Boulder TSX

You list the RDX as competitive, but just 18 months ago, you would have been correct in calling it a niche market vehicle, too -- until they redesigned it. Now sales are through the roof.

This new TLX redesign is just as dramatic as the RDX. Look at any news source; Car & Driver, AutoBlog, Road & Track, etc...the reaction from journalists and readers to this design is overwhelmingly positive. (Unlike the RLX redesign last year, which was mostly negative.) It will not be a surprise if TLX sales go up dramatically over the outgoing TL.

Hapa DC5

It will sell.

Looks good, competitive powertrains, not bad Acura.

helloha1

What we need is a 6MT (I'm sure hoping that civicdrivr's hunch is right)

...After that, what we really need is a CLX Type S 6MT. A proper CL revival as the 4th car in the lineup, and I would definitely consider lining up for one.

biker

Biker, who is still waiting for our favorite troll to make a statement about the TLX.

TSX69

2015 Acura TLX is a Sleek, Efficient TL Replacement

The Acura TL is a likeable sport sedan, but controversial looks and an aging design have cut into sales. At Detroit, Acura revealed the TL's replacement, the TLX. Though billed as a prototype, the TLX is a thinly veiled glimpse at the 2015 TLX due midyear.

Acura says the TLX is designed around the theme "red carpet athlete," combining refinement with sports sedan performance. The car is 3.8 inches shorter and its lines are more taut, but it rides the same 109.3-inch wheelbase as the outgoing TL and has as much interior space.

Acura says the smaller size helps the TLX fit more appropriately between the compact ILX and the full-size RLX. The smaller TSX will be dropped later this year.

Instead of more power, the 2015 TLX will strive for more efficiency. An all-new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder becomes the base engine as Acura aims to cover the ground left by the soon-to-be-discontinued TSX.

The 4-cylinder is lighter than Acura/Honda's last 2.4 and it has direct injection and VTEC variable valve timing and lift. Acura isn't providing horsepower numbers at this point, but we expect 200 to 210 horses. The 2.4 is mated to a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission with a torque converter.

The current model's 3.5-liter V6, which also has direct injection and VTEC, plus cylinder deactivation technology returns. Today's version makes 280 horsepower, but Acura isn't saying if there is a horsepower increase. The 3.5 will be mated to a new class-exclusive 9-speed automatic transmission. Acura says fuel economy should lead the midsize luxury sedan class for both engines.

When it hits the market, TLX buyers will have a choice of front-wheel drive or the next generation of Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system (SH-AWD). Acura Precision All-Wheel Steer system will also be offered. An Integrated Dynamics System will allow drivers to tailor the driving experience via a choice of four driving modes, Econ, Normal, Sport and Sport +.

Acura isn't showing the interior at this point, but the company did say it will have the next generation of AcuraLink entertainment and communications services.

The TLX's new design direction is certainly better looking, and that could attract more customers. However, the 4-cylinder powertrain seems like a step backward for a midsize luxury sport sedan.

Only time will tell if this package will be enough to give Acura the shot in the arm it needs.

JAB00

It's the best looking Acura sedan in a while. It's better looking than my beloved 3G TL, because of a much better profile view. The 3G TL has too much over hang. This TLX will once again be competitive. It's way better looking than what Lexus or Infiniti has out now. BMW and Audi still make very nice looking cars. Even Mercedes new entry and mid sized selections are good looking. The entry and mid size luxury market is very competitive. I hope Acura learned its lesson that design does matter. The RDX is selling like hot cakes because of a good redesign. The MDX has always been a good seller because every generation it was one of the better looking in its class. The 4G TL and 2G RL were monstrosities and sold horribly.

Honda, going forward mimick the Germans in design, subtle evolution in designs is much better than drastic changes each generation.

TSX69

Acura TLX to Do Double Duty

Acura today unveiled a prototype version of its 2015 TLX mid-sized sedan, a car that will replace the TL and TSX sedans in its lineup.

