YoungCeo

From Jalopnik:

wow...it looks like that is a full, 100% complete car. The badges are covered up, and looks like some factory style rims. Also the tape is only on small parts of the rear, not on the sides, or the windows. I'm sure we would have loved to see the front but...good stuff.

I'm amazed at how much hate the car is getting before we've even seen it. Its funny because now alot of people who hated the RL and the TSX now like it, esp in person.

AcuraTL_driver

I don't know....it just seems the car is too bulky to even believe that IF they do come out with the TL-S, it will be very "sporty". I just saw a new Maxima and tried to examine it as much from my front seat to get some ideas of how the new TL would look....still confused.

YoungCeo

What do you mean too bulky to be sporty? Too much weight? Or the look? Both? I'd think that 340-350 hp+sh-awd could be sporty enough...

Sargy

So now we got covered up Badges, A touch of Chrome, And some Factory Rims......
SWEEEEEET

Sargy

BTW the RL is on Acura's Site with full details.

redman042

Unless they pull a big chunk of foam camo off the back and reveal a totally different rear-end shape, I will not like this car. I like the sides ok, but not the front and the back.

Before someone takes me literally, I know the shape is real. I just wish it wasn't.

03bl AC k CL

hate it as of now... lets see if it grows on me by the time i graduate and am ready to get out of my 02

lembowski

iTrader: (1)

Looks like the love child of a Cady CTS and a Camry..........egh

SilverJ

09 TL looks hot.. I didnt instantly like the 04 TL...but now I love it.
I think 09 looks a little like the 5 series BMW...
But honestly...who gives a crap what the car looks like....with no 6 speed manual for the 09's this car is irrelevant to any enthusiast on this board. Which I *think* is more than 75 percent of us.

6SpdTerror

Im still reserving my judgment until i see the full fat version and until i hear concrete evidence of powertrain and transmission options. Im still hoping a type-s is in the works with a "real" 6 speed tranny and at least 330-350 hp.

pinina

iTrader: (2)

If you go to the Acura site and look at their future vehicle, you can clearly see where they are going with the new styling of this car. you can see the rear "bird beek" appearance or what ever you want to call it.

cbusAcuracls

Nice wishful thinking but sh-awd won't get more than 310hp. Its a practical 4 door sedan car not a sports car.
I am guessing but I don't think it will put 1/4 mile numbers better than the current TL-S.
If a Type S is in the works in the future...yea maybe we will see 340hp...but who knows.

sangwl

the new rear hatch look is identical to the front grill

AcuraTL_driver

That's what I was trying to say....look at the GS....not sporty...luxury yes...I wonder if that's the only route Acura is trying to go for with the new TL

cbusAcuracls

sounds like you hit the nail on the the head to me...look at the new tsx. More lux...less sport.

lindros2

I just received a survey from Acura. If you ever purchase a new car, and/or learn how to spell "stupid", these are the things that Acura is focusing on for the 2009 TL:

- Quality
- Performance
- Advanced technology
- Vehicle image
- Brand prestige
- Price paid
- Resale value
- Safety
- Luxury

None of these are "practicality."

tls02

As far as the Survey goes, in what order of importance?

lindros2

It was a question of "which one do you value most" and "which do you value least."

Bearcat94

Fixed it for you.

sol-tsx

Trust me, there is tape on the sides of this mule...covering up the character line that runs down either side. And believe me, this car needs that character line or else the car is much less interesting to look at.

trancemission

There better be a shitload of tape on the car.

TL|GTX

Trust me there is a shit load of tape thank god.

Ikko

Trust me, there ain't no character line!!

cbusAcuracls

I'm sad... I think you are absolutely correct. I don't see any tape.

YoungCeo

To me, it looks like there is NO tape on the sides at all, and minimal body colored tape on the rear.

FastInFairway

yea, there's no tape on the sides... sorry guys. the side almost looks like the 09 TSX.

sistim turbo

One of the Honda forum fan-boys over at The Temple of VTEC claims to have seen a brand spankin' new 2009 Acura TL — most likely at the April dealer conference where we'd heard the big dealers got a chance to ogle the new four-door in the shiny flesh. While we're not expecting to see the bed sheet slide off the skin of the new mid-size from Honda's luxury brand until sometime closer to Septembet, the forumites are telling us to expect something similar to what we told you back in March, but the level of detail is — well — significantly more detailed. Hit the jump for the full scoop.

