reddogTL

A local dealer just sent me a newsletter that says both the 4 and 6 cylinder engines will have AWD options. Am I reading this right?

DCH Montclair Acura Presents the 2015 Acura TLX
2015 acura tlx prototype
Coming to the dealership this May!
DCH Montclair Acura is excited to announce the upcoming arrival of the 2015 Acura TLX to our showroom this May. We have made our first order and are eagerly anticipating their arrival! Acura's mid-size sedans have been merged into one for the 2015 model year, with the TL and the TSX becoming the new TLX sedan.This new combination of the TL and TSX adopts some of the cues found on the larger RLX sedan, including LED headlights and exaggerated fenders that house the 20-inch wheels. LED lights also underline the side view mirrors.

The base version of the TLX is expected to feature a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with a new eight-speed, dual-clutch transmission that should give the TLX a more sporty driving feel. Also available will be a reworked version of Honda/Acura's 3.5-liter V6, also outfitted with variable valve timing and direct injection and cylinder deactivation for better fuel economy. It will be paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission for what Acura predicts will be the best gas mileage ratings in its class.

Both engines will be offered with either front or all-wheel drive, and the TLX will also be fitted with a four-mode driver-selectable system that alters steering weight, throttle response, and shift mapping to give the driver the option of either more comfort or more sportiness. The new TLX is sized more like the outgoing TL, with interior space staying in the same range, suitable for five passengers. The cabin should also be quieter, thanks to active noise cancellation.

Our team at DCH Montclair Acura is very excited to welcome the 2015 Acura TLX to our showroom floor, and we invite everyone in our community to stop by to take a test drive when they arrive. Call or contact us online today.

Link http://news.dchmontclairacura.com/Ar...2015-acura-tlx

VR1

"...Exaggerated fenders that house the 20-inch wheels. LED lights also underline the side view mirrors."

20" is good news, even if only on the Advance level trim


Both engines will be offered with either front or all-wheel drive

Think they messed up here.. AWD is only on the V6 I thought.

justingerard

Yeah. That's my understanding. Acura's website preview for the TLX reflects this. The 9 gear auto with the V6 and either SH-AWD or P-AWS or the 2.4 I4 with the 8 speed DCT and P-AWS.

reddogTL

I thought the same thing too until I saw that newsletter. Could be a typo or could be their answer to BMW 320xi, Audi A4, Mercedes C300 4Matic. Would be a nice surprise

weather

...so the 20 inches may be wrong too, although 20 inches would be something to brag about

Acura_Dude

Colin

That's pretty funny. That dealership used to own this website once upon a time. It sounds to me like they're describing the prototype and not the production car. I find it highly unlikely we will see 20 inch rims from the factory on any Acura. Also, their flat out wrong on the assertion that the four-cylinder will get all-wheel-drive.

Goosew

iTrader: (1)

Wait, so you can't option out SH-AWD AND P-AWS together? (I mean, it's two different things right)?

weather

^^ That is correct....

1. V6 with SH-AWD
2. V6 with P-AWS
3. 4 cylinder with P-AWS

Goosew

iTrader: (1)

Can that be explained? I'm sure I'm missing something.

is there a mechanical/functional reason that SHAWD and PAWS can't be put in one car??

Or is this just a decision from the powers that be?

weather

I am not much of a technical guy but I am sure that some will provide some more detailed information....All I know is that these are the combo available with little we can do.

holografique

SH-AWD and P-AWS are entirely two different technologies and SH-AWD cancels out the need for P-AWS. P-AWS is a more scaled down attempt at providing a more enhanced driving experience that is close to or similar to having AWD but without the added cost and functionality of SH-AWD. I'll leave the more techie answer for the gurus.

And "mylove4cars", before you jump all over me complaining about my statements about SH-AWD and P-AWS being "similar" and "misleading" people, I've driven both and my opinion is such. SH-AWD is a great technology and certainly provides a wonderful driving experiencd, however Acura has done a tremondous job in delivering a driving experience with P-AWS that masks some of the "inefficiencies" of a FWD drive car without the cost of SH-AWD.

IMO it's a great example of Acura delivering on their "Smart Luxury" motto.

internalaudit

I am a cheap bastard. Really wished there was the I4 with SH-AWD. If not, because I too live in wintry Toronto, I will go for the cheapest model with SH-AWD.

