Acura Expects Big Returns From New NSX - But Will One Halo Car Fix Everything Wrong With This Brand?

Will one halo car fix everything wrong with the brand? No. But I don't think that's its mission.

I'll be surprised if this car...
- Becomes a raging sales success
- Becomes a much-desired collectible
- Helps polish up the Acura brand and increase profitability

But it certainly gives the rags something to write about!

NO IT WON'T. I really like this new NSX, but it won't fix the brand. There is nothing even remotely like this car anywhere else in their lineup, that is the problem. Exotic like sports car and then all dullard sedans and suvs. Where are the RWD vehicles? Where are the convertibles, coupes and other desirable Acuras at? There aren't any, just warmed over Civics and Accords and Pilots.

Well said. A halo car has real value when its technology trickles down to the rest of the lineup. The Corvette, for example, drives advances for lots of GM vehicles, most directly Cadillac and the Camaro. And the racing variant in turn drives advances for the street car.

Honda should aim to do the same, but they've got a lot of work ahead of them. Acura used to be sporty. Now it's... I don't know what it is. It's so boring.

Back at SEMA, David Marek of Acura stated that Acura plans "to get back to what it was". If they follow the NSX release with that promise, in a trickle-down effect of higher performance models, then the NSX will be the effective halo car. However, Acura cannot make the poor decisions it has in the past decade and it cannot allow for the same type of delays (with TLX and RLX SH launches) it had last year. The new 2016 ILX is a step in the right direction despite the loss of the manual transmission. An updated RDX will be shown next month in Chicago so we will see what that car brings to the table (though I don't expect significant performance upgrades).

None of those cars matter vs the NSX. They're just warmed over Hondas = FAIL as a luxury brand. Until Acura gets its only platform and something unique to work with they remain at the bottom of the barrel. They're nice cars, but no where near being great or standouts in the luxury market.

Just like any carmaker, Acura has some winners and losers in its lineup. The RLX is not doing well at all, and needs completely overhauled. The ILX has room for improvement, and the recent changes that will be coming should help out. Meanwhile, the RDX, MDX, and TLX are all selling well, and I see no fault in what Acura is offering with these vehicles (outside of some hybrid options).

Acura certainly needs to expand its portfolio of products, but a majority of its lineup is selling well. I see Acuras all the time driving around town (MDX, RDX, and TLX).

All 17 die-hard NSX fans will buy one and then the buzz will be over.

The problem is the rest of Acura's lazy line of numbskull thinking: ILX (Acura Civic), TLX (Acura Accord), RLX (stretched-wheelbase Acura Accord), MDX (Acura Pilot), and RDX (Acura CRV).

None of their cars is premium and everyone gets that Acura is a Japanese Mercury.

If the NSX were Corvette priced and was followed and RSX "GTI" killer and an "FSX" aimed at the Mustang GT/370Z market then maybe someone might see Acura as being decisive.

I also think pricing will be incredibly important. If it is as expensive as others without the performance and given it is an "Acura" they will have a tough time. If it is priced competitively and performs well it should do okay.

The NSX looks like a very exciting product - the opposite of everything else Acura makes.

The fix is obvious. It's been obvious for a decade but Acura refuses to acknowledge it.

Perhaps this car will change things...

this is a small step in the right direction. itll make the wealthy willing to spend 75k on an acura knowing they have a 100+k car in the lineup. it certainly adds prestige to the brand.
next, they can continue with all these silly names, rdx, mdx, ilx, tlx, but they need to have a full size sedan and call it LEGEND- amenities and performance of the S class/ 7 series at 75k fully loaded, but truly make it worthy of the name.
use the rlx to go head to head with the gs350/e350/ 535..
acura has the name, they are very capable they just need to use their brains !!