I'm not sure if this has been posted before, sorry if it has. Pretty interesting. Says there might be a V8, 420hp engine for 2011 TL?

http://www.automobile.com/2011-acura-tl-review.html

comments....

 

Ill treat this much like I treat the yeti - Ill believe it when I see it.

 

The TL will have a new grill for 2011 but I wouldn't expect much as far as major changes for 2011.

 

Can you elaborate more on the grille? Totally new design? Would it be interchangeable with the current grille?

 

I have to call a big fat pile of stinking dodo on this one. This is the kind of thing that underscores the problem with Internet journalism these days. Everything is clicks and page views. You don't even have to have an accurate story as long as people link to it and people look at your page. (the advertisers don't care) This means that it actually pays them to write an outlandish story even when it's not true.

 

^ werd.

 

Also, FWIW, that is not the 'respected' automobile magazine website... the "real" sutomobile site is here: http://www.automobilemag.com/index.html

 

Yea, they claim they're a V8 TL, but still with a 5 speed AT?

You think people bitch enough about the 40k price of the AWD TL now? Wait till they drop a V8 into it and charge you at LEAST 50k...

But yea, as LostSol said... I'll believe it when i see it.

 

^^LOL the Yeti is actually plausible...

 

I'll believe it when pig's grow wings and can talk in a british accent.

 

I agree, I thought the 5 speed auto didn't sound right

 

Yea, sites like that just want to get indexed by Google, so when people search on the 2011 Acura TL their site comes up... there's quite a bit of BS out on the intertubes to sift thru...

 

Also consider that if changes are made in the 2011 model year, it woud be one year earlier than the traditional mid-model refresh (MMR). Based on history the TL MMR should occur in the 2012 Model Year. The past 2 TL Generations have had a Type-S introduction at the MMR.

While a 420 HP V8 would be an awesome Type-S platform, where is the development? Honda killed a number of programs a year or so ago. I thought V8 development was one of the programs that got scrapped???

"I'll believe it when I see it" sounds prudent to me.

 

First it was rumored that the RL would get a V8. If any car in Acura's lineup could use a boost for sales volume, it's the RL. Plus, the RL would be at a price point that could bear the added cost of a V8.

Don't see it for the TL. Depends on how far the V8 development had gone for it before Honda/Acura pulled the plug. If development was pretty far along, and it wouldn't take long or much more R&D $, I could see it as a possibility in the RL.

Maybe even plop a V8 in the NSX (which as also delayed/canceled).

As far as the WEB site? I get the impression they're writing anything that pops into their little "pea-brain".

 

does v8 usually equal gas guzzler?

 

Hey I do exist!

-YetiTL

 

Not necessarily, the V8 4.6 in the Hyundai Genesis gets the same mileage as the AWD TL, plus can be ran on regular fuel.

 

ok cool, I know before I got my TL I was looking at the lincoln ls and there v8 version was horrible on gas mileage

 

Acura has long since given up on a V8. Personally they missed the boat on the V8 tosalvage the RL. I think the RL is doomed and they are pushing the TL upscale to fill that niche, but more volume. The TSX is sliding up and with a V6 could fill the 3G TL position, except Acura priced the V6 TSX too close to the TL. The V6 TSX needs to be loaded at around $34K. The problemd is the 4G sales suck so bad I think Acura needs to go back to drawing board (literally) and figure out how to market their line up. The TL is one of those hidden jewls, rock solid car, great ride but the styling is preventing too many people from ever finding out!

 

Not forever. Not forever. :-)

 

Only if you drive it correctly.

 

Although I wished they came out with the new NSX, didn't that have a v10? It sounded ridiculous going around the Nurburgring.

 

The one thing that stands out to me is the displacement mentioned. This is where I call BS! When and if Honda comes out with a V8 I highly doubt it will be a 4.8 liter. Just my opinion.

 

They needed a V8 in the RL to compete with the big boys, but then the RL was not large enough. Honestly I think there is a opening now for some one to get out in front of the up coming CAFE standards and deliver a decent luxury car with decent performance and respectable MPG. Do I like 305HP, sure, do I use or need it hell no. I like some pep, but woud love to see something with a turbo and DI. Look where Ford and Hyundai are going, they are looking to deliver V8 performance with V6 turbo and high end V6 performance with Turbo 4. I think when the economy recovers and we all see $3.50-$4 gas again the maker that can deliver say a 25-27MPG city car with decent performance will be in the right place. The new Sonota will have the Genesis Coupe Trubo later this year making upwards of 260 HP in a 3200 lb car! Sure it is not in the Acura league, but hust shows that they can deliver the performance we want in smaller more fuel efficient engines!

 

The era of the V8 is essentially over. In the age of green and the ever-increasing cost of oil, automakers more than ever are looking at smaller and greener displacement engines and alternative fuel-engines as the new standards. Look at Audi and BMW for example, the new S4 has a turbo V6 instead of the old V8. The next generation BMW M3 will also have a turbo V6 instead of a V8. In my opinion, however, the "ideal" engine in this new decade will be the new "performance hybrids"......I'm particularly excited about the new hybrids coming from Infiniti (in the upcoming 2011 M35 hybrid) and the next generation 2011 Lexus GS hybrid.....both of these new cars will feature new state-of-the-art hybrid engines that will out-perform turbo V6's and V8's while delivering unsurpassed fuel economy. If Acura does ever come out with a next gen RL, this is the way to go...a kick-ass hybrid engine!

