Acura’s new Precision concept has been revealed at the Detroit motor show, offering a first glimpse of the design direction of Honda’s US luxury arm.
The Precision concept bears almost no resemblance to Acura's current line-up of inconspicuous hatchbacks and SUVs, suggesting that the car maker wants to change its image drastically. The firm will be gauging the public’s reaction to the new model, with initial responses appearing to be positive.
At first, the car’s exterior appears to take the form of a two-door coupé, but look closer and you’ll see four passenger doors and a hatched bootlid. There’s also a lengthy bonnet that’s headed by a wide-mouthed grille, while at the back wide shoulders add to the car's presence. Overall, the look is similar to that of the well-received Mazda Shinari concept that was unveiled back in 2010.
Acura has used what it calls “quantum continuum” as a design theme, illustrated by the seamless transition of materials from the exterior to interior and the absence of a B-pillar, which helps to keep the car’s horizontal lines unbroken.
The interior mimics the design seen on the outside and is dominanted by an infotainment screen that appears to be exploding out of an angular dash. Buttons are kept to a minimum and the speedo and rev counter are shown on a display located behind the steering wheel, while at the back, the rear seats appear to be floating above the floor.
Acura hasn’t bothered to give the car an engine; it serves only as a design study. Nevertheless, the brand's global creative director Dave Marek has promised that it will directly influence future production models. “It will literally shape the direction of all future Acura products,” he said. “It's creating a powerful and very exciting direction for the next generation of Acura models.”
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