S2000 Driver

Has the video of the new "Wrecking Ball" TV commerical, which I saw broadcast for the first time yesterday and which is described below, been posted on YouTube or elsewhere on the web yet?

If so, please post here.

Thanks!

"'Wrecking Ball" and "Match" will debut post–launch and communicate product–specific features. Spots will air on Monday Night Football, college football and SportsCenter on ABC and ESPN; TL will be the focus of Acura’s exclusive automotive sponsorship of Pac-10 college football. Through heavy spot TV presence, the spots will air during several highly anticipated network premieres. On cable, the Weather Channel will feature custom 2-minute HD "featurette," highlighting the world’s first in-car weather radar system found in the TL."

Source: http://www.rpa.com/subsections/press...2008&id=0908tl

hydr0

Haven't seen it yet. I'm still not quite sure how they can say it's the most powerful Acura ever built. What happened to the NSX?? Wasn't that a more powerful car? Mr. Wolf would sure say so.

CleanCL

iTrader: (4)

Nope, the 3.7L in the AWD is the most powerful motor built by Acura. 305hp at the new horsepower rating.

S2000 Driver

The most powerful NSX, the 2005 model (last year of production), had 290 horsepower but its curb weigh was 3,197 pounds for a weight:power ratio of 11:1.

The 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD has 305 horsepower but its curb weight is 3,957 pounds giving it a ratio of 13:1

So the NSX has a superior ratio -- no surprise there.

S2000 Driver

(Cj)

I think it's sad that the TL is the most powerful Acura ever

Every luxury brand has vehicles that are more powerful, even Volvo...

S2000 Driver

Tell you what, I'll take a less powerful NSX with only 290 hp over any Volvo.

But, hey, I must be

Spearsoft

Oh no... CJ spams vtec.net with his volvo love. Please not acurazine, please!

csmeance

a car is not just about HP, its about how fast it actually moves and drives. the 1st generation NSX with the 3.0L DOHC motor is almost as fast as the 2nd gen nsx 3.2L DOHC motor believe it or not.

(Cj)

lol, but it's the truth .

little non tier one Volvo has more powerful engines than mighty Acura

Spearsoft

And?

PetesTL

So what? GM has a 600+hp V8 engine for the Corvette ZR1 and they're on the verge of bankruptcy. It's not all about engines and HP......esp. in this economy......people are more concerned about build quality, reliability, fuel efficiency, safety, and value.

DrEvil777

Then I invite you to go over to the volvo forum...there is a nice bridge over there you can live under

Spearsoft

There ya go, buddy. Have a nice time.

(Cj)

600 horsepower is a bit extreme. I think the fact of the matter is Acura has the least powerful engines of any luxury brand (tier one or tier two). I think that's pretty sad, don't you?

I mention Volvo since they are a tier two luxury company that's not exactly known for performance. Even Volvo has more powerful powerplants than Acura (a brand supposedly known for sports).

With rumors that Acura's future V8s are dead, Acura really can't succeed with just the J37 and the TL, the most powerful Acura ever...

BEAR-AvHistory

Do you really want to compare a $100K car selling for up to $40K over MSRP with a $40K one getting $1K dealer cash to help move them? Seems to be a major case of apples to oranges.

I think the original point was just about every car that the TL is trying to compete against has more power. Before you say its unimportant in today's market remember one of the central themes of the 2009 Acura add campaign is "the most powerful Acura ever"

Bearcat94

Volvo has a more powerful engine. One. 311 HP.

WOW!! Blows the TL's 305 right out of the water. 311HP .

The torque is nice though. The sedan with that engine starts at $51k MSRP.



ALthough, I do agree, not having a 340 - 350-ish HP TL option (i.e. Type-S) is a down for Acura; just not a very big one (especially compared to Volvo). Maybe 2012

BeckyBoo

I thought this was an Acura forum? Isn't this thread about the new Acura commercial?

Bearcat94

Used to be.

(Cj)

The Volvo engine has over 50 ft lb more torque than any Acura engine. That's pretty significant if you ask me. And it gets the same fuel economy as the V6 RL (AND both are AWD sedans).

The TL doesn't really need 350 hp, but the RL definitely does. My point isn't so much about the TL, but about Acura in general. It's sad that the TL is the "Most Powerful Acura ever"

Spearsoft

People may not have caught this, but Acura is advertising using the term "power" beyond just horsepower, and though this may be difficult for Cj to understand, there is more to a car than just horsepower.
In otherwords, put a TL against ANY volvo on a track, and you'll cry.