The TL was once Acura's top-selling model. But as consumer tastes have shifted toward crossovers, the TL has fallen to a distant third, behind the MDX and RDX crossovers. Acura's front-wheel-drive sedans have also struggled to compete against rear-drive cars from Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

With the TLX, Acura will offer consumers a wider choice of powertrains than it has in the past. The sedan will be available with either a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V-6. Those engines generate 185 and 278 horsepower, respectively, in other American Honda offerings.

The TLX also will be the large-volume launching pad for Honda Motor's dual-clutch automatic transmissions. The 4-cylinder engine will have an 8-speed transmission; the V-6 will get a 9-speed. Both the 4- and 6-cylinder cars will come with standard fwd with 4-wheel steering; the V-6 has optional all-wheel drive.

The production version of the TLX is likely to have the same measurements as the prototype. The overall length, at 190.2 inches, will be nearly four inches shorter than the outgoing TL's, but the wheelbase remains the same at 109.3 inches.

The vehicle dynamics can be selected from Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport-Plus modes, with each setting adjusting the power steering, throttle response, shift mapping, noise control, all-wheel drive and steering control logic, and climate control routing.

"The Acura TLX Prototype is a precursor of some amazing things we have in store for our Acura sedan customers," Mike Accavitti, American Honda senior vice president, said in a statement. "This completely new model will offer innovative technologies that break down the barriers between the driver and the machine, to deliver a more intuitive, connected and personal driving experience."

TSX69

Acura Introduces Vault-Like 2015 Acura TLX at Detroit Auto Show

Acura on Tuesday revealed its 2015 Acura TLX prototype at the North American International Auto Show in Downtown Detroit.

The TLX, to become available for purchase later this year, will replace the Japanese automaker's TL model as its mid-level performance luxury sedan, between the ILX and RLX.

Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda Motor, Co. described the TLX as "incredibly nimble, dynamic and firmly planted."

It features a low, wide profile with a lot of cargo space and leg room, while offering a choice between a 2.4-liter engine with an 8-speed, dual-clutch transmission and a 3.5-liter engine with 9-speed automatic transmission.

"Quick and nimble at low to mid speeds and very linear and nimble at high speeds," said Accavitti.

Acura is using imagery of a "red-carpet athlete," to market the vehicle.

All-wheel precision steering and advanced noise reduction are part of the "vault-like experience," or a hushed, controlled, adrenaline-infused isolation that Acura is trying to create inside the vehicle.

"We have never put so much serious technology in one car before," Accavitti said.

He said Acura is also targeting top-class fuel efficiency for new model, but didn't specify.

The car will be built for the North American market at Acura’s plant in Marysville, Ohio.

Accavitti also introduced a racing version of the vehicle, the Acura TLX GT racecar.

Automakers are unveiling more than 50 vehicles in press previews this week

The Detroit auto show will be open to the public from Jan. 18-26 at Cobo Center, One Washington Blvd., following Press Preview Jan. 13-14; Industry Preview Jan. 15-16; and the Charity Preview featuring musician Sheryl Crow on Jan. 17.

Tickets to the 2014 public show days are $7 for senior citizens and children between 7-12 years old; $13 for adults; and free for children 6 and under. Tickets for the black-tie Charity Preview are $350. For more information on tickets, visit naias.com.

biker

Do we really need these many articles that say the same thing? We get it already, 2.4 I4 w/ 8DCT, 3.5V6 w/ 9AT, blah ,blah, blah......wake me up when new info comes along.

TSX69

I am skipping the articles that just rehash the press release & posting ones that have orignal pics and not just stock photos. Hopefully there will be a TLX forum soon where dedicated threads can be made to help navigate all of the topics and discussions.

x95zsk

The TLX looks good. I hope there is NO double screen in the car.
I also hope that it has reverse/front sensors (parking) but I doubt it.
I also hope the it has headlamp washers. Driving in the night with dirty headlamp sucks big time.

