MONTREAL, Quebec--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The restyled, reengineered and reborn 2016 ILX sports sedan made its Canadian debut today at the Montreal International Auto Show. Set to launch in Canada in February 2015, the 2016 Acura ILX delivers more strongly than ever before on its mission as the gateway to the Acura lineup with a major injection of Acura performance DNA, courtesy of its new 201-horsepower, direct-injected DOHC i-VTEC engine and 8-speed dual-clutch transmission for all models, the same advanced engine and transmission combination that powers the just-launched TLX.
The 2016 ILX boasts dynamic new front and rear styling cues, standard Jewel EyeTM LED headlights, upgraded interior materials, optional upsized wheels and tires, enhanced connectivity, and a host of new premium features and technologies, along with significant improvements to cabin quietness, sporty handling and collision avoidance and safety.
The 2016 ILX will be available in four grades – ILX, ILX with Premium Package, ILX with Technology Package, and ILX with the all-new A-SPEC package. Also as an Acura first, all 2016 ILX models will now come standard with AcuraWatch™ driver assist and sensing technologies. This unprecedented move equips all ILX grades with features including Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, and enhanced Collision Mitigation Braking System™ with pedestrian-sensing capability.
“Top to bottom, from dynamic design to luxury features, and leading-edge safety technology to sport sedan athleticism and sophistication, ILX is now a true gateway to Acura’s performance luxury sedans,” said Dave Gardner, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Acura Canada . “It’s a luxury vehicle for the next generation.”
New Powertrain
All 2016 ILX models will be powered by a 2.4-litre, 16-valve, direct-injected DOHC i-VTEC engine with peak output of 201-horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 180 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm, up 51 horsepower and 40 lb.-ft. compared to the outgoing 2.0-litre engine. The new engine is mated to an 8-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) with torque converter and paddle-controlled Sequential Sport Shift. It’s the most advanced transmission in its competitive set, delivering incredibly quick, crisp and intuitive gear changes to achieve outstanding response and sporting performance with top-class fuel efficiency. The world’s first DCT with a torque converter, Acura’s 8-speed DCT provides off-the-line torque multiplication for smoother, more powerful launches that other DCTs cannot match.
Dynamic Styling
The 2016 ILX gets numerous styling upgrades including restyled front and rear facias, front grille and rear LED combination lights, plus a restyled 17-inch, 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheel. The new ILX A-SPEC package features a sporty side sill garnish, trunk spoiler, front fog lights and new 18-inch, 10-spoke machined alloy wheels with gloss black insets. All ILX models come equipped with Acura’s signature Jewel EyeTM LED headlights as standard equipment, a feature unmatched in the competitive set.
The 2016 ILX also benefits from numerous interior upgrades, including contrasting Euro-style stitching on the steering wheel, parking brake handle and shift knob, as well as new high-intensity silver trim for the passenger-side instrument panel. The ILX A-SPEC package enhances the exceptional cabin appeal and appointments with an exclusive Premium Black interior colour scheme including black headliner, perforated black Lux Suede® seat inserts, red instrument illumination, exclusive gray interior stitching and aluminum brake and throttle pedals.
New Premium Features
In addition to the new powertrain and extensive interior and exterior upgrades, the 2016 ILX also ups the ante for luxury, connectivity and technological sophistication. Premium and above grades get a new two-position driver’s seat memory function, a 4-way power passenger seat, and Acura’s On-Demand Multi-Use Display (ODMD) with upper 8-inch display screen and lower 7-inch touchscreen. The evolved touchscreen connectivity and media system receives more than 50 design changes to enhance intuitive operation and functionality.
Also available for the first time on the Premium grade is a new tethered navigation system powered by the user’s compatible iPhone and data plan via the AcuraLink navigation app. Premium and above models also get Acura’s Blind Spot Information and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor along with enhanced audio options, including SiriusXM radio and AHA radio.
Body, Chassis and Safety Enhancements
The ILX body and chassis benefit from significant engineering changes that advance collision safety, increase body rigidity, improve cabin quietness and enhance sporty handling performance.
Utilizing Acura’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, the 2016 ILX is designed to more efficiently absorb and disperse the energy in a frontal collision and targets a “GOOD” rating in the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small-overlap frontal crash test and an overall “TOP SAFETY PICK+” IIHS crash safety rating.
Cabin quietness is enhanced by additional noise-insulating materials, a thicker front-side door glass, noise attenuating wheels, and the addition of Active Noise Control technology. Steering responsiveness and linearity is also improved via a retuned suspension and a multitude of chassis design enhancements.
About Acura
Acura is the luxury-performance division of Honda Canada Inc. The Acura lineup features five distinctive models including the RLX luxury performance sedan, the TLX luxury sports sedan, the ILX compact luxury sedan, the RDX luxury crossover SUV and the MDX luxury sport utility vehicle.
For More Information
Consumer information about Acura is available at www.acura.ca. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/AcuraCanada. Additional media information including detailed features and high-resolution photography of the Acura model line is available at www.acuranews.ca.
