ndabunka

How come no one on here has recognized the similarities to the Mercedes CLS 4-door Coupe. I can really SEE it in the pictures of the white one. If Acura is serious about attacking a market segment, it's the "hot one" to go after right now. It is also the same one that supports the M45 and GS450h markets. IMHO, it's also a PERFECT target for Acura. Everyone either loved or hated the CLS when it first came out but all agreed that it looked very "futuristic". Maybe THAT is the futuristic target they were shooting at? If so, then sign me up for a $40K CLS made by Acura. My low-mileage NBP/NAVI 2004 will be available for sale the day after this is unveiled.

CL6

The RL is the flagship car of Acura.

The CLS is a lovely looking car... this TL is not.

If you want the look of a CLS but not the price then get the VW Passat 'coupe'

Bearcat94

In theory. When you can only sell a couple hundred "flagship" vehicles a month, it's not carrying it's weight.

But you are correct. Poster probably should have said that the TL is Acura's Bread-and-Butter model.

sangwl

ok, RL might be the flagship car, but it does not sell like the TL,

basically, the TL is the profit driven vehicle for acura, they won't mess this up.

Aman

The TSX and MDX were also "profit-driven vehicles" for Acura, and look what happened to those.

Bearcat94

MDX ia good by me.

sangwl, I actually agree with you. As "flagship", the RL does a crummy job sales/marketing-wise. TL (and MDX) is where the sales money is at.

FWIW - I don't find the pic of the '09 TL disturbing at all. Some unusual/new styling cues that we'll have to take a wait-and-see attitude on, but the Maxima/Lexus GSxxx shape has always been appealing to my eye.

JAB00

Well I don't know what you're implying by your statement but the MDX has been a very robust seller for Acura since the new body style came out and the new 09 TSX outsold all other Acura models in the month of May (this includes the TL), exceeding initial expectations.

CL6

To be fair the TL is 5 years old and on its very last legs and the RL never sells. Usually models sell very well for the first few months because the early adopters buy them.

TMQ

So it looks like the C pillar has edges that go higher than the rear glass. That's quite unusual.

Anyway, the design front and back look very Acura and unfortunately not very graceful at this moment. The side profile isn't bad; a bit GS like but I don't like the GS design at all.

Let's hope it doesn't has too many RL like design features.

007TL-S

Sound's like you might of took a sip of the KOOL-AID too..... IMO !.....this design look's like shit!...... the back end of the new ACCORD mashed with some CAMARY/PONTIAC etc!!!!!! ...they build this, alot will "RUN" is right , to another "MARQUE" that is ,or they will buy up all the 3 GEN's, a 4 year run of this design , "GOD" help us all!.....BMW can't even give away a 7 or a 5 Series!.....you can buy them used dirt cheap with low mileage! I don't how much HORSEPOWER/PERFORMANCE it has, if it's dog UGLY it won't fare well! ...the STEALTH LOOKING TL 2009 HOPEFULL has BEEN MURDERED!!! SNAP out of it!!.....the 3 GEN's look way better!

007TL-S

You got that right ,I'm glad mine is sitting in the garage!

HBaJ

Looks like an Avalon..the front seems okay, and top half of the back- but it needs some surgery to give it a lift..the saggy butt isnt appealing at all

ultimate_ed

I keep following this thread hoping the news gets better. These latest spy shots give me little to hope for. I'll keep watching until all the masking gets removed, but I doubt it's going to magically transform this into something as sharp looking as the 3G.

King of Pain

x2

My hope is fading.

JD TL-S

iTrader: (1)

How about an 09 G37S sedan. 330hp. Its coming soon.

JD TL-S

iTrader: (1)

The way things sound, the 2008 TL Type-S manual will spank the 310hp SH AWD 2009 auto at 4000#

I just hope it looks better than those spy photo's, and is quick???

GTA_TLS

WOW, talk about hideous. I know it's not the final product but man, those are some ugly looking cars.

nyclio

It reminds me of the new gen Accord.

ndabunka

Interesting that VW is going the number of mfg's offering a similar product. Maybe this says something about the style being desired by the masses? I think the Passat is a bit smaller than the TL though, isn't it? If not, then I would probably still pass as I am not one for most VW interiors but I would give it a test drive.

Actually, that almost looks more like a 4-door version of the Mercedes CL than it does a the CLS IMHO.

VelfarreClubber

Looking at the white TL it looks like a blend of a 5 series, GS and a bloated altima!

Bearcat94

It'll be a close race ....





if the '09 tranny transfers ~87% of the crank HP to the wheels.

ACCURATEin

...just checked back into this thread after a couple weeks, and after seeing the recent photos i think i'm falling in love with the side angle picture of the black TL.

