As reported by Vtec.net: http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=122631

Apparently, it will have the same Type-S engine with a some tweaks to gain 10 HP more.

Disappointed? maybe! This leads me to believe that there will be a type-s in 2004 as a 2005 model! This is just to give sometime for the RL to catch-up!

Remeber in 2000-2001 there was no TL-Type-s? then in mid 2001 they came up with the 2002 TL Type-S!

 

thats what i think...along with AWD

 

hmm, i hope taht 270hp is unrated. Cause it isn't a big jump from 260

 

Maybe that 10hp is if you use 103-octane gas.

 

Of which our 260hp is pretty overrated. Had to be perfect conditions to get all 260 ponys. Even then... sometimes folks couldn't lay it down.

 

no biggie......as long as the fit/finish quality improves that's the key.

 

Kinda stinks IMO, but I guess 270 is enough. I was hoping for 285 or so... Hopefully they come out with a Type S model eventually

 

Actually it's a HUGE jump. Right now the base, or premium TL puts out 225hp. So the jump is going from 225hp to 270hp. Sounds like a big gain to me.

You can't compare the Type-S' hp numbers to the new TL.. b/c right now there is no 2004 Type-S. If and when that comes out, then you can use the 260hp figure as a baseline.

 

well said

 

Maybe the Type S will have 300 with AWD.

 

Does anyone care about torque anymore???

Jeezus... it's like some people only consider hp as the end all stat that determines how a car 1) gets outta the hole, 2) accerates on the highway, 3) pulls out of a turn .. etc..

would it make a difference if it was 270hp and 260lb-ft of torque>.... um YEAH...

i'd take that 270/260 engine ANYDAY over the 270/232 engine ...

let's not forget cars like the E36 M3, and the audi S4 that were both under 260 hp but can still hang w/ the CL-S from a roll.. if not beat it at times...

 

how much did you guys expect a fwd car to have? Any word if the new TL will have LSD? That would be tits.

 

Yeah remember your going from the TL-P to a next gen TL-P. Seems like a good jump to me. Can't wait to get the numbers on the new Type S.

 

Sorry, you're wrong on this one in my opinion. You can't compare the base TL to the new one just for the fact of price. The '03 TLS would be most nearly comparable to the '04 TL. Considering that we've heard prices in the upwards of 35K then this 10 hp jump is a complete dissappointment. At least the brakes and suspension + fit and finish look like their better....

The price jump plus redesign should have been better than the last model. If not that much better they should be pricing it like the TL-P

 

Big deal, maybe they put an AEM intake in there

 

Maybe they added the RES!!!

 

Can't wait for the '05 TL Type S. Regardless of the HP.

 

OK, can you people give up on the AWD talk.

AWD WILL NOT HAPPEN IN THE TL UNTIL THE REDESIGN, PERIOD!

In order for Acura to keep their prices down they do not do huge variations on their platforms. Thus the AWD will not happen on a TL base FWD platform.

The RL will be the litmus test for AWD. It should come out with an electric motor that will drive the rear wheels giving it a semi-hybrid setup. If this system works will in the RL then you will see it trickle down to the TL and maybe even the TSX/RSX.

 

bl^5....

just when I thought you were the voice of reason, you spit out that RL electric motor babble... yeah yeah, i've heard those rumors too... but those rumors were and still are JUST as suspect as the TL AWD rumors WERE.

I'll believe the RL "dual" motor concept when I am test driving it at the dealership... until then, you're on crack. (no offense, pls. don't mistake my sarcasm for offensive language).

 

That's weird logic... you're saying to compare the base model HP to the new '04 TL because there's no Type-S model anymore?

I look at it this way-- the top HP rating on the current generation TL is 260 (regardless of a "Type S" badge or not) and the top HP rating of the new generation TL is 270 (if that's even correct...who knows yet?)

I just don't see what a Type-S badge has to do with it

If it were a known fact that Acura will be making a Type-S version again in the future, then I could see your point-- wait and see what the new HP rating will be. But since it's unconfirmed, I think it's more than fair to compare HP ratings with the old and new cars....

 

Fearless prediction:

Acura will not have a Type-S version of the "new" TL at all.

Think about it- if the base version has 270 or 280 HP, it would take quite a bit more power to even warrant putting a Type-S badge on it, not to mention the "other" stuff that would make it a Type-S.

What would it take to make the "new" Type-S (power-wise)? Prolly at least 300 HP minimum, right? Does anyone honestly see Acura doing this? I sure don't. I hope people don't hold their breath for the new 300+ HP TL Type-S

 

if they build it in japan only it will be great fit and finish. remember the cl is designed in the states and either assembled here or in canada, thats where you get all the fit and finish probs. fit and finish was great 10+ years ago when all they're vehicles were assembled overseas.

 

fit n finish of a tl built in the us today is better than 10+ years ago in japan.


i also have a feeling that there won't be a typeS, i hope i'm wrong, but there were a lot of models listed for it just to be a base model, looks like enough choices to cover the whole range. if there were going to be a tls i think the would have made this model have ~255hp(less than the current tls) and then bump up to ~285 for the s.

 

So if there is going to be a Type S, when would we know about it? December 2003? March 2004? Jul 2004?

 

I agree, I think that this is a cost cutting move by Acura. By eliminating the Type S, Acura can make all their cars the same. This is the same concept that Acura had with eliminating option packages.

 

with all that torque comes monsterous torque steer! a very unluxury like characteristic. my money's on 270hp/232tq, kindda lame if you ask me. it would be intresting to see if the tl has lost or gained weight. another BIG factor in acceleration.

 

I just hope I don't like it better than my CL.

