It seems that Honda/Acura has fallen of the wagon. Gone are the days of cars that inspire. Make way for more plain jane cars. They realy need to liven up there line up. As it stands the best thing going for Acura is the new NSX but that's a few years off and most of us won't be able to afford. On the Honda side of the house there sportiest offering isn't very sporty at all. Yes I'm talking about the CRZ it has good looks but that's about it. If they would offer up say an SI version with a bigger engine and a turbo they'd be on the right path.

Having driven this car, I'll tell you exactly who it will appeal to.  The buyers will be sensible drivers who have "arrived" and have nothing left to prove.  They want a stylish, extremely well executed (the parchment leather interior is stunning), front wheel drive car that is comfortable, has all the interior bells and whistles, that is fuel efficient and rides nicely, with Honda/Acura's history of reliability and relatively low owner costs, and yet is thousands less than similarly sized and appointed "luxury" offerings from other manufacturers.  Size is where the comparison to the Civic ends.  I think that this car is brilliantly done and will do well in the marketplace.  We'll see.  BTW, I do not work for Honda/Acura.

My buddy is a sales guy at the local Acura store.  I've driven this thing.  I totally agree with the author's thought that this car is overpriced by about $4,000.  Take that money off, and you have the MSRP of a Civic EX-L.  Hmmm....  As far as the car itself, no, it's not bad; but here is the problem.  It doesn't FEEL premium.  The materials are nice and all and its a decent drive, but you get the feeling you're driving a gussied up economy car.  Very 1990's GM-ish.  can you say, Cimmaron?
Years ago, the Integra was a civic based car.  the main difference is that the Integra was marketed as a sporty car with a premium heritage (brand).  It worked, and they sold boatloads of them.  Then the import scene came, and a bunch of PR people decided Acura shouldn't be known for that (what will rich people think?!  Oh my!); so they killed the integra, turned it into the "RSX"; and they've been searching for an identity sense.  Nothing they introduced after 2004  has been class leading.  Everything since has been bland, middle of the road.  Honda really needs to let Acura grow up.
Here's an example of the class leading stuff:  1987 - First Japanese luxury brand.  1991 - The NSX.  1993 - First Variable valve timing in regularly available car.  1997 - Integra Type R largely viewed as best front drive car ever.  1999 - first "sportshift" automatic in car under $40k.  2000- Acura MDX debuts.  First luxury crossover that holds 7.  2004 - 3rd Gen TL and first TSX introduced.  Since then, a whole lot of crap.  The 2005 RL, the current MDX, the ZDX, the new "power plenum" grills...yuck.
I understand the corporate average fuel economy thing, but this was not the way to do it.  The real reason this car exist is because Acura wants a more profitable small car to sell.  They don't make much on the TSX's, and the TSX has started eating into TL sales (which are more profitable) since they're essentially the same size.  So the ILX creates a new bottom, allowing Acura to mold the TSX and TL into one, American made (and thus more profitable) vehicle in the near future (2013 or 2014).  I really hope they start figuring this out.