Skip to main content

Acura’s chiseled Precision concept hints at radically sharp designs to come

Acura makes safe, reliable, and technology-packed vehicles, but outside of the new NSX, they don’t usually make our hair stand on end. At the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, the brand took a step in the right direction with the Acura Precision Concept, which signals a bold new direction for the company.

The angular, ultramodern luxury sedan comes from the Acura Design Studio in California, the very same workshop that penned the NSX’s sharp new body. The concept follows a similar aesthetic theme, with high-contrast lines, sharp, chiseled intersections, and extremely muscular topography. We’re not completely sold on the rear fascia just yet, but the vehicle’s wide stance, Diamond Pentagon grill, and devilish grin are all nice touches. Put it all together and you have a design theme that Acura calls “quantum continuum.”

“The Acura Precision Concept is more than simply a concept vehicle; it is a design study model that literally will shape the direction of all future Acura products around our Precision Crafted Performance DNA,” said Dave Marek, Acura’s global creative director. “The Acura Precision Concept is the leading edge of a renewed commitment to delivering Precision Crafted Performance in every facet of the product experience and creating a powerful and very exciting direction for the next generation of Acura models.”

There’s no word on what powers the Acura Precision Concept, but the automaker did shed some light on the new human-machine interface that highlights the spaceship-inspired cabin. When someone enters the vehicle, the system automatically scans them and loads up their personal preferences for navigation, audio, and customized performance settings. A floating touchpad on the cantilevered center stack gives the driver control over the curved display screen, the proverbial cherry on top of an interior that is just as progressive and vibrant as the exterior. The future of Acura just got a little brighter.

Stay tuned to DT Cars for more news from Detroit.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Tesla and Elon Musk sued over use of AI image at Cybercab event
tesla and spacex CEO elon musk stylized image

Tesla’s recent We, Robot presentation has run into trouble, with one of the production companies behind Blade Runner 2049 suing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for alleged copyright infringement.

Tesla used the glitzy October 10 event to unveil its Cybercab and Robovan, and also to showcase the latest version of its Optimus humanoid robot.

Read more
Qualcomm wants to power your next car with the Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride Elite platforms
Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite automotive platforms

It’s been a big year for Qualcomm. Alongside its massive launch into laptop chips through the Snapdragon X Elite series, Qualcomm is now entering the automotive space. The company has announced the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms at its annual Snapdragon Summit, which it flew me out to attend.

The two platforms are designed for different purposes, and can be used togetheror separately. The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite is built for in-vehicle infotainment systems and services, while the Snapdragon Ride Elite is built to power autonomous vehicle systems, including all the cameras and sensors that go into those systems.

Read more
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Read more