After holding on to a slim lead for 2000 sales against Mercedes (200 cars), Lexus is again holding on to a slim lead (2500 cars) through first half 2001 against .... guess who....BMW.

First half sales figures:

1. Lexus 109,742
2. BMW 107,257
3. Mercedes 100,216
4. Acura 84,910

It looks like 3 manufacturers will break 200k this year.
Acura might end up with around 180k.
Lexus needs to bring out a SC320.
Acura needs to bring out MDX V8 and any RWD compact 4 door.
While they are at it, they also need a convertible.
Mercedes.....going down hill.....can you say Crysler?
BMW is kicking ass with those ugly cars....ok M3s are beautiful, but there aren't that many around.

 

I don't entirely agree with your view of Acura. First I think they will end up #3 or a very close 4th - spurred by the sales of the new Integra (RSX). As to what Acura needs to change, my list is:

1) a 6 speed manual on the CL type S and TL type S
2) Bring the dang ITR over here, ASAP... enough of this "americans won't pay for hi performance BS"
3) Refresh the RL to compete against the LS430 and Q45

I don't know that the MDX needs a V-8. It is a very good midsize SUV with the 3.5L V6. The V-8 might sway some 'detroit iron' buyers, but not many.

RWD would be nice, but don't hold your breath. The universal midsize platform is too well refined to toss out the window.

Convertible would be marginal in sales and profit... and the NSX is their flagship car.

 

The chance is slim (but not completely impossible) for Acura to sell more than 180k cars this year.
You may want to keep in mind that RSX production is 30k a year which is about the same as the out going integra is selling this year. The yearly sales in RSX/Integra will only go up by the overlaping months.
A 6MT CL-S was already confirmed, so that's not on the "wish list".
A new RL (actually leave RL where it is and build a new flagship...say SL) will be needed eventually.....but it will be hard to make a dent at LS430's market share. As nice as Q45 is....it's hardly doing anything. With so much image and emphsis placed on value, it will be hard for Acura to sell a full size luxury car no matter how good it is. I don't expect it to contribute to the total sales number even if they have a V8 RL out this year.
MDX is a very good car. I bet Acura will go after V8 MDX.
There is a big V8 SUV market out there and Acura can take a big chunk of that with MDX design.
BTW, I didn't suggest tossing the midsize platform. They need a compact RWD (no not the EL). The 2 door version may eventually drive out CL buyers, but TL will always be a good seller as a FWD family car.
Convertible and NSX are not for profit. They are for image. Without NSX, Acura wouldn't even be considered by many. Unless NSX and a beautiful convertible happen, there is no way Acura is gonna sell a full size V8 seden.
It will just be another RL blunder...selling 200 a month.

 

I don't think that's neccessarily the case... that Acura needs a NSX of convertable to sell sedans. Remember the market is completely different. Most that are interested in LS430, etc are not that interested in an "exotic" like the NSX. Heck many of them wouldn't know the difference.

Honda will build a real nice RL... and if they build it right, it will start to chip away at the LS430 market... it'll take time, but Honda can't get behind, like they did with the RL. Heck the Legend was doing great, till the RL.

-Shing

 

Honda/Acura will never make a big dent @ the high end of the market until they abandon FWD for RWD &/or AWD. I can't imagine paying $40+K for a FWD sedan.

BMW's are ugly - what are you talking about? Let's ignore the Z/M coupe, but otherwise their cars' styling will still look good 20 years from now, which is more than you can say about most Japanese/domestic cars.

Remember that comparing sales among these cars is pretty meaningless, esp. since they have different entry levels/models. Also, these brands are part of a managed portfolio...if Honda and Toyota really wanted to maximize Acura and Lexus sales, respectively, they could just add more mainstream models to the brand.

 

I think they will have AWD on just about every car...since it works so well on MDX.

 

But the MDX is a truck, and few people care how quick a truck is. I doubt most people would want the added weight of AWD when FWD gets the job done on a car, however, where the extra 200-300 lbs AWD adds can make the diffrence between fastest and slowest in a tight segment, like entry level luxury (where the CL/TL compete).

 

Most people buying a family car doesn't mind AWD.
NSX and sports image are only useful to draw younger people into the "brand" and build brand loyalty.
Most buyers are still "family car" buyers. Plenty of people will opt for AWD option if it shall be available on RL or TL.
I know I'd pay 2000 bucks for it on the TLS, especially if they would slap a 6MT on it like the CLS.
Unfortunately, they still have no plan to put 6MT on TLS.
They do plan to put AWD on RL....but I haven't heard anything about AWD going on the TL.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by FlyingPig
[B]Most people buying a family car doesn't mind AWD.
NSX and sports image are only useful to draw younger people into the "brand" and build brand loyalty.
Most buyers are still "family car" buyers. Plenty of people will opt for AWD option if it shall be available on RL or TL.

 

I don't think my personal opinion is worth much. HOPING is the word.
They are doing just fine the way they are.
But again, I wasn't the one who thought they should kill legend either.
I'm just another consumer hoping for some competition in the industry so I can get a better car for lower price.
BMW and Mercedes have responded (not exactly in positive way for mercedes in my opinion).....Acura needs to catch up.
When I35 is out, it might just put a big dent on TL sales.