From Dave Marek's comments at SEMA 2015:

"At Acura, we are creating products that speak with an even stronger voice to the core values and challenging spirit of Acura, and that is performance.

But performance is not just about the powertrain. We have to show performance in the way our vehicles are styled. That means low and wide design, wider wheels and tires and exposed exhaust tips.You will see and hear more about this direction in the coming months."

To see is to believe... i wonder which model will first flaunt exhaust tips again.

 

I look at BMW 3 series double plain tips and find them pretty uninspired. I prefer my TLX hidden look, although I wouldn't kick a modified version of the double exhaust ports from the 4th gen TL out of bed for eating crackers….

 

yes they are coming back 100%, straight from ikeda

 

 

It's funny how often Acura seems to have to backtrack on styling choices they make...

 

What if they are referring to the NSX only?

 

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

Another example that Acura is having a brand identity crisis lol.

But it's a good thing that they are bringing them back. Stop the "green" image BS thing.

 

Mazda is figuring that one out and bringing back their Mazdaspeed models finally. A Mazdaspeed version of their new Mazda 6 would be awesome.

 

2017 TLX Type-S

 

As recent trends show a type s isnt due until 2018. In the 2nd and 3rd gen TL they only did the type s on the 4th and 5th year of production. Lets hope Im wrong!

 

True, I'd be thrilled to see it in 2018 MY since my lease will be ending around then.

 

why are they so slow to follow what consumers are saying??

I don't care if Acura costs Lexus' range... just give me a reliable and luxurious vehicle please!!

 

I hope they come back. Exhaust tips are a way for a car to express itself -- visually and aurally, Hiding exhaust tips for an ICE engine just feels dishonest.

 

Just throw in a detuned version of the TT-V6 from the NSX with the SH-AWD and there you have it .

 

The last Type S, the 2007 3G Type S, was a unit produced to add some sizzle & maintain sales for the last few years of the production cycle. Sales had started to decline after 2005.

 

If Acura comes back with a more sportier version of the TLX with a manual tranny, my Lexus will be replaced by it

The idea of a sexy TLX with an aggressive bodykit, visible dual exhausts, pleasing wheels, and a gear knob will be enough for me to come back into the fold. Are you listening (reading) Acura?!

 

If rumors are true about acura specific platform at time of next TLX FMC, hints would come early with RLX replacement which will come atleast year before TLX FMC. So no point in waiting till 4th year for sporty version. And if these forums are some indication, there is lot of pent up demand for sporty TLX (which will fix transmission issues also!).

 

Not so sure. If its accepted this board is representative of the customer base the pent up demand is there but may be quite small in relation to the overall demand for the car.

Also this board has pretty light traffic for a "performance" car oriented fan site. Of the 4 car forums I visit (2/BMW,TLX,FFR) most will have in an a few hours the amount of posts we get here in a 24 hour day.

More posters have stated in responses to some of my statements that the car performs very well as is. So the question for the marketing guys is, can we cover the ROI requirement in a "real" Type S, not just a tape & trim job.

How much of a premium will the market support for a reasonable volume top of the line car is excess of the current MSRP of $47K + a MSRP of about $4,300 for wheels & body spoilers? The current level of "sporty" available right now at any dealer.

This is before any Engine, Transmission or Suspension improvements that would be required to make it a "Type S" in the traditional sense that those requesting the car seem to want.

Interesting problem for a marketing guy to play "bet my job" on. What would you do if the success of the Type S gave you a very very nice bonus but failure will give you a spot in the unemployment line? That why marketing people earns the big bucks.

 

Well said! Not sure I'd want to be that marketing guy

 

I see lot of people wanting type s on Vtec forums also. Anyway, i get the marketing dilemma but if they are going to bring type s (without major structural changes like turbo and rwd bias), it is better to bring this sooner than later.

 

What people want & what they will pay for are two different things. "Everybody" wanted the 6MT but nobody actually bought them in sufficient numbers to make it pay under Acura's ROI requirements.

So the decision was made based on we will save X $ not offering it vs we will lose Y customers accounting for X$ in revenue. The saved x $ won vs lost customers so no 6MT in the 5G.

At some point they will do it all over on any performance oriented option. That said they sold 5777 cars last month which was the best month they have had since part way through the 3G cycle so it might be a tough sale with management.

 

I'll keep my hidden tips to avoid the plastic garnishes many companies use as exhaust "tips".

Keeping the tips hidden also keeps the rear of the car cleaner from the soot that many GDI engines blow out of their exhausts.

 

Would love to see an MS6, the car is gorgeous and deserved better than a 185hp/184tq motor. The last MS6 was aggressive with its v6 and awd...hope to see that again.

 

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2015/10/...-sales-in-usa/

see the numbers and percent of f sport models lexus is selling in US...that is one of the reasons acura needs type s...

 

I agree, but my guess is the demo that Acura is targeting might not opt for it as much sine the Acura ride in general is a bit more "sporty" than a typical Lexus. Now from a cosmetic enhancement perspective, yes a Type-S is needed and I bet would sell well. I do not know why they wait until MMC for that when many other brands announce the sport "package" with the FMC.

 

I think the majority of those who post to an online car forum fall into the enthusiast category. As such we are collectively the vocal minority and sadly it doesn't make sense for Acura to cater to us.

It's easy to see a handful of posters go on and on about exhaust tips and think - what is wrong with Acura everybody wants these things - meanwhile the reality is that 99% of the people buying cars don't care about it.

 

Just because someone isnt on a forum does NOT mean they are not an enthusiast.