AZP-TL

It's a beautiful car with a simple grill delete. The improved V6 with 9 speed auto and SHAWD is seriously tempting. If they ever make a Type-S version with the GT's twin turbo V6 I'll line up for it.

Black Tire

Someone please show me the exhaust pipes.

TSX69

Detroit Show:
Acura TLX Points to Euro Accord

JAPANESE luxury brand Acura has ripped the covers off its TLX sedan at the Detroit motor show, previewing what is believed to be the 3rd-generation Honda Accord Euro tipped to arrive in Australia this year.

The current-generation Accord Euro went on sale in mid 2008, meaning it will be at least a 6-year-old model by the time the all-new version potentially arrives.

Honda president and chief executive Takanobu Ito confirmed at last year's Detroit motor show that a new Accord Euro would be produced, ending speculation that the Japanese car-maker was planning to ditch its strategy of selling a mid- and large-size sedan under the Accord name.

At the time Ito-San said the next-generation Euro sedan was in development, but could not confirm when he expected it to be revealed.

Calling the Detroit show car a protoype, Acura – Honda’s US-based luxury arm -- said the TLX showcases the final design of the production version that will go on sale in the US mid-year.

If the TLX does evolve into the Accord Euro, it it is likely to feature less US-centric styling and will lose some of the premium goodies expected in the TLX to keep local pricing in mid-size sedan territory.

With few, if any reports of other Honda-based sedans in development, a restyled version of the TLX is the most logical replacement for the popular Euro in the Australian market and, as its name suggests, Europe.

Developed around the theme 'Red Carpet Athlete', Acura said the TLX delivered “a compelling blend of luxury refinement and sports-sedan athleticism, with exhilarating performance” thanks to new powertrains and technologies.

The TLX was designed and developed by Acura engineers at the company's Los Angeles design studio and the Raymond, Ohio development centre and will be built in Marysville, Ohio.

Featuring a similar shape to the regular Accord sedan that went on sale in Australia in May last year, the TLX carries a deep V-shaped grille and the company's signature 'Jewel Eye' LED headlights, along with foglights housed within a lower air intake spanning the width of the bumper.

A low stance, chunky wheel arches, 20-inch alloy wheels and short front and rear overhangs push the sports-luxury theme further, while it includes prototype-only LED indicator lights in the base of the external mirrors, giving a 3D look.

The TLX measures in at 4831mm, which is 54mm shorter than the Australian-spec Honda Accord at 4885mm, and 91mm longer than the aging, 4740mm-long Accord Euro.

Acura is yet to reveal images of the cabin and details of standard equipment, but the luxury sedan will feature “advanced connectivity via a capacitive touch panel”.

Honda's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive will be available on some variants in the US, as will a lighter-weight version of the Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) system.

The Japanese car-maker used an all-wheel steering system on a number of models in the 1980s and ‘90s, including 3rd and 4th-generation versions of the popular Prelude sportscar.

2 engines will be available in the US, including a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder unit matched with a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission with a torque converter, and a 3.5-litre V6 linked with a 9-speed automatic transmission.

The company said is it was targeting fuel economy at the top of the US mid-size luxury segment.

4 driving modes – ECON (Economy), Normal, Sport, and a new Sport+ – are standard across the range, and the TLX is set to deliver what the company calls “vault-like quietness” thanks to extensive engineering work to lower noise, vibration and harshness.

In terms of safety, the TLX is expected to feature a forward collision warning, a collision mitigation braking system, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and a blind-spot indicator.

In the US, the TLX will replace both the current-generation TL and TSX sedan, a re-badged version of the vehicle sold in Australia as the Accord Euro.

The current-model Honda Accord Euro is available in Australia in 2 specifications with a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, priced from $30,340 before on-roads for the entry-level model with a manual gearbox. It tops out at $43,140 for the Luxury Nav with an automatic transmission.