007TL-S

I don't think Taking the Camo masking off the 4GEN is going to do it any justice!....... for a new car/ over the RE-DESIGN the 2010 Camaro would get my money over this new TL, too bad it's not here yet and proven itself!

007TL-S

I know that's comparing apples to oranges,,,but that's my

Dave04TL

Is it just me or is there something wrong with the rear door shape and how it matches the window above? I think there is something being hidden by camo shots. It would make no-sense to have a glass on glass joint and would look very odd if the window extended beyond the door boundary. I wonder why there is always camo in that area?

cbusAcuracls

Lower the number better the performance...(ONLY ROUGH ESTIMATE)

08 TL-S w/ 286hp @ 3563lbs MT.

# per hp = 12.458

09 TL SH-AWD 310hp @ ~3900lbs

# per hp = 12.581

But the potential 3.7L 310hp may have better tq numbers but looses more power due to the sh-awd...so its hard to say which will out perform which.

In fact the 09 TL 3.5L FWD with 290hp can only gain ~50lbs to be able to keep the same performance as the 08 TL-S MT if you use this same formula.

AGAIN THIS IS ONLY ROUGH ESTIMATES AND THERE IS ALOT OF OTHER FACTORS TO COME IN TO PLAY HERE.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

It doesnt matter what we all think. The car looks good to me. But I guarantee you the 1st day this car drops there will be ppl flocking to this thing. To me the 3rd gen TL is still butt fugly, the Type S is hot but look how many pppl bought that thing. Even when everyone on Azine said it was ugly. The 3rd gen section is the largest section on Azine now. So for all you 3rd & 2nd genners (myself included) we will probably keep our cars and new ppl will be joining azine and populating this 4th gen section. Im also sure a few of the regulars here will jump ship. The car doesnt look half bad though. If i wasnt waiting for a coupe then I'd probably grab one. . I seriously doubt Acura would put out a TL slower than the current Type S. When the 3rd Gen dropped it was the same speed as the 2nd gen Type S, so I'm sure the two vehicles will probably be equal in speed. Id like to see a 4th gen Type S soon, but I wouldnt hold my breath

ndabunka

Why is it that NOBODY in this thread realizes that the 4WD can make a HUGE difference in acceleration? If the cars were the same weight and the HP was IDENTICAL, the 4WD would SMOKE the 2WD ALL DAY LONG. So, please start taking the 4WD traction factor into your comparisons if you want to be fair.

cbusAcuracls

Actually I did...
"But the potential 3.7L 310hp may have better tq numbers but looses more power due to the sh-awd...so its hard to say which will out perform which."

yes off the line 4wd does better but 4wd also looses more power to the drivetrain.
Remember 4wd is alot heavier too (A 4wd TL will never be close to the same weight as a fwd TL REALITY CHECK) so two cars with identical hp one 2wd and one 4wd will not loose to a 4wd based on power loss in the 4wd and the heavier weight.

And this is why I stated this in my original thread...

"AGAIN THIS IS ONLY ROUGH ESTIMATES AND THERE IS ALOT OF OTHER FACTORS TO COME IN TO PLAY HERE."

mista.huynh

iTrader: (4)

I think we will all grow to love it. Who doesn't love the 2nd gen or 3rd gen? It just takes time....

RamuhRx7

damn it its starting to grow on me =)

sangwl

same with me, that is why i think we're all just jumping the band wagon.

acura will NOT upset us.

Mansa24

More new pics over TOV courtesy of Automotive Traveler
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=770891

I was beginning to have doubts, but I think the new TL is going to be stunning (in a good way) when all the camo comes off.

CL6

Except for that ass it looks pretty good.

VelfarreClubber

Fuuuck I want that bra off just as bad as looking at boobies for the first time!

EL19

iTrader: (4)

it really dpends on what you are comparing...the AWD Jeep SRT8 does 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and runs thru the 1/4 mile at 13.5 weighing in at 4819lbs but the 300C SRT8 2RWD with the exact same drive train and HP while weighing almost 1000lbs less (4160lbs) only runs 0-60 in 5.0 while running through the 1/4 mile at 13.4...0-60 the heavier AWD vehicle wins but in the 1/4 mile the extra weight catches up and the lighter car is 1/10th of a second faster. So no doubt in my mind the new AWD TL will be faster than the AT 08 Type S and maybe the same speed and the MT option

Fossil_TL

The reason It looks good is because the front end looks just like the current gen TL.

Current Gen TL is the pinacle of acura advanced design scheme, there's no way to improve it beyond what it looks today.

When TL-S came out, i was really impressed, and I've questioned myself in what ways could acura improve the look of the vehicle, and I pondered for like a week and finally gave up.

Cus the answer is simple, you can't.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

^^^^ Coupe is the answer to that question buddy

YoungCeo

Picture Gallery with PicTiger

cbusAcuracls

HA HA HA HA