Not catering to car enthusiasts is one of the dumbest things. Thats like being a clothing designer and not wanting to cater to people crazy about fashion and catering to costco pants buying people instead.

 

It is the enthusiasts who will recommend (or not) a car to non enthusiasts. It's the enthusiasts who will tear a product or design apart. It's the enthusiasts who will suggest changes that even non enthusiasts want

 

To quote Kevin from above:

"What people want & what they will pay for are two different things. "Everybody" wanted the 6MT but nobody actually bought them in sufficient numbers to make it pay under Acura's ROI requirements."

Your response is the emotional response - typical of the enthusiast. The reality of a business is they want to maximize their profit so they have to aim for the largest target.

On the surface you're correct - they should listen to the car guys because they're the ones who really care about cars etc etc. But that doesn't translate to sales. My wife bought a Mazda 3 because it was cute. I'll bet a grand she doesn't even know if her exhaust pipes are exposed I'll bet another grand that there are far more shoppers like my wife out there buying cars than you and I.

 

I think they should do what they did for the '07-'08 TL essentially. Have the base engine look more calm while the bigger engine is the one with aggressive styling. Keep the 4 cylinder for those who really don't care much for the sportiness of the car, mostly prefer how refined and calm the car looks.

Then they should make the V6 model the sporty one, give it a little more power if possible, sportier seats, exposed dual chrome exhaust tips, contrast stitching on the seats (basically all luxury brands have this and it isn't even in sporty models you see this), thicker and flat bottom steering wheel, etc.

I think they should give the 4 cyl model better looking wheels. I'm not really a fan of hearing how much more fun the dual clutch transmission is in the I4 compared to my 9 speed V6 after I payed a premium for better performance. Haven't driven the 4 cyl but I do believe when I hear people say the 8 speed is a more fun transmission, not sure why they couldn't incorporate that into the V6 model.

 

The Honda line is not considered to be "performance" oriented, yet the Accord has exhaust tips, even on 4-cyl models that have a single exhaust pipe! If Acura wants to be considered a performance brand, it has to look the part. Some people may not notice, however they do fill out the rear of the car quite nicely. I think the mid-cycle refresh of the TLX will bring them back.

 

I agree that what people want and what people are willing to pay for are two different things. However, the only reason cars like the NSX or Civic Type R even exist is solely for enthusiasts. Honda dumped a lot of money into the new NSX, solely for enthusiasts. Yeah, yeah im sure some rich spoiled people will randomly buy one, but the majority dont fit that demographic.

Honda is returning to such vehicles because they realized thats what defined them in years past and made them successful. Honda (somewhat) listened to enthusiasts. Whether the NSX is good or not doesn't even matter at this point. What does matter is that people are talking about honda again.

I see where you are coming from with your argument, but you (and myself) are essentially painting everyone with the same brush. The right solution would be to find an adequate middle ground that pleases both ends of the spectrum. Easier said than done.

 

Those ilx rims at sema were sweeeet, wonder if we can buy them anywhere would go great with black copper pearls

 

Agreed, but the difference is BMW makes up for it with the design of the rest of the car.

I like the design of the current TLX, but man, was I disappointed when Acura strayed away from the "sexy aggressiveness" of the TLX prototype. And before anyone says "but yeah, that was a prototype", spare me. That thing was basically the current TLX with a lower stance, better rims, and a solid ground effects package. In other words... it's the TLX Type-S. Worse mileage? Who cares. People looking for that aren't looking for great mileage anyway. They actually could've attracted a younger demographic with that as long as they didn't price it outrageously. While you're at it, Acura, maybe give 2 or 3 more color choices beyond black, white, silver, dark silver, brown, and a random color that will probably disappear in another year or two.

Maybe there could be a TLX Type-S that is lower, wider, and more aggressive in a couple of years, but who knows. Haven't we heard Acura say "we've learned our lesson" several times now? I'm still curious as to why Accavitti was forced out. And I doubt anyone here really knows. But I am pretty happy that Jon Ikeda took over since he was the guy that headed up the design team for the 3G TL. Now give him/his minions a bit of free rein to design what they want. I understand Acura is not a 15 mpg 200 hp make, but I also don't want a design that's overly bastardized for the sake of "green driving". You shouldn't be making a flippin' sexy Prius (I say this knowing how much I'm ecstatic about my gas mileage in my TLX).

And for the love of God, give me a fix for my transmission so I don't feel like a rhino is trying to mate with me every 3rd acceleration on my drives to work and back.

 

You'll see the exhaust tips first on the 2017 MDX. That and numerous other enhancements. 2017 MDX comes out in the spring.

 

Think 4 would be nicer but IMHO 2 is nicer than none. Your results & opinions may differ.

FWIW or not worth I liked the dual trapezoids on my TL over the quad ovals on the Type S. Thought the tubes were way to big for what the car was & the duals looked quite upscale. The quads would have even been big on a Corvette.

Be that as it may I would expect the mid model cosmetic freshening to include duals of some type. Just to many new high end cars being released with them to leave them out.

Think the whole idea behind the covered pipes was making the smart luxury green statement. Bad plan The prototypes butt in comparison looked quite classy. So they have already had a dry run with exposed pipes.

 

Yes my Acura salesman told me that MDX will be the first to receive the exposed exhaust. The TLX better be getting them too as there seems to be more of a demand for it.

 

Current TLX has a lot of potential. Here is quick photoshopped.
Also the big complainant that I have about acura is their horrible seat durability. Their seat is very comfortable but it gets winkled and old very easily.
And it is nice to have strong red colored bolstered seats.

 

^^ Great photoshop job!