A kind fellow confirmed that P-AWS is a POS on ice (but not snow). Well besides ice skates, I'm not sure how any AWD vehicle will fare well on ice.

weather

^^^ ...and although I live in Canada too (New Bunswick), I never drive my Acura in the snow so for me, if I do get a TLX, I will have to test the P-AWS. If it handles pretty decently, I could envision not getting the SH-AWD since I only use it for its cornering/handling capabilities and not for the AWD per se.

mylove4cars

Masking inefficiencies are dangerous on moving vehicles, you never know where you going to end up, in heaven or in hell

Treblig

Much like weather, I have not driven my TL in the snow (or my previous '06 RL for that matter), but I think if I go with the TLX as a replacement, I will opt for the SH-AWD again. Just in case I have to bring it out in the "weather". One never knows....

holografique

how is it anymore dangerous than every FWD drive car that exists today without P-AWS?

and btw...enough with the bold already. we can read your posts just fine without it.

justingerard

Combining P-AWS and SH-AWD into one car would probably be crazy, but I doubt the advantage would outweigh the cost and complexity. That said, holografique is correct.

holografique

I can confirm as well as that P-AWS is not meant for ice. I had first hand experience with my RLX during the snow/ice disaster we had here in Atlanta back in January.

Tonyware

I think Acura (oh well, Honda anyways) hasn't disclosed to anyone any details yet. So hang on until the 16th, 1:50pm EST.

I get the feeling there is a big surprise about the transmission. I may be wrong but perhaps the tranny has something else they haven't told us yet... hint: manual?

mylove4cars

Because masking inefficiencies is deceiving, yes maybe you can read my posts just fine without bold text, understanding them is another story

See, you where the one talking about masking inefficiencies, not me

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

Got the same newsletter. I dismissed it as nonsense. As said it's just describing the prototype and they're not expecting anyone to notice. I'm pretty sure we know more about the car more than even they do.

EH? P-AWS is a scaled down SH-AWD? How can that be? Unless I am confused, I thought P-AWS is essentially a scaled down 4 wheel steering. There is some slight adjustment to toe angles I think. And SH-AWD is AWD. Albeit in Acura's complicated take on it.

Perhaps with the way it's been specifically engineered by Acura they can't be put on the same car. But there were some cars in the 90s like the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 and the Skyline GT-R that had both systems.

mylove4cars

Correct, the 1989 Nissan 300 ZX and 300 ZX Twin Turbo had AWS as well.

internalaudit

Now I remember, you were the one who kindly informed me about it being useless on ice!

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

Yea it did but it didn't have all wheel drive. Ahh I love that car. SO ahead of it's time. It STILL looks good.

That 3000GT VR-4 was absolutely crazy back then. AWD, all wheel steering, active suspension AND active aerodynamics. Technological marvel but at the same time just asking to break down.

mylove4cars

Correct no AWD and yes far ahead of its time, back 25 years ago a marvel. Yep, even today it still looks good. For one in good condition today, I think around 25K.
Btw.The T Top was nice as well.

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

9 gears! Are we cruise controlling at 125?

Acura_Dude

No way. I never knew A-zine was owned by a dealership at one time.

Goosew

iTrader: (1)

Yes, this is exactly my point. Since they're two different things, why can't they be both integrated into one car?

I don't know why so many people complain about wintry Toronto. I've been driving here since I was 16 in FWD's. Never had an AWD, and never needed it. As long as you drive "smart", I don't see a need.. That said, I'll likely NOT be getting the SH-AWD. (of course, that's waiting a couple years till the Type-S manual comes out)

Rocketsfan

During a couple of walk-arounds/interviews, the lead designer stated that the 20's were for the show car. I believe he said the production car would run 18's. He also said the mirrors shown on the prototype were for the show car, but the production car would have LED's on the mirrors, I believe.

Tonyware

A thought about the old cars some of you mentioned here that had AWD, all wheel steering... the alloy metals available today are far better than back then and 20-25 years ago we didn't have the advances in software and firmware to control all that like what we have today. The basic geometry hasn't chanced but the material and software has. Just a thought...

