Last month Acura previewed major changes to its lineup. The NSX Concept was no doubt Acura’s main event, and one of the stars of the show. Overall though, the new supercar is a deviation from the strategy that the brand is pursuing. Acura hopes the NSX effect will trickle down, but at the show the ILX Concept was the most important debut, showing off a change in approach for the brand.

Instead of trying to take it to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Acura is repositioning as a more near-luxury brand, going against Buick and Lexus. Its a space that Acura has always found success in in the past. Why not return to it now? The ILX is a return to that. The ILX Concept we really liked at the North American International Auto Show is barely different here; that car was a concept in name only. The ILX’s style is crisp and youthful, with some very nice lines and surfacing.

It is a genuinely good-looking car, and that is something we have been hard pressed to say about any Acuras of late. This design has had us hopeful about Acura’s future. While the ILX is Civic based, you would never know it. The interior is where the problem begins….

It doesn’t feel special enough; we’re getting Civic vibes. That’s unfortunate, given that the Civic’s interior isn’t even impressive for its segment. That isn’t to say the ILX doesn’t Acura-ify things up; it does. Instead of being canted slightly toward the driver, the center stack is vertical and upright. It follows the Acura design motif of a thin swoopy head unit integrated into the center stack. There is also a new navigation system setup mounted in the upper dash. Nice, but a definite win for the Buick Verano in the interior.

Under the hood there are three engine options. The standard engine is a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder making 150 horsepower. The top-shelf engine is 201 horsepower 2.4-liter unit mated to a six-speed manual. The fuel economy leader is Acura’s first hybrid, a Integrated Motor Assist setup combined with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder making 11 horsepower. Acura estimates it will get 35 mpg city/38 mpg highway. The ILX is making a play for first-time luxury buyers in their 20s and 30s. With competitive pricing and based on the looks alone, it should do better than most Acuras in recent memory. It’s just too bad they didn’t bring their A-game in the interior.

Related posts:

1. Detroit: 2013 Acura ILX Takes Aim At Buick Verano
2. Acura Confirms ILX Compact, New Direction Starting With Detroit Show
3. Acura To Begin New Push With Entry-Level 2013 RSX

Every year, many people’s favorite part of the Super Bowl are the commercials. Year after year, it seems like more and more automotive-related commercials are being aired. For 2012, the Super Bowl XLVI didn’t disappoint, with a range of funny car commercials. Check them all out below:

(if the videos fail to load at first, click here to reload the page)

Chevy Sonic “Stunt Anthem”

Hyundai Veloster Turbo – “Cheetah”

2012 Acura NSX – “Transactions” (Jerry Seinfeld)

Chevy Silverado – “2012″ (The one Ford asked Chevy not to air)

Cars.com – “Confident You”

2012 Honda CR-V – “Matthew’s Day Off” (aka “Honda’s Ferris Bueller Commericial”)

2012 Audi S7 – “Vampire Party”

2012 Toyota Camry – “It’s Reinvented”

Hyundai Genesis Coupe – “Think Fast”

2012 Kia Optima Big Game – “A Dream Car. For Real Life.”

Cadillac ATS – “Green Hell”

Suzuki Kizashi – “Sled” (with 50 Cent)

2013 Lexus GS – “Beast”

Fiat 500 Abarth – “Seduction”

Chrysler – “It’s Halftime in America”

2012 Volkswagen Beetle – “The Dog Strikes Back”

Bridgestone – “Performance Football”

2012 Toyota Camry – “Connections”

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While Acura as a whole has never been particularly exciting, there has been one standout product through the years – the NSX. A return of the Acura NSX has been considered long overdue by many fans.

The car ceased production in 2005, leaving a big gap without its presence on the market. When the NSX went out of production, Honda said a V-10-powered successor was on the way. It was supposed to get here in 2010, but alas that didn’t happen thanks to the horrible economic situation at the time. A new NSX might seem divergent from Acura’s strategy, as the brand has abandoned plans to go head-to-head with Tier One luxury manufacturers. The new NSX is an anomaly; standing out as a divergent effort to that overall strategy. Every brand needs a halo; at least we think so.

