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Acura bets big on the ILX at the SEMA Show (pictures)

There's not a Civic to be found in Honda's booth at the 2012 SEMA Show. That's because the automaker is trying to draw attention to the Acura ILX instead.

Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Antuan Goodwin
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1 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

2013 Acura ILX Endurance Racer

Team Honda Research-West started with a body-in-white when developing the 2013 Acura ILX Endurance Racer, which will compete in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race.
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2 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

2013 Acura ILX Endurance Racer

The ILX Endurance Racer features a blend of OEM HPD parts and third-party components. My guess is that most of the mods that you see under the hood and as part of the suspension of this car should bolt right up to the contemporary Honda Civic Si as well.
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3 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

2013 Acura ILX Street Build

Honda gives Acura ILX tuners a bit more inspiration with the help of Evasive Motorsports. The 2013 Acura ILX Street Build is designed to live on public roads and features exterior mods and suspension upgrades that place an emphasis on style.
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4 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

2013 Acura ILX Street Build

The Acura ILX Street Build isn't all form without function. A CT engineering supercharger kit and a Hondata ECU tune boost the 2.4-liter four-banger's output to 250 horsepower.
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5 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Acura NSX convertible concept

Honda also showed off the Acura NSX concept in drop-top form in its SEMA 2012 booth.
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6 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Acura NSX convertible concept

Honda has committed to build the NSX, so it's no stretch to think that we'll see an NSX convertible on public roads and at Acura dealerships within the next few years.
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7 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Acura NSX convertible concept

You may have already seen this car on the silver screen during Marvel's "The Avengers." The concept retains the Stark 33 vanity plate.
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8 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

2013 Honda Accord Sedan

DSO Eyewear is no stranger to designing tuner cars, having penned quite a few SEMA Show cars over the years. This year, it has teamed up with MAD Industries to build this custom 2013 Honda Accord Sedan.
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9 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

2013 Honda Accord Sedan

The DSO Accord's long mod list is primarily composed of styling mods. Engine upgrades are limited to a K&N high-performance air filter, AMSOIL motor oil, an Odyssey extreme battery, and the Honda OEM dual exhaust from the 2013 Accord Sport. No, I don't consider the Eibach lowering springs and 20-inch TSW wheels to be performance upgrades.
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10 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

2013 Honda Accord Sedan

Inside, DSO/MAD's Accord features Katskin custom leather and a Lightning Audio system with 1,000 total watts of amplification. Around 200 of those watts are dedicated to driving a set of hidden 10-inch shallow subwoofers.
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11 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Bisimoto 2013 Honda Accord Coupe

Bisimoto Engineering's contribution to the booth, this 2013 Accord Coupe, is less extreme than the last two cars it has built for Honda. However, that doesn't mean that it's by any means tame.
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12 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Bisimoto 2013 Honda Accord Coupe

A Nitrous Express nitrous oxide system, Bisimoto catback exhaust, and NGK Iridium spark plugs highlight the engine upgrades. In the wheel wells, you'll find parts by Progress and Buddy Club.
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13 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Bisimoto 2013 Honda Accord Coupe

The upgrades suspension keeps the car planted, and the Bisimotowerks GT3 racing seats keep the driver and one passenger planted. The rear seating area is occupied by a JNF chromoly roll cage, which stiffens the chassis and protects the driver.
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14 of 14 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Honda goes racing

Honda also showed off a few cars that it campaigns in various racing series.

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