 

Perhaps introducing VTM-4 and a bump in hp will warrant the promotion to the "TypeS" office.... ya think? Simple for them, add 18's all around, ground effex, yada yada type s.

 

Well, I'm getting a new TL, be it Type-S or not. That thing is bad ass to an insane degree. I'd love to see totally complete specs on the features.

Fully loaded out the door should be no more than 40k (inc. TTT).

Nice ass graduation present for myself if you ask me

 

that the base model
the type s should be 300+ hp

 

Man!! Ya'll are all over the place on this topic. I have talked with Acura rep's and have squeezed a little info from them. Here is what i have gathered from multiple sources.

1) If there is a type-s, it wont be out until after the new AWD RL hits the ground sometime after Oct 2004 (as a 2005 model). The AWD system that will be in the RL will be a option for the type-s, the HP tire pkg will be standard along with nav and XM radio. No word on the engine specs. Rumor has it at 285-290 HP.

2) There are talks going on about a TL coupe, no one knows when or how but its being talked about. Acura wants to be able to compete with BMW, Infinity and Mercedes. With acura having two different car names, the sales numbers looked pitiful against brands that have a coupe and sedan under the same name.

3) The VTM-4 system was originally made for a car (the MDX is actually on a old honda accord platform). So it wont be a problem to put it on the RL or TL. From what i hear (dont hold me to this!) Acura only wants to put AWD on cars that have 280 HP or more to combat the torque steer problem.

Thats all i have for now. Im sure i'll get fussed at for this info but what the hell!

 

this is what i think

there will be no type-s model (acura held off the current tl-s so that they could get a good jump in sales for the cl-s)

look at the trend
01 cl-p and cl-s both offered at the same time
02 rsx and rsx-s both offered at the same time

because they have not released a type-s model for the TSX I highly doubt there will be one. Why? There is absolutely nothing in their current automotive line up that would negatively affect their sales. Think about it, if the TL-S came out the same time as the CL-S would we still have the same amount of cl-s drivers!?!?

also you have to look at the way acura priced the TSX. IF they considered releasing a type-s model they would have to price the TSX-p around $23k and type s model around $26k but NO the TSX is priced around $26k which means a type-s model would be around the vicinity of $29k!!!!!

The new TL is rumored to be priced around 35k which means a type-s model would be around the $40k area because of AWD! Why? because if the tl-p is running 270 hp then the type-s model should be around 300 hp which=no fuckin way for a FWD car!

it is clear to me what acura is doing

I think acura has made the line clear. Most people who can afford a type-s model should be able to afford a 34k car. so now instead of offering two models of the same car they have 2 distinctive cars, TSX and TL. the best way to look at it is like this

Suppose acura allowed us to do an even trade of our existing acuras with the new line up (04's) but it had to be in the same price range or came close to the original MSRPs. so that means everyone with a type-s model should get the new TL and everyone with a cl-p or tl-p should get a TSX. Now with the new TSX and TL it is clear. you either can or can't afford a TL. if you can you purchase one and if you cant then you purchase the TSX.

with our current tl and cl everything seems a little fuzzy. i think some people with a cl-p/tl-p could actually afford the type-s model but they choose not to because the car is WAY TOO SIMILAR and the extra $2k just for more HP is not needed or justified. So now acura has made the customers decesion easy. Either you can or can not afford it. Thats why they designed the new TL to resemble the TSX so much. pretty much if you can afford the TL there is no way in hell you are going to get a TSX because the TL is much refined in every way. There is now a $8k-10k price gap between the TSX and 04 TL but what about the people who are in between the price range, $28k-32k? well acura is not stupid and they probably have done enough research to know that 1) its not a huge percentage with todays market 2) the have faith people will purchase the TSX and 3) this will give them a better image.

I've been complaining a lot about the TSX. I dont like it because its nothing exciting for me. I kept saying how if acura wants to keep me they need to offer me something better than my cl-s and i think it will be the RL. the RL should be close to the $50k price range. and AWD and lots of power with luxery should keep me in the acura family!

sidemarker

 

$50k is awfully close to the GS and LS range from Lexus. Acura, actually anybody, will have a tough time competing in that price range. I know a lot of people won't give Acura the time of day when you start to get over $50k. I think if Acura wants to compete, they have to price it around $45k fully loaded. Maybe that is just dreaming.

 

you guys keep on talking about awd...i want to see proof. People were practically swearing their lives that the '04 tl would have awd, at least as an option, and at the minimum 280 hp.

 

I doubt there will be a Type-S model.. At least for the next few years. The TL-S only came out after the CLS was released and people started clammoring for the same engine in their TL. A 270hp TL will sell plenty and the majority of people that will buy the car will feel that is plenty of HP. I don't see a rush to sell a Type-S model.

I could be wrong, but I doubt we will see it until the 2006 model year if ever

 

Some of you sound silly. 260hp is HELLA horsepower already. What did u expect, another 100hp? Be serious. 270hp is HELLA horsepower, heck it is CLASS LEADING. Not sure of torque numbers but if your complaining of 270hp, you need to sell your car and just buy a Vette with "only" 345 hp.

 

270 HP that should be about 210-215 to the wheels. The auto version should run mid to high 14s all day.

 

Sorry, you are wrong!.. my CLS dynoed at 226 SAE WHP and I run a best of 14.61 on 18" wheels and tires.

I am pretty sure that the new TL is not lighter than the 03 model.

Nashua.

 

Yea? Well thats cause you car SUCKS.

J/k, but seriously, my car is totally stock, and I have a hard time keeping it at or within 10 mph of the speed limit...so I'm quite satisfied. I'm even thinking of getting a TSX (6-speed this time though )

 

You might think I'm wrong we will have to wait and see. Also don't blame me if you can't drive worth a damn.:P