From ToV - Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - Spied on the Street! 2018 Acura TLX (MMC)

 

In my personal opinion, this has got to be the ugliest front end I've seen on an Acura. It looks like there is a base model in white, a premium model in red, and a sport model in white. The only thing I'm digging is the rear bumper, and the re exposure of the exhaust on the sport model. Lets hope there are some more impressive improvements to the powertrain or even the software.

 

I'm not too sure what to think of it yet. The first word that comes to mind is "chunky", not the "red carpet athlete". For some reason, it reminds me of Buick.
If they think it looks sportier in it's new sheet metal, well some of their designers should "retire" after it's released.

 

Not trying to hate, but that front end looks really bad. The grille is massive, the headlights look strange, and the front end just looks very flat. I think the rear of that white sport model could grow on me though, especially those wheels. Maybe the car would look better in black without all that black/white contrast on the front.

 

this ISNT going to sell.
stupid fucking Acura.

 

Appearance-wise, "red carpet athlete" only applied to the concept version. Acura F'ed up by toning down the production version so much. Dumb move.

 

^Thank you for posting that beautiful picture! It just proves Acura is useless at many things now. They had a winner, but created a loser from scratch....

 

There is something going on with the 2nd white one -- it definitely has an extra badge on the left lower part of the rear deck lid.

You can clearly see the base wheels on the first white one, then the smokey 5-spoke on the 2nd white one, and the SH-AWD badge on the red one.

Jury's still out on that front end.

Thank you for posting.

 

I'm pretty sure it says Aspec (or something like that)

 

I think I may prefer a kidney grill vs a diamond grill for my next ride

 

Now?

Acura's just continuing with their proud tradition of shitty car designs since 2008.

 

Just noticed the different shape of exposed pipes on the red (trapezoidal) vs. white one (round). My guess is the white one is the Sport Hybrid model.

 

I think one of the badges says "without the ZF9", but maybe that is wishful thinking

 

A fool and his money are soon parted...

 

Yikes. Makes me feel embarassed to be driving an acura. Wtf is that?!?! The grille has no symmetry at all with the hood/lights. Time to jumpship i supposed.

 

I think it could look decent. However that lower valence is terrible in both the 4 cylinder white and the red one, the chrome accents are horrible. However the grille and lights could look decent in person, could just be angles we're seeing in these photos that make it look disproportionate. Glad at least they're releasing a sport/S/SportHybrid model at least with it's own unique front and rear body work and unique wheels. Hopefully it performs well too!

Back to that concept though... It wasn't very wild for a concept car at the time so I think we all assumed it would be the production version... I don't understand how they managed to tone it down from that when many wilder production ready family sedans are regularly shown at auto shows... wish they stuck to the original concepts detailing

 

Wow the 2018 TLX MMC does not look good. Well Acura has turned me off as a buyer with those looks. Better off to look at the Audi A4. I was hoping to stay in the Acura family but with those looks can't.

 

I think the non-Sport model looks okay, but I hate the extra chrome (side and back). I really don't like all the black bodywork on the sport model (though I don't like that on any vehicle).

I will wait to pass judgment until I actually see it in person and in different colors. I like the red, but once again, without the chrome bits.

I didn't really like the new CR-V until I saw it up close and in person, so the same could be said here. The quality of these photos is not very good, which is not helping any.

 

Edit***

I think that it is an improvement.

 

It's that kind of thrill...

I'd like to see the Sport (?) version in black color. Grill needs to be shrunk, or at least aligned better with the headlights.

 

Yeah the logo is a bit huge (Mercedes-sized).

 

Not a fan, doesn't flow as well as the current version.

The rear (of that white one) doesn't look too clean either. The red looks better, but could do without those chrome accents then I think it'd look better.

To each their own, but I am happy with the design of my 2015.

 

Man what the hell is going on with that white sport one? The grille looks like a silly mustache and the opening at the bottom between the 2 fog light areas makes it look buck tooth. What's up with the chrome on top of the rear exhausts on the red one? Like why? In a day where cadillac has moved to satin, why did Acura think a bunch of a peel and stick chrome bits were needed?

These are just pics (and blurry ones at that) so let's see what happens. It might look really good in person, but from what I see so far....gross. There is just so many wrong angles and weird mish mashed lines. The only positive I have is the exhaust tips and the wheels actually look pretty good. Fingers crossed for better power trains and interiors and not just some peel and stick pieces.

Edit: Went back and looked again. :barf: that grille is the ugliest thing I have seen in a very long time. Like there is literally NO redeeming factor whatsoever! Bleh!

