09 Acura TSX (accord test mule)
02-20-2007, 12:07 PM
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I spend 2 much time here
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09 Acura TSX (accord test mule)
EXCLUSIVE Spy Report: 2009 Acura TSX
LOS ANGELES — Recently, I stumbled upon a group of Honda engineers testing a new vehicle on the Angeles Crest Highway here in Southern California. I’m certainly no Jim Dunne. But I have learned a thing or two from our resident Spymaster over the years. Timing is everything--the car could be driven away at any moment. So I nervously scrambled for my camera and started clicking away.
At first glance, this test mule looks like a current generation Honda Accord. But it’s not. Under the Accord’s skin is the chassis of the next generation Acura TSX. How do I know? Well, the engineers were traveling in a convoy of undisguised current-gen models. They were probably along for comparison purposes. Notice the flares and the swelled front fenders: Those were built to cover the 225/50ZR17 tires used for testing on this prototype.
The current TSX, which debuted in 2004, is based on the European Honda Accord platform. We suspect the 2009 model will again have a unique chassis from our own American Accord. A turbocharged four cylinder derived from the recently introduced Acura RDX crossover SUV will likely provide the motivation. Expect standard all-wheel drive and much swoopier styling when the ’09 model appears. Our sources say it will be a dead ringer for the Honda Sports 4 2005 we spied recently at the Tokyo Motor Show concept. —Ben Stewart
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4212862.html
LOS ANGELES — Recently, I stumbled upon a group of Honda engineers testing a new vehicle on the Angeles Crest Highway here in Southern California. I’m certainly no Jim Dunne. But I have learned a thing or two from our resident Spymaster over the years. Timing is everything--the car could be driven away at any moment. So I nervously scrambled for my camera and started clicking away.
At first glance, this test mule looks like a current generation Honda Accord. But it’s not. Under the Accord’s skin is the chassis of the next generation Acura TSX. How do I know? Well, the engineers were traveling in a convoy of undisguised current-gen models. They were probably along for comparison purposes. Notice the flares and the swelled front fenders: Those were built to cover the 225/50ZR17 tires used for testing on this prototype.
The current TSX, which debuted in 2004, is based on the European Honda Accord platform. We suspect the 2009 model will again have a unique chassis from our own American Accord. A turbocharged four cylinder derived from the recently introduced Acura RDX crossover SUV will likely provide the motivation. Expect standard all-wheel drive and much swoopier styling when the ’09 model appears. Our sources say it will be a dead ringer for the Honda Sports 4 2005 we spied recently at the Tokyo Motor Show concept. —Ben Stewart
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4212862.html
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