpting like its claimed 0.27 drag coefficient even match figures from the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA.
Passengers enjoy well-padded seats and a 60/40 folding rear bench for added cargo flexibility. Tech like wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and an upscale ELS audio system come standard as well – just a sampling of how Acura packs value up against BMW and Audi. Performance styling cues on the A-Spec trim take the attitude up another notch for driving purists.
| Spec | 2023 Acura TLX AWD w/Tech Pkg | 2023 BMW 330i xDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $46,800 | $48,550 |
| Engine | 3.0L V6 Turbo | 2.0L Turbo I-4 |
| Power | 272 hp | 255 hp |
| Torque | 280 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft |
Acura RDX – Premium Tech-Laden SUV
As Acura‘s top-selling nameplate, the RDX compact luxury SUV shows the automaker‘s tech focus within a versatile package. Generous passenger dimensions plus 58.9 cu ft of storage give the RDX everyday flexibility to rival the BMW X3. Yet wherever you look, smart innovation comes along for the ride – from the panoramic moonroof overhead to ambient interior lighting and a 10.2-inch driver display loaded with connectivity.
Under the skin, a performance-tuned 2.0-liter turbo teams up with torque vectoring Super Handling AWD (SH-AWD) for vigor belying the size. And with ride comfort emphasized as well, it‘s easy to see why the RDX finds itself on so many family driveways as an upscale alternative to mainstream crossovers.
| Spec | 2023 Acura RDX A-Spec | 2023 BMW X3 xDrive30i |
|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $52,000 | $57,800 |
| Engine | 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 2.0L Turbo I-4 |
| Power | 272 hp | 248 hp |
| Torque | 280 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft |
Acura MDX – Family-Hauling Flagship
As the brand‘s three-row flagship, the MDX leads Acura‘s tech push even farther with thoughtful family minded innovation. Beyond expected features like soft-touch leather is cleverness like camera-based traffic sign monitoring on its head-up display and a handy digital rear mirror. Removing the MDX‘s innovative second row center seat converts it to captain‘s chairs with a touch.
Combine all this with 3 rows of seating, roomy cargo capacity behind the third row, and standard active safety systems like collision mitigation braking and road departure prevention, and suddenly the MDX reveals itself not simply as a gussied-up family SUV alternative but rather a fully modern take on moving people and their gear.
| Spec | 2023 Acura MDX | 2023 Audi Q7 55 TFSI quattro |
|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $49,550 | $61,500 |
| Engine | 3.5L V6 Turbo | 3.0L V6 Turbo |
| Power | 290 hp | 340 hp |
| Torque | 267 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft |
Peeking Into the Crystal Ball: Acura‘s Upcoming EVs
Exciting as they may be, Acura‘s staple four internal combustion models represent just part of the story when it comes to understanding a brand on the move. As Arnold Wu tells me, "Our commitment to electric isn‘t reactionary, it‘s evolutionary." Leveraging parent company Honda‘s industry-leading work on batter tech and recycling, Acura aims higher – to deliver EVs imbued with the spirit that will wow a new generation.
While production models and specs remain veiled in secrecy, two stunning concepts preview the automaker‘s ambitions…
Acura ZDX Type S – Striking Google-Connected Crossover
Storming onto roads in 2024, the ZDX Type S will inaugurate Acura‘s new EV era with youthful aggression. Though purely conceptual for now, the ethereal ZDX draws the eye from every angle with cantilevered wheels pushed flush with muscular fenders. Signature Acura styling cues get a provocative twist as well in details like the Diamond Pentagon grille member and "Particle Glitch" LED accents.
Google also steps deeper into the cabin, with Android apps and services natively integrated into the ZDX standard interface rather than requiring a tethered phone. Enhanced Google Maps offer trip planning and range assurance in one intuitive interface. And Google Assistant provides natural voice control over navigation, media and vehicle functions conserving driver focus.
Though exact figures remain murky ahead of production, expect dimensions similar to compact SUVs like Audi‘s e-tron on a bespoke EV platform. Industry sources suggest the ZDX will also utilize GM‘s flexible Ultium battery architecture for its 300+ mile range in top Type S trim. Pricing looks to start around $55,000 when the model hits streets next year.
Acura Precision EV Concept – Peeking Into the Performance Future
Whereas the ZDX hints at Acura‘s nearer term ambitions, the Precision EV stretches imagination farther into the future with a scintillating vision super sedan. While purely conceptual without a production timeline, the Precision EV foreshadows the brand‘s aspirations for an electric halo flagship.
From its gracefully arching roofline to distinctive Diamond Pentagon grille elements, the ethereal four-door exterior accentuates motion even while standing still. Inside too marks a radical departure from predecessors, with a curved wall of transparent OLED displays putting critical info directly in the driver‘s sightline via haptic touch response.
Venturing beyond even the most decadent luxury cruisers today, the Precision EV cabin World‘s-Fair-in-motion with holographic controls, personalized sound zones and ultrasonic haptic seats to literally realign occupant muscles. Yet make no mistake, performance still takes priority as evidenced by the promised sub-2 second 0-60 mph time and experimental battery promising 1,000 horsepower(!).
"We built our reputation creating an incredible connection between machine and driver," Wu remarks on the concept model. "Now we‘re using EV architecture and autonomous systems coming not to isolate motorists, but amplify the thrill even farther."
So while the aimed-at-2040 Precision EV pushes practical boundaries today, expect select elements like its radical digital displays to filter down to production Acuras sooner than expected.
Pushing Performance Into the Future
Given Acura‘s history of advancing the industry on technology integration and emotional driving engagement, few automakers seem as well-equipped to bridge the old and new worlds of propulsion. By embracing electric platforms as a canvas for further ambition rather than compliance vehicle, Acura sets it sights squarely on the future without losing the spark that‘s driven it for 35 years.
The days of manual transmission Integras ruling amateur racing may fade into history books before long. Yet new generations in the 2030s and beyond will still find driver-centric spirit coursing strong through Acuras on road and virtual track. Because soul-stirring performance doesn‘t rely merely on engines – it lies in the passion passed like a luminous baton from one visionary generation to the next.
So what memories will the electric era Acuras of tomorrow ignite years down the road? We‘ll just have to buckle up for the thrilling ride to come!
