I just moved to Calgary, AB, and I am looking for another TL again! I saw the 2012 TL in black, Mayan Bronze, Graphite and Bellanova White 2012 TL at the 2 dealerships in Calgary this week. The Graphite colour is probably the best of the bunch! I think that the Forged Silver would look really great but they didn't have one, nor is there one on order even. The black is OK and surprisingly the Mayan Bronze looks better on the 2009-2011. Then the Bellanova White is rather disappointing. It is a very "white" white, without the depth and richness of DWP. It just looks rather "blah" on the 2012 TL. How I wished that they would have kept the beautiful DWP.

In terms of the design changes, I think that the front end is a little too tame now. While the 2009-2011 is probably a little too aggressive, this is now a little too plain. Perhaps if the grille were a little larger it would have been OK.... can you believe that I actually am saying that the grille is now too small!? Somewhere in between probably would have been good.

The rear end trim is smaller and that is a good thing. Otherwise, it's a cleaner design but not that much different.

Oh, and I really miss the chrome trim around the door handles. The wheels of the Elite (or Advance in the States) package are obviously very nice, as we all know them well by now. The new 5 spoke wheels for the SH-AWD model are quite nice too, but nothing as nice as the 2009-2011 5 spoke wheels. Then the 17" wheels for the FWD TL are significantly better than the current 17" design.

I was fortunate that I got to test drive a 2012 SH-AWD with Tech today! Boy, it was a significant step up from the 2009-2011, in that it feels faster right off the bat, the car feels less heavy, and it is also noticeably quieter too, esp. during throttle. Everything else was otherwise pretty much the same.

Now, even though the remaining 2010 models have a steep discount, I am very tempted to get the 2012 instead..... decisions, decisions! :-)

 

Disappointing to hear that they may have changed the Bellanova White. Dealer indicated it was the same as White Diamond Pearl just with an "Advanced" name. I ordered my 2012 in the Bellanova White/Ebony combo and anticipate delivery very soon. Sure hope I don't hate the color otherwise I will have to order a different combo and wait who knows how long for delivery.

 

I like the 12+ 18" wheels a little bit better, there's less negative space. I agree with you on the Mayan Bronze comment, it looked a bit nicer on the 09-11s.

I want to see the Forged Silver color in person. All the pics I've seen so far make it look like a baby blue color almost.

 

Nice to hear that it feels a little lighter and faster off the line.

 

"Oh, and I really miss the chrome trim around the door handles." - OP I do 2

 

Since we are on the topic, the chrome door handles and the quad exhaust really could have stayed. They are signature cues of this gen's nearly unanimous positives when it comes to the design, also helped the differentiation of trims which I feel is now lacking.

The smaller grill and rear trim was probably a needed change and is welcome in my book whether you like or hate the 09-11 design. The 19's are awesome and the 09-11 18's are a great design as well IMO. For the sake of change with it being an MMC and all, the new 18's are not bad either. The new 17's make nearly as much of a difference as the grill and trim pieces.

Can't really complain about the bumpers, generally they change for MMC so I think both are good just one has a lower and/or agressive look while the other, the clean and trimmed.

 

From a practical standpoint, I find that the chrome trim around the handles prevent the accidental scratches on the painted surfaces of the handles by finger nails etc. So it's really a shame that they did away with them. It's also a nice touch that differentiated between the higher grade TL's from the more basic ones before.

 

And the 12 TL should have keep the 09-11 interior door handle too.....

 

But the new ones are real metal.

 

Personally I think Acura is on the right track with the new changes to the 2012. Blacking out the headlights look great and now if they could black out the window trim. My current car has the blacked out trim and it looks fantastic!

 

The cool thing that no one has mentioned about the 2012 style is that it most likely will be less common that the 2009-2011's. Unless the sales go through the roof.

 

deeblew, can you post some pics of your car? I would like to see how the full body kits looks.

 

These are the only pics I took so far. I gotta clean it after my long drive yesterday. Bugs everywhere.


By deeblew at 2011-03-27



By deeblew at 2011-03-27

 

Looks good neighbor! Are the love bugs out now?

 

ok cool~~then keep the 09-11 door handle design with 12 real metal material.
The 12 door handle design is not "Advance" enough...

 

How advance can a door handle be? You pull it, the door opens

 

Thanks for the pics. Any shots of the rear?

 

I can only imagine how much you paid.....but she looks GREAT!!

 

You know....is an Acura~
So whatever I saw inside or outside of the car I want to look "Advance" to other brand.
Too bad they don't have the voice command to open the door like "door-open"...

 

Car looks great and best of luck, she looks spectacular. Now check out the broad side shot. I think if they blacked out the chrome around the windows and across the roof, the car would look super spectacular. IMHO...

 

I got a really good deal on it. About $2700 off MSRP. The reason for the bugs is that I had to pick it up in Dallas instead of getting it in Houston.

 

Car looks sweet. Congrats on the pick up.

 

does yours have the underbody spoiler kit? it looks like it does from teh pic... any other pics more from a frontal angle?

cool!

 

Nice car. Good to hear progress was made in ride and performance. I would have been disappointed if that stayed the same.

 

I am very jealous, car looks awesome. I just wish they kept the rims the same as the 09-11. Those rims are definitely nice also, but I like the others a bit better. Awesome car tho, enjoy.

 

Treblig,

Here's some shots of the back.

 

looks awesome

 

Great looking car! Im picking up my 6MT SHAWD '11 on wednesday....cant wait!

 

deeblew,

Thanks again for the pics. That is one nice looking ride

 

Thanks so much for the pics! How do you like the Graphite colour in real life? Do you find it to be a bit drab and dull when there is not much light? Or does it stay really nice and sparkly even when the light is low?

I am trying to decide on which colour to pick for the 2012....... :-) Thanks for your help!

 

I love it. I feel it is all around better than grigio and pmm if you like grays. It's still fairly shiny at night.

 

I can hardly wait to test drive a 4G ('12). 3 more days! I put a deposit down on one.

 

Thanks for the quick response! That is great! Now, does it have any undertone or hue, or is it a pretty straight forward gray? For instance, Grigio has this olive thing going on, so I wonder if Graphite has any bluish hue, or something like that?

 

Nice color! This is the color of the model I test drove. I'm still debating on the body kit though.

 

Last week I drove a 2012 FWD model and a 2011 SH-AWD model, back to back. Both had the tech package.

Here are my comments on the styling.
- Overall, I prefer the styling of the 2012 models.
- I like the new 17" wheel on the FWD model over the old one.
- I like the old 18" wheel on the AWD model over the new one. Sportier.
- I prefer the old quad exhaust tips.
- The FWD model interior is now more appealing with the black carpets (I drove the taupe interior). It's closer to the AWD model now, except for the contrasting stitching and more black trim on the interior doors of the AWD model. (PLEASE ACURA... make the umber interior available on the FWD model!!)

Now, as to the way the cars drove.
- The FWD was quicker off the line and more tossable that I remembered. With the six speed it did run at lower RPMs than the AWD model but I can't remember exactly how much.
- I was disappointed that the difference in interior noise levels was NOT that noticeable between the two models. I thought the AWD model had more road noise, but aside from that everything else was about the same. Driving the two models, I would not have guessed that there was additional sound insulation in the newer model.
- Didn't play with the tech package toys to comment on the changes for 2012.

With all of the changes made to the FWD model (the improved 17" rims, the black carpets, and the greatly improved fuel economy), this car is now my front runner to replace my MB C-300 AWD when it comes off lease next year. I enjoyed driving it as much as the AWD model, and I'll save $3K.

 

It's straight dark gray imo.