ILX Production Information
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 2:22PM 
At the Chicago Auto Show Acura introduced the production version of the all-new 2013 ILX. They provided a good deal of information but have stopped short of releasing pricing for now. However, we can share what we know so far. There will be three engines available in the ILX; a 2.0 liter 150 hp four-cylinder, a 2.4 liter 201 hp four-cylinder, and a 1.5 liter Hybrid.
These engines will go into a compact body that measures only 179.1 inches long. Overall with is 70.6 inches and of the wheelbase is 105.1 inches. The only Acura sedan that was even close to this size was the second generation Integra. That car was 178.1 inches long and 67.3 inches wide with a wheelbase of 103.1 inches. I've spoken to many people who miss having a smaller car and Acura thinks this car could fit the bill.
The ILX chassis utilizes McPherson struts for the front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension system. To provide better handling without compromising ride quality, Acura is using new Amplitude Reactive Dampers. As with most new Acura models, Electric Power Steering replaces the older hydraulic steering assist. These systems allow for a wider range of variable assist and improve fuel economy by reducing parasitic drag.
Inside the car, all ILXs will feature a standard Keyless Access System, Push Button Start, Pandora Internet Radio Interface, and a SMS Text Message function that allows users to reply to messages with pre-set responses.
In an effort to ensure high value, the ILS will be available with cloth seating as standard. The available Premium Package adds Leather Seating Surfaces, Heated Front Seats, an upgraded 360 W stereo system, Multiview Rearview Camera, and Active Sound Cancellation.
Buyers stepping up to the Technology Package will get all of the features of the Premium Package plus the ELS Surround Sound Audio System, Satellite Navigation with Voice Recognition. As with other Acura's, the navigation system is now hard disk drive-based for faster response times and the added benefit of 15 GB of storage for the owner's MP3 music files.
Acura's new 2.0 liter engine makes 150 hp at 6500 RPM and 140 pound feet of torque at 4300 RPM. It will be paired with a sequential sport shift five speed automatic transmission. Preliminary fuel economy ratings are an estimated 24/32 mpg (city/highway).
The 2.4 liter engine will be paired exclusively with a close ratio six speed manual transmission. Essentially, it's the same engine that is used in the popular TSX and is rated for 201 hp at 7000 RPM and 170 pound feet of torque at 4300 RPM.
The 1.5 L gas electric hybrid uses Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) and is paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). With this system, the gasoline engine is the primary power source and the electric motor provides extra power when needed. The total system power of 110 hp at 5500 RPM and 127 pound feet at four from 1000 RPM can be deceptive. This is because the gasoline engine and the electric motor each reach their power peaks at slightly different times which make these systems feel significantly stronger than the modest power ratings would lead you to believe. Having said that, I'm quite sure that the focus of the ILX Hybrid will be economy and not outright performance. We've been driving a Honda CR-Z that uses a similar hybrid system for over a year now, and you can read about my thoughts here: Deep Dive into the CR-Z
Reader Comments (3)
For me, I'd like to see a hatchback version of the ILX with the 2.4 motor/6speed combo and cloth seats....it might be on my short list to replace my beloved 2002 RSX (which still runs like a Swiss watch by the way). The CRZ is cool, but not a worthy replacement for what I want.
Brian, I am hopeful that they'll find a way to make another 4 cylinder coupe for us one day. It's pretty clear that this is not in the immediate plans as there are a lot of revisions of current cars that they need to get out of the gate first.
That's for sure....I just hope that Honda somehow can re-connect to what some of us long-time Honda lovers experienced back in the '80s and '90s: Watching Senna and Prost duel in those beast F1 Hondas, then climbing into my Prelude and feeling hard-wired to the car and the road. The spirit of Soichiro Honda seemed to translate well back in the day, and the RSX (even in base form) was a sweet driving tool.