The Acura ILX first debuted back in 2012 as a 2013 model and has changed relatively little since. For 2019 it's set to receive yet another facelift to keep things fresh and thanks to Car and Driver we're able to see the changes in these leaked patent images. The images were filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, so we know they're official. It's very obvious what Acura has done to its entry-level premium sedan: a front-end design that matches the new look of the rest of the sedan and crossover lineup.

Acura's new five-point grille design is clearly visible and it helps give the car a slightly more aggressive look. Aside from the front, everything else appears to be exactly the same, more or less, as the 2018 model. Some have wondered why Acura continues selling a sedan that rides on the same platform as the previous generation Honda Civic. According to GoodCarBadCar, sales were actually up last year compared to 2016 by over 4,000 units. So far this year sales seem to be holding fairly steady, so the 2019 refresh is justified. This is the second time the ILX has been refresh since it launched, with the first refresh happening for 2016.

We also expect the 2019 ILX's engine to carry over as well: a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four with 201 hp paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Chances are the updated ILX will also receive some interior improvements as well, such as the touchpad-based interface infotainment system we first saw in the all-new 2019 RDX crossover. More than likely this will be the final refresh for the ILX until it's either replaced with a new model or dropped entirely, the latter option being the more likely scenario given the sedan sales slow-down the industry has been experiencing. Acura will likely keep the ILX's base price just below $30,000, which really isn't bad for an entry-level luxury sedan.