2021 ACURA TLX

It’s bigger and turbocharged . . . and under 40 grand to start

Expectations are understandably high for the new second-generation Acura TLX sedan that lands in showrooms this fall. It represents the brand’s latest attempt at injecting significant style and performance to entice buyers who otherwise shop the lots of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.

Honda’s upscale division has excelled in creating the highly regarded RDX and MDX utility vehicles, but has lagged in the sedan category. The high-end RLX never caught on with buyers and won’t be returning for 2021, while the TL and TSX were replaced with TLX for 2015. The compact ILX, which was launched for 2012, languishes on a previousgeneration Honda Civic platform.

Like we said, all eyes are on the new TLX. The new sport sedan resembles the outgoing model, yes, but a closer look reveals a more aggressive front end. What makes a huge difference is the car’s enlarged dimensions, including a nearly three-inch gain in length, a width increase of just over two inches and a not-insignificant 3.7-inch stretch in distance between the front and rear wheels. Combined with a slightly lower roofline and slight upticks in passenger and trunk space, the result is a character-changing design that should grab the attention of Acura super fans and casual observers alike.

The TLX is built off a new platform that Acura claims is considerably more rigid, particularly where lighter-weight suspension components are attached. The braking system is based on what’s used in the megabuck NSX sports car, and active dampers (shocks) constantly adjust according to road and driving conditions. To improve front-to-rear weight balance, the TLX’s battery has been relocated to the trunk from the engine compartment.

The interior has also undergone significant revision.

There are better quality coverings for seats and door panels, a smartly redesigned dashboard and new sportstyle heated front seats.

A touchpad-operated 10.2-inch info screen is standard as is a sporty flatbottom steering wheel and buttons to shift the transmission.

The TLX’s powertrain lineup is also new, beginning with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (the same one used in the RDX) that makes 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. That’s a gain of 66 horsepower and 98 pound-feet compared over the previous non-turbo base 2.4-liter fourcylinder.

Opt for the TLX Type S (a name previously attached to the long-retired TL sedan) and you get a turbo 3.0-liter V-6 with 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. It replaces the previous non-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 that produced 290 horses and 267 pound-feet.

The engines are connected to a new 10-speed automatic transmissions — with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters — that replace the nine-speed automatics.

Regardless of engine, drivers get Econ, Normal and Sport settings (Sport+ is added to the Type S) that change the transmission, throttle, steering and suspension operations.

Official fuel-economy numbers haven’t been released, but a close estimate based on the RDX’s powertrain would be 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

The latest version of Acura’s Super Handling All-wheel-Drive is optional with the turbo 2.0 and standard with the Type S. It can send up to 70 percent of the engine torque to the rear wheels and direct 100 percent of that amount to either the left or right tire during turning to increase precision (known as torque vectoring or yaw control).

The base front-wheel-drive TLX starts at $38,500, while the AWD variant costs a very reasonable $2,000 more. Included in the price is a variety of dynamic-safety technologies (e.g. emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and road-departure mitigation).

The optional Technology, A-Spec and Advantage packages increase the content, but the Type S is the only model that comes with sport-appearance body trim, highperformance summer tires mounted to 20-inch wheels, leather- and sue detrimmed seats and Brembo-brand brakes.

With the redesigned/new TLX, Acura seems focused on creating an image-enhancing model that will alter buyer impressions of how a premium sportpsedan should look and perform.p At

PHOTO: ACURA The TLX is noticeably larger than the previous model with nearly four more inches between the front and rear wheels. Say hello to more rear legroom.

PHOTO: ACURA Although the red seats grab your attention first, try feasting your eyes on the artful center stack that houses the arrangement of buttons that shift the standard 10-speed automatic transmission.