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Acura Focuses on Niche To Bolster Lineup
In the face of sales that are down across the board from last year, Acura is taking a closer look at niche products to raise the brand’s profile.

Through August, Acura’s sales were down 7.8 percent against 2006 numbers, despite the addition of RDX crossover and its 15,000 plus sales, prompting executives to speculate that a CL coupe replacement may be in order, or some kind of retractable hardtop convertible.

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Acura Focuses on Niche To Bolster Lineup



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DaHarderDaHarder - 9/25/2007 4:20:12 PM
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Acura sales were down (partially) because, with the exception of the nicely drawn Tl-Series, their vehicles either look completely ridiculous (MD-X/RD-X) or sadly nondescript (RL-Series)...

I drove a friends new MD-X, and came away very disheartened that such a wonderfully well-sorted performer could have been given such an unsightly look.

And People, looks do count in this game...

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r_driver04r_driver04 - 9/25/2007 5:45:11 PM
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DisHeartened - But how did it drive? You said you drove it but came away disheartened about the looks. Cheese and Rice People!!! Had you said that when you first saw the MDX, you were disheartened, that would of made more since ol'chap.


SoSnootySoSoSnootySo - 9/25/2007 5:15:01 PM
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I Found the MDX to be handsome looking. I like the lines. Especially at night when you see it heading towars you. It looks imposing

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SpicyMikeySpicyMikey - 9/25/2007 6:02:26 PM
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People complain when Acura designs cars that "look like Honda's" and then they complain when they give them a bolder look. WHich is it people? I thought the MDX was hideous when I first saw it too. But it's looking better everytime I see it, AND you won't mistake it for a Honda :) I think Acura needs to do more like the MDX and less like the RL. Develop your own style. Unique designs are often not well liked at first.


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GLoverGLover - 9/25/2007 7:22:27 PM
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I agree 100%


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 9/25/2007 11:32:31 PMView My AgentSpace
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I also agree 100%. Look at BMW!


zairnaimzairnaim - 9/26/2007 12:30:53 PM
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me too


mikeydred20mikeydred20 - 9/25/2007 9:35:23 PM
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I agree I think the MDX is one of the best looking SUV'S on the market and people keep dogging the grill, Acura finally got brave and now they are getting knocked. The grill adds character to the truck and inside is every mans dream buttons. "Advance"

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 9/25/2007 11:34:03 PMView My AgentSpace
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I hope all of their new models carry the MDX's design language. The RL is a nothing, and the TL seems to be getting more bland by the day. Inject some spice into these sedans! When the '07 MDX came out, I thought it was terrible, but now I can tell that I will never get tired of seeing it- completely unlike the old model.

I'm surprised that their sales are down this year. I thought the MDX would give them all of the boost they'd need.

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MercedesMercedes - 9/27/2007 8:24:58 AM
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Bingo. One of the biggest mistakes every made in the automotive industry. Why in the hell would you kill off a perfectly ingrained brand name? Because people were saying they had a "Legend" and not an "Acura". The execs should now ask themselves who says they have a "RL". Uh...its known a Ralph Lauren, not an Acura. What a bunch of dummies. Getting rid of the Integra/RSX without a more grown up coupe for that crowd to graduate to was also a mistake. I seem to remember that the Legend cars, especially the last one from 1991-1995 was better built than any Acura of today.


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MercedesMercedes - 9/27/2007 8:20:39 AM
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Acura's problem isn't styling per say, it is the lack of product. You have a bunch of boring sedans and suvs, what do you expect to happen to their sales? Then on top of that, other Japanese luxury makes are killing them in the sedan area, particularly Infiniti in the entry-level to mid-size market. Acura has absolutely no answer to the M45, GS460, GS450h and of course nothing to combat the king of Japanese sedans, the LS460/L. Acura on paper is a loser brand if there ever was one. Back in the day they had a swagger about themselves with the Legend, Legend Coupe and NSX. What type of luxury brand doesn't have a single coupe, convertible, sports car or anything with less than 4-doors. I would cry if I had to buy one Acura after another. What other luxury brand do you know of in which their lower level car (TL) shows up their supposed to be flagship (RL). Who would buy a RL over a TL? For what reason? Acura has gotten by on quality and reliability for years and years, but their time is up. Infiniti makes better looking, way more fun to drive cars, Lexus makes higher quality, better built car with more refinement and offers way more choices. Either Honda is going to have to start to think big and give Acura something other than a re-worked Accord platform for all their models (count them, they're all based on either some variation of the U.S. or European Accord!) Could you imagine if Lexus or Mercedes or BMW tried to build all their models on one or two different platforms? If it weren't for Acura's cheaper prices and quality they'd be out of business by now.

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silverarrow2silverarrow2 - 9/27/2007 10:36:35 PM
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I agree with some of your comments, but that one "Could you imagine if Lexus or Mercedes or BMW tried to build all their models on one or two different platforms?" You just sound like an idiot. Mercedes and BMW are the only two that built their luxury cars on original platform, not Toyota/Lexus.
Because these two don't have an every day econo line.
Toyota/Lexus does dumn azz!


MercedesMercedes - 9/28/2007 1:39:58 AM
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Talk about a real dummy with no reading comprehension to be found. Silverarrow2, did you actually read what I said? I said imagine if Lexus, BMW or Mercedes built all of their models on just 2 platforms. Meaning that Lexus, Mercedes, BMW use multiple platforms, not the same 2 for every model. This has nothing to do with where the platforms come from or whether or not those platforms make certain Lexus models a real Lexus or anything like that. Learn how to read and comprehend before posting. No one said a thing about who had an original platform, only the number of platforms used. Once again this site proves to be a blissful place of the most uninformed, so-called "car" people on the net.

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