The NSX is the most exciting thing to come out of Acura in years! The concept strikes a lot of the right tones, with great mid-engined proportions and a cab-forward design. Acura’s design language actually works surprisingly well here. The front end is a bit overwrought at this stage, but it is a concept after all. The headlights have a weird consistency to them that won’t make it to production.

This is an area where we actually expect the production car to look better than the concept. Imagine that! The rear end pays a little homage to the original NSX, and is our favorite view. The taillights are full width, with a design that forms an interesting line across the car and curves in to form the design. Its something that will make the NSX standout on the road.

Acura has been talking about a new version of its Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system, one that actually incorporates a hybrid setup. The version in the Acura has electric motors at the wheels, which use control software to dole out inputs of power to each wheel, side-to-side.

It’s a revolutionary system that could have big implications for the NSX’s handling. Acura hasn’t reveaed anything system’s specifications, only to say it will be mated to a powerful next-generation VTEC V-6.

They do say the car will provide supercar acceleration through a “an extremely favorable power-to-weight ratio.” Honda says it is a return to its philosophy of engineering efficiency and elegance. In other words, they are doing this car the Honda way. An important question is where the Ohio-built NSX is priced. Is it going to be a supercar bargain or be set at the upper levels of the supercar segment? We don’t have any answers for that one yet – the new NSX is still about three years out. After a long time ignoring enthusiasts though, it is good to see Acura courting them once again.

Related posts:

1. Detroit: 2013 Acura ILX Takes Aim At Buick Verano
2. Details on Acura NSX, Preview Concept Coming To Detroit
3. Acura Confirms ILX Compact, New Direction Starting With Detroit Show

As an industry trend, downsizing is definitely in vogue. New, smaller vehicles than ever before are being debuted in the United States, and engine displacements are trending downward. At least for mainstream vehicles, that is. Evidence of that abounds at the North American International Auto Show. Just take a look at the Buick Encore or the tiny engines in the 2013 Ford Fusion. Honda’s luxury division is bucking that trend with a refashioned 2013 RDX at the Detroit show.

Everyone seems to be ditching six-cylinders for four-cylinders. Acura is doing the opposite with the RDX. For 2013 the RDX is all-new, and it replaces the current CUV’s turbocharged four with a 3.5-liter six-cylinder. Power is up by 33 hp, to 273, and despite adding two cylinders, getting larger and packing on power, mpg is actually increased.

The current RDX gets 19 city/24 highway, while the 2013 RDX is expected to hit 20 city/28 highway. Was the old four that inefficient? Apparently.

The goal is to make the RDX reach a larger target market than before; it is aimed squarely at the biggest selling crossover in the segment. That would be the Lexus RX, and behind it the Cadillac SRX. With the size getting bigger you might have thought about overlap with the MDX, but the MDX has three rows. The RDX is a two-row crossover, which puts some market space between the two. We could see the MDX getting bigger with the next-generation model too; the third row is pretty tight.

Good news in the styling department is that the RDX looks much better than it did last time around. Lines are softened significantly – the RDX smoothens things out and removes the polarizing beak front end. It actually looks decent now – no styling awards, but a definite improvement. The interior is a passable effort. The RDX smoothens out issues the old one had. Hopefully for Acura that will be enough.

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2. Acura Confirms ILX Compact, New Direction Starting With Detroit Show
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Some of Acura’s biggest successes have been with small, front-wheel drive offerings like the Integra, RSX and TSX. It is an area where Acura has shined. Recent history hasn’t been kind to Honda’s luxury division.

Sales are in decline thanks to a polarizing design language that has crippled sales of its most popular model, the TL. Executives at Honda have decided its time for a reboot – Acura is abandoning its chase of top tier luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz for a return to its roots. The ILX is the first evidence of that plan.

Buick Verano – meet your chief competitor. The ILX is aimed squarely at the Verano, and is going to be competing in the small, entry-level luxury category. The goal of ILX is to provide buyers with something more upscale than your average Civic.

A nicer name, fancier interior and edgier design, but still with an accessible price. The ILX is based on the Civic, but you would never know it thankfully. We were worried it would be a rebadge, but that isn’t the case. The ILX gets an entirely unique design. And surprise! It actually is pretty engaging – the best Acura design in years no doubt.

