Acura's lineup goes from aging to fresh

Acura's aging lineup has undergone a radical transformation, and there's more to come. Over just the past year, the TLX midsize sedan and MDX three-row crossover were put on all-new platforms with fresh interior and exterior styling.

Up next are a replacement to the ILX compact sedan and the introduction of the brand's first electric vehicle — a crossover of undisclosed size being developed with General Motors. Acura is also working to keep its NSX supercar fresh by adding new features and colors.

ILX: The compact sedan continues selling well despite its age, relative to rivals. The ILX is still in its first generation, introduced for the 2013 model year, although it received a fairly heavy freshen for the 2019 model. Acura is working on a new compact sedan to replace the ILX, according to a leaked dealer presentation that suggests it could get a different name. Acura is committed to its current three-letter naming scheme, so the new sedan could come as an RSX or TSX, which are names used on past Acuras. The new sedan is expected in 2022. A freshen should come in 2025. Acura has also confirmed a sporty Type S trim for the coming compact.

TLX: The second-generation of the midsize sedan went on sale last year on a new platform with a standard four-cylinder turbocharged engine. A reworked, turbocharged version of Acura's corporate V-6 was introduced this year as part of the revived Type S trim. A freshen for the TLX should come in 2023.

RDX: The compact crossover kicked off Acura's renewed direction toward sporty vehicles when it was redesigned for the 2019 model year. A freshened version will debut in the fall as a 2022 model. A redesign should come in 2025.

MDX: The third generation of the MDX crossover went on sale this year as a 2022 model with a fully redesigned interior and exterior. A Type S version with a turbocharged V-6 engine will go on sale by the end of the year. A freshen should come in 2024.

EV crossover: Acura will get its first EV in 2024. The model will be a crossover being developed with GM on its Ultium platform using Ultium batteries. Since GM's electric platform is scalable, the Acura could potentially debut as something smaller than an RDX or something bigger. Acura dealers have said they'd like a smaller luxury crossover, but there has been no news on the size of the Acura EV. While the vehicle will use a GM platform, Acura will design the exterior and interior.

NSX: The hybrid supercar is expected to get a new color for the 2022 model year. Acura has rolled out new colors for the two-door coupe regularly to keep it fresh. Since the NSX is on an unusually long life cycle, regular freshens can be expected to include tech pieces, such as infotainment. The next freshen will likely come in 2023.