Thanks to patents filed by Acura, we know what the 2019 Acura ILX will look like.

Last year I reported on a rumor that Acura was axing the ILX for 2019 but that rumor isn’t true. According to the latest ramblings from Auto News and confirmed through some patent drawings dug up by my good friends over at Car and Driver, it looks like the 2019 Acura ILX will get a much-needed refresh with Acura’s precision concept grill as predicted. Check out a couple of the patent drawings with the tell-tale grille below.

 

Acura has killed it recently thanks to its 2018 Acura RDX. With turbo power and the handling to back it up, it’s a very popular choice in a crowded small-crossover market. Alongside the low-selling NSX, MDX, and the lukewarm sales from the TLX, Acura’s lineup needs an injection of life.

Although AutoNews went over the entire Acura lineup, it’s the ILX I’m most interested about. For all intents and purposes, Acura has managed to keep its ILX somewhat relevant although its chassis has done double duty for Honda since 2011.

A freshening is expected for the 2019 model year for the entry-level sedan. Reports say the next model’s grille will be in line with Acura’s new look that ditches the beak.

And thanks to these patent drawings, those suspicions are confirmed.

Although the Acura ILX is on a downward slope from its best year of sales back in 2013, they’re still selling thousands. According to GoodCarBadCar, 5,526 ILX’s have been sold in 2018 thus far and is on track to eclipse 2017 sales numbers. Thanks to some heavy discounts on loan deals from some dealerships, an already generous lease for qualified leasees, and bargaining room on an already steal of a lease, those numbers are holding strong.

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The current ILX isn’t a slouch on paper, really. Under the hood is Honda’s tried and true K24 engine putting out a generous 201 HP and 180 lb-ft mated to an 8-speed DCT. With sporty handling and OK gas mileage, it’s a sensible choice, if anything. But, it’s not an exciting choice, which, in my opinion, it should be.

Frankly, I’m a bit surprised Acura is continuing on with such an ancient chassis when they have an opportunity to breathe some fresh life into the marquee. The ILX is Acura’s entry-level offering. At $28,100, it’s its most affordable option. The ILX replaced the RSX which in turn replaced the DC2 Integra, its spiritual successor. To put bluntly, the Acura ILX does NOT live up to the DC2’s legendary performance and I will be even more surprised if Acura keeps the ILX alive past 2020.

I’m OK with the ILX soldiering on but its a shame that this will be Acura’s entry-level offering for 2019.

2 COMMENTS

    • You’re right. I looked back at the numbers on the third party that has ILX sales figures, goodcarbadcar, and it looks like they had an outlier on Feb. 2017, snuck in an extra number where they sold 7,939 ILXs throwing off the 2017 total. I’ve corrected it with my .02 on why I think they’re selling even more this year.

      What do you think? Is it because of a good lease deals and good loans from dealerships? Or is the ILX actually a good small luxury car choice? Maybe I’m blinded by the DC2 and RSX.

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