It is youthful and sleek, with a techy appeal. ILX sales are going to be interesting to watch in comparison to the Verano. Based on the exterior design, we think we have a winner here. The inside has yet to be revealed for some strange reason. Hopefully no traces of the Civic are to be found inside either. The ILX will be offered with three engines, all four-cylinders. The first is a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter with automatic transmission, high performance 2.4-liter with a six-speed manual (lack of auto could hurt sales) and a 1.5-liter hybrid, Acura’s first. The ILX is badged as a “concept”, but it is production ready, with an on-sale date set for this Spring.

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1. 2013 Acura ILX Is Buick Verano’s First Real Competitor
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3. Buick Prices Verano at $23,470

For years, Acura has made noises about becoming a “Tier 1″ luxury brand, going to head-to-head with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Out of the Japanese luxury brands, only Lexus has really reached that status.

While Acura had higher goals, products were produced with polarizing styling languages. The new “Power Plenum” grille alienated those who liked the division’s more conservatively good-looking cars. In addition the TSX, TL and RL are all positioned too closely and cannibalize each other. Acura is looking to fix that by better differentiating them.

Acura aims to revive itself with new products that focus on engineering and efficiency. The new slogan is: “Smart luxury.” Acura says today’s luxury cars focus on performance beyond what average drivers can handle, and the brand is trying to score by being different.

Buick has done well for itself as a near-luxury brand; look for the two to go head-to-head in the future. Right now Lincoln is positioned as near-luxury, but it has higher aspirations for itself. Volvo is another competitor, but it too has grand plans. We’ll see if those materialize, but for once Acura is embracing its role. The change starts at the North American International Auto Show next month. There, Acura will unveil three all-new models. The most telling is a new compact sedan, dubbed the ILX Concept.

It will preview (it is a concept in name only) the production car that is launching next Spring. The ILX will occupy a space Acura has always done well in, and it derives its underpinnings from the Civic sedan. Hopefully the car will look nothing like the Civic. Acura envisions younger customers who want something more than a mainstream brand opting for the ILX. If it looks nothing like the Civic, it could have a good shot at carving a niche for itself. The ILX will compete against the Buick Verano, a car that sets a high bar in the segment.

Also launching is the second generation 2013 RDX crossover, and a concept previewing the NSX. The NSX is divergent from the rest of Acura’s strategy; it will be an image car aimed at making a statement. New product from Acura is set to come at a quick pace over the next two years. ILX launches in the spring, a new RL full-size sedan is coming in the fall, and then a full redesign of the best-selling TL mid-size sedan is scheduled for 2013. The ILX will be interesting to see – a good look at Acura’s future is about a month away.

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1. Detroit: Acura NSX Gives Lagging Brand Some Excitement
2. Detroit: 2013 Acura ILX Takes Aim At Buick Verano
3. 2009 Acura RL – New Design Direction

Looking at the Honda and Acura lineups, there isn’t much that appeals from an enthusiasts perspective. Years ago the company had cars like the Honda S2000, Acura Integra/RSX, and at the most extreme level, the NSX. It’s a similar situation over at rival Toyota, who has largely abandoned fun-to-drive vehicles.

The Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ as they are known here in the United States have gotten a lot of coverage because they (hopefully, anyway) represent a change in attitude from their manufacturers. This change has come after President and Chief Executive Officer Akio Toyoda set Toyota on a mission to reach out to enthusiasts once again. Honda hasn’t had a similar determined effort from the top, but it is looking to to reenter the performance arena with a new Acura NSX.

The NSX went out of production in 2005, after a 15 year run. Since then we’ve heard a lot about a potential replacement, which Honda confirmed is coming. At the Tokyo Motor Show, Yoshikazu Kigoshi, general manager for Honda research and design, confirmed that a NSX successor is coming to the North American International Auto Show. It will be dubbed the Super Sports Concept, and according to Kigoshi, it will have a similar front-end design to the EV-STER Concept that launched in Tokyo.

Autocaris shedding some light on the next-generation car, saying that the new car will be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 giving power to the front wheels. The V-6 will be mated to a hybrid drivetrain that has an electric motor sending power to the rear wheels. Honda will use the hybrid system with side-to-side torque-vectoring technology, giving the car its “Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive” moniker.

