BEAR-AvHistory

Maybe it will be real this time, but it seems this story gets floated everytime a generation gets long in the tooth. Sort of freezes a lot of buyers in place waiting to see what will happen.

silverTL6

iTrader: (2)

So...290hp to 299hp?

a35tl

Yes. That was my thought also.

Mr Hyde

As has been said here, my experience with sales personnel at Acura, BMW, Infiniti, Nissan, and others is that the sales people barely know more, and most times know even less than your average car enthusiast.

The predictions of MMC front, and rear end changes along with possible small bumps in power are about as generic a prediction that could be made, especially when another model from the same manufacturer has already been shown with the same changes. For an MMC on a new model, no manufacturer pushes major updates, that's usually not cost effective.

whiteGSR

Speaking on dealerships, I found this posted in an Alberta dealership

Coming Soon: 2017 Acura TLX Type-S - West Side Acura

Probably an old page, but claims 2017 TLX Type S w. 3.5L 290hp and 8 DCT and with more room than the standard TLX lol

There is a pic of a rear of a TLX with the Type S badge though

TacoBello

LOL I'm quite familiar with that dealership. Not sure if it's the same for anyone who clicks on the link, but the guy that shows up is a friend of mine

I thought the 2017 TLX was unchanged, and the changes weren't coming until 2018?

either way, I think that website is just someone's pipe dream.

TacoBello

What's more BS is how are they upping the torque to 280lbft, without changing anything else? It's always possible to squeeze more HP out of an engine... Squeezing more torque out becomes very much more difficult. I really think that west side Acura link is a bunch of pipe dreams.

BEAR-AvHistory

Also talking about an 8DCT. Thought the DCT was in the 4 cylinder? Would be mildly surprised if Acura wanted to take on a new transmission now.

RDX10

Hello from Edmonton as well! Didn't know we had more people
from here.

It's possible, I mean it's not as ridiculous as saying there will suddenly be 300+ lb/ft. It's only the addition of 13lb/ft. That can EASILY be achieved by simple exhaust modifications or even slightly advanced timing. But let's assume this is true...I am kind of sick of seeing a 2 in front if the power numbers for the TLX. It's about time they crack that 300hp mark. The 4G had 305, why would they go backwards?

BEAR-AvHistory

Smaller engine built for gas mileage. Agree they can goose it up to 300+ but everything is a trade off, more HP less MPG. So far I think they believe most of the potential customers really don't care what the number is. I would guess the market is loyal customers as repeat buyers & people moving up from sub 200HP 4 cylinder cars.

RDX10

It is 0.2l smaller and now has DI so I don't really see why they can't get 300hp out of it. It is 2017, the 2007 TL-S had a 3.5l normally injected V6 engine making 286hp coming out of the 2005 Acura RL...12 years and the addition of DI and it is now making LESS power? In fact the RLX has an exact same disaplacement engine making 310hp. I do however feel like the J-series is really maxed out at this point. Either they need to start strapping turbos on it (not the greatest idea for sohc) or come to the 21 century (actually even 20th century) and start using DOHC tech. Kia has a 3.3l V6 making 290hp on regular fuel...so not really sure what 0.2l of capacity will effect.

I also disagree about loyal customers and people moving from 4-cylinder engines. Look at the many people here who have owned multiple generations of TL and won't touch a TLX with a stick. But in reality the sales are actually ok, I read they are even better than the TL sales were so they must be doing something right right.

BEAR-AvHistory

They are producing exactly the amount of power that they want to produce. Of course it can make more, my 3 liter 320HP 335is was tuned to 410WHP by me but it was also sold as the 300HP engine in the base 335's. The 320/180HP & 328/240HP were basically the same engine (mostly the same part numbers) with a different factory tune that can be matched with a JB4 piggy back. How much more or less a given engine can produce is meaningless.

They had a target & they are going with it. But I still think its being optimized for fuel economy not power. Look how many posts are being made about how far it goes on a gallon. On the more performance oriented sites millage is not much of a stand alone topic it tends to come out in octane debates. These kinds of look how good my fuel economy is have greatly accelerated with the TL despite the fact that fuel prices have gone down.

Takes customer loyalty to get less for more. In this thread alone there are posts from multiple generation TL/TLX buyers including the OP. I liked my 3G but bailed on the 4G (styling), with the 5G more are bailing out its just a continuing trend despite the fact its a pretty nice looking car even if a bit bland.. The Red TLX Prototype was very nice looking.

