Making its debut this year, the latest luxury sedan from Acura: the 4-door, 5-passenger 2013 ILX. According to Acura, the ILX is aimed at the first-time luxury car buyer. The car boasts lovely exterior styling, affordability and environmental considerations—the ILX offers a gasoline/electric Hybrid trim, the first of its kind in the Acura lineup.

The 2013 Acura ILX is available in two trims: Base and Hybrid. The Base trim comes standard with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine married to a 5-speed sequential sportshift automatic transmission that achieves 150 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. The Base trim, which runs on regular gasoline, can he upgraded to a 2.4-liter inline-4 engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that makes 201 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid comes standard with a 1.5-liter inline-4 gas engine and integrated motor assist electric motor—equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT)—that reaches 111 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque (combined). The Base trim with the automatic transmission is estimated to get 24 mpg city/35 highway, while the Base trim with the standard transmission is rated at 22/31. The Hybrid is estimated to reach 39/38.

Among the standard amenities for the 2013 Acura ILX Base trim are a keyless access system with pushbutton ignition, electric power steering and a Pandora Internet radio streaming interface. The Hybrid trim comes with all of the standard equipment plus an eco-driving mode and coaching system. The Hybrid uses the gas engine as its primary power source with the electric motor used when additional power is needed. A lithium-ion battery pack stores electricity for the 20-hp electric motor. The storage occurs during braking when the gas engine deactivates, causing the electric motor to act as a generator. The gas engine fires up again when the brake pedal is released. Safety features standard for the 2013 Acura ILX include 6 airbags, including front, side and side curtain airbags for both passenger and driver, a 4-channel antilock braking system and vehicle stability assist.

There will upgradeable packages available for the 2013 Acura ILX as well, such as the premium package, which features leather seats, heated front seats, an upgraded 360-watt premium sound system, rear-view camera and active sound cancellation system. A technology package adds the ELS Surround audio system, and a number of electronic bells and whistles, such as a satellite communication system, navigation with voice recognition, real-time traffic—with traffic rerouting, real-time weather and an upgraded multiview rear-view camera. The navigation system is equipped with 60GB of hard drive storage space.

Unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto in Detroit as a concept vehicle, the production version of the 2013 Acura ILX sedan is expected to available for sale in the late spring of 2012. The ILX is poised to take on competition from the likes of the Audi A3, Buick Verano and Lexus CT 200h.