Acura built its name with the sporty, economical Integra, a car still beloved by many. The ILX is a return to the original recipe that was so successful at building Acura as a premium sporty brand. The carefully optimized lightweight design ethic applied to every Acura is in its most concentrated form with the ILX, which also opens Acura up to compact-segment buyers again. That sound you're hearing is compact luxury sedan buyers rejoicing.

 

Launching in 2012 as a 2013 model, the sporty, luxurious ILX will serve as a gateway into the Acura brand. The ILX exterior design is clearly Acura with a prominent blade grille and a shape that's aerodynamically optimized and free of garish styling frippery. "First-time luxury buyers tend to place a high value on exterior styling, affordability and environmental issues," says John Ikeda, Acura's Design Studio Chief. The efficient aerodynamics help the ILX slice through the atmosphere without needing a huge, thirsty engine just to attain adequate performance. Visibility is stellar from the large glass area, which lends an airy feeling to the luxuriously trimmed interior that comfortably accommodates five passengers.

 

The ILX buyer is presented with a choice of three powertrains. A 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder smoothly winds out 150 hp and 140 lb/ft of torque while earning up to an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway when paired with the Sequential SportShift five-speed automatic transmission. The power hungry will find satisfaction from the available 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder that puts out 201 hp and 170 lb/ft of torque. Driving enthusiasts will love the close-ratio six-speed manual, too.

 

The 2013 ILX line will include the first-ever Acura hybrid, too. A 1.5-liter engine pairs with the Integrated Motor Assist^® system and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to deliver up to 35 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. The powertrain teams up for a combined rating of 111 hp and 127 lb/ft of torque, and the hybrid system uses its lithium-ion battery to run the in-car accessories at stoplights, shutting down the engine when it can to save fuel and reduce emissions.

 

Every ILX is underpinned by a finely tuned chassis that uses MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link setup for locating the rear wheels. New Amplitude Reactive Dampers deliver both comfort and precise handling, and steering via Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering improves fuel economy without degrading steering feel. The ILX chassis is a refined, sporty affair, and Acura's Advanced Compatibility Engineering^™ (ACE^™) body structure provides a solid foundation for the suspension. The ACE^™ structure also enhances safety, and the ILX features front, side and side-curtain airbags and Vehicle Stability Assist^™ stability control standard.

 

The ILX is as refined inside as it is underneath. There's plenty of standard equipment like keyless access and push-button start, an audio system with Pandora^® Internet Radio interface and SMS functionality, and the available options and packages give you nearly anything you could ever want in your car. The Premium Package outfits the seating surfaces with leather, adds a 360-watt audio system, rear-view camera and Active Sound Cancellation to reduce cabin noise. The Technology Package gives you the acclaimed ELS Surround^® audio system, which features AcuraLink^® Satellite Communication, Navigation with Voice Recognition^™, Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting^™ and Real-Time Weather^™ that can display radar maps. A 60GB hard drive stores music and navigation map data, too.

 

The ILX delivers all that's always been fantastic about Acura vehicles in a new, more compact form that doesn't skimp on any of the niceties. The smaller size is exceptionally maneuverable for drivers who need to get around in urban situations without stress, and it's also economical when stretching its legs on the highway. Acura is committed to delivering a premium, high-performance experience across all segments of the market, and now there's a new compact sports sedan kid in town with the 2013 Acura ILX.