JakeCL

how long do you think it will be before we see official/spy pics of the new TL and when do you think we will get info on specs?

gavriil

A little before September is my guess.

Zapata

As tight-lipped as Acura is............

useph murray

The new TL will have 3.5L 280HP, and voice command navi. That's what I know so far.

AcuraFan

I read somewhere that it might be a new 3.4L for 280hp. Either way though, I'm already tired of Honda playing HP "follow the leader". Altima gets 240hp, so Accord gets 240 hp...G35 gets 280hp, so TL gets 280hp. When is Honda going to break out of the box and make the TL an hp segment leader again?

Rod

The TL is what started it all, with 260HP for the Type S. Nothing came close when the TL Type S first came out.

JakeCL

so is the base tl supposed to get 280 or the type s?
any rumors of a six speed?

SilverCL225hp

Probably July or August.

AcuraFan

I know, that's what I'm saying. The TL was once the leader in HP now it's play follow the leader. I would have been happy with 285 or 290...raise the bar atleast a little. Instead, Nissan/Infiniti raised the bar and Honda/Acura is catching up but not exceeding. It makes Acura look less cutting edge and more like a copy cat.

Zoot

Copy cat? Matching HP numbers is not being a copy cat. Acura putting Benz style turning signals on the TSX is being a copy cat. would you rather Acura not increase their HP#'s? I didn't think so

Rod

I doubt Acura will be upping the HP numbers much on the TL anytime soon since they've mentioned that they're comfortable with FWD and cars having upto about 290 HP. So if they were to go over 290, they'd need AWD since RWD isn't in their plans...or who knows, maybe the next TL will be AWD.

dacura

iTrader: (1)

The CL/TL 260 HP has been out for a good 3 years and of course, something would come out and surpass it. I like to think of it as progress. You can't respond to every single new car with higher hp.

AcuraFan

Right, they're responding to other new cars by saying "We can do what you're doing" and not "We can do it better."
Altima has 240hp? Ok, we'll do 240...
G35 has 280hp? Ok, we'll do 280...

I think they could continue to be an HP leader but instead they're happy with responding to their direct competition by trying to copy their stats.

I guess it's just my opinion and I'm obviously in the minority (or a singularity) but that's ok. I still love Acuras. I'd still buy a '03 TL Type S over a '03 G35.

IntegraVT

iTrader: (1)

If it's anything like the G7 Accord launch, we'll start seeing pics in the July-August timeframe.

I'd love to see a displacement bump, but Honda seemed quite smug to match the Altima's output and besting its fuel economy by tweaking the Accord's J30.

1killercls

I want AWD!!!!!

typeR

acctually they said upto 270hp FWD...and above AWD...so if the new TL is 280hp then...

BC

Horsepower numbers are only way to compete or excell.

heyitsme

i'd hope for nice styling over more hp, honda doesn't need another bland car. hopefully something sharper than the tsx which borders on the line.

Rod

That's right, I knew it was somewhere up there. So maybe the new TL will be getting AWD. It's supposed to be bumped up in price, so this may also help get AWD in there since I doubt they'll have any other "major" new improvements/upgrades that'll require jacking up the price. Or maybe they'll just pull a BMW and continue raising prices for the hell of it....hell if BMW can do it, why not Acura? Regardless, I can't wait to see what's in store, considering the features already packed into the 2003 Accord, but hopefully they don't kill it with the styling like they did with the Accord...they need to keep it classy.

ktgumbo

DUMB ?, but is 4wd and AWD the same thing?

