2016 Acura ILX – 2.4L, 8-speed DCT across the board

2016 Acura ILX-04

Acura has unveiled the Honda Civic-based 2016 Acura ILX at the 2014 LA Auto Show. Honda’s luxury brand’s smallest car gets revised styling, standard Jewel Eye LED headlights, upgraded interior materials, new kit and improvements to cabin quietness, handling and collision safety.

But the big news is under the hood, where all ILX variants now get a new 2.4 litre direct injection engine. The DOHC i-VTEC motor – which produces 201 hp at 6,800 rpm and 243 Nm of torque at 3,600 rpm – is paired to an eight-speed DCT, the world’s first dual-clutch transmission with a torque converter.

Acura promises “incredibly quick, crisp and intuitive gear changes, including rev-matching down shifts” and “smoother, more powerful launches that other DCTs cannot match.”

2016 Acura ILX-06

With the 2.4L DCT combo from the bigger 2015 Acura TLX now spread across the board, out goes the old entry-level 2.0 litre four-pot and five-speed auto combo, along with the six-speed manual gearbox paired to the old 2.4L motor. Any death of a Honda manual is to be mourned, even if we didn’t know this particular stick shift in person.

Acura has added noise-insulating materials, a thicker front-side door glass, noise attenuating wheels and Active Noise Control tech to the FB Civic-based ILX. Steering responsiveness and linearity is also improved via retuned suspension and chassis design enhancements.

The 2016 ILX has six available grades (double the previous three), including the Premium Package and the range-topping Technology Plus Package.

2016 Acura ILX-09

The sporty new A-Spec package, available in conjunction with the above two, adds side sill garnish, trunk spoiler, front fog lights and 18-inch, 10-spoke machined alloys with gloss black insets. Inside the all-black cabin, it has red instrument illumination, grey stitching and aluminum pedals.

All models can now be equipped with AcuraWatch, a suite of safety and driver assistive technologies that includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation and enhanced Collision Mitigation Braking System with pedestrian sensing capability.

The Acura ILX goes up against the Audi A3 Sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA in the American market.


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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Acura on Nov 21, 2014 at 5:48 pm

    Acura is never going to go anywhere if they continue to use the same Honda interiors and share too many common parts with Honda.. When Lexus started that was what they did too which was rebadging Toyota models and making them better but that wasn’t enough to push the brand forward to compete with the likes of he Germans. Today, Lexus has completely departed from Toyota. But Acura? Come on.. This interior is clearly the Accord’s interior..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 4
    • Acura on Nov 21, 2014 at 5:51 pm

      I meant to say “clearly a mildly improvised Accord’s interior”

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
      • Landie fan on Nov 22, 2014 at 2:40 pm

        Obviously you haven’t sat in the Lexus ES. CamryX clone comes to mind, addition of mouselike control for the infotainment and clock in the center including aircon controls and hifi volume control in the rear armrest to justify the 100k price hike.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
        • Acura on Nov 22, 2014 at 3:34 pm

          Obviously I have.. And the ES feels nothing like a Camry.. Yes its an upgrade of a Camry. And it shares the same engine. But thats it. Nothing else. Stop being a Lexus hater for the sake of hating Lexus.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • 4G63T DSM on Nov 21, 2014 at 10:13 pm

      But Honda has made the move to further differentiate the models.

      Looking back the lineage of entry level Acura’s, the first try was the Civic EK based EL (unappologetically called Entry Level :p) which was a direct lift of a Taiwan marketed Civic Domani.

      It then moved to the EJ based Civic, which offered even less cosmetic differentiation.

      Now comes the interesting tidbit. The FD civic was actually designed together with the equivalent CSX, which marks the first time a larger volume was expected as this would be the first entry level Acura to be marketed in USA, where previously the EL was only sold in Canada, which is why they were simple rebadged units. This also marks why the Civic FD was such a departure from the previous model.

      This is not unlike what Lexus did with the shared platform of the ES300 and XV10 Camry. The ES300 benefitted from reduced development costs/time and the XV10 gained much better refinement and the same 3.0L V6 engine (which forced Honda to scramble back to develop a new 2.7L V6 for the SV4).

