Zapata

http://www.autonews.com/article.cms?articleId=40492


TL: The long-standing rumor of a rear-wheel-drive BMW 3-series fighter is just talk. The TL will continue on the Accord's front-wheel-drive platform when it is restyled and re-engineered for the 2004 model year. All-wheel drive might be offered. To give it more distance from the Accord, engine displacement gets a bump to 3.4 liters with about 280 hp.


Here is the rest of the Acura lineup:

ACURA

RSX: A reskin comes for the 2004 model year, followed by a redesign for 2006.

TSX: Acura wants a less expensive sedan to position below the TL. The smaller Accord sold in Japan and Europe may be imported and rebadged as the Acura TSX for the 2004 model year.

CL: If the CL survives, which is by no means certain, a redesign would be targeted for the 2006 model year.


RL: Forget the talk about a rear-drive V-8 flagship. Acura's top Japanese and American executives say the audience for rwd is too small, and they have no intention of producing a V-8. The redesigned 2004 RL likely will be fwd or awd and powered by a 3.8-liter V-6 mated to a five-speed automatic.

NSX: Honda believes the two-passenger, mid-engine sports car can remain competitive with minor tweaks over the coming years.

MDX: The sport wagon will be restyled and re-engineered for the 2006 model year. A 3.8-liter V-6 is expected.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Wow... sweet Zapata.... even though they're still rumors.. they seem to actually have some substance. Since Acura/Honda is so tight lipped lately I guess we'll have to wait until next year for some official announcements on the TL....

ferizzo

What gives me a ray of hope is that the TL might have 280 hp, meaning the Type-S might have 300+...not the mention the possibility of AWD!!! The type-S might not be out for another year after the TL so if it looks as good as the 02s and 03s (I know its subjective) then I might have to take one up the a$$ and trade-in!

Alotta ifs, but I'm excited! I might hold off on modding mine until I hear the news! AWD is all I really want (plus a stronger 5AT or 6MT)!

I think I'll get back to work now...that's enough excitement for one day!

Davediego

I thought the NSX was due for a redesign as well...

SCWells72

I'm sure they mean that the TL Type-S would get 280HP, not the base TL. The base TL would probably be 240-260HP, the former the same as the new Accord; the latter consistent with the current TL's advantage over the current Accord.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Correct.. this is the way I read it as well.... I highly doubt they'd give the TL-P 280hp..... the Type-S version will have 280hp. I also wouldn't hold my breath for AWD there currently no AWD Acura cars on the market... and I don't see them starting with their best selling TL......

paxus

I for one am very curious to see what the new TL-S will look like. I've always like Acura's styling, and would like to see what the next gen TL-S looks like.

Also, why is the CL/CLS destined to be removed from production? Isn't that CL-S with the manual transmission a true sports coupe? I thought Acura did a great job with that car, yet I always read that it's destined to be phased out.

Davidas

If the TL get the 280 HP upgrade in the future, its retail will do as same...

ferizzo

Damn! You guys sure know how to crush a man's hopes!!!

I still have hope because I can't imagine they would give the TLP the same HP as the accord (240) so my guess is 260 minimum for the TLP and 280-315 for the type-S. This is just deducing from what the differences are currently.

pianoman41

If I'm not mistaken, isn't there one sedan platform sold in Japan that is currently AWD? Maybe one of our Japanese correspondents can chime in here......

JPTLS03

They did change the NSX a bit, here is a pic. Notice the headlights, flush mount HID's, new bumper, ect... Nuttin major yet though.

Davediego

JPTLS21 - yea I know they gave it a facelift, but the changes are like the 02+ TL, not a redesign just a facelift

pianoman41 - theres an AWD accord in japan...

pianoman41

So you gotta wonder how hard it would be to apply the driveline to the TL, since the TL shares the Accord platform now....

MIZU

My niece who lives in Tokyo has a Honda with all wheel drive, I believe it is about a '94 model. It has large allwheel drive grafics on the side. it may have been an Inspire I can't recall now, it was nicer than my Accord EX. that was about about 4 years ago. I am going over next month will get more info and pics.

TUFF GONG

You are not mistaken. Honda already offers the JDM Accord with a 4WD drivetrain. Albeit with a 4 cylinder only but all JDM Accords are 4 cylinders.