1SICKLEX

Fock HP, what about the rest of the car. This ain't no Corvette. The TL is supposed to be a entry level luxo car. What about real wood, better leather etc

Voice Nav sounds good. This more HP thing sounds so "ricer"

typeR

usually you are pretty good about posting,but that statement was just plain stupid....ya an M5 is ricer or wanting the new M to be more powerful than the old...granted this is no M...but you get my point...the tl IS MOVING UP MARKET to a full luxury sport sedan...we expect more power and more luxury

AcuraFan

Well, for some reason, I don't see it happening but if they actually do come out with a 280hp AWD with luxury to match the 5 series...
The car would be rockin' and I wouldn't have to settle for a RWD 5 series (and save a couple bucks too)

dbox

i think 4wd means able to go into 4wd. i think awd means full time 4wd.

patsmere

The only thing about AWD is, the way Acura is going, if they put AWD the car will prolly weigh close to 4000 lbs. Its bad enough that the cars weigh over 3600lbs to begin with. Thats just with a smaller engine and FWD. JMO

useph murray

Yea! you right. 3.4L.

Red Rider

I'm with you, when the hell was more H.P. considered rice. That post was very lame.

joeandcarol2

You know I love Honda/Acura but their upper managment are a bunch of idiots. Most people these days want 4 doors (bmw 3 series is a good example). So honda comes up with a great new 6 speed tranny and where do they put it? Into a the CL and Accord coupe. It has not sold well in the CL and someone at Honda will say; "See I told you no one wants to drive a manual V6 car!". In fact the low sales have nothing to do with the tranny. Its the CL stupid.!

JZ

Let the countdown begin for another Acura let down!

After how bland the TSX was when it was introduced, does anyone really think the TL is going to have anything but even more bland styling to appeal to the conservative (albeit large) base of current TL owners?

No way Acura will risk alienating TL customers by making it an edgy car. This is exactly why Lexus came out with the GS series--it wouldn't rock the boat from the conservative ES300 customers nor impede on sales of the more luxurious LS430 but it would offer a sweet, sporty car for that market that might otherwise chose a 540 or AMG.

I can already read the new reviews on the TL: "Class-leader in value but lacking in top-notch luxury and ameneties and bland on the styling side of things". However, this is in line with Acura's marketing philosophy and they seem to be making pretty good money.

The problem as I see it is that Acura is playing catch-up in almost every category of cars. They seem to wait and see what works for other manufacturers and then emulate it in a superior way, albeit 5-6 years after it has already been done.

They better have that 400hp hybrid up their sleeves or else they run the further risk of being labeled completely "innovatively bland".

nate'sCLS

another good one from joe & carol :'(

cnatra

good point, I have a couple of friends that really like the TL-S
(needed 4 doors) but wanted a manual tranny

they bought a Volvo & a Infiniti instead

runnerX

I WANT NWD (no wheel drive)!!!

do you guys know that Honda is making Jet engines and they are planning to built family jets in the near future???

:thinking: :thinking: :thinking:

Honda JetAccord = economic version... uses cheaper jet fuel

Acurac Jet Type-S = twin-turbo quad engine, luxury family jet.


IS 300 owners: look at that... it is a bird... it is a plane... oh damn... it is an Acura CL Type-S....

Zoot

:ghey:

runnerX

Just in the case, you do not have a clue on what I am talking about

http://world.honda.com/news/1997/c970919e.html

Type-S RPh

I don't expect too much of a departure from the current TL formula for the '04. Its a fromula that has worked well for Acura. My guess is 270-285hp from the Type-S and I bet the 6-speed makes an appearance because there will be no where else for it to go after they kill off the CL (a very sad day). But don't expect AWD just a good FWD luxo/sport sedan upgraded from the original. I think the real ringer up Acura's sleeve is the '05 RL. Acura just released a "freshened" '04 RL after releasing a "freshened" '03 RL just 6 months ago. This paves way for a spring '04 release of the '05 RL which I guess will have the 400hp hybrid from the Dualnote concept car. Before you laugh, stop and think, a few months back Honda said they were never going to develop a V8 and also that the drivetrain from the Dualnote would be seen in a production car within 18 months (i.e. spring 04) The RL has long been blasted for having a weak V6 in a sea of competition that has V8 power (i.e. LS430 & Q45) and how does Honda get around that without a V8, hybrid baby, hybrid and awd! That will be one heck of a car!


'

Zoot

thanks newbie...but that's old news to us

Black CL-S 4-Life

I couldn't agree more.