I cant believe this is true! (vtech.net posting) My dealer was so sure it was 275HPor more with a 3.4Ltr and showed me a memo stating such. I think the RSX brosure is wrong as it was printed 8 weeks ago with mis-information.

 

Or maybe Acura is trying to keep the TL a little cheaper by using the existing engine with some slight upgrades..

270hp.. plenty for me

Tracer

 

Who said its 3.2 L Engine?

I heard rumours of a 3.4 so where did u hear about this 3.2?

But really it wouldn't be dumb, its not hard to get 10 more HP, But You would not get as much Torque and it would just be the same TL!

 

I agree 100%
All we can hope is that, like alot of "info" that is posted on these boards, this inaccurrate. I am going to see my dealer this morning to get my hands on the RSX brochure, and possibly cancel my deposit on the 2004 TL. My dealer also claimed atleast 280 hp. Who the hell knows anymore.

We will have to wait for the car to be released for REAL info, not just speculation.

 

It would be like bolting on an intake. A type s with headers will be faster and still cost less. They need a larger motor, or they need to figue out how to produce more torque.

 

Ok three things. #1 Dealers don't know jack unless its in writing from ACURA itself. Trust me, I've worked at a Honda dealership, they usually don't know anymore than the average customer.

#2, it IS a 3.2 at 270 hp. BUT... it is underrated and it is really about 283 hp which is PLENTY. Remember, the 3.2 in the TL/CL can spank a 3.5 Altima or Maxima, vtec.net has done tests to prove this.

#3 The 3.2 cannot be bored out much more without some serious modifications. The engine can be stroked more (like the Odyssey, MDX, Pilot) that would give it more torque but reduce the redline.

270 hp is PLENTY in a FWD car and more than enough for most of us.

 

The CL/TL cant spank a 3.5 Maxima or Altima, now the TLS is good competition and neither of the 3 can spank each other.

 

Well, I don't know what TL-S you're talking about that can't spank a 3.5L Maxima or Altima, but I have raced several Altima SE's and still have not lost. My car is all stock too (so i don't really do much racing other than light to light) but I haven't met any Nissans that have outdone me.
And I'm not saying that to brag.

I'm no mechanic or engineer, but I think the 2004 could put out 280HP in an air-induction V6 that is 3.2 or 3.4 liter. The cylinder firing order has some stuff to do with it, because that varies between brands a lot, so the same size engine in a Porsche and a Honda (despite the fact that I think Porsche uses straight 6cyl. engines instead of v6's) a Porsche will easily put out twice as much horsepower as the Honda. But I may be wrong just as easily. And who knows, maybe the 2004 will be supercharged instead of air-induction. Maybe the engine will be a longitudinal I-6. That would suck, but it would be cool to own. Then you can tell people 'hey dude, my honda has the same engine as your 1984 Ford F-100 and weighs 2 tons less!' or something. I doubt they would change the structure of the engine that drastically just for a change in the year though, unless they had a real good reason. . . .
If they stroked the engine more on the 2004 to get more torque, what would be the point? You can't tow anything w/ it, and who would buy a car w/ more torque than it needs just so they can burn their tires down to the rim in a *front wheel drive*. I'm sorry, but nothing looks more pathetic than somebody burning out in a FWD car. . . even an Acura TL.

 

Exactly. I've lived in various places in the US and Acura is very popular in the snowbelt. Why? Because you can get an attractive, decently priced, near luxury, RELIABLE car that does well in the snow.

FWD is great for that, AWD just a bit better.

FWD isnt meant for racing. When Honda wants to make a "racing" car, they go to RWD just like everyone else.

270 hp is PLENTY for 99% of the TL customers.

 

Correction: 270 hp is plenty - for non-Type S drivers. I'll wait for more.

 

Well, going beyond 270 hp or so is going to require AWD, I'm willing to bet the TL will have AWD on its Type S model, but only after the RL comes out (that will be Spring of '04)

 

That would make sense. The TL has been upstaging the RL for too long now. Acura should at least give the RL AWD first and then the TL. It would be the perfect way to differentiate a 2005/2006 TL Type S (along with 300 horsepower of course).

 

Mine for one my TLS cant spank my Max and you go over to Maxima.org and they say the same thing. I take all of these TLS whipping a 3.5 powered Max or Alti or G35 or when its the opposite with a grain of salt (yeah right attitude) because stock its not possible, they are all evenly matched. I am realist not optimist

 

You sound silly. 270hp is A LOT of power. How much more power do u really want?