TOV user "mri1112" claims he (or she):

"saw the car....3.5 w/280hp and 3.7 w 305hp....no mention of "S" Type at all.....the front and rear of the car in no way resembles the present car or TSX...larger than the present TL and present Accord....it is as drastic to the persent TL as the present TL was to the '03 TL.....20G hard drive on board for personal music recording ...push button start...."
But that's not the only details — there's also the look, which is supposedly very "transformer"-like:
"the only part of the tsx grill is the very top thickpart....slight resemblence...beyond that not similar looking at all....but the front and rear of the 09 TL is very futuristic, almost "transformer" in its look....the car was shown in new orleans april 11th to acura dealer body....end of sept release......rear lights on the '09 TL are a cross between civic 2 dr and camry....bold...tilted a bit down toward center...red lenses top and bottom ...clear back up in the middle but taper extensively around the side almost to the back of the c piller..the car looks sleek from the side yet agressive, angular from front and back...the car has no hatchback look at all.....from the side it is quite sleek looking ...sharp contrast from front and rear views which are very hight tech futuristic looking...the trunk lid has a bit of a dip in the center.....the rear lights and the rear bumper make the back panel of the trunk lid almost the shape of the grill.....5 sided.....topped off by a small lip spoiler on the tech model...the rear spoiler also has a crease in the center of the trunk dip.....the rear tail light form the side tapers greatly and almost reaches up the side to the rear of the c pillar....."

sistim turbo

One of the Honda forum fan-boys over at The Temple of VTEC claims to have seen a brand spankin' new 2009 Acura TL — most likely at the April dealer conference where we'd heard the big dealers got a chance to ogle the new four-door in the shiny flesh. While we're not expecting to see the bed sheet slide off the skin of the new mid-size from Honda's luxury brand until sometime closer to Septembet, the forumites are telling us to expect something similar to what we told you back in March, but the level of detail is — well — significantly more detailed. Hit the jump for the full scoop.

TOV user "mri1112" claims he (or she):

"saw the car....3.5 w/280hp and 3.7 w 305hp....no mention of "S" Type at all.....the front and rear of the car in no way resembles the present car or TSX...larger than the present TL and present Accord....it is as drastic to the persent TL as the present TL was to the '03 TL.....20G hard drive on board for personal music recording ...push button start...."
But that's not the only details — there's also the look, which is supposedly very "transformer"-like:



i just think the 20 gb hard drive is very nice.
i didnt know that. i figured but didnt know.
all good!
"the only part of the tsx grill is the very top thickpart....slight resemblence...beyond that not similar looking at all....but the front and rear of the 09 TL is very futuristic, almost "transformer" in its look....the car was shown in new orleans april 11th to acura dealer body....end of sept release......rear lights on the '09 TL are a cross between civic 2 dr and camry....bold...tilted a bit down toward center...red lenses top and bottom ...clear back up in the middle but taper extensively around the side almost to the back of the c piller..the car looks sleek from the side yet agressive, angular from front and back...the car has no hatchback look at all.....from the side it is quite sleek looking ...sharp contrast from front and rear views which are very hight tech futuristic looking...the trunk lid has a bit of a dip in the center.....the rear lights and the rear bumper make the back panel of the trunk lid almost the shape of the grill.....5 sided.....topped off by a small lip spoiler on the tech model...the rear spoiler also has a crease in the center of the trunk dip.....the rear tail light form the side tapers greatly and almost reaches up the side to the rear of the c pillar....."

YoungCeo

Great read

jokerunm

Is this new info? I have not seen it in any earlier specs. If this true...at least they'll be keeping up tech dept...if there is hd based audio then the navi probably hd based as well......a lot better then just reusing the old stuff and just adding usb input and nav weather like the TSX and RL.

jumbosizeme79

judging by the exhausts im guessing this is the 3.5? the pics seemed to have quad exhausts

tls02

I agree. That picture must be the 3.5. I assume that the 3.7 has quad tailpipes. Some of the other pictures showed that. Also, there appears to be 2 character lines along the body sides. One is from the front fender wheel flair and runs to the tail lights. The second is lower. It is running from the top of the rear bumper forward along both doors. Take another look at the picture and you can see them. If you want to go back and look at the shots on page 19, you can see them better. I don't know, but this car is starting to grow on me. Must see it in person, and then I will either like it, or hate it. Will know soon!

cbusAcuracls

I believe this is the 3.5L. The 3.7L sh-awd would hope have bigger rims. The rims in this pic look smaller than the other sh-awd pics we've seen in the past.

pokin

Speaking of differences b/w the 3.5 and 3.7, I notice one of the subtle styling differences. Per photos on LeftLaneNews , look at the bottom front grills - next to fogs. The grille of the 3.7 (quad tailpipes) is a little larger and with a teardrop shape instead of the straight top grille of the 3.5.

rondog

iTrader: (1)

6 speed news is all i'm worried about at this point. manual tranny on awd and 3.7 is the only combo i'll serttle for, either that or a used 2002+ NSX for the same $.

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

i think the spy pics look great

4g TL reminds me of a decepticon transformer, and i love transformers

RSA_Secure

I donno, that rear doesn't look very promising. I hope it turns out better without the camo. The tapered trunk opening might hinder when dealing with large stuff.

tgt

iTrader: (1)

Good catch...the the camo is the same on both, you can certainly see that the front bumper/grille design is different, more 'teardrop' on the SH-AWD unit as you say.

-Travis

09TSX

Look again more closely, there is tape on the side on the picture a few posts above...look toward the rear quarter panel where the light is, you see that the tape is not well fastened to the car itself....

mikiTL

It looks more like its covered with tape to make it have that appearance. The headlights are masked with white tape as well, to give it the illusion of a different shape.

The 3.5 and 3.7 probably will have different shaped grills, but the 3.5 grille has more of an opening and a slanted line that what you can tell from the pics.