Acura Planning On Bringing Its SPORTIEST Sedan To Pebble Beach — WHY Isn't It Building A Full-size SUV?

Honda's luxury division, Acura, has been having sedan problems as of late. And it's a shame.

We loved Acura's sedans of yore.

This is the reality though: Consumer taste's have shifted. Buyers want the sport-utility vehicles and trucks. The market is evolving due to this.

General Motors is reengineering its product portfolio. Ford has also dumped all of its sedans.

So, why is Acura STILL planning on debuting an all-new sedan at the 2019 Monterey Car Week event at Pebble Beach?

Currently, models like the RDX and MDX are volume leaders for Acura. Why would the company pursue something along the likes of the RLX? I think I've seen maybe one all-new RLX on the road in recent years.

With a very good chassis in form of the Honda Pilot, why would Acura NEGLECT to produce a full-size, seven-seater SUV? That way it could go up against the likes of the BMW X7, Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Mercedes GLS?

What am I missing, Spies?

Three years after tantalizing us with the Precision concept, Acura has yet to apply its sinewy design to its entire sextet of sedans, crossovers, and a supercar. The 2019 RDX crossover is the first full realization of the brand's Precision Crafted Performance design language, and aside from the NSX supercar, right now it's easily the best-looking new Acura. But that's about to change this summer.

Acura will reveal a production-ready concept at Pebble Beach that will strongly echo the Precision concept as a tribute to the best of Acura's past, Car and Driver has learned. Staring into the Precision's deep pool of red paint, we must wonder—as Acura is but a 34-year-old car company mostly constrained to our market—might one of its legendary nameplates return as the Legend reincarnate? It's not a ludicrous idea, although we won't hold our breath over the exact name. Signs, however, do point to a new production Acura sedan in the Precision concept's gorgeous "four-door coupe" form. This time, unlike what it did with the car that debuted at the 2016 Detroit auto show, Acura will be ready to build something like it...

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valhallakey - 3/8/2019 1:44:11 AM

+4 Boost

Maybe they are getting ahead of the consumer's tastes. It is one of the nicer looking cars to come from Acura in a while. Agreed though the need a large SUV as well. Hopefully they can chew gum and walk at the same time.

runninglogan1 - 3/8/2019 5:15:57 AM

+13 Boost

If it's a new flagship sedan, it needs to be called Legend.

ricks0me - 3/8/2019 5:42:02 AM

+10 Boost

Since when are SUV's the answer to everything???

MDarringer - 3/8/2019 8:46:44 AM

-6 Boost

In the car business VOLUME is necessary to sustain a brand and right now the volume is in crossovers/SUVs and not in sedans/coupes. It really is that simple. "Should" all over it if you want to, but reality is reality.

MDarringer - 3/8/2019 8:17:07 AM

-5 Boost

Acura is having sedan problems because their sedans are terrible. The ILX had the stench of a previous generation Civic. The RLX looked like what it was: a previous-generation Accord with a hastily increased wheelbase that was sp poorly done that you could see where the inches were added. Two-thirds of the greenhouse was identical to the Accord. The current TLX is too bland and the previous one was too ugly.

Honda does not know how to style cars in production form. Why was the Precision Concept not put into production?

cidflekken - 3/8/2019 4:44:53 PM

+6 Boost

Hence why Acura leadership has stated that they need to focus on fixing their sedans before introducing any new SUVs to market. I was a bit surprised by that statement because it seems like they should have appropriate resources to focus on sedans and SUVs concurrently.
That being said, Acura's (and Honda's) mission as of late was to get back their deplete mojo. Focusing on what made the brand(s) reputable to begin with is priority for them and sedans did just that. If the Civic and Accord are proof of how good Acura will improve upon their sedans, then buyers may be in for an absolute treat when the new Acura sedans start rolling out. Based on the RDX's execution, I firmly believe that Acura knows it needs to create greater separation from the Honda lineup.

MDarringer - 3/8/2019 9:27:30 PM

-5 Boost

Acura is in deep caca.

MDarringer - 3/8/2019 8:44:55 AM

-9 Boost

Your bigotry as it may be, Acura isn't taken seriously in General but it has Volkswagenitis in that it thinks it knows what the market wants and it's dead wrong. Acura needed a full-size, 3-row SUV 10 years ago. The Navigator and Escalade are big money.

CarCrazedinCali - 3/9/2019 11:25:28 PM

+4 Boost

haha bigot calling someone else a bigot, pretty typicaly of md

MDarringer - 3/10/2019 9:51:10 AM

-1 Boost

@CarCrazed You need to look up the word because you clearly think the definition is "someone with a strong opinion that you don't like" but then again your type doesn't like to deal in fact, you just shout and bully. Why don't you go worship at your poster of Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris in dominatrix leather garb.

countguy - 3/8/2019 8:55:00 AM

+12 Boost

Because the world has enough stupid oversized suvs to haul around 1 soccer mom as she text and drives over curbs. We need more sport coupes and sport sedans.

dstampfer - 3/8/2019 9:05:30 AM

+9 Boost

The MDX already seats 7, so you would be adding more cargo room behind the 7 seats. Seems to me the sweet spot for sales is in the RDX and MDX sized CUV's across the US market. For those that need more space (what market share are we talking about?), there are other choices.

Truthy - 3/8/2019 10:16:43 AM

+4 Boost

Most manufacturers are offering 3 or more SUVs which reflects what the markets wants, not we want them to build. Acura already sells a smaller SUV in China.
The profile of the Precision concept is nearly identical to the current Honda Accord. The TL/TLX has historicall been based on the Accord platform. However, it will need to be differentiated more than on the past. Perhaps make it 4 door coupe. Acura has already indicated in will get a V6.
Also, part of the announcement said Acura will likely introduce a new MDX. It is likely this will be be slightly longer than the current model.

skytop - 3/8/2019 11:15:20 AM

+7 Boost

Build it!~ Me likes the slinky four-door flagship!

cidflekken - 3/8/2019 2:06:32 PM

+7 Boost

Acura built itself on sedans and, with the right product, there is still a fairly viable market. Yes, not as robust as it once was but the key is to build a product that will survive while many others are falling by the wayside. Carmakers that are dropping their sedan lines are relinquishing that market and that's just market share to grab. At the end of the day, there may only be a handful of mid-size non-premium sedans, and a still-healthy premium sedan market.

Now, I absolutely agree that they need to continue to build out their SUV lineup with a sub-compact below the RDX and a larger SUV above the MDX and bring back the ZDX with better styling and execution. Definitely where the big money is, without question.

Truthy - 3/8/2019 4:33:29 PM

+6 Boost

I liked the ZDX. I think it is still better looking than any of the other "fastback" SUVs. It was the most luxurious Acura too.

dumpsty - 3/9/2019 2:56:18 AM

+3 Boost

I have feeling the concept is an exercise in delivering a refined version of their design aesthetic.

But a nice low-slung SUV from this design would be bonkers.

A new ZDX should be on the CRV platform though.

OneOfOne - 3/9/2019 10:34:40 AM

0 Boost

sedans and coupes are dying. and acura designers should have been fired years ago and replaced with designers who have talent

Truthy - 3/9/2019 5:16:09 PM

+2 Boost

I think they have design talent. It is what winds up being produced that reveals what the priorities are.
Saw the "TLX production ready concept" at an auto show a few years ago and thought, alright. What wound up on dealer lots within the year was a very bland version of it.
Same problem at GM. i.e. - Cadillac concepts like the Ciel wowed crowds. Production cars wowed no one.