On Monday, Honda announced the start of production for the all new 2013 Acura ILX. The first ILX, built exclusively in Indiana, rolled off the assembly line at 10:30 a.m. EST and was greeted by Honda associates, community partners and elected officials, who gathered to mark its launch.

The new Acura ILX sedan symbolizes the gateway to the Acura lineup and comes with both gasoline and gas-electric hybrid powertrain options. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN) produces three versions of the Acura ILX - a 150-horsepower, 4-cylinder 2.0-liter model, a 201-horsepower 2.4-liter model with 6-speed manual transmission, and the ILX Hybrid, with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The gasoline engines for the 2,0- and 2.4-liter versions of Acura ILX come from the Anna, Ohio, engine plant of Honda of America Mfg., Inc.

The Acura ILX hybrid version is Acura's first-ever hybrid model, the first hybrid vehicle to be made in America at a Honda plant, and the first Acura model to be produced in Indiana. The Acura ILX joins the TL sedan, ZDX crossover vehicle, and the MDX and RDX sport-utility vehicles as the fifth Acura model produced exclusively in North America. Our Montgomery Acura is proud to announce that Acura finished second among all luxury brands in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 Initial Quality Study.

"This all-new Acura luxury sedan is closely linked to the future of Acura," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura for American Honda. "Just as the Acura ILX is the gateway to the Acura brand, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana is a gateway to Acura customers."