I might have phrased it poorly but what I was trying to say when they put the car together they were attempting to hold the repeats with the promise of a thrill with fuel economy. That part was just a bad plan, the car did not deliver the thrill that the repeats were expecting.. That said new guys like mapleloaf seem to be quite happy talking about mileage & comfort, I think he was the target new customer & they got the right. The problem with the numbers is the car was never strong on conquest sales & I believe the bulk of the sales were repeats who had moved up from other Honda nameplates.

I was a semi move up from the Accord. I was looking for a 4 door school bus for my grand kinds but did not like the Honda styling. Someone said why not a TL. I said whats a TL When I saw it I bought it..

87LtdT

I can confirm that '18 will have a redesign TLX... I was in Acura dealer yesterday (12 Apr) and asked the new car mgr directly if something sporty was coming next year. He looked at me funny as if I knew something (almost never happens!) and told me he'd just gotten a company wide email yesterday (11th) stating . He gave me a copy of the letter. Among other things, it states "Across all TLX models, everything forward of the A-illars is brand new." and "Teh V-6 model addds an aggressive, redesigne rear fascia weithexposed dueal-exhaust and standard 18-inch wheels." No mention of Hp or torque.

The reason I asked was I am a year or so away from selling the '12 Acura TL and will replace it with a Q60RS, F-Sport, or M4 if Acura don't move up into the real world in performance numbers. Current 290Hp is not inpressive....especially considering my '12 has 305. So if the '18 power and torque are not substantialy increased I will, much to my chagrin, leave Acura for someone else.

spoiler900

You are right. The Aspec edition will have suspension changes but no power change. Bummer. Wouldn't that be nice. Lets hope for 2020 TLX with a true type s and the precision cockpit.

87LtdT

"No power change" means I'm out. That's too bad because I really like the way Acura has treated me as a customer.

kurtatx

It's really disappointing. The V6 should be at least up to 305 hp, but leave it to Acura to continually disappoint.

b4hand

Its been known for honda to under-rate its engines. Dyno results have put this car around 260+whp. If you factor in the 15% drive loss you're right at 300hp.

You're not going to notice 5 more hp, its just to feel better when you brag to your friends.

alpha0

It is all mental, but if Honda advertise it as 300hp engine (or even better use 310 hp engine of RLX), i am sure it does not increase the cost in a significant way but can help sell more TLX. 300hp is a barrier...

kurtatx

I'm not asking for 5 more HP. I'm asking for between 15 and 30. Which, believe it or not, is noticeable.

And a bit more torque would help while we're at it.

b4hand

So you're saying people would buy the car more if it had 300 hp? 10 more then it has now, and sales would increase?

alpha0

What is the harm in trying? It is not going to increase their marginal cost by big amount...And i dont know for sure about 300hp but 9zf is definitely killing some sales...I will be in market next year to replace my accord but wont buy vehicle with 9zf, period...

BEAR-AvHistory

Am really surprised that anyone is surprised that the engine power has not changed. Its Honda & gas mileage (smart performance) is the trump card. Reality in this price range is mileage & a luxury feel is what sells cars. An image of a performance car, all that's really needed, can be crafted with marketing & bodywork.

Had any change been made it would have been just to nudge the numbers up as long as it did not push the mileage down. Maybe with the EPA backing off on the future standards a window is opening for more grunt down the road.

Less than 25/30HP will not move the 0-60 or 1/4 mile needle very much without a good boost in torque (turbo)

TacoBello

I think that's the problem. Smart Performance is Honda's thing. Acura needs their own thing. Honda+ just doesn't cut it.

b4hand

That's neither here nor there. The newest versions of the 9zf are great. And my 2015 that was sold as a new car in 2017 due to airbag replacement, doesn't showcase any problems that the 15's had according to this forum.

Acura is Honda. This isn't like Lexus/Toyota or Infinity/Nissan. Unfortunately I don't think Acura will ever be anything more then that. I do think there is a change coming. With the Type R out it seems to show Honda/Acura actually can listen to what the people want.

But lets take a step back. Would you really buy a 50k Acura that could compete with, say 340i? As far as an overall package. I feel like people don't cross shop Acura with BMW.

TacoBello

Acura won't survive if they don't differentiate. Acura has given hints of struggling in the past, with the number of sales they annually have, in their news briefs. Honda+ isn't what people want. Sad, but true. Yes, there is a demographic that obviously buys new Acuras... But it's small. And getting smaller, by the sounds of it.

and uh, it should be exactly like Infiniti/Nissan. Their sales are fairly close. But Infiniti seems to be pulling ahead these days, especially in the sedan sales that Acura so badly suffers in.

alpha0

Every good product needs to start somewhere and no one is lining up for that product on day one! If every other car manufacturer thought that way, we would not have such crowded luxury performance segment..