Acura says it's putting fuel economy ahead of performance
08-20-09, 11:21 PM
#1
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Acura says it's putting fuel economy ahead of performance
Seriously, its like a big joke that runs every month and every year.
Acura says it's putting fuel economy ahead of performance
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...73357440515813
Mark Rechtin
Automotive News
August 17, 2009 - 12:01 am ET
LOS ANGELES -- In the heated luxury-car wars, horsepower is king. Or is it?
In a reversal of years of performance-based product development (which cars were that exactly?), Acura sees fuel economy as a way to differentiate itself from other luxury marques.
"Hitting the 2016 CAFE requirements is going to be hard," said John Watts, senior manager of Acura product planning. "We are betting more in the fuel economy direction.
"Although we are in a horsepower war, we feel that fuel economy is the way to go ... while striking a balance to meet the needs of the market."
Granted, Acura won't walk away from high-performance vehicles ( they don't have any). But would most luxury sedan owners be offended by a powertrain tuned for a 0-to-60 run of 6.4 seconds, as opposed to 5.8 seconds, if the end result were three more miles per gallon (actually buddy, the competition offers NOW what you are proposing WITHOUT losing performance)?
It likely doesn't help Acura's performance credibility that parent Honda Motor Co. axed its V-8 and rear-wheel-drive development programs. That might force the brand to look at other ways of standing out.
"We are not following the same approach to the market, (no kidding)" Watts said. "After we come out of this economy, things are going to be significantly different in customer behavior and what customers are looking for." (yes everyone will have taken advantage of this time and continued to roll out high HP/performance products/hybrids and diesels while you TALK about it)
Watts said the luxury customer of the future won't just focus on horsepower as the key feature.
Watts sees Acura taking a lead position in other areas, such as user-friendly technology. (in other words we have nice Navigation)
Acura also is studying hybrid versions of its vehicles. (again studying while others HAVE these vehicles already)
"It's a logical direction," Watts said. (yes Lexus figured that out in 2006)
Wags may wonder about the genuineness of Acura's fuel economy mission as the brand rolls out a V-6 version of the redesigned TSX, which previously came only as a four-cylinder. (, also a ZDX that gets 16/22 and offering AWD in nearly all your products which hurts MPG
)
But with the new TL sedan becoming larger and more expensive, the TSX V-6 holds a place on the Acura pricing ladder for returning TL owners who cannot afford the new model. (well thats a slap in the face, except you can get TLs for 4k off list and reports of 6/7k in some instances)
Acura says it's putting fuel economy ahead of performance
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...73357440515813
Mark Rechtin
Automotive News
August 17, 2009 - 12:01 am ET
LOS ANGELES -- In the heated luxury-car wars, horsepower is king. Or is it?
In a reversal of years of performance-based product development (which cars were that exactly?), Acura sees fuel economy as a way to differentiate itself from other luxury marques.
"Hitting the 2016 CAFE requirements is going to be hard," said John Watts, senior manager of Acura product planning. "We are betting more in the fuel economy direction.
"Although we are in a horsepower war, we feel that fuel economy is the way to go ... while striking a balance to meet the needs of the market."
Granted, Acura won't walk away from high-performance vehicles ( they don't have any). But would most luxury sedan owners be offended by a powertrain tuned for a 0-to-60 run of 6.4 seconds, as opposed to 5.8 seconds, if the end result were three more miles per gallon (actually buddy, the competition offers NOW what you are proposing WITHOUT losing performance)?
It likely doesn't help Acura's performance credibility that parent Honda Motor Co. axed its V-8 and rear-wheel-drive development programs. That might force the brand to look at other ways of standing out.
"We are not following the same approach to the market, (no kidding)" Watts said. "After we come out of this economy, things are going to be significantly different in customer behavior and what customers are looking for." (yes everyone will have taken advantage of this time and continued to roll out high HP/performance products/hybrids and diesels while you TALK about it)
Watts said the luxury customer of the future won't just focus on horsepower as the key feature.