 

I believe Honda has hit the wall of front wheel drive handling, although its still one of the best. Remember the famous torque steer beast. 270-280 hp is probably the max. Honda can put onto the front wheel drive TL without seriously affecting the handling performance. Honda doesn't just build cars that can go fast only on the straights, but also can go fast in the corners. So, until RWD or AWD becomes available, there can be no big increase in hp and torque for the front wheel drive car.

 

Cadillac has some successful FWD vehicles with 300 HP and minimal torque steer.

 

That Cadillac is the STS with the NorthStar V8 engine. It has received good praises for its luxury interia, ride, power, and features, but never handling. It is a touring sedan, not a sport sedan like the TL.

The TL can go at speed through the mountain twisties, whereas the 300 hp FWD STS will probably run off the cliff if going at the same pace as the TL through the same twisties. This is what handling stands for.

 

Tl is sporty, no sports sedan. Nor is the STS.

 

of the four maximas I have raced I have yet to lose in my TL-S and it is all stock. Yes they were of the 3.5 variety, so get off your high horse and just face it. It's not like it was an ass-whipping because both vehicles are quick. A win is a win by an inch or a mile, to quote a great movie.

 

Nice quote. What movie?

 

Fast and the Furious

 

Cool, I still haven't seen it...

 

"Newbie" dont come here with the attitudes and slurs they want be tollerated, we are a mature crowd here for the most part. Have a good day!

 

Just got back from my dealership and they inform me that the new TL will have up to300hp .. which sounds too good to be true. Anyone else hear anything about this???

 

Not a bad lie as far a dealers go. 270-275 would certainly be "up to" 300hp..

 

did not mean to offend. didn't think i was. I was just telling my end of the story.
newbie

 

1) 270 is plenty, keeping 3.2L will keep cost low and it is a competent power plant. As much as I like to see a 3.5L, it's not required to move extra 1000lb of metal like MDX or Pilot, so it doesn't really need it.

2) TL-S VS Maxima VS Altima race is all based on the driver. I can beat a Maxima too if it's driven by my grandpa. Mechanically, they perform the same with may be Altima/Maxima has a little bit more passing power at high speed.

I think the whole auto industry is spoiled with high power cars. It was just 6 years ago that 200HP on a sedan is considered too much.

 

I have 200 hp on my TL and its plenty. Anything more and I'd probably get into mischief. 270 should be MORE than enough for 90 % of TL buyers. If I remember Acura's statistics, something like 70% of new TL buyers are over 45.

 

Agreed, I see Toyota taking the casual approach and said that they are not going to dose their cars with lots of power like Acura/Honda and Infiniti/Nissan!

 

Its all good bud but that "get off your high horse" comment was sort of rude. Its all good!

 

i dont get what the big deal is? so what if it has ONLY 270 hp?thats 45 mor than the base tl has now! if they come out with a type s or the (hpt) model mabe it will have more? no need to speculate until the actual info is out. just my .02!

 

The whole thing is a big mystery. I'd be happy with 270, especially if we see an 8%-10% increase in torque.

 

Maybe a DOHC rather than a SOHC 3.2?

 

DOHC would be good, too.

 

I think you all are gay for arguing on a car that has yet to come out. None of you work for Honda and know whats going on. Goto a strip bar, come back 2 months later and all your questions will be answered

 

Actually I do work for an Acura Store here in the Dallas area. The only information that they have given us is what you have already seen. The official version is more horsepower than the current TL-S. We never were told how much horsepower until the 2004 RSX brochures came to our dealership.

 

Why is it people are stuck on the 3.2 L Engine...

No has any facts or info that the engine will be 3.2L

It might be 3.4L for all we know, stop the speculation and stop getting mad at Acura before knowing if it is infact 3.2L

LOL Sorry, I defend Acura too much, and the 2004TL, Hence the name

 

Actually I HAVE worked for Honda, I do know people who have credible info as well as 90% accurate speculation. That shoots down your little theory. I don't need a strip bar for "enlightenment" on auto issues.

It is a 3.2 engine, the Non Disclosure Agreement is now over and people who have driven the press cars are allowed to talk. This includes people who work at dealerships and get to test out prototypes/pre-production models.

 

Who is arguing? :ar15: :bigun2: :goldfish: :rocketwho

 

What else do you know?

Do you know the features?