 

Got my own opinions about gas prices. They're artificially inflated, even at $2.70/gal. The fragile economy won't sustain those prices. And, as oil usage tumbles (as it has in the last couple of years), it's extremely hard to justify gas prices being where they're at. But, that's another post.

I do agree that given the gov't mandate to increase corporate fuel economy, a V8 becomes less and less likely. Increasing displacement is one way to get the same fuel economy out of the TL. However, 3.7L is BIG. Going much further than that and you run into NVH issues. Even the 3.7L in the G is starting to get a little harsh.

The darling of the industry right now is turbo charging (Eco Boost from Ford, twin and single turbos from BMW, even Acura's turbo in the RDX). I have a good friend who just bought a SHO a couple of months ago. He doesn't drive hard, but he's struggling to get 15 MPG on it.

Every turbo I've ever owned, including some 4 bangers, MPG was pretty dismal.

I think weight reduction and less wind resistance is going to be the way to achieve better MPG in the future. Lighter weight materials. Use of composits and alloys, etc. Cars have become heavy again. I don't see the HP wars starting back up. At least, not in the sports sedan territory.

There's even talk that the next gen Corvette may sport a 6 cyl turbo or supercharger instead of a V8.

 

It's not totally scrapped, but the world-wide economic downturn occurred right at the time they were thinking of stepping forward a little bit with the small DOHC V8.

It simply did not seem economically feasible to continue rolling along with the V8 and the rear-bias big car.

But, there is some hope inasmuch as this V8 is being campaigned in a Japanese racing series and in the Indy car series.

Realistically, I do not see how this motor could be in a production car in North America until 2014, for the 2015 model year and that is only if it makes economic sense.

Rumours persist that there was a complete turnaround in the Legend project and that it is more likely that the next Legend could see a Hybrid motor before it sees the V8.

 

Yeah the 4G TL is a heavy beast, espeically the AWD.

 

A-la MotorAuthority.com, there's a big difference between developing a new V8 and actually launching it.

http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1...ive-until-2015

There's also an increasing market for luxury hybrids that can deliver the performance of conventional gasoline engines, which is where I think Acura is more likely to go. Offering a hybrid option for the TSX, TL and RL that has the fuel efficiency and performance the buyers in these segments desire would be much more financially advantageous that plopping in a gas-guzzling V8.

Just like jumping off a bridge, just because Infiniti has a 420-HP V8 doesn't mean everyone should. In MY opinion, the segment the M56 courts will always strive to buy more and to reach outside of their financial means. Acura knows its roots are with financially savvy buyers who demand value and expect quality.

Plus the entry price for the 2011 M56 is $57K and $60K for the AWD version. Competitive pricing would put that completely out of reach for most TL buyers for whom the 4G TL SH-AWD was a financial stretch. (But I bought one anyway! )

 

does anyone know when this new grille design will come out or when they will show real pics of it? I wonder if they fixed the back end..

all I know is the 09-10 tl is one ugly peice of metal...

 

^Closer sources to Acura suggest around April 2011 as a 12' but others think the change is for the 11' which is due out in a month or two. Honestly, if you don't like it or at least cannot find a way to tolerate the design as is then I don't think that the MMC is going to do much for you. Now if your main problem with the design is the grill being too big or loud then maybe this will work.

Of course there will be other things to consider like potential upgrades and added features, possibly more power, 6AT, maybe a type S but that may or may not apply to you based on your opinion of the new look.

 

 

Great point about the hybrid but I wouldn't put it past Acura to try a v8 to boost sales. I think they seem to be making a series of bad choices. None more obvious as the design choices they have been making by first changing the great looking design the rl had to what it is today. Then holding it while watching market share dwindle. Then do similar design changes to the entire lineup. Great choice. In any case I believe they are seriously going to drop a v8 in the TL and hope it sells. The company seems to be stuck in a reactive mode and I hope they shake that off soon.

 

I'm pretty sure it won't be until the 2012 updates that there are any changes.

I know when I was at the dealer yesterday they said no major changes for the 2011 model year.

 

all I know is I don't know if I will buy another acura..my 06 is good but with the heat soak issue i dunno....bad engineering, not to mention the new one they ruined..

 

No offense to the OP AT ALL, but this thread really could be locked. We already have two or three MMC TL threads going on RIGHT NOW, much less what's in the history of this section....and THEN there's the news section which has a sticky right now for the MMC TL.

 

I am really sceptical about the 09-10 TL'S. Their are alot for sale already in my market. Usually TL'S are very limited because people keep them for so long. Not to mention the resale doesn't seem to be as good as the 04-08's...whats the deal?

 

Were there some short term lease deals on the 09-10 models that helped moved them? There are tons of 2007-2008 models coming off 'normal' 3 year leases right now.

 

I know this is an old thread here - but I asked my buddy over at my dealer. No V8 for the 2011 OR 2012 TL for a MMR. But apparently there is going to be a V8 in the next RL MMR.

 

When I'm behind the wheel of a 420hp V-8 TL then I'll believe it.