Is Acura A Luxury Brand?
05-05-09, 11:15 AM
#46
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I don't mind the tier system. It helps stratify these brands in some logical way. The only problem is that the system varies from person to person. I would agree with the breakdown above with Jaguar somehow split between tiers 1 and 2 since they do have a legitimate full-sized luxury sedan and Porsche being tier 1. I don't think it has as much to do with sales as it does prestige and image perception.
That said, there's probably another level above tier one called, I dunno... Tier Prime which would include low-volume, hyper-exclusive brands like Rolls, Bentley, Aston, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and the like.
That said, there's probably another level above tier one called, I dunno... Tier Prime which would include low-volume, hyper-exclusive brands like Rolls, Bentley, Aston, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and the like.
05-05-09, 11:25 AM
#47
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Guys Bently/Maybach etc is not a Tier. Those are super saloons. They are like exotics, in their own class.
Tier 1- BMW/Benz/Lexus/Audi (V-8, RWD, true D-class flagships)
(now in America/Worldwide public perceptions may have Audi/Lexus swap places)
Tier II-CAddy, Lincoln, Infiniti, Volvo (V-8s offered, no D class flagship)
Tier III- Acura, Saab, Buick. etc (mostly FWD, V-6, small lineup offered)
As Andrew stated, some cars within a brand do not fall into that "Tier" (his Benz A/B class example is on point). Concerning Audi, while America is not overally receptive to them, their lineup is by far Tier I, from the S4, S5 to R8 to W-12 A8.
I hope this helps everyone.
Tier 1- BMW/Benz/Lexus/Audi (V-8, RWD, true D-class flagships)
(now in America/Worldwide public perceptions may have Audi/Lexus swap places)
Tier II-CAddy, Lincoln, Infiniti, Volvo (V-8s offered, no D class flagship)
Tier III- Acura, Saab, Buick. etc (mostly FWD, V-6, small lineup offered)
As Andrew stated, some cars within a brand do not fall into that "Tier" (his Benz A/B class example is on point). Concerning Audi, while America is not overally receptive to them, their lineup is by far Tier I, from the S4, S5 to R8 to W-12 A8.
I hope this helps everyone.
05-05-09, 11:53 AM
#48
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Acura is still a lux brand IMO. But I don't exactly put them on par with the other lux brands. Their current lineup leaves leaves me feeling a little empty inside.
I used to love the Honda/Acura brand when I was a kid. How could you not, growing up in CA with imports all around you. Now, it's almost like an afterthought. Which is quite disappointing.
Bring back the Integra, Legend ,NSX and S2000 dammit!
I used to love the Honda/Acura brand when I was a kid. How could you not, growing up in CA with imports all around you. Now, it's almost like an afterthought. Which is quite disappointing.
Bring back the Integra, Legend ,NSX and S2000 dammit!
05-05-09, 07:01 PM
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05-05-09, 10:34 PM
#53
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I agree with this article. Acura is nothing but an "ultra-Accord" brand. No luxury off-road (body-on-frame) SUVs. No hybrids. No V8s. No RWD. The interior of all Acuras look similar to one another, and in effect look similar to an Accord interior as well.
05-05-09, 11:53 PM
#54
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The A8, A4, and A3, as I understand it, according to VW itself, share platforms with equivalent VW products...Phaeton, Passat, and Jetta/Golf. The TT is a somewhat reworked version of the Jetta/Golf platform. The Q7 is a slightly stretched version of the VW Touraeg/Porsche Cayenne platform; the Q5 the VW Tiguan's. The A5/A6, I'm not sure of.
The Audi A8 is based on the D3 platform, which is a highly reworked version of the D1 platform which underpins the VW Phaeton and Bentley Continental/Flying Spur. The A8 uses aluminum for the spaceframe, which is why it has it's own platform code.
The current PQ46 (B6) Passat/CC is essentially a stretched and slightly widened Golf/Jetta platform. This platform is shared with no Audi products at all. The A4, A5 and Q5 are based on the B8 platform, which again, is not used by VW at all. The Tiguan is not shared with Audi, this is false. The Q7 and Touareg share the same plaform as the Cayenne, but each is vastly different from an exterior and interior standpoint. The A3 is based on the Golf yet there is no resemblance at all.
Audi also engineers engines in an autonomous manner. The 2.0TFSI found on the new Audi's is different from VW's 2.0 TSI. The VW narrow angle VR6 engines are not used on any Audis but the Q7. Ditto on the W8, ditto on the Audi 2.8, 3.0 V6s, 3.2 FSI, and 4.2 FSI, all not used by VW.
You really have to understand the way Audi has always operated under the mother company. There was always a certain animosity between the two engineering groups, especially on the Audi side, and especially in the late 90s. VW has long given Audi lots of breathing space to do what want to over in Ingolstadt. This strucutre is vastly different to that of an Acura/Honda or Nissan/Infiniti relationship, which are just essentially divisional brands. Audi is a separate entity which falls under the VW Group umbrella.
Last edited by FKL; 05-05-09 at 11:59 PM.
05-06-09, 07:17 AM
#55
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I'd call it a premium brand and not a luxury brand
05-06-09, 07:21 AM
#56
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The Audi A8 is based on the D3 platform, which is a highly reworked version of the D1 platform which underpins the VW Phaeton and Bentley Continental/Flying Spur. The A8 uses aluminum for the spaceframe, which is why it has it's own platform code.