      Looking back at the previous models, i would say this new ILX has plenty of differentiated traits from the equivalent Civic.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Jaybond on Nov 21, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    Wow, this one looks quite nice..although the dashboard is a bit cluttered especially the aircon vents..it’s an intriguing prospect how this car will fare against the Audi A3 Sedan, Merc CLA and BMW 2 series in a comparison test.Honda badge is better though for this car..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • nzain on Nov 21, 2014 at 6:58 pm

    damnnnn nice headlamps…have accord looks but still got smarter exterior than current accord has

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • heybadigol (Member) on Nov 21, 2014 at 7:05 pm

    Actually, only the IS, GS & LS (LFA is a different story lah) are completely different from normal Toyotas. The RWD platform is shared only with high end Toyotas like the Crown. However, the ES is based on the bigger Camry version (can’t recall the name) and the RX is also Camry based.

    However, none of the Acuras has its own plank. All is shared with the normal Hondas. But the ILX & TLX do look very different from normal Hondas. The RLX still looks too Accord-ish.

    So, though the ILX may be based on a Civic, it doesn’t look anything like it. The ride & handling is different too, based on reviews that I’ve read. I actually think the ILX is a very good looking car. But for some strange reason, the 2.4 was only made available with a 6MT, until the refresh here. When knowing that most Americans buy auto over manual. Even stranger, that 6MT did not offer LSD which the performance spec Civic SI did. The new DCT option should ensure more people buy the ILX now. But strange also that they completely ditched the 6MT. Why not let it co-exist? Just weird strategy by Acura/Honda US. By the way, any possibility of the ILX coming here?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • Obviously (Member) on Nov 21, 2014 at 10:06 pm

      By larger Camry, you meant the Avalon, yes?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • W204 C63 AMG on Nov 21, 2014 at 10:55 pm

      The ES is based on Toyota Avalon, and yes both the ES and Avalon utilized a stretched Camry platform. You forgot about the CT, which is based on the Prius.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Jawabandar on Nov 21, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    Wow.it turns out rather sportier than civic.really love to see if our local civic can be facelifted like this.At least the exterior not the mechanical.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Alex Lai on Nov 21, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    When is it arrive Msia?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
    • Megane on Nov 22, 2014 at 3:43 am

      Acura will arrive soon in Malaysia once u can pose a question in proper English LOL

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
      • Landie fan on Nov 22, 2014 at 2:42 pm

        Blame the education standards in the country not the person…lol!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Bob_B78 on Nov 22, 2014 at 12:13 am

    Overall package looks nice but the drivetrain is complicated. Looks like japanese version of DSG

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
    • heybadigol (Member) on Nov 22, 2014 at 9:16 am

      Its still a Dual Clutch/DSG/DCT tranny. But at idling/low speeds, it uses a torque converter to allow “creep” (ie moving the car by releasing the brakes, without the need to even use the throttle), as opposed to a car without torque converter, which needs you to step on the throttle to move (just releasing the brakes will still result the car being stationary). Once it moves to a certain speed, it feels like any DSG (quick shifts). So, at low speeds, it reduces jerkiness of DCT/DSG, and when moving, its super quick shifting. So, it’s a win win situation.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Bob_B78 on Nov 22, 2014 at 11:22 am

        Actually………what i meant was such complicated design will be less reliable for long runs, just like my DSG mechatronic kaput after 8 months of ownership

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • TheAnonymous on Nov 24, 2014 at 10:46 am

          Is it fixed now?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • Madness on Nov 24, 2014 at 5:58 pm

          Have you changed your gearbox oil and update software?
          As i know,they had changed the gearbox oil and update the software and claimed that all the DSG related issues have been resolved..

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • zoomzoom on Nov 22, 2014 at 8:46 am

    Honda should bring their luxury brand Acura into Malaysia just like Toyota and Nissan have with their Lexus and Infiniti. Come on Honda, don’t you want to catch up with your peers ???

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • Sahipul on Nov 22, 2014 at 11:52 am

    I wonder if Honda Malaysia will consider bringing in the Acura brand to Malaysia in the near future, following other footsteps like Nissan (Infinity) and Toyota (Lexus).

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Nov 23, 2014 at 11:18 am

    if they price it cheaper instead of being an infiniti or lexus this is an ok car….but right now its nowhere near being the luxury arm of honda

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Sam Loo (ori1) on Nov 23, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    As long as its not a kimchi, it will have RV

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Honda seems to have two in-house design teams, team UGLY and Team FANTASTIC.

    This one undoubtedly done by team UGLY!!

    Think they also did the previous Accord and the current Civic.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Maynard James Keenan on Nov 29, 2014 at 9:48 pm

    Why choose Acura or Lexus when Infiniti is the real winner?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
 

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