fsttyms1

I owe Acura an apology. I got to drive the 2012 sh-awd and fwd this weekend. This car is really really good! The MMC in person is done really well. Pictures just dont do it justice and i can say i honestly wouldn't be ashamed to be seen in the car.

Belzebutt

^ You only say that because you were inside.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

We know that the exterior is vastly improved, but how about the ride and handling? How do they compare with the pre-MMC model?

pttl

Were there any chasis changes made for the MMC?

fsttyms1

Handling was different mostly because the tires have been changed on the 19" to goodyear all seasons. The ride was great (not that the last one was bad) Its not worse by any means. As far as if the chasis is different if i remember right from the briefing there were slight changes made mostly to help combat cabin noise. Cabin noise is less in the 12.

dom

Alright who hi-jacked fsttyms1's account?

pttl

EL19

iTrader: (4)

I saw the 2012 in person and the pre MMC grill color matched looks better. All they did was take the grill from the TSX and put it on the 2012 TL. Its barftastic in my opinion. I have a 2011 FWD TL as a loaner right now and its OKAY. Nothing to write home about.

fsttyms1

Yea i know right? Even my wife was impressed and had fun in it and likes it. Something tells me ...............

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

From Acura Press Release, here are the main changes:

-New front and rear styling
-New 6AT with double kickdown capability and throttle blip when downshifting
-New multi-clutch torque converter for improved efficiency and external tranny cooler for ALL models
- New EPA ratings of 20/29mpg thanks to friction-reducition technologies
- New wheels and tires
- Bluetooth upgrade (Bluetooth Audio (now with artists name, song title, etc.), new “active pairing” functionality for cellphones, Dial-By-Number and dial-by-voice tags, and much faster connection speed for the USB port.)
- Increased hard drive size to 60gb
- New VGA monitor with better display
- New Advance package (all-new ventilated front seats, larger wheels and a new blind spot information system)
- new body sealing techniques (noise reduction of 3dB)
- and more........

tones160

Nice features but in stylish wise i rather stick to the 3rd gen TL lol seriously. Any info regarding when will Acura come with a new body style for the TL? I wouldn't be surprised if it actually grows to be bigger than this 4th gen

pttl

Throttle blip for an auto tranny?

fsttyms1

Go see it in person, i was probably the largest hater of it. After this past weekend i actually like it. And how and why would you think there would be info on a new body style when this car is only 2 years old

fsttyms1

SS mode when downshifting.

tones160

Well this year counts as 3yrs since the 2011 is already released right? And according to my calculations most car manufacturers changes their body style every 4yrs or so (mostly most of them, not too sure).

fsttyms1

So because its "3" years old the 5g info should be out there? It wasnt but mere months before the 4g came out that we actually knew anything about it. How would we know 2+ years what the 5g is going to be?

tones160

True true, i'm just frustrated about about this Gen TL thats all. I went to the dealer to pick up a new gen car and once i got there i flipped my mind into downgrading the year for now. I guess we're just going to have to wait.

smarty666

Most likely not until the 2014 model year if we are lucky so you'll have to wait till the middle or end of 2013. Have a while to go with the 4G still.

fsttyms1

Did you drive it? Wait for the 12 to go on sale, go look at one and test drive it

dom

I think Colin must have haxored your account.

If Moog starts saying nice things about Acura then we'll know for sure.

So I guess 12's are already at the dealer?

fsttyms1

They are arriving at the dealers, but arent available yet. I was invited to Acuras 25th anniversary out in LA over the weekend where we got to drive their lineup amongst many other things.

black label

I have one at this point but they aren't officially for sale until 3-18-11. We do know their will be some special financing rates though, 1.9% for 24-36 and 2.9% up to 60 months.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

fsttyms1, how's the new 6AT? Did you feel any significant improvement in acceleration?

Legend2TL

, Colin is very resourceful!

fsttyms1

All i can say is this trans should have been introduced WELL before this car came out. I thought it was a GEM compared to the 5spd

black label

The concern will be highway speeds. It's a PITA to keep a MDX going 75-80mph on a highway with hills as 6th doesn't have the oomph to maintain those speeds. Haven't had a chance to get a 12 over 50mph.

jnc2000

I agree.. the 6sp AT is better off at lower highway speeds... 60-70mph... when you hit 75-80 it likes to drop to 5th and then the FE tanks..

At least that's my experience in the ZDX. I wonder how the RL owners are fairing?

tones160

I will take you on to that, i didn't get a chance to drive it besides i'm a little picky about it. What's the mpg on highway? And in city?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

You are not supposed to go over 65mph

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

No dealership in Kansas City has one yet......


2011 National AcuraZine Meet-Kansas City-June 12, 2011-Details Here!

AcRyte25

not a bad looking car, looks kinda big and spacious???

fsttyms1

I agree to a point. It was quick to hunt for a gear, i think partly due to every thing being drive by wire. I think it was like that mostly to make the acceleration transition smoother and quicker. On the Freeway and hills in cali i had no problem keeping it in gear and just cruising. I did notice the hunting when more than a certain % of throttle was applied but it wasnt annoying at all.

fsttyms1

I forget what the ratings were but the FWD version was up like 2 city 3 hwy while the SHAWD with the 3.7 was up like 1 and 2? I think the ratings are posted somewhere in this thread.

fsttyms1

It is. Being 6'5 i had lots of head and leg room and for the unfortunate ones that normally have to sit behind me they still would have had plenty of room in this car.

Edward'TLS

Fsttyms1, how does the new 6-speed multi-clutch auto tranny drive like ?

How well does the new Acura 6-speed auto tranny perform compared to the real dual-clutch auto trannies out there ?

Is it possible for the Acura tranny to match-rev downshift all the way from 6 -> 5-> 4-> 3 -> or even 2, like those real dual-clutch tranny, when attacking a very tight corner from high vehicle speeds ?

Edward'TLS

The ZDX is 450 lbs heavier than the SH-AWD TL and is 700 lbs heavier than the FWD TL. So the TL shouldn't be bogged down as bad by the 6AT at highway speeds as the ZDX.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

TL FWD: 20/29 (pre-MMC: 18/26)
TL SH-AWD: 18/26 (pre-MMC: 17/25)

This is what fsttyms1 said,

"All i can say is this trans should have been introduced WELL before this car came out. I thought it was a GEM compared to the 5spd."

May be if fsttyms1 has time, he can elaborate on that more...or we might have to test drive it to see it ourselves

I'd imagine the 6AT would perform similarly to other modern 6AT or 7AT gearboxes. The multi-clutch torque converter just allows a wider range of lock-up activation. It also decreases heat build-up. I don't think it's like a DSG.

biker

Edward'TLS

On paper, this new Acura 6AT is no ordinary gearbox. It can blip the throttle to do match-rev downshifts; rather than using gear clutches to speed up or slow down the engine rpm, like ordinary auto trannies.

But this 6AT is not exactly like the real dual-clutch trannies, with which the other disengaged clutch is already spinning at the correct speed for instant next-gear engagement.

So this new 6AT will definitely perform better than any other conventional auto gearboxes. I want to see how similar it is in fast gear shifting, especially when down-shifting like 6->5->4->3->2 from high vehicle speeds, when compared to the real dual-clutch ones.

fsttyms1

It drives like a 6 speed auto. Nothing like a DSG. But that said Shifts are quick and smooth (not fast enough in sport shift mode though). As for if it can do what you asked? Never tried.