The gearbox will be a seven-speed dual-clutch unit. Once again, here in the U.S the car will be sold under the Acura brand. Acura is primarily North American in nature, so the NSX will be marketed as a Honda in other parts of the world, just like last time. It’s about time we hear something concrete about the next-gen NSX. We hope Honda brings back the S2000 too. What other performance cars would you like to see make a return at Honda?

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1. Honda Details Fuel Economy Effort, Hybrid SH-AWD for New Acura NSX
2. Detroit: Acura NSX Gives Lagging Brand Some Excitement
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Auto manufacturers today realize the car ownership experience must be a far-extending phenomenon to promote loyalty. Auto companies like Ferrari fosters favour for vehicles like the latest 458 Italia thanks to a wide merchandising chain. Mopar merchandise and Mercedes-Benz apparel have also been hot sellers as companions for diehard brand followers blossoming into a meaningful side business. Thanks to the mobile app marketplace, the connection to drivers has become virtual. While some of the popular smartphone and tablet apps attract the enthusiast experience of a vehicle, others provide important methods to link customers to needed service. The OnStar RemoteLink and Audi Roadside App are a few emerging examples for how a smartphone application can provide distressed drivers with relief. Just in time for the numerous holiday treks, Acura owners will have an enhanced roadside assistance service utilizing mobile devices.

The AcuraLink Owner’s Mobile App is devised as a companion to the existing Acura Roadside Assistance Programs. Currently available only on Apple iPhone devices, owners of 2012 Acura vehicles such as the revised TL sedan or TSX Sport Wagon gain a free tool for a range of automotive services.

Created in partnership with their roadside service provider Cross Country Automotive Services, the AcuraLink Owner’s Mobile App regularly serves the user with a valuable emergency link. Whether a vehicle needs a tow, battery jump-start or if an owner is locked out of their vehicle, the Acura Roadside Assistance services can be easily dispatched through the AcuraLink Owner’s Mobile App software. The Apple iPhone’s GPS technology guides the roadside service personnel to the user’s location easing potentially lost motorists. Providing the contact information of the towing company as well as an estimated time of arrival, Acura owners are given an increased sense security in moments assurance is important.

The roadside assistance services provided at no charge to Acura owners under warranty as a 24-hour, 7 days a week protection. Acura drivers outside of this vehicle coverage plan for an additional fee. AcuraLink Owner’s Mobile App can be downloaded on the Apple App Store or from the Acura.com website page. The AcuraLink Owner’s Mobile App is presently not available on Android, Blackberry or other wireless devices.

Acura has been very susceptible to the tough 2011 calendar year for Honda Automobiles. Due to the great dependence on the Honda’s Japanese resources for cars as well as parts, Acura suffered lighter inventories because of the March earthquake and tsunami disaster. Aside from production impairments, Honda’s premium car brand is suffering from less than ambitious activity as most of the 2012 Acura line-up remains largely unchanged. At the end of October 2011, Acura division sales in the United States are down to 6.6 percent. Acura has been able to claim a technological edge over luxury car rivals and are relying on their enhancement through the App could be a building block.

Information and photo source: American Honda Motor Company

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3. Acura To Begin New Push With Entry-Level 2013 RSX

For quite some time now, Acura has taken a back seat in the luxury game. In particular, Infiniti has surged strongly with new rear-wheel drive products and V-8 engines in upmarket models. Lexus, which has held the title of top-selling luxury brand in the United States, is making a fresh push starting with the GS 350 debuting later this month at Pebble Beach.

Where does that leave Acura? The RL flagship is very dated and most of the positioning of the rest of the lineup is clearly second-tier. Sales have also been negatively impact by its extremely polarizing design language.

The update to the 2012 TL shows that Acura realizes this. Expect the next-generation of products to be a lot more conservative in design. According to Automotive News, a major push in the entry level market is coming.

2012 looks to be pretty quiet though, with no major introductions. The entry-level segment is growing and is more competitive than ever before. To compete against cars like the Lexus CT 200h and Buick Verano, Acura is set to field a new RSX. A strong upmarket push doesn’t appear to be in the works for Acura.