BEAR-AvHistory

I must have missed that part where they changed the definition of powerful when I read this: "the most powerful Acura engine, a 305-hp, 3.7-liter VTEC® V-6" on the Acura web site.

As for its track performace the only ones we have seen posted so far are a few magazines 1/4 runs which are slower then much of the competition.

S2000 Driver

Yes, apparently you did.

Not to worry, I have posted the commercials here so you can catch up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzBV1h94L0s
2009 Acura TL TV Commercial: Dive ("Grace is Power")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_WJM1qv0vg
2009 Acura TL TV Commercial: Bullet ("Precision is Power")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjecgpkl0is
2009 Acura TL TV Commercial: Match ("Efficiency is Power")

(Cj)

I think the tag lines and slogans are funny.

1. The TL's design is far from graceful

2. The TL is a well built car, but precision? please. The Lexus IS has smaller exterior panel gaps, and the A4 trounces the TL's interior fit and finish.

3. Efficiency? The A4, 3, and IS/ES are all more efficient.

I will say that they are all very good commercials. The TL is an excellent car and it's Acura's best sedan yet (but I think the MDX is the best vehicle Acura has ever made. Almost perfect design execution). I just hope that Acura makes a vehicle that's truly worthy of all these tag lines and slogans. Truly powerful, truly graceful, truly precise, and truly efficient (although that maybe oxymoronic). I think that vehicle would have been the next gen RL, but it's future is unsure at this point.

Bearcat94

I said the "torque is nice". I didn't miss the difference, perhaps you missed my acknowledgement?

OTOH, if the current 3.7L from Acura put out 312HP, it would be argueably "more powerful" than your volvo example. It doesn't of course, but the point is that the difference between 305 HP and 312 HP is negligable - not a big enough gap to get our panties in a wad over.

350-ish HP is what, imho, a Type-S would need should Acura choose to release one. 350-ish HP w/SH-AWD in this platform is what it will take to compete (power/speed -wise) with similar range Luxo/Sport Sedans (335, G37S, etc).

Commercials are commercials - if you believed what the marketeers told you, you'd think the Kia Spectra (or insert whatever car you want) was one of the best cars ever made.

Spearsoft

Cj. Again with the trolling.

1. Styling is subjective and an argument no one will ever win.

2. Did you really set the two cars side by side and measure the gaps? Of course you didn't, you're pulling that out of your butt. Everyone knows Acuras are some of the most refined and well built cars on the road. Precision also refers to the excellent handling provided by the sh-awd.

3. Let me go one by one: The 3(28) is 293 pounds lighter, 50hp weaker, and 54 ft/lb weaker than the FWD TL, has a 6spd tranny, and only achieves 2mpg better highway.

The ES is 119 lb lighter, 8hp weaker, 6 spd tranny, and 1 mpg better city and highway.

Your beloved 4 is 264 lb lighter, 69 Hp weaker, 2 mpg better combined,

the Is250 is 264 lb ligher, 76 hp less, 6spd tranny, and does 3mpg beter highway/city.

going to the sh-awd model things get interesting.
the 335i(non awd) is 340 pounds lighter, with a 6 spd tranny, and achieves 1 mpg better highway.

The IS 350 (keep in mind, ALL of these cars are minute in size compared to the TL, especially this little one) is 415(!) pounds lighter, virtually the same hp/tq ratings, 6spd tranny, and can only do 1mpg better city.

finally, the A4 3.2 quattro is 115 lb lighter, far less powerful (about 60 hp/30 tq), 6spd tranny, and does 1 mpg better highway.

Btw, all of these cars cost more than the TL when equipped the same way, and are much smaller (did I say that already?). The story gets better when you compare to similar size-class vehicles, or even the AWD variants of the ones I mentioned(though pricing comparisons go out the window).
Wrong again, Cj. Do your homework, or go troll elsewhere (or both).

Back to the power thing: It's no wonder some of these cars are quicker than the TL when you consider the weight differences, which is why the TSX needs a bigger powerplant (that is the true competitor to the other entry-sedans).

cp3117

Very well said...I laugh every time i see those commercials and especially the last line and how Acura defines powerfull, "The Most Powerful Acura ever Built". Its like a disclaimer saying this is the best Acura to date by Acura standards, but please dont compare our definition of powerful to our competition.

