Sup Everyone,

As a 2009 Acura SH-AWD TL-Tech, I feel its a little heavy and lacks high end pick up and speed. Topping out at 120 IS unacceptable in my opinion. Love the car tho and am very satisfied with the purchase.

Im gonna post this in the problem section cause that's what I feel it is. I know Acura is relatively new to the luxury sedan and sports car markets relative to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. But does anyone else feel its time for Acura to produce a V-8 engine to compete with the M3, CTS-V and c63-AMG? Also, what about a Coupe TL or a TL with a V-8 engine because in my mind new 2009-presnt Gen. TL does not compete with the 3 -Series or Audi A4 or C-Class but instead I see it as 5-Series and aM E-Class competitor due to its length, price, leg room and so forth.

Anybody think with enough consumer push and demand Acura will pursue a possible V-8 engine to compete with IS-F and M clas Beamers. What do ya'll thinkk????!!

 

you're beating a dead horse, here.

Acura is about "smart luxury"
they've just announced the NSX concept and the new RL.

you didnt see; what direction they have clearly chosen?

 

Well Acura claims the RL is their flagship car but the TL sells twice as much. Also the navi system in the TL is the same as a TSX which has terrible resolution. The only thing that makes the RL desirable is the ride quality. And i understand they are about luxury but so is BMW and mERCDES but they still appeal and make cars to meet the demand of super cars with both power and luxury. I was just throwing it out there that it wouldn't hurt to explore these types of things.

 

have you guys seen the article where acura said they might be dropping either the TL or the TSX because they are too similar, and will leave the RL, and come out with a new model?

 

yes, this is old news

 

We'll likely never see a V8 motor for auto application from Honda, especially now that every auto makers are scrambling to down-size their engines to meet the ever-tightening CAFE requirement.

Honda has long since missed the V8 window years ago when gas price was cheap and CAFE requirement was loose back then.

 

dead horse, we're beating it.

 

Dropping the TL would be such a selfish chpice to make being that it is their best selling vehicle. The TSX Inline 4 should stay and they should do without the optional V-6 to make the TL more appealing to remain desirable because the V-6 TSX is much like the base model TL. BMW is doing without an Inline 6 in their 3-seies and switching to a 4 cylinder engine because they argue that the M3 and 335i are too similar. idk what these car companies are thinking these days.

 

Corporate
Average
Fuel
Economy

Every car manufacturer is going to be dropping their larger and more powerful engines except for their low selling sport models.

As for Acura/Honda, they've always been making small, efficient engines. A V-8 isn't likely when a V6 or V6 hybrid system is feasible.

 

I mean I can go on about this all day. It doesn't matter what the government puts out, consumers want what they want. You want a V-8 you pay the pollution tax ,people have done it, been doing it and will continue to do it. I was just saying how I'm surprised Acura hasn't put out a car of this kind as I am sure it would sell. I understand govt policy and regulation are pushing people to buy fuel efficient cars but but that hast hurt ISF, M3, S4 and so on sales. Acura is aiming toward people with money with their cars. Lets leave the fuel efficiency to the compact sedan like the civiv, corolla and lancer. We are paying for power, performance and luxury!!

 

If Acura sold more cars like say the upcoming ILX which would increase their MPG average, they could sell V-8's. I believe Honda has to hit 34.1 MPG by 2016...

The Germans are able to avoid paying the fuel economy penalties because they're considered 'niche' brands. (Not kidding either) Meanwhile Toyota sells enough Priuses (Prii?) and other fuel economy-biased vehicles to allow their V8 vehicles.

 

Fact is, Acura wasn't selling as much as projected last year and change so when that happens companies don't get too creative. They cut back and stick to what they know will work to stay a float.

 

^^^^^

They cut back and stick to what they know will work to stay a float - which is ? Care to elaborate ?

 

Good points. But thats like arguing Honda sold enough fuel efficient cars like the civic and leaf that Acura would be able to make more less fuel efficient ones. Like toyota and Lexus. Hopefully the new NSX hauls ass enough tho. It was a great car then i'm sure it will be an even better one coming up.

 

lol so not true. the germans also have to bring their average fuel economy up. thats why they now have a 4 cylinder turbo in the 3 and 5 series. their 7 series also now has a 6 cylinder (740i). the new M5 is going from a 10 to an 8 cylinder. rumor has it that the new M3 is going from an 8 to a 6 cylinder as well. however they're getting better economy AND more horsepower from smaller motors because they're using turbo's; which acura is going to need to start utilizing. the days of big engines are behind us; the M5's 10 cylinder engine was amazing; but averaging 9-10 mpg is unacceptable nowadays

 

Gonna take much more than just "a V-8 engine to compete with the M3, CTS-V and c63-AMG".

One has to keep in mind when/where Acura started ... what it's philosophical outlook was at the time ... and where it is now (and potentially headed).

I remember driving around So Cal back in the mid-late 80's when the billboards showed the image of the (then new) Acura Legends, and above that image were the words:

"Genuine Mercedes"

and below the image were the words:

"Replacement Part"

... and the 1st gen Legend Coupe was marketed as a Luxury Sport Coupe (note the order of the words, which is important).

When I bought my 2nd Acura, I thought about that original billboard, and when I applied it to my then new 2nd gen CL, I thought the billboard would have read:

"Genuine Honda"

"Accord Upgrade".

Times have changed, and their decision (again) to not play in the Luxury Sport Coupe market underlies their current philosophical outlook regarding the brand.

 

go ahead and beat the horse gentlemen.

 

better than beating something else

 

Yea - i'm just going to close this tread - this topic has been discussed ad nauseum in so many other threads... OP - you may want to check out the threads in automotive or car talk about Acura as the brand.