Wow those exhaust tips are massive for a factory set. Never thought I'd say this, but they almost seem too big, especially since the black diffuser makes it look like it's just hanging out there under the bumper. Hopefully it looks little more tucked in with different lighting.

 

Nice! Love the look of it! Can't wait. If my wedding photography takes off, I might have to get me one when it comes out. Lol

 

How can you tell what it is? The badging is taped over...
jk, I don’t get why they do that, I feel it attracts more attention to the car.

 

The TYPE S just looks awesome 👏🏽

 

It's been around for a while.

Notice it's properly licensed (and plate has a classification of Special).

Might be the blue "hero" 2021 TLX Type-S from the first "drone" commercial?

 

Can't wait to see it in the dealerships.

 

Would've looked better if they added side sill extensions to match the front lip and rear diffuser. As it stands, the sides look too tucked in and pedestrian compared to the front/rear. Hopefully there will be an add-on Aspec or accessory kit to fix that.

Also agree that the exhaust tips are a bit garish/aftermarket-ish, wish they slanted more like the 3G Type-S...

 

Wow, those exhaust ports are huge. Not complaining, just noticing. Only another month or so before we start hearing more about the car, especially if the rumor of April availability is true.

 

Wow, now that you mention it, I can’t unsee it. What were they thinking? They already do offer an option for side underbody spoilers, but they’re a $750 option. I think it would really complete the look ... it’s unfortunate they didn’t have it that way from the factory.

 

I tried comparing to the ones in the video (it's not hard). They do look a bit different/bigger don't they.
I think they were always just "tips" so maybe for the final-ones, some-one thought they would look better a little bigger? Or maybe these-ones are just another alternate test-set for eval ?

 

Like you I don't think we're looking at the finished product. Here's the original press pics of a S in the same color. Looks to be riding quite a bit lower than the car in the posted photos. Also looks like the rear diffuser is missing.

 

Yeah, see ... the exhaust pipes look "normal" in that pic. Also, good catch on the ride-height.

 

This is the Acura.com Tpye S page. I've been under the impression that these were production spec cars.

https://www.acura.com/future-vehicle...type-s/gallery

 

Yeah the accessory side-sills extensions (which actually aren't add-on extensions but replace the entire rocker panel) should be standard on the Type S, but it's an easy fix thru the dealer.
Also I'm hoping Acura will offer other options for the rear underbody spoiler and diffuser. If they're going big with the quad-exhaust, it should be balanced by the bodywork around it. Didn't Motor1 say Acura will be offering carbon fiber accessories on the Type S?

 

Hope its just the photos but the exhaust finishers are just too big. Lots of credit for going with the look but think for the amount of power the car will have even if its 400BHP they overplayed their hand. They want a performance image so they should copy the performance cars not an under sized Civic fart can.

Otherwise its a great looking car, very nice blue color. Priced right can be a big winner for them.


355-400BHP?


495BHP


625BHP

 

I wanted an Apex Blue A-Spec but didn't want to wait. If I was getting a Type S, I'd probably go for an exclusive color so it could never be confused for an A-Spec.

 

I was going to say it didn't look as nearly aggressive and sporty as the press photos or the white model they had with journalists for the TLX announcement last year.

 

That blue color is absolutely awesome.

 

Curious if those are the standard Type-S wheels or one of the optional wheels?

I prefer fewer larger spokes (ie 10 on the 3G TL Type-S) vs the turbine spokes shown in the pics.
None the less, it looks really nice.

OP, thx for posting the pics!

Amused it was at the gym parking lot, getting in a workout before heading home to writeup the latest test trip report in the vehicle log.

 

Yeah, agree. Most likely they are the MVBs (Manufacturing Validation Builds) made while shaking down the assembly line & Camo cars.

This is how GM did it with the Corvette;
The earliest the cars that carry the EX (Experimental) VINs. These include the camouflage covered cars, Reveal cars, and Dealer Tour cars. There are well over 100 of these on the roads and their job is to help validate the final engineering and production processes. While the first of these were built by hand in Detroit, most were built on the assembly line at the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green.

