What do you think Honda has planned for the TSX? AWD? Turbo? Hybrid? I thought a poll might be an interesting take on what the members think will happen as the TSX progresses along its product life....

 

I think we'll pretty much see the staus quo until the 2nd gen. There may be a 10 to 20HP boost for 06 or 07, but it will still be FWD and use the K24.

 

All those technologies are too new to trickle down to an also-new (sort of) platform like the TSX.

 

Maybe tweaking the engine for a little more HP, adding bluetooth and traffic functionality to the Navi.

 

I don't think there will be any changes these next few years, maybe a HP boost, but thats about it.

 

More power, updated wheels, some new colors, a faster loading Navi DVD, and some updated tail lights/ front end.

What would be great would be a performance package that addes A-Spec with more power, but who knows.

I'd say a V6 is out of the quesiton as is AWD.

 

If history is a guide, there will be no changes to the powertrain. Minor cosmetic changes and feature content is all I'd expect to see.

 

They're talking about putting SH-AWD into the TL platform, but I doubt the TSX was built to handle that drivetrain. Engineering wise, the most likely upgrades to the TSX will be modest horsepower boosts and IMA. IMA would make a great halo car and give Honda some bragging rights, though it might not make sense from a cost and sales point of view.

 

The K24 (and K20) are Honda's heros as far as 4 cyl engines go. The K engines are what they will choose for virtually every 4 cyl car they make in the next 4-6 years, possibly longer. The K24 will have many variations over its lifetime, and has a lot of untapped potential to make more power. Don't forget the F20C in the S2000. 240HP from 2.0 liters. Honda has it in them to do wonders with the K24. The TSX is only the beginning.

I'm fairly sure you will not see a V6 in the TSX. I marvel at the folks who think that the TSX should have a V6. If someone thinks that the car needs a V6 or would be better with one, they don't understand the true character of the car. The character of this car demands that it has a high output, high revving, 4 cyl motor. Put a V6 in, and it changes the car completely. It becomes a smaller TL, and then, what's the point? I understand that the american Accord has a V6 option, but to me the american Accord is a very different car from the TSX.

Seems like Honda/Acura lets their cars go for 2 years with no major changes, then changes a few things for the next 2 years, then the year after that, the model is overhauled. Given that they already added a few things for 2005 (heated mirrors, lighted steering wheel buttons, etc). Some people have mentioned some of these already, but I think the possibilities for future model year TSX's are:

* More HP/torque from the K24
* Alloy wheels that are different from the current design
* Slightly more aggressive tires (don't expect much)
* Better Nav system, possible bluetooth or similar technology
* Different colors. Some will go, some will stay, and some will be new.
* Minor cosmetic changes, a-la 2005 RSX.

Things the TSX will never see:

* A V6 engine
* SH-AWD
* Turbo (when was the last time Honda had a turbo streetcar? Ever?)
* Hybrid option (doesn't fit the Acura image, although some day it might)
* The station wagon version. Its cool, but I think they'd sell about 25 of them here. Some people may love wagons, but from a sales perspective, they are a disaster in the US.

All of this, of course, is my opinion. I am not an expert, I just pay attention to lots of stuff and have watched lots of Honda/Acura models evolve over the years.

 

What I think will happen and what I want to happen are two different things. I agree with almost everything Eeyore just said, except about the wagon.

As I said in the RD-X forum, I think wagons are gaining popularity here, and I just don't think so many different automakers (BMW, Mazda, MB, KIA [Freaking KIA!], Saab, Dodge, etc...) would be making and marketing them if there was no market for them.

 

Justin indicated that the touring model like what is sold in Japan was thought about for a minute then dropped. Remember, it takes Honda a while before they jump on board.

 

Let's pretend you're a businessman. You create a product that you think people will like, but its made for a market far, far away. Your factory is busy making products for other people, so you can only budget making 15,000 of them. You make your first shipments. Consumers love your product. Professional reviewers love your product. Now, due to all the great press and WOM, you are overwhelming your factory trying to get 35,000 out the door per year. Now it turns out that the market you are working so hard to serve has a very weak currency and you aren't making nearly as much money as you had planned, even while selling more than twice as many units. Hummmm.......So, let's see......demand greatly outstripping supply......exchange rate is screwing up my profits....what do I do for next year???? A big fat price increase!

 

indydriver:

Yep that is economics 101. Now exchange rates should be locked for a while. This I think explains why the new 3 seriers isn't started at 50k.

 

Dunno. Acura tweaked the first generation Integra motor two years after it came out (1986 introduced, 1988 powertrain tweaks) and changed the gearing, too.

Two things that can be improved in the TSX are the 1-2 gear ratio gap, and the VTEC engagement point it is too high (based on every TSX dyno I've seen).

 

A few years ago I would have agreed, but I read something that Honda did some polling regarding how customers would receive a turbo motor.

Also, turbo technology has come a long way. Oil-bearing turbos shouldn't have any problem lasting 100,000 miles or more, especially if conservatively employed (e.g. VW/Audi turbos only have 8-12 psi of boost depending on model).

The TSX motor would, conservatively, easily make 250hp with 8 psi of boost and almost 300 with 12, all with very little weight gain or fuel economy decrease.

The main thing I see being a problem is that it's hard to make a turbo motor run as clean as an N/A one, and Honda seems to take pride in it's ULEV motors.