tea elle

I heard this from Keyes Acura today. I'm amazed that Acura is doing such major change after just one year. Anyone heard more about this? Its supposed to hit the showrooms in March.

provench

Perhaps he was referring to the 03 CLS? Pretty much confirmed with 6-speed ... hopefully having 295HP (we have heard some things also on that from good sources), and we HOPE that it will have more like a tweak of the exterior (read BODY KIT !).

Just a thought ... but I hope both the CLS and TLS go more "sporty" ... think Acura is getting the message on the target market.

ElegantTL-S

DAMN! This sounds too interesting! I really want to know how the redesigned 03 TL and 03 CL looks...I'm in the market for the 01 TL...but I dunno now...makes me want to wait..but I don't want to!!!! arrrgGGHH!!! Only if there are some legit concept pics. The 03 CL-S will debut at the LA Auto Show Jan. Not that far, so I can at least look at that....I'm afraid to wait..right now is the perfect time to get a car!

Edub-TL

This really peaked my curiosity.. I went searching for some info and here are some things I found..

http://www.autonews.com/page.cms?pageId=114

I think we should comb info about this 2003 if it is true.. I have my doubts though.. 2004 would probably be true..

ElegantTL-S

Hmmmmmmm.......okay...forget it, I can't wait this long. I'm just gonna go ahead and get the '01 TL.

Edub-TL, What does Type-E stand for?!

Road Rage

My sources say a redesign in 2004 model, and I say it will include a 3.5 liter V6 and about 285-290 HP.

They just introduced the freshened look "S' as an '02, and in product planning cycles it would be unusual to have a major re-design so soon.

Hey, dealers are ususally the least informed of any one in the business - why should this be any different?

Edub-TL

Type-Everyone has it!!

ElegantTL-S

hahahaha! funny! I thought it was something cool!!!! :p

xjp122x

Is it true that the next tl my not be based off of the accord and will get rwd? If they really are pushing hp to near 300, they very well may.

city001

Yes I think so...it will be 3.5 liter, 295 hp...rear wheel drive..
lexus IS, GS rear wheel...
Infiniti changing to rear wheel
bmw rear wheel..

for acura to catch up..they need to change
if not..they will lose

city

typeSmaximum

Well if they go 300HP and RWD in 04, I know just wat to get early 05 when its time to trade out of this Type S Hope it doesn;t just gain more weight like the Maximas did every time more power was added, and they instead put it on a diet!

Otherwise the current car with better tires, sways, headers, RES, and ECU mod may still have the advanage I may just keep this TL till it doesn't work anymore, and have two FWD, and RWD

TL4Mo

Phew! You guys had me worried there...glad to hear the redesign/revamp doesn't happen till '04...by then we'll be trading up either to the new TL-S or RL.......if THIS Acura holds up.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Agreed TL4mo.... that sould be a perfect time to upgrade!!

The rumor is that the CL-S '03 model will have 295hp and 6-speed manual (still FWD).... not sure if that will come to the TL-S, or if they'll just wait until 2004, but something to keep in mind....

BarryH

What we know:

- Someone on the CL board has a friend that works at a third party clutch manufacturer that is designing the clutch for the 6-speed. All he knows is that they were instructed that the clutch should be capable of handling up to 295HP. That doesn't mean the car will produce 295HP, just that the clutch be capable of supporting it. They could simply be designing ahead for some future model year HP increase.

- The same person said the test mule is essentially identical to the current CL accept that the headlight area is taped over to conceal what's underneath. This could mean they are freshening the front end for the 6-speed release. No one knows what changes are planned for the 6-speed or whether the changes will apply to the whole CL line. Since the CL isn't selling well, Acura could do a spring revamp of the CL and launch it as a 2003 like they did with the TL this year. But again, this is speculation.

- Dealers have confirmed the 6-speed CL is coming in the spring of '02 and some are taking advance orders. They have no specs or pricing and they don't know whether Acura will call the car a 2002.5 or a 2003. Traditionally, Acura doesn’t release details on pricing and specs until the cars are almost ready to be shipped.

- If an entirely new platform was being launched (EG: AWD, RWD) it would be very difficult for Acura to keep that type of news quiet with all of the third party suppliers that would be involved. Also, with a new RL/Legend coming out, it is unlikely that Honda/Acura would divert resources away from the development of its new worldwide flagship to focus on the CL which is a low volume U.S. niche product. Honda is also redesigning the Accord and launching an MDX based SUV to replace the Isuzu built Passport so resource wise they are quite busy with high-volume, high-profit products.

- Nothing has been confirmed about how any of this applies to the TL. Based on the Honda development cycle a new TL should be due out in 2004, which would justify the expense of the 2002 enhancements Acura just made with the March early release. If a new TL was being launched spring '02, it's illogical that Acura would have made the amount of changes they did to the 02'. I'd expect the changes were made to buy some time (18-24 months) and keep the car competitive until the redesigned TL is launched. Again, just speculation.

It's fun to guess what Honda/Acura is going to do, but let's face it, there's not a whole lot of hard factual information to support some of the assumptions being made on the board. The most credible information comes from people that work for Honda/Acura R&D or a third party supplier contracted to produce parts. Dealers are probably the worse source of information. They were predicting tons of changes to the ’02 MDX including HID’s, more HP, and interior changes – none of which happened.

VTEC Animal

I doubt that they'll roll a new TL this spring. They've already got a possible debut of a 6 speed CL, and not to mention that spy shots have been showing up from Torrence and San Jose of the new NSX (new front clip, new skirts). You can see all the pics at www.vtec.net.



I wouldn't expect to see a 2003 TL until October of 2002, and I doubt there would be much of a change. 2004 is another story though, they may have some big changes then. Like Barry said, I doubt Acura would make a change in the spring of 2002 when they just made a change in the spring of 2001. Not to mention the fact that they're creating an entirely new RL and then creating a new even larger sedan (rumored the Legend). R&D must be maxed out by now. Add into that the spy photos of the new NSX, even though they are slight changes it's a change none the less. Along with that comes possible changes to the CL to accompany the 6 speed. I doubt they'll be doing anything for the 2003 model year on the TL, and I doubt that the new TL will be here any sooner than the spring of 2003 (designated MY2004). TL sales are high, they might as well get more than 1 year of milage out of those changes.....

Road Rage

Yikes! There is way too much of the S2000 in that front clip - didn't Acura learn from the mdoel identity woes when the Boxster was too similar to the 911? I'm keepin' my 1995 NSX-T and waiting until the re-design.