This time around the RSX will be a four-door sedan at first. The Honda Civic will provide the basis, but the Acura model will be larger and have different sheet metal. AN reports that the standard car will be powered by the Civic Si’s 210 horsepower four-cylinder.

The NSX is a car that enthusiasts miss, and an on again/off again program if there ever was one. This time though, Honda Motor President Takanobu says a new NSX is in the works. Don’t expect it any time soon though – try around 2014. We can’t think of a much better way to kick off a new, relaunched Acura. To succeed, Honda must have a well-defined direction for where it wants to take the brand though….at the moment its apparent Acura has lost its way.

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Acura’s styling language has taken lot of flak in the automotive press – and there have been studies out that point to sales being negatively affected. While the mid-size TL has traditionally been a hot seller for Acura , in recent years it has fallen behind.

2005 marked the sales high water mark for the model, selling 78,218 units,. Last year just 34,049 units were sold, less than half. Clearly Acura needs to update the car to better reflect the market’s tastes. The updated model debuting at the Chicago Auto Show is Acura’s attempt to do just that.

Introduced in 2009, the TL is still a relatively new model, so it isn’t receiving a full redesign. Instead, the car gets a mild freshening. One of the big points of contention on the TL has been the prominent V-shaped “beak” grille and very large Acura “Power Plenum” grille insert. The 2012 model is fixing this with a redesigned front fascia that eliminates the V-shaped grille and tones down the silver insert. The grille is now aligned with the headlights, which have received a dark tint.

The result is a much cleaner and more balanced front end. It is a definite admission the TL’s styling language was ill-received by consumers, but Acura still seems intent on sticking with the same grille design as a defining brand trait. Out back there is a repositioned license plate, smaller reflectors, updated taillights and thinner trim on the edge of the trunk. New 17 inch 7-spoke aluminum wheels are now standard as well. Exciting stuff? Not exactly, it’s an improvement.

The biggest change underneath the skin is upgrading to Acura’s six-speed Sequential Sport Shift automatic transmission, up from last year’s five-speed auto. Honda is well-behind the pace of the industry in moving to 6-speed automatics. The transmission helps increase the TL’s fuel economy to 20/29, adding 3 mpg to the highway driving figure versus the 2011 TL.

Inside, the TL adds a larger hard drive based navigation system, with capacity at 60 gigabytes. The new system also offers more map coverage, a faster USB connection and upgraded VGA monitor. The car’s Advance Package adds ventilated seats and a new blind spot information (BSI) system.

The division clearly lost its way with its last generation of new models and it needs to find a solid direction. Is Acura getting the message about its styling language? It appears to some degree, yes. It is too early to tell though as these are just tweaks to an existing product. We’ll find out for sure when the company launches all-new models.

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1. Acura To Begin New Push With Entry-Level 2013 RSX
2. 2009 Acura RL – New Design Direction
3. Acura Confirms ILX Compact, New Direction Starting With Detroit Show

European hatchbacks, wagons, stick shifts – they are things that are often on wish lists of enthusiasts. Wagons with better driving dynamics are preferred over crossovers and SUVs. Generally though the marketplace has other ideas – wagons usually don’t fare well here and as such manufacturers tend to leave them to sell in international markets.

Cadillac surprised many when it introduced a wagon version of the CTS. However, the car has been a slow seller that isn’t likely to continue when the CTS gets a full redesign.

Acura is intent on entering the segment though, announcing the Acura TSX Sport Wagon for the United States last year. In its home market of Japan the car is sold as the Honda Accord Wagon, but over here the car does duty as the entry-level TSX entry-level car.

Pricing for the TSX Sport Wagon starts at $30,960, up from the sedan’s $29,610. The Sport Wagon’s asking price includes a standard automatic transmission however, while the TSX comes with a standard manual transmission.

Strike one off the enthusiast wish list there – no manual transmission wagon here. The five-speed auto is equipped with paddle shifters, however. The standard features list looks pretty good as well: leather, heated seats, a sunroof, satellite radio, Bluetooth and a USB port for iPod/iPhone integration.

Opting for the Technology Package bumps you up to $34,610 and gets you a navigation system with voice controls and real-time traffic, a rearview camera, a 15GB music hard drive, an upgraded sound system and a power remote-operated liftgate.

