Just passing this along. Picked up my 18 tlx awd Aspec. Was talking to the manager at the dealer who has was spot on about the A spec model changes many months before it came out. Anyway he said that the tlx run will be though 2021 so no changes till then for the tlx.. From what he heard a type S variant will be coming out but not just for the TLX but for every acura model including the SUV's. He said the TLX type S will most likely be a twin turbo v6 at close to 400hp not a 4cyl.. Anyway just passing it along for what its worth.

 

I hope he's off on this one. 6-7 years is a long cycle for 1 model. Just hard to believe they'd let the TLX sit that long without a next gen release and 3 years after the Accord releases with it's new tech.

 

TLX if it sits that long in its current configuration.

I really like the MMC but Acura needed to implement turbo and new drivetrain technology.

 

3rd gen was 5 yrs, 4th was 6. I did ask why not 5 years and he said with the model changes for 18 it would be unlikely they would only run it two years. The could do the same thing as they did with the 18 and release the 2021 model June of 2020. Anyway with the early release of this version and a late release in 2020 of the next gen that will be close to a 3 year run as well.

As a side note A-spec sales at the dealer including mine have totaled 5 units ytd he said and they currently have 4 on the lot. I still have only seen one 2018 TLX on the road here and it was a non A-spec. I expected more by now. Not sure if that's the trend everywhere or just a local thing here on the east coast. I would guess if sales are weak there will be a lot of pressure from the dealers to bring a new model out earlier.

 

Forgot the 4th gen went an extra year.

I've only seen 1 A Spec and no non-ASpec 2018's since they've come out. I can't complain too much, it's nice not to see another '18 TLX when you're driving around.

 

It would maybe be released as a 2021 model, in 2020.

 

I don't think that powertrain selection has much to do with sales success. After all, BMW sells tons of 320i in America. It is a brand identity crisis, although their SUV business is defend-able.

 

I know there have been rumblings about a Type S here and there, but I'll believe the twin turbo V6 TLX when I can test drive it.

And a 6 year model run? Bad decision in this tough market for sedans. Maybe they had to go back and do some revisions and needed the extra year.

 

they should run this renewed enthusiasm for 2 years and lead with a Type-S Aspec SH-AWD for 2020!!!

 

I still kind of think that Acura will be shooting for late 2019 to release the 2G TLX as a '20 model. I realize the 4G spanned from '09 - '14 but if I recall correctly, the TLX was supposed to be released in late '13 as a '14 model. It was pushed back and the 4G TL ran production for another half year. The '14 TLs were only produced up through Feb or Mar '14. The TLX was at that point slated to be released as a '15 model in late Spring of '14 and suffered another set back which resulted with it finally being released in August of '14. After the last batch of '14 TLs hit the dealers, sedan inventory was practically nonexistent from about April until August.

I hope Acura will be confidently ready to release the 2G TLX late in '19. Adding another year to that will really set them back in my opinion and adding 2 years to that could be really bad for Acura. I would love to see the 2G TLX arrive on schedule for a late '19 release followed up with a Type S model released no more than a year or so afterwards.

 

I would love that timeline also. Would line up perfectly with my current lease to hopefully get into a Type S.

 

Like others have said the previous gen came out in September'ish 2008 and the TLX came out in August'ish 2014. The TLX was delayed so they could get everything "perfect" (lol). Its original release was sometime around May of 2014 from what I recall, so it was delayed a few months. If true, maybe the 6-year cycle will just be how they roll them out now. Of course, I think that's a bit long in the tooth technology-wise if nothing else.

 

I think if they had any brains they'd reduce the cycle significantly on this vehicle as I'll bet this will be one of the worst sales year (not calendar year) to date on the TLX and next significantly worse. I'm going to predict from September to September the average sales number will be 2300 per month and next year 1800 per month. You can say it is because sedan sales are down for everyone or because of a curse placed by spider monkeys or the state of Greece's economy but I bet some sedan sales of competing models will still be strong. I'd consider the accord, the audi A4 and bmw 4 series all competing models. I truly believe if Acura released a good looking car they could significantly increase sales.

 

^^^
For what it's worth I think the '18 TLX, particularly in A-Spec trim, is quite a handsome car and a fairly decent value proposition. However, I do hope they will stay on track for a late '19 release date for the 2G TLX as an all new 2020 model.

 

Most likely this boards expectations & desire for the A-Spec do not match the TLX market base very well. Expect there is much more A-Spec/S-Type demand here than in the general at large population.

Think about how few TLX customers have ever even done a track day or drag strip run. I did a survey once on the last TL board during a performance debate & only two cars had ever been run & they were 3G's. Interesting thing is the two most vocal supporters had never run their cars & had no track experience in any car..

