It happens at every major auto show: Carmakers unveil sexy show cars destined to get watered down for production, or that have little relevance to any future production cars. Our friends at Acura have a history of building concepts that go nowhere—remember the terrifying Advanced Sedan Concept from 2006?—as well as show cars such as the 2012 NSX Concept that translated brilliantly into the production NSX. This year, as the Acura Precision concept sedan wows the masses at the Detroit auto show, we pulled its lead designers aside to see what, if any, of the car’s many interesting aspects really matter.
A “Vision Car,” Not a Production Preview
First off, this not a preview of a future production model; rather, it is a “vision car” commissioned during the afterglow of the production NSX’s introduction exactly a year ago. According to to lead exterior designer Michelle Christensen, who also served as the lead exterior designer of the NSX, it’s intended to clarify Acura’s mantra of “Precision Crafted Performance,” for both internal and external purposes. “Coming off of [the NSX launch] we wanted to look at our lineup and design language and reassess where we’re going. We had every intent to trickle the NSX design elements and soul into our products, so we wanted to make a vision car not only to show the world what our intentions are, but also to have a muse in the studio to inspire our designers and get everyone on the same page.”
“We’re Applying as Much of This as Possible”
While Christensen wouldn’t get specific about which Acura models will get these themes first, she did provide some specifics about which of the Precision’s elements would eventually appear. “We’re applying as much of this as possible, from the actual design theme to the proportion to the technology, the lighting, and especially the new grille. The name of the new grille is the ‘diamond pentagon.’ The general shape has a diamond shape and also the details in the mesh have radiating diamonds. That’s a theme that we’re carrying into production for sure.”
Perhaps the highest priority, Christensen said, is a change in proportions to low and wide. “That goes back to our roots with some of the best cars that Acura has ever made. I think that’s a very signature thing for a luxury sedan. Also, the dash-to-axle [ratio]—we made sure to stretch the wheelbase to get that [long] dash-to-axle and give us that premium look that conveys that there’s something really powerful under that hood. And they’ll be very muscular around the fenders; especially with our all-wheel-drive we really wanted to emphasize the performance, where the muscles are: the wheels and tires.”
Pointing to the NSX, Christensen referenced that car’s floating A-pillar and flying buttress, which translated into the Precision Concept’s A-pillar. “We’ve got the floating A-pillar on the NSX and we’ve got the floating A-pillar on the Precision Concpet that kind of tapers to a point. The NSX’s flying buttresses can also be seen as related to the flying taillamps, which are anchored only at each end and behind which one can slip one’s hand.”
Dueling Surface Languages, “Chaotic” Lighting
What will be most interesting to watch is how Acura translates the Precision concept’s “contrast surfacing” into Acura’s varying body styles. “We have this really sheer bodyside and then it’s complimented by this organic shape…imagine a flat sheet of metal that’s twisted and then it’s got this mercury form growing out of it. We wanted to have two different form languages moving together on one vehicle to create more interest and more movement and reflections. I think the surfacing is going to be very potent; I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s going to transform from a smaller entry level sedan to an SUV; we’re already seeing some of it in the studio.”
“The lighting was also really fun on this car,” said Christensen. “We have our signature jewel-eye headlights that have become very distinctive for Acura but we wanted to add a little more of a chaotic element…so we have this sort of constellation theme, or a random fractal theme, so that it really kind of brings it to life and gives it more of a nature-based look. Even the taillight is broken off into random pieces; there’s no rhyme or reason for that pattern, it’s just kind of beautiful, gives it some depth.”
Sporty Up Front, Lounge-like in Back
Christensen’s interior design counterpart, John Norman, gave us a few insights into what the Precision concept could portend for future Acura interiors. “The HMI is something we’re really fighting for…we got rid of the typical speedometer and replaced it with this micrometer that’s mounted on the column and in front of that is this rectangular, very performance-oriented steering wheel that’s similar to an F1 car and also very similar to the NSX. The center is dominated by a large, curved center screen that retracts out of the IP. We wanted to create something that was immersive but that also bridged the gap between automotive and home theater.”
Each row of seats is different, too, not just in terms of upholstery color but seat style, too. “We tried to make the front more sports oriented,” said Norman, “but the back seats aren’t quite as aggressive, they’re more like thin, modern lounge furniture. We’re going to try to do that in the future.”
Ultimately only time will tell what fate has in store for any concept car, but one thing seems certain: Acuras are poised to get a lot more pizzazz. “The way I see is that I think we have great products, and at the core they’ve always had this performance in there, I just think that maybe it hasn’t been loud enough or it may not have been consistent across the board. I think now we’re really bringing the soul out and turning the volume up full blast.”
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