Acura Returns to SEMA Show with Supercharged ILX 'Street Build'

Peabody, 11/08/2012 / SubmitMyPR /

It had been six years since Acura had brought a vehicle to the SEMA Show, but the luxury automaker's all-new ILX sedan provided more than enough justification for a return to Las Vegas in 2012. Last week, a supercharged 2013 Acura ILX "Street Build" project car debuted at the tradeshow for automotive-specialty products, donning aggressive exterior modifications and a significant power boost under the hood.

Aimed at younger buyers looking to make their first luxury-vehicle purchase, the 2013 Acura ILX is designed to provide an ideal mix of amenities and sportiness, and the "Street Build" concept showed just how sporty it can get when customized. An Acura Genuine Accessories aero kit brought bolder styling, including front-, side- and rear-underbody spoilers, a deck-lid spoiler and body-side molding. Meanwhile, 19-inch Volk G25 wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires and Tein Street Advance coilovers helped to give the special-edition ILX a more imposing stance.

"The new generation of luxury buyers wants all the amenities that they've worked hard to earn, but they also want a car that wouldn't look out of place outside a concert or nightclub, and the ILX fits the bill," said Joel Avery, general manager of Acura of Peabody, a Massachusetts Acura dealership. "For driving enthusiasts that want to take the edgy styling of the ILX even further, the Street Build model proves that a lot can be done in the aftermarket to make your ride completely unique."

Acura worked with Evasive Motorsports to amp up the ILX's range-topping 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine for its street-built incarnation at SEMA, incorporating a CT Engineering supercharger kit and an ECU tune from Hondata’s FlashPro to increase output from 201 horsepower to 250 horsepower. The custom ILX's enhanced powerplant also makes its presence clearly known with a hearty growl thanks to a prototype SP Elite exhaust from Greddy.

In addition to the aforementioned 2.4-liter engine, two other drivetrains are offered on the 2013 Acura ILX in production form. Standard models feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a Sequential SportShift five-speed automatic transmission that combine to return 35 mpg on the highway, while Acura's first-ever hybrid powertrain is also available for eco-conscious buyers. Using a 1.5-liter inline engine and an Integrated Motor Assist electric motor, the Acura ILX Hybrid achieves up to 39 mpg in city driving.

Younger drivers are increasingly moving toward fuel-efficient options like hybrids, and because they also tend to be more tech-savvy, the ILX comes with an abundance of standard technologies to keep them safely connected. Bluetooth and SMS text message compatibility allows the driver to initiate phone functions while keeping their eyes on the road, and a Pandora internet radio interface can play their favorite tunes without the need to fumble for an iPod.

"The Acura ILX has the quality materials and refined ride of a much more expensive sedan, but it also aligns with the practical sensibilities of the new luxury-car owner," added Avery. "Twenty-something buyers can see the value in high performance and comfort, but they also want to balance those things with cost- and time-saving benefits like fuel efficiency and in-car technology. The ILX does just that."

About Acura of Peabody:
Thanks to a complete commitment to the Acura Total Luxury Care (TLC) philosophy from the sales, parts and service teams, this dealership has the best customer satisfaction and retention rates of any Acura dealership in the Northeast. They offer an extensive inventory of new and used Acura models, backed by a service center with the highest customer loyalty in the Northeast. Visit their website at www.acuraofpeabody.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/acuraofpeabody, visit their Acura showroom and service center at 233 Andover Street in Peabody, Massachusetts, or call them at 888-825-7965.