Acura's Lack Of Innovation And Resistance To Change May Be Setting Itself Up For Hari-Kari

This was originally going to be a piece in which I congratulated Acura for inventing a 2006 Lexus IS350 with their grille on it, a vehicle they refer to as the TLX Concept. But I won't do that. There's no point in poking fun of Acura anymore.

I'm tired of being critical of Acura. Now, as we go into 2014, I am more convinced than ever that doing so is a meaningless exercise. I have never seen any company, automotive or otherwise, more committed to doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Acura is slowly committing suicide, and the cause of death will be lack of innovation.

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Mason3Robert - 1/15/2014 4:16:46 PM

+7 Boost

LMAO!!! Seriously, the car isnt the best that I've ever seen...But I have a hard time trying to discover why you are deep in your feelings about Honda/Acura? At the end of the day they are still moving a healthy number of units.

regarding this particular car, I actually like it. It presents itself as more aggressive than the previous model and although it isnt, could past for a RWD vehicle...I believe this should have been the new RL.

Maybe you should give Mitsubishi a call!??? They really need help!

cidflekken - 1/15/2014 4:20:48 PM

+6 Boost

This guy doesn't realize that he hit the nail on the head in his own words. Something to the effect of, "the last edgy car they had was the ZDX…but it didn't sell". Exactly. When it comes to Acura (and Lexus is finding the same thing), "edgy" doesn't sell. That's why we no longer have the CL, Prelude, Del Sol, CRX, S2000. Sad, yes. But "suicide", hardly.

Finally, Acura introduced a product that has people excited with its styling and its performance/powertrain promises. And this guy writes a pretty extensive article of his pent-up frustrations with this company.

Seriously, this was the introduction of the TLX, replacement for the TL/TSX. What exactly did he expect? an NSX with four doors? Now, THAT would be "suicide".

NeoReaper - 1/15/2014 4:22:05 PM

+4 Boost

ummm... this car isnt the same size/class as an IS350... it also isnt RWD so your statement makes little to no sense at all... are you some sort of pent up temple of vtec fanboy wishing it was still the 90's (what i consider the golden era of japanese automobiles)?

Sciros - 1/15/2014 4:42:19 PM

+6 Boost

Did you mean Harry Caray ("hey what's your favorite planet? mine's the sun" from SNL) or hara kiri? It's hard to tell when you put approximately zero effort into editing your headlines.

JDMUSMuscle - 1/15/2014 4:49:20 PM

+5 Boost

I don't know why those dumb Americans use the term "Hari-Kari" that no Japanese even uses. I guess it is trying to say Harakiri (aka Seppuku), but Hari-Kari sounds simply dumb.

Agent009 - 1/15/2014 5:01:10 PM

-4 Boost

I would love to see the conquest rate of Acura. Just who is buying them and from what brands? I would bet the majority are coming from satisfied Honda buyers who are too afraid to venture from the Honda brand but want something different.

That would be an ultra conservative group of loyalists where fear of change is a major factor.

gkearns56 - 1/15/2014 5:11:08 PM

+4 Boost

I owned a couple of Acura TLs (04 and 07) and really liked them. They got bloated, had the sharp bird beak in front and that with that UGLY ZDX. I think this car looks pretty darn good for an Acura. They softened that pointed nose and rear looks good, I think it will sell. I wish there were some interior shots.

ParadoX - 1/15/2014 7:07:46 PM

+4 Boost

The RDX and MDX are good sellers. The other models may not sell in extreme volumes, but remember Honda makes a premium on these vehicles so it doesn't require massive volumes to generate profits.

Acura services that section of the market that is no looking for a flashy sports sedan that is good on the track. They are going after monied people who want something reliable and comfortable as a daily driver.

nguyenvuminh - 1/15/2014 8:38:20 PM

-3 Boost

I agree with 009's overall sentiment on this one. I don't think of Acura when it comes to the luxury segment given their line up over the last decade.

bnilhome - 1/16/2014 8:42:47 AM

+4 Boost

I've been viewing Autospies for years, and there is a definite anti-Honda/Acura sentiment in the articles on here. If you read most press articles out there, many are pretty high on this new TLX and the direction Acura is taking. Sure, I'm still not in love with the amount of chrome on the grille, but it's much more toned down, and when you look at the entire car, this is easily the nicest sedan Acura has made since the 3G TL. I will predict that this will boost Acura's sedan sales big time.

Agent 009-You willing to take a bet on whether the TLX will boost Acura's sedan sales?

Drerx8 - 1/16/2014 9:25:30 AM

-1 Boost

More of the same boring s#@% from Honda/Acura. Suicide no, because there are enough white bread, boring, all I want is a nicer Accord driving Americans out there. That's fine...they make enough bread box sedans for the rest of THOSE kind of people. Meanwhile all of us that dare to drive outside of the box will be in every other showroom out there.

Blakura - 1/16/2014 5:48:50 PM

+1 Boost

Drerx, which showrooms are you referring to for an outside the box experience?

bnilhome - 1/16/2014 9:31:28 AM

+1 Boost

Drerx8-I've driven many "luxury" sedans before, and the German cars perform fine, but they may offer a marginally better driving experience than the SH-AWD that Acura provides. That marginal driving experience is not worth the premium that German cars require for a product that simply is not as reliable over the long-haul.

bagwell - 1/17/2014 11:06:13 AM

+3 Boost

Gee, how cliche to hate on Acura.
Its a great looking car --- get over it!

MattDarringer - 1/17/2014 11:21:55 PM

-1 Boost

The fact that Acura still has the beak is ridiculous.