The Sport Wagon is powered by the same engine as the base TSX, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 201 horsepower. However, the sedan’s optional V-6 engine making 280 hp is unavailable. The TSX Sport wagon garners a fuel economy rating of 22 city 30 mpg highway, far better than most crossovers. In addition the wagon’s rear cargo area totals 31 cubic feet of space, besting all its crossover lineup companions, including the RDX’s 27.8 or the ZDX’s 23.6. The MDX stands at a paltry 15 cubic feet. Still, if history is any guide the TSX Sport Wagon will be a rarity out on American roads.

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Having existed for almost 25 years as a premium luxury brand for Honda, Acura is beginning to graciously mature from its infancy where the V-TEC Intregra and NSX were creatures of a raw, rebellious influence to posher motoring. Premiering at the 2010 New York Auto Show, the company’s entry-level TSX model receives the ultimate staple of settling into suburbia. The cover was officially removed off the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon, this is a direct salvo blast against European sport wagons the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Audi A4 Avant.

Weathering the craze which saw under-powered minivans and gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles ruling the market segment rule nearly two decades, the car-based wagon is in vogue again. The first true wagon to wear the Acura badge, the TSX Sport Wagon’s arrival is credited to a resurgence in the practical car body style.

Stretched 3.3 inches beyond the TSX sedan, the Acura TSX Sport Wagon retains the smooth, masculine look. Radiating with an intense European influence, this new Acura offering has been pulled off the narrower streets located on the west side of the Atlantic Ocean. The Acura TSX Sport Wagon, like the sedan counterpart, is a rebadged version built on the European Honda Accord. The European Accord had been sold as a wagon (or called Tourer through marketing language) since 2002. With the exterior design carefully marrying utility with sport sedan, the TSX Sport Wagon is vamped with 17 inch aluminum wheels.

Inside, the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon’s stature opens-up the full potential of a mid-sized vehicle. Translating into a maximum cabin space of 41.77 cubic feet for cargo space, the spacious interior features clever touches such as a underfloor storage unit. Comfortably seating five passenger in standard leather seating, the TSX Sport Wagon’s rear cargo capacity is still a commendable 14.3 cubic feet. The typical Acura high-tech, high-fashion luxury appointments including Bluetooth connectivity as well as an available Acura Navigation System and hard-drive electronic storage for destinations or music content.

Though the TSX sedan has been rejoicing with the 280 horsepower jolt of the V-6 engine added this year, the TSX Sport Wagon will only feature the 201 horsepower, 2.4 liter i-VTEC inline-four for the debut. Further limiting the performance potential is the lack of the 6-speed manual to the TSX Sport Wagon. Running Acura’s 5-speed SportShift automatic offering manually-controlled shifting, a 0 to 60 mile per hour time of approximately 9.5 seconds makes this TSX more Wagon than Sport. Better fulfilling the urban utility, the four-cylinder powerplant does promise exceptional highway fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon. Outdoing the Japanese luxury brand’s RDX sport utility, the TSX Sport Wagon fuel consumption compares favourably over the Audi A4 Avant.

Going on sale late fall of 2010, Acura TSX Sport Wagon is another one in the new range of premium practical vehicles ideal for showing up the other parents at little league games.

Photo Credit: Joe Wilssens/Acura

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Acura has a new commercial out for the RDX SUV, and it’s pretty cool. For the stop animation ad, the RDX was placed in front of a 100×50 ft wall that was painted, then repainted for each frame. The 30 second commercial is below, then the ad agency that created the promo did a 2-minute “Making Of” video, which will be below that:

via: M80

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Sometime last year, a few Photoshop gurus got together and made some very funny “mini” versions of their favorite cars. The trend caught on, and soon lots of people were taking their favorite cars, and through the process of image manipulation, made them mini versions of themselves.

Below, you will find a photo gallery full of these micro machines, in all of their hilarious glory. If you have any you’d like to share, please leave a comment.

Just click on the image for a larger version:

If you’d like to learn how to do this yourself, you’ll need to get Adobe Photoshop or a very similar photo editing program and follow these instructions.

