I am assuming any Acura that comes out with AWD will be intelligent all wheel drive where it only kicks in as needed and is front wheel drive as the standard I think this is how the MDX is set up adn the G35 (but RWD). Any thoughts? What is the earliest we might see this addition to the beautiful TL? I would love to say 2005 so that I could get it, but in my opinion that is highly unlikely. Any thoughts or even rumors on the subject?

 

Plenty of rumors, but nothing I've seen that seems concrete.

 

I'm assuming the opposite, that any new Acura sedan with all wheel drive will drive all wheels continually, like Subaru's and Audi's. But it could go anyway.

 

i would assume 2006!. they would bring it in 2005 but that would piss everyone with a 2004 off.

 

2006 - that is when it is due for a refresh.

But could be sooner, even Ford on thier bread and butter sedan to replace the taurus (the new 500) will offer AWD at intro next fall as a 2005 model.

Acura will be getting it's but kicked shortly with many AWD cars.

 

2006 Acura TL with AWD based off the MDX is what is being rumored at the dealership lately. Look for the about 300Hp and the awd feature sticker at about 40k when it hits showrooms...

I wont be buying one then...

 

The 2005 RL is due out this year. It probably will be AWD with a powerful V-6 (my guess, 290-300HP). So Acura will have a AWD car by the end of this year, but it will not be the TL. I don't see an AWD TL coming soon.

 

I think this is likely even though spinning all four wheels usually results in decreased gas mileage and sluggish performance, something which Honda would like to avoid. However, it's still likely because there's every indication that this AWD system will be an intelligent AWD system, like the one in the DNX concept. From a stop, the gasoline engine and the two 50hp electric motors in the back will get the car moving. Once the vehicle reaches a stable speed, the gasoline engine does minimal work while the electric motors take over. The end result is a 400 hp (300 hp gasoline, and two 50 hp electric motors) sedan which would get superb gas mileage. Last I heard, the RL would be getting this setup first, with the TL getting it as an option a little later on.

 

What do think they did when the 2000 TL came out. 99 TL had just came out from as an entire new car compare to the 98. What did they do for the 2000.....over 500 changes, including DVD navi, 5 spd to say the least.

 

The 2005 RL will supposedly be AWD. If this is true, I think Acura will hold off on introducting an AWD TL. If they came out in the same year, that would steal a lot of the new RL's thunder and Acura really needs to hit a home run with the RL. Why risk letting the debut of your new flagship be undercut by one of your own cars? I'm hoping the TL offers AWD by 2006. Then I'll wait another year for them to work the bugs out and get the 2007 model. Hopefully by then, all the other issues will have been addressed like the cheap leather, memory seating problems, cheap aluminum accents, and bad tires.

 

I think of the same thing. RL is redesigned and due for 05. It's no way to have the similar setup/configuration for RL and TL. This would just jeopardize RL's month sale.

Basically, I don't like the MDX's i-AWD idea. It seems only to work in 1st, 2nd, and R gear. Anyone knows how AWD G works? Will it be able to run 50/50 AWD in 4th and 5th gear?

If not, it's not really AWD car.

Honda have never run the AWD production lines so far, except MDX. It's hard to spread out the new AWD technics to all their plants, which even makes Honda hardly maintain two AWD plants...

I'm not against the first year model, but will dislike the first year of i-AWD in TL/RL and will be against the first year of hybrid AWD in TL/RL, too. They need time to mature. 04TL has less risks than 0xTL with AWD's.

So, if AWD rumor for RL is trustable, I only expect 05TL comes with more power and options instead of AWD system... please don't use MDX's AWD, and use the real AWD or hybrid AWD.

My $0.02.

 

after owning numerous AWD cars (Audis) it would be real difficult to just "shoehorn" an AWD system into the TL without some major structural changes (ie: flat rear floor, engine/transmission layout).

It was easier for Infiniti to do AWD with the G35 since it started as RWD, and Volvo with the S60 because it was designed to have an AWD variant (or as we've seen with the S60R, two variants...)

-josh

 

The problem is that AWD requires a new vehicle platform, and the TL is based on the Accord platform to save cost. So AWD will not happen, at least until the next complete model (platform) redesign which should be 3-4 years away.
However, it may be possible to install a electric motor for the rear axle (i.e. gas engine/electric motor hybrid) for the current platform because mechanical linkage between the front and rear axles is not required.

