OK, Autospies broke the news (spy news that is) on AWD and the TL -

Link is below:

http://www.autospies.com/article/ind...articleId=2825

We all knew this was comming, didn't we? My guess is for 2006 as part of the refresh.

Along with the keyless entry that is to be on the RL I would guess.

 

it wont be a cheap option

 

Thanks for the good news. For us Northerners, this will be a no-brainer. However, cTLgo is right, it will not be a cheap option. C&D, of course, will not be very impressed, wanting a RWD machine.

 

C&D can kiss my ass. The TL is awesome now and will be untouchable when it becomes an AWD platform.

 

I sincerely doubt it. Retrofittng the system in the TL and TSX would require major "chassis" modifications, maybe in the next generation. The cars are selling like hot cakes without it. As cyclonus states above most consumers couldn't care less about CD or AWD for that matter. BTW most people that buy SUVS don't care about 4wd either. In the real world peolpe buy cars by looks and reliability, most understand or care little about the mechanicals of it.

 

For TL, I'll wait for 4th Gen. TL and SW-AWD ver. 2.0.

 

The system came from an accord platform (honda inspire japan) it was fitted into the RL (legend japan). No major chassis is required or major midification since the sytem was built around the accord platform.

 

Agreed, we already have the tunnel, they only have to move the exhaust to the side like on normal RWD cars, not a big deal. The SH unit in NY was not that big in the rear, and from the under car inspections I have done on the car there is plenty of room for the rear differential.

 

BTW, do we need to turn/rotate our engine 90 degree? I mean we have belts on the left side now, will the belts put in the front would make power easier and more efficient to deliver to the rear differnetial?? By decreasing some direction change, I thought this would make the shaft reduce its power loss.

Thanks.

 

The engine will stay transverse just like in the MDX. No big deal really.

 

I think MDX uses FWD in most of time... so transverse layout is fine?

 

I wonder how much acceleration loss occurs when adding the extra drivetrain drag with an AWD system?

I'd lay a bet right here and now - that a '04 TL at 270 HP and a 5AT transmission will beat the '05 RL with 300 HP and AWD, in both 0-60 and quarter mile times.

And, I'll also bet that any future AWD TL will be slower than a FWD version due to powertrain drag.

 

Just take a look at the AWD version of the G35. It is slower, heavier, with worse gas mileage, and costs $ 2k more than the RWD version. Unless, you live in cold weather, this is not a good thing.

 

Compare with the current 04RL, 225 HP & 231 lbs-ft, 3898 lbs, the 05RL (300 plus HP and split 30/70? drivertrain with +4000 lb) has the great improved performance already.

Perhaps, while TL gets this SH-AWD system, the power with TL could be more than 330 HP...

 

You are right, since the infiniti AWD is more gear towards safety (snow) by adding FWD.

The G35 AWD is 300lb heavier and it drops 1mpg city and 2mpg highway not too bad

Twon things to consider the G35 does not use a carbon shaft and that Honda SH-AWD will used 70% of its power to the front while driving on the highway to keep the same MPG

The Honda AWD-SH is engineer toward performance and not just safety making the ride more fun with a AWD version.

One more thing to consider is you either buy a FWD acura or AWD

G35 you buy RWD or AWD......not that big of an advantage like you said unless you live in cold weather

As for the TL you can't go RWD so it all becomes an advantage when you buy the AWD version.