For the MVB VIN # ends in EX. These cars can only be legally operated on the road as experimental cars and once their experimental use is complete, they are typically destroyed.

 

I saw my first TLX in the wild yesterday! It was a blue A-Spec and it was STUNNING! Now, given how nice the A-Spec looks already, I am very hopeful that the S-Type will look even better!!! :-) Thanks for these great photos!!!

 

Probably not the same look as the final TLX-S look. I remember reading on a bimmer forum a while ago and a former BMW employee said when they go out in the public with camo'ed cars it looks no where near what the finished product looks like.

This cars looks very minimally camo'ed but I would imagine there are parts on there that will look not nearly at all to the final product.

We have no idea what purpose this car was out and about for and what cosmetic parts they had or had not put on.

 

If I ever come across a new vehicle like this, camo'd and highly anticipated, I'll do my best to snap so many pictures my phone storage will warning will display. It would've been nice to see the inside..oh well

 

Exactly. The worst thing that can happen is the Honda employees nicely asking you to stop and you just walk away.

You're not doing any illegal by photographing something in the public sphere where there is no expectation of privacy.

Of course the lot owner can ask you to leave if you're on private property, but I doubt planet fitness cares if you are taking hundreds of photos of some car on their lot

 

Those are the standard wheels. The split 5-spoke wheels are the optional wheels that come with summer tires.

The tips look the same as the prior examples given to us. I think it's just the optics of being taken on an overcast day and from a different angle.

 

after seeing the underbody kit from Acura I believe the only ones that will fit right now are the side panels. Because of the rear and front diffuser and splitter it doesn’t appear the front and backs can be installed on bumpers. I could be wrong, but a video I just watched I don’t think it’s compatible. I think the side kit alone is worth it although I agree should’ve been included on Type s considering the large price increase already over the standard models.

 

Would expect that the car with the tape is the real deal. They build way more assembly line validation cars than camo testers. BG had scores of them sitting in a lot behind the plant when the guys went down right after the reveal & they were identical to the production version. Most has MFG plates so they were out & about.

How would you test a production line without building the real car?

 

This is the final product.... Compare these to what Acura previously previewed.

 

The press photo is photoshop'd to enhance also there is. diffuser in the model in the wild. Wish the pipes ended flush with the bumper would have lend for a cleaner look. I guess they were worried about sut build up, I have no issues with the size just hope it makes some interesting sound.

 

Look at the wheel gap, don't look right.
I am not sure whats up with acura's and wheel gap. They never get it right...

 

I'm not sure why I didn't notice it before on the launch prototype, but the exhaust really look aftermarket. It really does look like the bazooka cannons that ricers put on their cars.

 

It's a Type-S, it's supposed to look different and definitely sound different. Looking good, the butt look a little high in the back, but it looks that way on the Gray one too. All the hype will be answered soon, Cant wait to drive one.

 

I think the issue with these quad exhaust is that the rear diffuser being black makes it look like it's just underneath a flat bumper, which isn't a very factory look. Most stock quad pipes have a bumper cutout to make it look more flush and purposeful. For instance:



Compare those to aftermarket quad exhausts that just look tacked on



I'm hoping it's just the lighting and angle, because the blue rendered image looks so much better than the two real-life photos we've seen thus far.

 

Exhaust tips are way too big. Acura continues to care more about show than go. They will make the car look faster than it actually will be.

 

Just for reference...

 

i would of went into planet fitness and tell them to announce that a blue type S is being towed, when the person came out i would be like well i stopped them now you gotta let me drive it lol.

 

Just my opinion but the exhaust tips and those under body diffusers seem like an after thought. Reminds me of tacky modifications. I'd take that wheel gap over the obnoxious rear diffuser fins and over-sized exhaust tips.

 

My decision to stick with the "Baby S" (aka. A-Spec) seems better and better as we get more info. The icing on the cake will be when the performance numbers finally trickle in. I'm not confident it will hang with the competition due to the weight.

 

I agree with you.