2013 Acura ILX

The 2013 Acura ILX compact sedan is an all-new model that is positioned as the gateway into the Acura brand. Sleek and sporty, the Acura ILX combines luxury, performance and efficiency.

The Acura ILX will feature three advanced, sporty and efficient powertrain choices, including Acura's first-ever gas-electric hybrid.

At January's 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Acura showed off a thinly-veiled sedan concept dubbed the ILX Concept. Acura will offer the ILX with three powertrain options all cribbed from the Civic parts bin.

Also available is a hybrid powertrain, which makes the ILX the first hybrid Acura. Using the 1.5-liter four-cylinder and a 20-horsepower IMA system from the Honda Civic Hybrid, the ILX Hybrid will have a total output of 111 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque. With a CVT, the ILX Hybrid is estimated to have an EPA rating of 35 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

Both a Premium Package and Technology Package will be available. The Premium Package includes leather seats, heated front seats, a 360-watt stereo system, a rearview camera, and Active Sound Cancellation.

The entry-level ILX will be powered by a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 150 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 140 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. Marking the debut of Acura's first ever hybrid model, the ILX Hybrid makes use of a 1.5-liter inline engine and an Integrated Motor Assist® electric motor. Paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the Acura ILX 1.5L Hybrid will deliver an EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 35/38 mpg.

The Acura ILX chassis utilizes advanced MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension systems, along with new Amplitude Reactive Dampers. The Acura ILX will feature a high-quality, well-appointed interior that is smart, spacious and sporty.

Building on the Premium Package, the available Technology Package adds Acura's award winning ELS Surround® audio system and a full complement of relevant technologies, including AcuraLink® Satellite Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting™, and AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ with radar image maps.

The standard engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, making 150 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque (as distinct from the Civic’s 140-hp, 1.8-liter SOHC four). The go-fast choice is a 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve four—shared with the Acura TSX and Civic Si—which puts out 201 hp at 7000 rpm and 170 lb-ft at 4300 rpm. Like the gas-electric Civic, the Acura version features a stop/start function that shuts down the engine at stoplights. Don’t be surprised if this also means the ILX hybrid is less fleet than the already slow Civic hybrid.

While the Acura ILX began with the latest Civic platform, it’s not a carbon copy. At 105.1 inches, the wheelbase is the same as the Civic sedan’s. But the Acura is longer (179.1 inches versus 177.3), lower (55.6 inches versus 56.5), and wider (70.6 inches versus 69.0), yielding a slightly sportier appearance.