Watts sees Acura taking a lead position in other areas, such as user-friendly technology. (in other words we have nice Navigation)
Acura also is studying hybrid versions of its vehicles. (again studying while others HAVE these vehicles already)
"It's a logical direction," Watts said. (yes Lexus figured that out in 2006)
Wags may wonder about the genuineness of Acura's fuel economy mission as the brand rolls out a V-6 version of the redesigned TSX, which previously came only as a four-cylinder. (, also a ZDX that gets 16/22 and offering AWD in nearly all your products which hurts MPG
)But with the new TL sedan becoming larger and more expensive, the TSX V-6 holds a place on the Acura pricing ladder for returning TL owners who cannot afford the new model. (well thats a slap in the face, except you can get TLs for 4k off list and reports of 6/7k in some instances)
08-21-09, 12:11 AM
#4
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I have no problem with what Acura is doing. They will continue to sell cars and at the end of the day that’s all that matters, especially in this economy.
Anyway, here comes another 10 page thread with the same old comments. For an irrelevant brand, Acura sure does get a lot of attention here on CL, I mean A LOT! Prediction, this will turn into another rehash of every other Acura thread.
Admins, CL may need an Acura sticky, just a thought.
Anyway, here comes another 10 page thread with the same old comments. For an irrelevant brand, Acura sure does get a lot of attention here on CL, I mean A LOT! Prediction, this will turn into another rehash of every other Acura thread.
Admins, CL may need an Acura sticky, just a thought.
08-21-09, 12:24 AM
#5
Lexus Champion
Acuras aren't bad for that they are, but there isn't a much of a value proposition with them.
Honda has always been technically arrogant - they won't build a torquey motor or a V8, nor can they make a proper automatic tranny.
Honda has always been technically arrogant - they won't build a torquey motor or a V8, nor can they make a proper automatic tranny.
08-21-09, 05:10 AM
#6
But with the new TL sedan becoming larger and more expensive, the TSX V-6 holds a place on the Acura pricing ladder for returning TL owners who cannot afford the new model. (well thats a slap in the face, except you can get TLs for 4k off list and reports of 6/7k in some instances)
But after this comment I feel somewhat tainted and used. I think most current TL and TSX owners would pick the V6 TSX over the new TL. NOT because they cannot afford it as the senior PP manager of Acura stated but because they do not like the design of the new TL and they are either going to leave the brand or buy a V6 TSX which looks to me to be a very nice car.
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08-21-09, 05:32 AM
#9
Lexus Champion
RL?? it only weighs 4083 lbs...doesn't need a V8 (Note BMW 5 series 4542 lbs, 7 series 4700 lbs)
Last edited by bagwell; 08-21-09 at 05:37 AM.
08-21-09, 05:41 AM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
. I would say one of the reason why Lexus is where they are today is because they decided to built a V8 engine some odd years ago.
08-21-09, 05:45 AM
#11
Lexus Champion
08-21-09, 05:49 AM
#12
Lexus Test Driver
08-21-09, 06:46 AM
#13
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We know what comes LAST at the board meeting:
Agenda for Executive meeting- 8/12/2009
......
453. Blah Blah
454. Blah Blah
455. Blah Blah
456. Power
457. Blah Blah
458. Exterior appeal
Agenda for Executive meeting- 8/12/2009
......
453. Blah Blah
454. Blah Blah
455. Blah Blah
456. Power
457. Blah Blah
458. Exterior appeal
08-21-09, 06:46 AM
#14
What's wrong with best of both worlds? Performance with better fuel economy?
DI is doing that quite well. Or they can make all their engines VTEC and they can advertise huge horsepower but still get decent fuel economy (because you have to wring out the engine to get those numbers but if you drive it nicely you'll get good fuel economy).
I think Acura has it's niche, I just find it pathetic that they state they can be tier 1 by continuing to do nothing different. Acura is a perfectly great car to compete with the likes of Volvo, Saab. Some of their cars compete with tier 1 but that doesn't make them tier 1 as a whole brand. At the end of the day they'll still sell tons of vehicles because of brand loyalty and brand reputation (well maybe less so with their unique designs).
DI is doing that quite well. Or they can make all their engines VTEC and they can advertise huge horsepower but still get decent fuel economy (because you have to wring out the engine to get those numbers but if you drive it nicely you'll get good fuel economy).
I think Acura has it's niche, I just find it pathetic that they state they can be tier 1 by continuing to do nothing different. Acura is a perfectly great car to compete with the likes of Volvo, Saab. Some of their cars compete with tier 1 but that doesn't make them tier 1 as a whole brand. At the end of the day they'll still sell tons of vehicles because of brand loyalty and brand reputation (well maybe less so with their unique designs).
