Remember the Precision Concept presented two years ago? Acura took inspiration from the one-off for the 2019 model year ILX, which will arrive at dealers this October. The more elegant brother of the Honda Civic Sedan is “all-new from the A-pillars forward” according to the automaker, flaunting the diamond-shaped corporate grille and multi-led headlamps.
With the ILX, all sedan and utility models in the lineup now come with AcuraWatch as standard. The suite comprises of Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMB) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
Just like the exterior, the cabin has been upgraded as well. The most telling improvement is the dual-screen user interface, featuring new graphics, quicker response time, and smartphone mirroring for Android and iOS devices. The On Demand Multi-Use Display further promises more intuitive menus and command structures, but in truth, Acura should’ve stuck to a single screen.
All-new wheel designs for 2019 include a 17-inch set with five split spokes, as well as 18-inch wheels for the ILX A-Spec. Available with the Premium and Technology packages, the A-Spec comes with “a more distinctive and easily recognizable performance-inspired character, inside and out.”
Dark chrome trime sets the A-Spec apart from other trim levels, along with the graphite-silver dashboard accent, badged steering wheel with contrast stitching, and aluminum sport pedals. The seats, meanwhile, feature Ebony or Red leather upholstery with Ultrasuede center panels.
Last, but certainly not least, the ILX is available in five new colors. In no particular order, these are Majestic Black Pearl, Performance Red Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Canyon Bronze Metallic, and Apex Blue Pearl (exclusive to the ILX A-Spec).
Acura didn’t let it slip a word on the oily bits, which means the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission soldiers on along with the 201-horsepower engine. The 2.4-liter K24V7 four-cylinder motor relies on natural aspiration and direct injection, packing 180 pound-feet of torque at 3,800 rpm.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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