Thanks to CelSydney for some of these photos. Check out his Flickr set for more.

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Ever since man began making cars for more than just getting from A to B, two-door coupes have been a sign of automotive enthusiasm and overall sportiness that a four-door sedan simply could not fulfill. A recent wave of sport sedans and four-door coupes have been introduced to the market, but for us sports car enthusiasts, they just aren’t good enough.

For the purposes of this article, we’re referring to a sedan as a car with four doors, and coupe as a car with two doors, even though the technical definition of the two terms are slightly different. Please see Coupe vs Sedan for more information regarding the technical differences.

So which new cars are produced as sedan-only, when they should be offered as coupes? Keep reading…

Lexus IS-F

The Lexus IS-F’s 5.0-liter V8 develops 416 horsepower and is controlled by an 8-speed paddle-shifted transmission through a RWD drivetrain. Why it looks almost identical to the weakling 2.5-liter IS250 is beyond me. If I’m going to buy a $60,000+ supercar, I don’t want it to be a 4-door sedan. Actually, I think the whole IS line should be offered in a two-door variation. It is, after all, Lexus’ sportiest model behind the overrated SC.

Pontiac G8

So Pontiac has the G6 – a capable and sporty midsize car with up to 252 hp, offered in coupe, sedan, and convertible variations. Then we have the G5 – a completely pointless compact, which is nothing but a rebadged Chevy Cobalt Coupe. But the only Pontiac which could be called a true sports car – the G8 – is only offered as a sedan.

The G8 GXP features GM’s LS3 engine – a 6.2-liter V8 producing 415 horsepower, propelling the car from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Pontiac’s most powerful car is also one of their only cars not offered as a coupe.

Acura TL

It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of the new design direction Acura has taken for 2009, but I can’t deny that they’re upping their game for all 2009 models. The Acura TL is a perfect example. It’s a step above the entry-level Acura TSX, and a sportier option than the luxurious RL.

Acura gave up on coupes when they canceled the RSX after 2006, but this didn’t make sense to me since Acura has always been a sporty brand. You could argue that the Acura TSX is better fitted to be a coupe, but it’s just a rebadged Honda Accord, and we already have a very capable Accord Coupe. The 2008 Acura TL offered a Type-S version which was very sexy, but the redesigned TL doesn’t get a sportier version. Hopefully 2010 will bring us a TL-S Coupe.

Honda Civic MUGEN Si

For the 2008 model year, Honda produced a very limited run of a MUGEN-tuned Civic Si Sedan. The Civic Si is available for both the coupe and sedan, but the MUGEN variation – which included a tuned exhaust, lightweight 18-inch wheels, sport suspension, and a body kit – only came available as a sedan. You’d think Honda would give the sportier Civic Coupe the honor of doning the MUGEN badges.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo has always been known for its excellent performance-to-dollar ratio. The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine produces 291 horsepower and 300 ft/lbs of torque through a 6-speed paddle-shifting gearbox. Plus, it got around Top Gear’s test track faster than a Dodge Viper SRT-10. Doesn’t it deserve to look like a proper sports car? Yes, Mitsubishi has the two-door Eclipse available, and that’s the only reason I’m not bitching about the regular Lancer being a sedan only. But the Evolution? Come on.

Subaru Impreza WRX

Speaking of fast Top Gear lap times, the Stig pushed the Subaru Impreza WRX STi around the track 1/50 of a second faster than the aforementioned Lancer Evo. If Subaru doesn’t think this 305 horsepower, AWD, Alcantara-clad beast deserves sport coupe status, what do they think does?

Cadillac CTS

At the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac unveiled the sexy CTS Coupe Concept, which gave me hope for this whole domestic car thing after all. Instead, they released the beastly CTS-V for 2009, which boasts a ridiculous (in a good way) 556 horsepower, making it the fastest sedan in history. That’s OK though, since this means that if they do decide to make a CTS Coupe variation, the CTS-V Coupe will be unstoppable.

Did I miss any, or do you think I’m wrong about any (or all) of these? Please leave your comments below.

Related posts:

1. 2007 Chicago Auto Show
2. Coupe vs. Sedan – What’s the Difference?
3. 2009 Acura RL – New Design Direction