The current PQ46 (B6) Passat/CC is essentially a stretched and slightly widened Golf/Jetta platform. This platform is shared with no Audi products at all. The A4, A5 and Q5 are based on the B8 platform, which again, is not used by VW at all. The Tiguan is not shared with Audi, this is false. The Q7 and Touareg share the same plaform as the Cayenne, but each is vastly different from an exterior and interior standpoint. The A3 is based on the Golf yet there is no resemblance at all.
Audi also engineers engines in an autonomous manner. The 2.0TFSI found on the new Audi's is different from VW's 2.0 TSI. The VW narrow angle VR6 engines are not used on any Audis but the Q7. Ditto on the W8, ditto on the Audi 2.8, 3.0 V6s, 3.2 FSI, and 4.2 FSI, all not used by VW.
You really have to understand the way Audi has always operated under the mother company. There was always a certain animosity between the two engineering groups, especially on the Audi side, and especially in the late 90s. VW has long given Audi lots of breathing space to do what want to over in Ingolstadt. This strucutre is vastly different to that of an Acura/Honda or Nissan/Infiniti relationship, which are just essentially divisional brands. Audi is a separate entity which falls under the VW Group umbrella.
The current PQ46 (B6) Passat/CC is essentially a stretched and slightly widened Golf/Jetta platform. This platform is shared with no Audi products at all. The A4, A5 and Q5 are based on the B8 platform, which again, is not used by VW at all. The Tiguan is not shared with Audi, this is false. The Q7 and Touareg share the same plaform as the Cayenne, but each is vastly different from an exterior and interior standpoint. The A3 is based on the Golf yet there is no resemblance at all.
Audi also engineers engines in an autonomous manner. The 2.0TFSI found on the new Audi's is different from VW's 2.0 TSI. The VW narrow angle VR6 engines are not used on any Audis but the Q7. Ditto on the W8, ditto on the Audi 2.8, 3.0 V6s, 3.2 FSI, and 4.2 FSI, all not used by VW.
You really have to understand the way Audi has always operated under the mother company. There was always a certain animosity between the two engineering groups, especially on the Audi side, and especially in the late 90s. VW has long given Audi lots of breathing space to do what want to over in Ingolstadt. This strucutre is vastly different to that of an Acura/Honda or Nissan/Infiniti relationship, which are just essentially divisional brands. Audi is a separate entity which falls under the VW Group umbrella.
05-06-09, 10:54 AM
#57
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The Audi A8 is based on the D3 platform, which is a highly reworked version of the D1 platform which underpins the VW Phaeton and Bentley Continental/Flying Spur. The A8 uses aluminum for the spaceframe, which is why it has it's own platform code.
The current PQ46 (B6) Passat/CC is essentially a stretched and slightly widened Golf/Jetta platform. This platform is shared with no Audi products at all. The A4, A5 and Q5 are based on the B8 platform, which again, is not used by VW at all. The Tiguan is not shared with Audi, this is false. The Q7 and Touareg share the same plaform as the Cayenne, but each is vastly different from an exterior and interior standpoint. The A3 is based on the Golf yet there is no resemblance at all.
Audi also engineers engines in an autonomous manner. The 2.0TFSI found on the new Audi's is different from VW's 2.0 TSI. The VW narrow angle VR6 engines are not used on any Audis but the Q7. Ditto on the W8, ditto on the Audi 2.8, 3.0 V6s, 3.2 FSI, and 4.2 FSI, all not used by VW.
You really have to understand the way Audi has always operated under the mother company. There was always a certain animosity between the two engineering groups, especially on the Audi side, and especially in the late 90s. VW has long given Audi lots of breathing space to do what want to over in Ingolstadt. This strucutre is vastly different to that of an Acura/Honda or Nissan/Infiniti relationship, which are just essentially divisional brands. Audi is a separate entity which falls under the VW Group umbrella.
The current PQ46 (B6) Passat/CC is essentially a stretched and slightly widened Golf/Jetta platform. This platform is shared with no Audi products at all. The A4, A5 and Q5 are based on the B8 platform, which again, is not used by VW at all. The Tiguan is not shared with Audi, this is false. The Q7 and Touareg share the same plaform as the Cayenne, but each is vastly different from an exterior and interior standpoint. The A3 is based on the Golf yet there is no resemblance at all.
Audi also engineers engines in an autonomous manner. The 2.0TFSI found on the new Audi's is different from VW's 2.0 TSI. The VW narrow angle VR6 engines are not used on any Audis but the Q7. Ditto on the W8, ditto on the Audi 2.8, 3.0 V6s, 3.2 FSI, and 4.2 FSI, all not used by VW.
You really have to understand the way Audi has always operated under the mother company. There was always a certain animosity between the two engineering groups, especially on the Audi side, and especially in the late 90s. VW has long given Audi lots of breathing space to do what want to over in Ingolstadt. This strucutre is vastly different to that of an Acura/Honda or Nissan/Infiniti relationship, which are just essentially divisional brands. Audi is a separate entity which falls under the VW Group umbrella.
05-08-09, 04:42 PM
#58
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Honestly, I would rather have a Honda than a Acura, Acura's are just so ugly lately, plus FWD is not in the luxury vocabulary.
05-08-09, 04:45 PM
#59
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and building some of the most beautiful and well engineered vehicles in the world!
Last edited by 8speed; 05-08-09 at 04:48 PM.
