Title:
Acura RSX: Swan Song
Word Count:
479
Summary:
If you like the Acura RSX, hurry down to your local Acura dealer and get one today. This model year
promises to be the last one for the venerable Acura coupe.
Keywords:
Acura RSX, Acura Integra, Acura MDX, Acura TL, Acura RL, Acura Legend, Acura Vigor, Honda Element
Article Body:
When Honda launched the Acura brand in 1986, two models powered the fleet: the Integra and the Legend.
Since then many other models have been added to the Acura line up and the Integra was eventually renamed
the RSX and the Legend was later given the RL designation. After two decades of service, the Integra/RSX
is in its final year of production. Please read on for reasons why the Honda Motor Company will kill off this
once popular seller.
Blowing Up Bridges –- When Honda created Acura, the company wanted one “bridge model” to be included
in the mix to help Honda owners transition to Acura. The thought back then was that the price differential
between the two brands would be too much for many one-time Honda owners to swallow. Thus, the Integra
was created and priced only slightly higher than the most expensive Honda model, but well below the
prevailing price of the Legend. With this pricing plan in place, Honda believed accurately that Integra/RSX
owners would eventually opt for a more upscale Acura. Today, however, Honda is now actively separating
the two brands with individual research and development departments in play. Furthermore, Acura is being
repositioned to better compete against Infiniti and Lexus, two Japanese luxury brands without a bridge
model.
Invest Elsewhere –- Related to the first point, the RSX was due for a change. The current model is old and
the monies to bring about a new model would take away from the company’s bottom line. Acura has
mentioned that a coupe version of its popular TL sedan is likely to be introduced to satisfy whatever
consumer demand remains for a luxury coupe.
Changing Consumer Tastes –- While a sports coupe has its advantages, the market for this type of car is
limited and dwindling. Chevrolet gave up the Camaro, Pontiac the Firebird, while the Mitsubishi Eclipse
and Ford Mustang manage to hold their own. None of these cars are on the luxury level of the Acura and
consumer interest has been steadily dwindling over the past five years.
A New NSX? –- Acura’s discontinued NSX, a two seat sports car, is rumored to be coming back. Although
sales will likely be limited to less than 10,000 models annually the high priced NSX would be the “halo”
model for the Acura fleet. USA Acura dealers want the car and it appears that the Honda Motor Company
many oblige.
In its heyday the Integra was a popular seller and a frequently stolen car. Hard to find parts made the Integra
a popular target of thieves; expect this problem to worsen as the RSX goes completely out of production. So,
if you don’t have an alarm system installed on your Integra/RSX yet, do so today. The Integra/RSX you
currently drive may be the last one you own; don’t let thieves make that determination for you!
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