S2000 Driver

Spot on!

(Cj)

If the TL made 312 hp, it still wouldn't be more powerful than the Volvo. Just like how the G37 isn't more powerful than the M45 even though the G has more horsepower. Low end torque makes a huge difference. Anyway yes it would be nice if there was a TypeS TL with 350 hp, but it's not essential for Acura's livelihood. What is essential is a 350+ hp flagship sedan. The TL is actually fine where it is (I just think that the J37 AWD should be the base model leaving room for a more powerful variant in the future). Acura really needs a truly "most powerful Acura ever" flagship sedan and maybe even a sports roadster (considering the NSX has been killed).

The TSX is pretty heavy and with a V6 it'd be the same weight as the TL, so no problem would be solved. Thanks for all the facts, but you didn't prove that the TL was more:

Graceful
Precise
Efficient

...than it's competition.

Bearcat94

Actually it would; and the G37 is, in fact, more powerful than the M45.

Torque is not a measure of Power; it is a measure of Work or Force over Distance. HP is a measure of Power. So your M45 might work harder, but it is not more Powerful.

Your original contention was the even Volvo has a more powerful engine than "the most powerful Acura ever". This is true, but it is trivial. A 7 HP difference over ~300 HP means nothing in practical automotive terms.


Now none of that makes Acura correct for redefining "Power" as "grace" or "precision" or "efficeincy. But then again, those are commercials and what kind of fool would take them literally?

Spearsoft

**cj covers his ears and goes "LALALALALALALALAALALALA!"*

DrEvil777

He also wears a tin foil hat to protect himself from the microwaves!

cp3117

Yes, i would have to agree with you.

The only thing all those stats really show is that the competition has found innovative ways to lighten their cars while still providing more luxury than Acura and using smaller drivetrains that still outperform and provide better fuel consumption.

Efficiency goes much deeper than the final result of fuel consumption, such as the design of the vehicle for drag co. and innovative ways to lighten the vehicle etc etc.

Here is an interesting article from forbes that shows how efficient the competition is getting.

http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/12/veh..._1112cars.html

You'll notice the A4 and the TSX tied although the Audi had AWD and was a couple hundred pounds heavier than the TSX. If they had compared the A4 to its true competitor in the TL it surely wouldn't have been tied.

So design does go deeper than just visual appeal and as far as "Cj" having to measure the gaps between the two cars in reference to the interiors.......Well if you have ever sat in both cars you would realise you can visually seen the difference (thats how bad it can be).

(Cj)

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

How does your opinion of the car change so drastically when just a few weeks ago you were praising its looks?

csmeance

Acura is still working it's way up to become a true luxury brand like AUDI, BMW and Benz. If you put it into perspective, you are comparing an ENTRY LEVEL LUXURY CAR to cars that are in LUXURY SEDAN ranges and have price tags that reflect that. Has acura made mistakes, YES, have other manufactures made mistakes, YES, so why is it that acura is being penalized and not the others. Face the truth, for the price of a new 4G TL, you can't find anything as fast, reliable or as well equipped.

as for the members that we talking about efficiency, etc. acura is plenty efficient. For example did you know that acura made the RL's parts out of aluminum to save weight, and that the drive shaft is carbon fiber to reduce weight?

Bearcat94

The only "effeciency" considered in the article is reported fuel consumption.

IOW - Power, Weight, Capacity, Engine Size, Drag, etc are ignored wrt "effeciency". So, contrary to your claim, "effeciency", according to Forbes, is *only* about the "final result of fuel consumption".

(Cj)

I didn't say the TL was ugly, the design is just not graceful. I like edgy design so the TL appeals to me, but for Acura to decide to call it "graceful" boggles my mind.

Certainly didn't help considering larger V8 sedans beat the RL's "efficiency" lol

BEAR-AvHistory

Truth is, once this statement does not have to be attached to every defense of the Acura TL it will then be a tier 1 car.

BTW: the "for the price" thing cuts two ways. IIRC the Hyundai Genesis is bigger, faster, as well equipped & costs less then a TL, so for the price you 'cudda had 375HP V8 power, The most powerful Hyundai ever.

Mansa24

Audi shouldn't be in this sentence. Audi is Tier 2 along with Acura, Infiniti, Caddy, etc.