PS. I think that dealer who typed up all that should have tried a bit harder to type up something that sounds legitimate.

holografique

My point was that if you look at the end goal of what P-AWS is achieving, it is simply providing the driver a more "AWD like" experience without the AWD system. So from that perspective it could be considered a "scaled-down" version of what the AWD system provides. Using different technologies to achieve a "similar" driving experience.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Actually, I would say that the goal of P-AWS is to reduce the FWD experience. It is intended to help reduce the understeer that so chronically plagues large FWD cars and on that front, I would say it does that pretty well.

AWD has always been about security and power delivery and the P-AWS system provides no additional driven wheels so it cannot provide anywhere near the same experience as AWD. It is purely a measure to curb the understeer.

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

Yep, that's what I think too. It gets all 4 wheels to do something instead of 2 of them just being dragged along. But they are 2 different goals.

Think about the old school Preludes and other cars whose goal was handling with 4 wheels steering. I don't think AWD was on their agenda. It's more about handling. Some cars steer in the same direction at certain speeds and countersteer at other speeds. Sometimes it's to help for parking, sometimes it is to help in slalom, sometimes it helps for quick lane changes, sometimes for taking curves. Different manufacturers engineer them different.

For AWD cars it's more about traction. But there is one similarity of both systems, it is to improve control. So I'd imagine a car that has BOTH systems has the ultimate system. All 4 wheels are active and involved. I think that's awesome. But it ads complexity and weight so it looks like manufacturers stay away from it. But as Tonyware stated technology has changed and things have gotten smaller, more sophisticated and more reliable. An AWS system weighs a lot less and takes up less space than an AWD system. Things are not hydaulic anymore and they are electric, very doable.

I don't see why one of the hypercars shouldn't be a candidate. Porsche should be a no brainer for this, they have a ton of iterations of 911, they should do one more. But perhaps there is no room by the rear wheels. So I nominate the Nissan GT-R. They have a lot of experience with that HICAS stuff and that is the current technological materpiece.

internalaudit

Was this with or without winter tires since most people buy AWD to not have to do the seasonal tire changeovers? (Just curious).

holografique

yes, that's a much better way of stating. however, in my experience, the driving "experience" is somewhat similar. P-AWS is certainly not as aggressive nor is it as robust as SH-AWD, but the simple effect of cornering and handling during sharp turns, etc feels similar to me. Again, this is my perspective and my perspective alone.

I'd like to know how many of you have driven both SH-AWD and P-AWS?

holografique

I have the the stock 19" high-performance all-season tires that come with the RLX Advanced.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

My family has owned two separate 2G RLs and now an RLX. The way in which the different systems react is actually a noticeable amount different if you know what to look for.

For the RL, the system would proactively begin to send torque from the engine to the outside rear wheel assuming you were applying throttle and turning the wheel. The feel is pretty seamless in the transition from a slight bit of push (largely due to the front-heavy nature of the car) to a riding on rails sensation powering through the corner.

On the RLX, since the system is largely reactive, so you get a much greater sense of understeer through the initial part of the corner, but will feel it rather suddenly start to disappear as the P-AWS system changes the toe angle of the rear wheels. This does not eliminate the understeer entirely, but dramatically reduces it and allows more throttle to be applied earlier in the corner.

From a pure handling perspective, SH-AWD is much more effective at getting the car around a corner faster. P-AWS is great at reducing understeer and improving the driving feel of what is still a large FWD sedan. The added complexity and fuel economy penalty of the mechanical SH-AWD system are factors that should be considered.

For the average driver, P-AWS is more than sufficient unless you really need the added cold-weather traction provided by the AWD system. Performance minded drivers will want SH-AWD for those extra few tenths to be gained from having that outside rear wheel rotate the car faster around the corner.

mylove4cars

I did, the SH-AWD in my perspective drives completely different, it does not have that heaviness in the front, with the SH-AWD you get a closer feeling to RWD.

I could not experience this feeling with P-AWS. What I could experience is the steering feels more direct with P-AWS and the FWD feel is less pronounced, an overall better balance of the vehicle gives it a more enjoyable ride.

Driving in the rain will give you more confidence, the P-AWS interaction with the pavement adjusts the vehicle consistently, so when in the rain and correcting the vehicle with the steering wheel P-AWS will help accordingly. (Do not be confused in case aquaplaning occurs P-AWS will not defy the laws of physics and keep you safe from crashing)

reddogTL

That's interesting. When I read the PR from Acura I thought PAWS was standard on ALL models including SH-AWD. If if its just either SHAWD or PAWS and not both perhaps they'll combine both systems into a Type S variant later?