With sharp lines and distinctive design features such as “Jewel Eye” LED headlights and beak-like grille, the latest Acuras are far from the typical boring styling descriptors like “milquetoast” and “middle of the road.” That hasn’t stopped Honda’s luxury brand from wanting to create a more striking design language for its cars, and will be unveiling a new Acura Precision Concept at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show to showcase it.
Set to presage the styling of future Acura sedans, the Precision Concept certainly catches the eye, at least in the sole teaser image provided. The profile flows from the slim NSX-style headlights, up along the long bonnet and over the sleek glasshouse, before terminating at a short tail. Strong haunches and a plunging shoulder line give the car added presence.
The more premium BMW-like proportions suggest that the engine could at least be positioned longitudinally behind the front wheels, rather than transversely as on current models. However, the brand’s next sedans would probably still feature front-wheel drive as standard (à la Audi), with the famed Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) offered as an option.
“The Acura Precision Concept will signal the stronger and sharper focus of Acura styling on our core DNA we call ‘precision crafted performance’,” said global creative director Dave Marek. “It is our intention to more strongly express performance through design and the Acura Precision Concept will serve as the inspiration for the styling and proportion of the next-generation of Acura vehicles, especially for our sedans.”
As the Acura lineup is still pretty fresh, it’s unclear which production sedan will be the torchbearer for the new design language. The oldest sedan in the stable is the Civic-based ILX, first introduced in 2012 and given a refresh last year. Could the next ILX grow into a more bespoke sports sedan, or does the Precision Concept foreshadow an entirely new entry altogether?
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