Acura ILX - Stylish Acura entry model on Civic platform

Acura has introduced its entry-level model at Chicago Motorshow, called Acura ILX. Based on the 9th generation Honda Civic underpinning, Acura has practically dressed-up the car using an all-new panel exclusive from the one on Civic to attain the premium status of Acura brand positioning in the American market. 

Acura stated the intent of the ILX as being targeted to " Generation Y-successful 20 and 30 somethings moving into luxury car ranks but looking for high value propositions in their purchases". High value propositions probably means cheap, and it this case, an entry level to the premium brand. While the ILX shares Civic platfrom, the exterior and interior styling has been restyled beyond recognition from its donor. Acura ILX retained the 2,670mm wheelbase from the Civic platfrom, however the overall length has grown by around 25mm to 4,550mm. Width too has been increased by 38mm to 1,793mm and height has been dropped by 22mm to 1,412mm for a sportier stance. The front end of Acura ILX bears the latest evolution of Acura corporates' beak and it goes wheel with the rest of crispy character line alongside the side panel. While the latest Civic has dropped its wrapped-around front fender to cheapened the die cost, Acura has done the same too, perhaps its the bodyshell hardpoint that's not interchangeable.

For the profile view, Acura ILX offers more muscular appearance with sculpted body panel instead of being weedy like the 9th Civic. The body panels is voluminous instead of slab flat with proper character line along the waist that kicks up above the rear wheel arch. The reverse rake C-pillar however bears the Civic styling cue.

The rear end adopts familiar Acura signature slim rear lights, The design follows the trend like the front fascia with its crisp line and a well-defined details in the lights graphic and trunk lid and rear bumper curvatures. Due to its higher-price position, pitching at the premium end of the market, Acura has managed to include features such as crisp sharp radius body panel that is usually more expensive to be produced. More details after the jump.

Nissan 370Z updated for 2012

Nissan has unveiled the updated 370Z model at the Chicago Motorshow. However, this is not an all-out facelift as changes are minor. Among the styling tweak include a revised front bumper design, which surprisingly looks like an evolution from the 350z. This include the squared-off radiator intake and a vertically-positioned DRL on the bumper. The former replaced the fanged outlined of pre-updated 370z, while the vertical DRL positioning hardened the soft radius of last year 370z bumper edge. The comparison can be drawn based on the inset photo of last year's 370z.

However, you have to squint really hard to notice the changes at the back, if any. Nissan declared they have replaced the blackened rear reflector on the fascia with the red reflector, which anyway is a variation from version of different continent, as the Euro model inset below is already featuring red reflector. A quick check revealed the US model was indeed fitted with black cover previously. The biggest exterior changes, apart from the afore-mentioned front bumper, is the highly stylistic new alloy wheel. The standard car wears a newly design 18" item, while the Sport Package car gets a bigger 19" item. Going for Sport Package too will get you a red caliper and a stiffer absorber dubbed Euro-tuned. Exterior makeover is completed by the addition of two new exterior shades called Magma Red and Midnight Blue. More detail after the jump.