Is Acura's New Boss Demanding Hardcore Sport Sedans? - The Cheat Sheet
Jon Ikeda found himself in this situation a few weeks ago, when he inadvertently inherited the title of general manager for Acura when the previous figurehead was suddenly removed from power without incident or explanation. The former designer has been on-board with Honda/Acura for over 26 years now, and his move to power could spell the greatest advancement yet for the automaker, as it continues to chase Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz in the luxury race. This is a man who is very much like the new president of Honda, Takahiro Hachigo, who has also been around for a long time, and values performance over opulence. It’s the underselling segments that need the extra attention, and for Ikeda this means making sedans that are top tier performance contenders. When Automotive News caught up with Ikeda the other week, he was very clear as to what was needed in order for the brand to spring into action. “We should make sedans that people get excited about, just like when they look at this NSX here,” Ikeda said, referencing the shining supercar specimen by his side. While Ikeda refused to elaborate, he did say the revival of Acura’s slogan. Source: www.cheatsheet.com