 

The openings by the fog lights remind me alot of the ILX and RDX, not a fan. Cheapens the look of the TLX imo.

 

Waiting to see it in person. The picture (that white car above) makes the car look bloated with stubby hood/front fenders.

 

What happened to this?! Acura designers missed a home run.

I need to see it in person with better resolution but this iteration is not looking like a needle mover for me. I wonder how the RLX is going to come in with the new grill...

 

So it only took a tad over a decade for them to remove the grill that was hated by most the moment it was shown. So if they can release this car 10 years ago they might have a winner.

I'm thrilled they are starting to get the message we've been shouting for ages and while I'm NOT a car designer, here is what I'd do different -
Larger headlights or do the Audi thing with the thin band of lights around the bigger lights.
Drop the diamond crap grill backing and use a sports mesh.
Make the logo about half the size and remove the solid backing on it - would look far more classy without the backing.
The front looks blunt - do something but don't do the hideous metal origami thing they tried to do on the last 2 generations.

Hopefully the rumors about a hybrid and sports model are true.
Still no idea how dated the dash will be.

 

Please.

Acura invested $34.50 to come up with the new grill. They will now milk the living day lights out of it for the next 10 years, while telling the press how superb sales are doing these days... as long as you don't look at Acura between 2002-2006ish.

 

mods, can you please move this thread to "car talk" without it ending up getting closed? Not looking to start a war here, but people do want to talk about the car openly. Just a thought.

 

OMG , that makes me like the 2015 grill better .
WTF Acura another step back on my opinion. I still hope in reality looks better , but I highly doubted as I don't like it on the MDX either.
Acura will loose me next year ...

 

Why, it's about the TLX MMC? There's a thread in the Auto news section, have at it there Taco if you feel the need to restate your opinion.

My personal opinion, it's an improvement but I defer judgment until I see it in person.

 

I have to agree. Comparing this front end, to the spied front end, this one does look a bit more aggressive and sporty. It seems to follow Acura's old motto (which I believe they now dropped, as I haven't seen it in awhile), of "it's that kind of thrill"

granted, I would never expect a "base" TLX to come with the above wheels, but they could be applied to the Type S. Even the wheels on the refreshed TLX could be applied to the above rendering.

How is it possible that some random dude playing around on photoshop is able to render a better looking car than Acura, who pays their designers ridiculous salaries to do this for a living? It's not like the rendering is a crazy concept. It's just a cleaner front bumper with LED fog lights, and nothing more.

 

Exactly....and this has been going on for the last 8 years. Can only hope that it looks better in person....but it doesn't matter if the powertrain is unchanged. Acura has no f*cking clue anymore...and the sales numbers to prove it.

 

Do the front turn signals are LED like the ILX ? Doesn't seems to..

 

So freaking true, C'mon guys. What is the end game here? Are they trying to make the brand less premium?! Maybe they are trying to switching places with Kia. There were a couple of tweaks away now look at it, it has a small crunched up face that screams "Huh?!". Honda has amazing engineers, they need massive help with design.

 

Wow, how is when Acura tries to do the right thing they always miss the mark. Looks like the literally just bumpers and even the front looks like they kept the DRLs in the main lights. And the back is again looking like it was a bolt on. The round tips look out of proportion and the rectangular tips look small and not well integrated. To this day I think the 3G TL-S is the pinnacle of their design style. I mean the 3G TL-S style now 13 years old, holds up very well today.

 

The pictures are not that blurry, we can all see that the design is a severe letdown. What upsets me is that there's a video car filming, why are they not releasing details yet? If the design sucks (check), interior the same, and the engines/transmissions are untouched... I'm throwing the towel and walking away.

Some people are saying it's an improvement and it's not that bad. Compared to what on the current market, a Buick, a crossover? As a sedan, its lines are not smooth. The front is monstrously large. I'm beginning to hate it the more I keep looking at it.

 

I hate to say it but it looks like the 2018 Camry is still more sporty looking and detail oriented in design. I won't be surprised if the 2018 Accord is as well.

 

I agree! The sad part is that the Civic looks like a true sports machine compared to the MMC. I see a blue one all the time getting to work. Half the price and the design will for sure age better. It's the same freakin problem as the 4G TL all over again, but reversed! God damn it Acura, fire the design team once and for all and use the NSX guys for everything!

 

The look doesn't put me off...except the chrome on the rear of the red one. But unless they improve the engine, transmission and overall feel of the driving experience then it is a lose/lose. Just think of it as a okay looking girl that is awesome in the bedroom that is a HUGE redeeming factor. Let's see how the driver experience is before a final judgment.