bigman

The IS

sweetride01

Lexus IS?

No, sorry, keep guessing.

Oh yea, and I can't wait to see the new TL. I hope that if it does look like a new 7-series that the back doesn't look the same.

galfert

Okay here is my last guess: Opel Lotus Omega. Top Speed 175 mph

sweetride01

Galfert! You are correct.

The Opel Omega and Vauxhall Carlton (whose next generation Omega became the Catera in the US) were modified by Lotus in 1991, and only about 1000 units were produced. I know someone who has one, and its scary. It has a Corvette gearbox and does over 120 just in 3rd. It has a twin turbo 3.6 liter inline 6, producing 377 hp and 419 ib-ft of torque - amazing figures for 1991. All this made the car do 60 in 4.9 secs and the quarter in 13.5, with a top speed of over 175 mph. Now thats a fast sedan.

galfert

Awesome. I cheated and searched the Internet for the answer. I had never heard of that car. It looks like a 90's Mercedes 300E.

Gilgamesh

IF this is true, then I am not looking at the S4 anymore.

ntls

Reports on CarConnection.com are saying that the new TL looks a lot like the new Caddy CTS. And judging from the looks of the first "RL" drawing release in Automobile mag... Acura may be leaning towards Caddy new design trend... that in my opinion, has been a huge dissapointment.

galfert

Lets gets all these reports straight. There are two TL cars that these reports are refering to.

1) there is a prototype concept that will be seen at the NY auto show. This is NOT the new 2004 TL.

2) then there is the actual 2004 TL that will come out later this year.

It is said that the new concept TL to be show was inspirational for the 2004 TL. So this means that when we finally see this Concept at the auto show we all need to remember that the new 2004 TL will not neccesarily have all the features and equal performance as this concept.

ntls

That is the stupidest thing i have heard... why are they teasing us with a prototype of a car that is most likely DONE! Just show the real deal at the NY show. I could understand releasing the PROTOTYPE in the car mags... like a YEAR AGO. But the two release dates are too close now. They are going to get us all crazy for the prototype and then we will be dissapointed with the real one. Remember how much buzz infinti created when it released that ONE image of the G35, almost 9 months before release date??? And we knew the specs, we knew the reality of a coupe, etc... That created a buzz that is still going on. Acura really needs to rework it's launching campaign and marketing strategy!

HondaOnly

http://www.clubtsx.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=1438

Here's the drawing from Automobile Magazine.

jdl75

I've seen so many people say "My friend at the Acura dealer...." or "My dad owns the Acura dealership and...." or "I am the King of Acura Dealers and ....." who then go on to claim to know something about the next generation of a car.

GET A CLUE!!!!!!

Honda is not releasing any information to the dealer ahead of a model release! This is competitive information that is very closely held until the model launch.

As a member of the new model group for the 99 TL and the 98 Accord, I had passcard access to areas of the plants that guys four steps up the ladder couldn't get into. For that matter, I was only given access to information that directly impacted my project. So these dealers running around saying that the next car will have a 400hp engine with 600lb/ft of torque and be all-wheel drive with an SMG IV tranny are full of $hit! I happened to be lucky enough to have a contact in R&D that has worked with the new TL, and was kind enough to give me a bit of info that I posted a few weeks ago. Look at my posts for the 03 CLs - they were right on the $$.

squirreljr

So is your source or atleast what you saw the same as my sources info that I stated earlier in the post?

I'll restate: suspension engineer in Marysville said 280hp, 6spd, Brembo brakes and will clearly beat a CLS.

If so, then these are what we should look for at the dealer.

samkws

the TL isn't coming out as 05 model?

i heard the news that they don't want to affect teh sales of the 04 TSX...
so they postponed the TL to 05...

iNteGraz92

honda has ALWAYS been secretive about new model information.

galfert

Here is what Acura people are thinking....

"Lets show them this awesome car and make them want it. Then we give them something else that is somewhat like it but not 100%......They will want it because it is as close to the hype as they can get."

Kinda stupid don't you think?

It's kinda like being a 9 year old boy and seeing a 007 movie and loving the car and then daddy goes and gets you toy representation of the real thing. You as a 9 year old boy are estatic to get something so close that resembles the real thing and you are happy and greatful, and you get to play make belief and be James Bond. Honda / Acura GET A CLUE ....WE ARE NOT 9 YEAR OLD BOYS. We are grown up men (and women ) that have out-grown this game.

The whole prototype concept is ridiculous. It is to say "Hey look us this wonderful car company and look what we can build, but we aren't going to make it and sell it to you."

fahoumh

what the HELL are you kids arguing for? I doubt Honda has released any offical info to anyone. The new '04 TL will probably come out later this year...most likely in the last quarter.

this is me

all guesses and rumors.
all "my friend works at acura" or "the salesman told me"

jdl75

Per my friend in R&D, the engine stays the same. However, I could see a 20 HP bump from addition of the V-TECi. He told me that the HP didn't change appreciably, but that torque improved.

I will confirm the 6-spd, and I never asked about brakes. I would be suprised to see a 6-piston Brembo w/ cross-drilled rotors, but hey, anythings possible!

The only addition I would have is that the body is confirmed to be slightly smaller. Bigger than a TSX, smaller than an RL.

squirreljr

They are all rumors till we see the car and yes just because we may know someone who works directly in there, they only get tidbits too. He said they are always hush hush about everything, especially a change like what is rumored. I do like to hear what they are considering though, when they do the research. Big brakes, smaller and more nimble, suspension tweaks, much faster and hopefully a good look to go with it. Maybe they will start to listen a little closer to the TL lovers!!!

sweetride01

pics are here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

look at the spy shots taken in the forum at the top of the tl discussion forum.

Do u think the concept back looks like a Jetta?

sweetride01

That new pic is awesome!

Do you really think it won't have rear view mirrors, like the Lamborghini Diablo VT that had a rearview camera mounted into a tv?

Hope it keeps those awesome cross-drilled rotors!

Seotaji

The '05 RL is supposed to be AWD according to sources at Automobile mag.

RL is a different market segment, that's why it has more displacement and no VTEC. It's still going to be a V6 b/c of honda's philosophy on cars + they are gunning for something other than BMW status.

Remember, Acura stands for preluxury or entry-level luxury.

280hp
6spd
Brembo brakes

That's what I've heard from the dealers, but I'll believe it when I see it.

ncbuckeye

What dealer in Raleigh? Im in Charlotte.