 

Exactly! That's why Acura will not go AWD. THey already have a term for it: IMA (integrated motor assist)!

 

The platform already has the option for an AWD system. In other markets the accord is available with AWD.

 

AWD is very feasible. About 2 years ago several Honda engineers went on record saying that converting the Accord to an AWD platform would cost only 3 digits. I.E. below a $1000.

AWD is available on Civics and Accords in Japan currently and has been for some time now.

The RL will not be FWD, that has been stated several times by CEO Fukui.

My educated guess is that the RL will be AWD since many people buy Hondas/Acuras because they are good in the snow.

Ever wondered who the heck bought RL's? They are all over the place in the snowbelt.

 

That "Accord", though, is the Acura TSX, which is a different platform.

Mike

 

The chassis is different yes but the TSX/USDM Accord/TL all share the same platform.

 

How are you defining platform?

Mike

 

Platform in terms of manufacturing. Basically a Honda manufacturing line can build all cars based on one of the main 3 platforms without extensive modifications.

Accord, Civic and Odyssey platforms cover most Honda/Acura cars.

You are probably right in that the AWD setup in a JDM Accord would not fit in a USDM Accord.

The relationship between the two Accords is a bit more distant than say a Civic vs. Integra.

 

I found an Autoweek article on the TSX that discussed the platforms briefly. It said the different size Accords are built on the Honda Global Midsize platform - the TSX/small Accord is on the "small" version, the US Accord on the "medium", and the TL on the "large". (I think that last one was an error; TL is more likely medium and RL on the large).

From what I've seen of websites around the world, Honda does offer AWD on the small platform, but haven't seen any V6's stuffed into it.

The Medium and Large appear to offer the V6's but no AWD.

Someone posted pics of the underside of the '04 TL way back when; if you take a look at those, and at all of the stuff that's routed to the back through the center tunnel that is on the underside of the car, it doesn't look like AWD is an easy drop-in by any means; a lot of things would need to be heavily revised underneath.

Mike

 

The RL is based on the 2nd generation Legend platform, known as the KA.

The RL/Legend and 1st generation TL shared this platform.

The Global Midsize platform started in 1998 covers Accords, 2nd and 3rd generation TL's and 2nd generation CL's. This includes the TSX.

 

Thanks for the info Ken. Is there an FAQ around that explains the genealogy of the various Hondas/Acuras?

Mike

 

Not here, I wish there was. I used to have a chart that showed ALL the platforms and engines in just about every Honda automobile ever made.

It was originally meant for engine swapping but I used it just for general knowledge.

 

Thanks, Ken, your platforms knowledge courses are very useful.

 

It DOES NOT require a new vehicle platform, it requires modifications, how much? don't know.

Here are 2 pictures of the honda pilot with VTM-4

 

OK, here are the original underside photos.

They were taken 3 days after purchase.

The exhaust runs in the center tunnel, so that would have to be moved if they were to go with the VTM-4 set up, but no one has talked about the hybrid version, that would be the perfect way to add rear drive via the electric motors and from the photos, it has room.

Remember Vtec broke Honda's announcement that the Accord in 05 will be the first to have the hybrid version, and since the platform is shared, I think it would be only natural that the TL gets it a year later (in its third year, 2006, like the accord for 2005)

Enjoy the underside photos!

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?i...97&mode=invite


Here is a view looking to the back from the engine - 19 more photos in the album!

 

need4spd,

Thanks for offering that link. After we talked about these photoes four months later, I still have no chance to lift up my car and look at mine. I wanna see how's the welding technics under my car.

 

Check out vtec.net look under MODEL MATRIX, I apologize for no link, but its worth the look. Tov is very trusted when it comes to honda and acura.

 

Here we go...


Model Release Matrix

 

JonDeutsch -

If you're watching this thread that 240hp TSX Type-S they have rumoured for Fall 2004 might be just the ticket for you.

Mike

 

If people insisted that the AWD would be fitted into the current V6 TL platform, there is another possibility. Raise up the vehicle so the mechanical parts can go through the center tunnel. The AWD TL would then be as tall as the MDX or the Pilot. It would be another ugly SOB that no one's gonna buy, like the GM Aztek.

 

Hey Mike,

Thanks for thinking of me!

Yeah, that sounds like it'd be fairly perfect for me. The issue is: it's a rumor, and I'm not sure I have the patience to wait until the fall (again).

Time will tell...

Jon