Unlike its Japanese luxury counterparts including Toyota-owned Lexus and Nissan-backed Infiniti, Acura is only sold in the US, Canada, Mexico and mainland China and Hong Kong. A Japanese launch was put on hold in 2008 following the global financial crisis.

In the US, the reborn NSX supercar will carry an Acura badge, whereas it will wear a Honda badge when it eventually arrives in Australia in 2015.

Nexx

so when its pushing 50k+ for the TT version youll buy? give me your name+number and ill take a deposit from you when its announced. ill make sure youre one of the first to get one.

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

This isn't bad looking, and I agree that the 3G has too much overhang, but I still think the new IS 350 is better looking than this car.

Doubtit

This is not a "concept" rather a pre production prototype. Accordingly what you see is pretty much what we will get. Thank goodness!!!

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Where is this number coming from? We don't even have an MSRP for the base 2.4l.

ttribe

What a bizarre response to someone who just called the i3 "horrible".

ttribe

Official pics, available in high-res:

http://www.netcarshow.com/acura/2014-tlx_concept/

jiggaman

any guesses on cost of TLX fully equipped with V6 and Sh-awd?

kurtatx

45?

MeehowsBRZ

Every time I write something about a BMW you just HAVE TO respond. Clearly you have issues you need to get over. (owning an E60 probably )

RPhilMan1

Who knows if they do Technology and Advance Packages like they do now, but the '14 SH-AWD with Advance Package starts at $45,510. I expect the TLX to be slightly above that.

kurtatx

Hopefully the Tech isn't standard. I just want a damn radio.

MuGen7Modulo

10 pages in one day, hmm looks like the "lost ones" are coming back slowly...

Legend2TL

I'm guessing it is based on the 9G Accord and will use a strut front suspension?

Joneill44

Has anyone heard from Acura why they're ditching exhaust tips

Yumcha

Thanks, ttribe. Love it that you don't repost images we've all seen already and clog up the page.

ttribe

Wow. Well, okay, whatever you say.

Yumcha

Firstly, the e60 is a fantastic car.


Secondly, ttribe has owned his share of cars and like everyone, can have an opinion. And while, he is certainly an enthusiast of BMW, I think if the comment warrants a response from him, he has a right to respond. I see no issues.

Yumcha

Although, I think he does need to step on more LEGO bricks. But, that's more my issue with him.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

The top of the line with all the goodies?

Probably around $55k. And nobody will buy it at that price point.

Yumcha

Can't be too much more than how much the AWD version of the TL goes for these days? I'd say with a 5% difference in MSRP...?

MeehowsBRZ

Meh, compared to the E39, the E60 is the 4G TL of the 5 series.


My only statement was that not every BMW has an amazingly integrated and beautiful grille despite Moog's belief of the contrary. Seems legit enough.

Moog-Type-S

Other than a few vehicles from Audi, Acura's power trains don't compete head to head with Lexus, BMW, Mercedes.

It's niche.

Moog-Type-S

The i3 is tastic

Moog-Type-S

No doubt it's an Accord "underneath".

Legend2TL

We're talking whole vehicles, not powertrains. Acura is mainstream and unlike Porsche, Jaguar or Subaru who have their respective niche markets. Acura is missing some vehicles in their lineup (hence no coupes, convertibles, or S/7/LS class flagship) but their current lineup is mainstream.

In the 60's through mid-80's MB and BMW didn't consider each other competitors, BMW was the sporty manufacturer and MB the luxury. That changed with the E32. Today they and Audi all compete pretty heavily against each other in the mainstream market.

oonowindoo

they better price TLX correctly. or they will kill themselves like RLX <---good car + wrong MSRP = bad car

They better NOT price FWD advance TLX at $50k. Then how much will they want for AWD? $55k?

But there is likely a HUGE price difference between the FWD 4 banger base and the fully loaded AWD, since this car replaced 2 cars.