 

Bear, you may very well be right. People on this board seem very excited about HP like having 500HP somehow makes your car perfect. I myself don't get it, I want acceleration and maneuverability. At least half of the thrill of driving is how you drive. I easily got away from a Crown Vic Interceptor with just a stock Ford Escort with a stick shift. The other vehicle was heavier but not by the same proportion as their HP which was more than double that of my vehicle. Now granted he was chasing me on dirt roads and the road surface also comes into play when enjoying a high speed drive. I ended up driving a crown vic interceptor for work just a year later and they had excellent acceleration compared to the escort but they seemed kind of spongy when it came to maneuverability. The TLX IMHO has perfectly good acceleration but it isn't great on turns (much better than the crown vic though - I haven't tried the A spec). I had a Honda Civic (stick) and it had really very good acceleration and maneuverability. I'd love a luxury or semi-luxury car that was affordable with that combination. You don't need rear wheel drive to have a fun vehicle to drive. You don't need a 500 plus horse power engine. You just need great acceleration and great maneuverability for a fun to drive vehicle.

 

I agree with what you say somewhat, even when the 3rd gen type S was out the overall sales of it was a small percentage of the 3rd gen. I had the type S myself and never even thought of a track day. To me it was not in any way a car that you would take to the track although it was a car that could make a pass on a two lane road easy. I have friends that go to the track and the cars they take there are so much faster it would make the type S look slow. Not everyone who would like a type S thinks of taking it out for racing. The type S in everyday driving was a daily driver that performed like something more. When they the do come out with it a vast majority of buyers will not be type S people. The main reason the 3rd gen Type S has held great value even after 10 years is that so few at the time went for the type S model.

 

It seems many think this is an optimistic schedule, but IMO even a 2019 release of a 2020 model is too late. That means it's two years after the new Accord on which the TLX will be based, with the Accord 2.0T substantially outgunning the TLX 2.4. I think a one year lag is OK, but two is pushing it, and three is ridiculous. Of course, that's exactly what's happening with the ILX. The 10G Civic started with the 2016 model year, and we have yet to see a new ILX even though 2018 models are just around the corner.

Maybe the TLX 2.4 gets phased out, with the V6 and SH-AWD distinguishing the TLX from the Accord for the next couple of years. That could make sense, especially if a new ILX provides a suitable four cylinder model to cover for the TLX 2.4. Given the excellence of the 10G Civic platform, the next ILX has the potential to be a truly fantastic car. I've driven the new Si, and the chassis dynamics are outstanding.

 

Sedan sales are dropping like a rock as SUV sales climb. Industry experts predict that will continue for a few more years at least (or until gas gets back to $4/gallon). If you're an industry executive, are you going to spend limited investment dollars in a new sedan or in a revised or new SUV? Easy call in today's market, I'd think.

I'd love to see that Type S sedan sooner rather than later (oh, and a 6MT option included too). We know Acura has a prototype 3.5 J-motor twin turbo V6 that they are going to be racing, so the idea of a similar engine in a Type S TLX is not out of the question, especially given that the Q50 has a similar option.

Unfortunately, given the market, I think it'll be later rather than sooner before we see a Type S or a FMC TLX.

 

I don't think the answer to the sedan decrease is to let models get long in the tooth if you're Acura. That doesn't make sense. If anything, the TLX should become the only Acura sedan with a performance model. No one buys the ILX, RLX. Go balls to the wall with the TLX and dump everything else. Keeping the TLX stagnant for too long will only enhance the losses for Acura.

 

I think based upon my conversations with the GM at my acura dealer that a type S will be out in a couple of years, not just for the TLX but all models. Time will tell but a variant for each model should be out there. I personally think the all model thing is not a great thing. Regardless so many want a type S but when it comes down to buying few opt for it.

 

Dont you think they will need a new platform / transmission for 6 cyl turbo engine for Type S TLX? If something is built on existing platform, it will most likely be sport hybrid.

 

I so agree. I was late fan to the 4G after driving it. I was not a fan of the TLX so I went the MDX route. I'm not sure you can get me back into a sedan such as the TLX especially in its current platform. If fuel prices get out of controll in the future then I would consider the next Gen of the TLX. I'm afraid the the type S or sports hybrid would be cost prohibitive to me if slapped onto the current model as well.

 

Based on what the GM said who goes to the dealer meeting the type S will be a twin turbo v6, not a 4 or a hybrid which is what I want. I would guess it would only come in AWD as that kind of power is too much for a fwd car. Also I would think a new trans would be a part of that since it's still the weak link in an otherwise decent car. After all the years with the ZF they can't ever seem to get rid of the lag. The TLX is probably the only car I have ever owned where I even gave a second thought to the transmission performance. Then again when it works right you tend not to give it a thought.

 

To get new platform, engine and transmission, TLX will have to wait till FMC. And that will most likely happen after FMC of RLX and MDX. Let's see what Acura does for this generation to boost some sales. Aspec is not going to be sufficient.

 

The base 4 and v6 will always sell more than the A-Spec. Even in 07/08 type S sales were a small fraction of TL sales. Don't think there are any stats out there but just based on observations type S to other TL sales must have been in the range of around 5% or less of TL sales. Only a small but vocal segment will actually opt for that variant.