You also have the MDX/Odyssey platform here in North America in which the MDX is offered in 4WD and I could guess that it would be easy for them to utilize the basics of this drivetrain into the Accord. Yes it's a different platform but I would guess the 4WD drivetrain in the MDX and JDM Accord may have similar technology....hell, even the CR-V comes in 4WD and that is based on the Civic platform if I'm not mistaken.

I'm not saying they all share the same equipment, it just shows that Honda definetly has the potential to do so. Simply wanted to explain that Honda does, in production form, offer 4WD in *many* of their platforms.

That my friends still keeps me optimistic with the news from Automotive News. A very well respected automotive newspaper without the glamorous hype which many of the automotive magazines are, IMO. You never know though

ferizzo

I'm still excited!

Dizzy

I find it highy doubtful that Acura will introduce an AWD TL. Why? That would take sales away from the other 4wd vehicles in the Honda/Acura market. Unlike Toyota, Honda doesn't have a lot of big bucks to be throwing around by having Seven 4wd models like Toyota does.

I'm planing to buy next year's TL-S so hopefully it does come out with 280 hp....AND it'll be release in the Spring.

Dizzy

johnc1010

I don't think the TL-S will come out right away. I think the base model TL will be release first. Then maybe a couple of years later, the Type-S will be release.

torqueaholic

the TL gets a 6 speed for '04. I mean its just logic

turbox777

i think the TL will be gone... and the "type-S" things will go away too... hopefully not

Beason

CL would be gone before the TL

JPTLS03

The TL is Acura's best seller.

ColdFusionTL

If your talking about acura's overall best seller in the past years, it would have to be the
L E G E N D

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Actually... the Legend was very popular... however, it did not sell as well as the TL has... especially since the first redesign in 98 or 99.......

JPTLS03

This is true. The reason is because you can get a TL for 27k, while the Legend was well over 40k.

doopstr

You guys just don't want to get spanked by a stock TL-P :p

jbs221

I can comment on the RL, well sort of. It will most probably be AWD with a 300HP V6. Styling will be like a very aggressive version of the current TL. More rounded on top (think A4 roofline), much more rakish in the front (think TL with more point under the logo and way cool headlamps and button lamp fogs.) Think inerior with Electro-Lum dash, large navi display recessed into upper center area (most likely voice and joystick [think BMW new 7 series jog dial]) Think it as a logical upgrade for a current TL-S owner with more money to spend. Not what it is now, as no TL-S owner would want it as it is now.
Now if they could just make the trani work...

Ray_Khan

if it goes 3.8....I would imagine there will be a 3.8 liter upgrade in the works soon. Imagine that with AWD and a 6 speed manual or if we dare to dream and F1 style auto like Ferrara or BMW.

as for the AWD doubters, the MDX has an AWD system that has gotten some nice reviews. I'm not sure what kind of differentials it's using. I'll assume it uses an electronic center diff like most Japanese AWD systems....not bad, but not the most ideal. Still a great improvement over FWD anyday. I agree with Tuff Gong....the MDX system probably isn't a direct fit, but at least the technology can be utuilized along with as some parts. I would think Honda?Acura wants to bump up sales since BMW and Audi are up and TL sales are down 10%. I think an AWD 6 speed manual is the only hope. The TLS aready has a big HP advantage over the competition....so another 20 peak hp isn't going to save the day. It will only help compensate for drivetrain loss is they do go with AWD. It's 280 hp (and hopefully some more torque too) AWD and a 6 speed manual tranny or bust!

roadman

AWD !!!! They can't get just the FWD 5 speed auto to work never mind adding a transfer case to the mix.

The added displacement may show more of a boost in usable low end Torque vs the 20 hp that may be at the upper end of the RPM range.

terrbear79

TL gone?!?! yeah right....that's acura's best selling model.....and btw...i just talked to my acura dealer...he said its been verifed that 2004 model is gonna be out in april or may....just like the 2003 was earlier this year.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

That's the first thing we've heard of the car coming out in April or May... all indications: print, rumors, etc... report it will be out in the fall of '03 as Acura is going back to it's fall release schedule for the redesign.... No biggie though.. the dealers are usually last to know anything.. so I wouldn't take their word as solid info....

kevcarart.com

there is a story about the 'euro' honda accord that may be the next Acura heading to america... it's in http://www.thecarconnection.com coverage of the paris autoshow.