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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Acura Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Acura TSX At the 2008 Detroit Auto Show , Acura showed off a new 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine and announced it would debut a production version in 2009. Informed speculation says that the oilburner would be equipped in the new TSX , a re-badged version of the European Honda Accord that currently offers the engine. Honda engineers have even presented documents outlining the new exhaust developed for the engine in the last two editions of the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress. Unfortunately, it looks like we might not get a chance to sample a diesel TSX in the U.S. after all. An anonymous poster on the MotorTrend forums is claiming that Honda has not been able to pass emissions certification with the automatic transmission TSX diesel. The manual transmission version is fine, but the poster claims there wouldn't be enough demand in the U.S. market for the manual-only model and Honda will...
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Etc. , Acura Acura's new corporate fascia hasn't gained the affection of the automotive press, not to mention our commentators. And to make matters worse, not only is "The Shield" employed on the MDX , TSX and TL , it's expected to infect the rest of Acura's lineup into the next decade. We're still far from convinced that the new nose was a smart move, but we've conceded that it doesn't look nearly as bad on a silver TSX, matching the lines and the color to slightly better effect. An Acura dealer seems to have a similar idea, and after taking delivery of one burgundy TL, had the grille painted to match the rest of the exterior. While it's an improvement, we'd still recommend importing the 2009 Legend's schnoz and retrofitting an Acura emblem in place of the Big H. [Source: Acurazine via Motive ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Acura Click on the above image for our high res 2009 Acura TL gallery Acura is again tossing enthusiasts a bone with a new six-speed manual transmission option for their 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD model. While the 2009 model is only available with a five-speed automatic with paddle shifters, next year will mark the return of the stick shift -- and the first time Acura has paired their SH-AWD with a manual transmission. The six-speed is all-new, and stronger than the manual last used in the 2008 model. It features a more rigid aluminum case and heavy-duty internals. New gear synchronizers improve accuracy while a standard short-throw shifter improves feel. In addition to the six-speed manual, the TL SH-AWD receives "Hill Start Assistant" to hold the vehicle on hills during a start, and special enthusiast-oriented suspension tuning for flatter cornering. The manual transmission also comes with stiffer engine and transmission bushings, heavy-duty front driveshafts...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Sedans/Saloons , Acura Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Acura TL Acura has finally revealed the pricing structure of its new 2009 TL sedan , and the base price jumps to $34,995, a little over a thousand bucks more than the last entry-level model. Replacing last year's Type-S is a new model with a version of Acura's SH-AWD and, at 305-horsepower, the most powerful V6 that parent company Honda has ever offered for sale. That top-level model will run you $38,505, which is pretty close to what the abandoned Type-S went for last year, though standard navigation is dropped. Adding the Technology Package -- which includes niceties like GPS, keyless access, push-button start and the Acura/ELS Surround sound audio system we liked so much when we got our first drive -- to either model will add about $4K to the asking price. The looks are extremely polarizing, and these price increases aren't likely to win over the TL's detractors. Still, there...
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Euro , Acura , Honda Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Legend Remember when Superman chose to relinquish his super powers for love in the Man of Steel's first sequel? Without that 'S' on his chest, Clark Kent quickly got the crap kicked out of him by a truck driver. If the 2009 Acura RL (right) with its giant shield grille is Superman, then the Euro-only 2009 Honda Legend is surely Clark Kent. So many people have decried the new shield grille that we thought it'd be interesting to gauge reaction to the new Legend, which is basically the same car as the RL without the Acura overtones. To our eyes the Legend's new face is as boring and uninteresting as Acura's new grille is obnoxious, which truly does it make it the Clark Kent of cars. Gallery: 2009 Honda Legend [Source: Autoblog Spanish ] Continue reading 2009 Honda Legend reveals de-shielded Acura RL Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Acura , First Drive Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Acura TL Beginning in February at the Chicago Auto Show, Acura began rolling out redesigned versions of its three sedans in the span of six months. Beginning with the RL in Chicago , Acura has rolled out its new design ethos intended to make these cars stand out in the increasingly crowded entry luxury segment. When we first showed you the RL, it got what would charitably be described as a negative reception. The new shield grille design was almost universally reviled both in the media and amongst you readers. By the time the entry-level TSX arrived a month later, reactions softened somewhat as people became accustomed to the look. In its first few months on the street, sales of the new TSX have jumped more than 20 percent compared to the old model. The last to arrive and arguably the best looking of the three is the mid-level TL, which arrives this September to replace the best selling sedan...
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Acura Click above for more photos of the 2009 Acura TL The floodgates will open on the '09 Acura TL soon enough, but in the meantime, Inside Line has posted a set of press photos and confirmed the car's final specs. As has been previously reported, there are two versions: a base 3.5L car with 285 horses and front-wheel drive; and the range-topping TL SH-AWD, which gets a 305-horsepower 3.7L V6 . The Type S is history, replaced in essence by the SH-AWD. Both TL models are mated to 5-speed automatics, and a stiffer chassis should help make time spent behind the wheel more engaging. Inside, the layout is one that should be familiar to anyone who's spent time in a new Honda or Acura. Metallic-look wings arc out from a center stack topped by a multifunction LCD screen and finished at the bottom by Honda's all-in-one controller for audio/info/nav interfaces. In short, techno-gadgetry abounds. The new TL is a larger car than it predecessor, with a...
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Filed under: Coupes , Sedans/Saloons , Acura Image: Photoshopped Acura TL coupe courtesy of Acurazine . Acura's aim of becoming a "Tier 1" luxury brand has been thwarted by a lineup that some view as nothing more than decked-out Hondas. Dan Bonawitz, Honda's vice president of corporate planning and logistics believes that broadening Acura's line of vehicles is the way to compete with Audi, BMW and Mercedes. The first step is to introduce an all-new vehicle that will arrive before the new NSX in 2010. A coupe is a possibility, filling the gap left by the dearly departed RSX and older CL. A retractable hardtop could be part of the package, and there's also talk of a four-door "coupe" that could contend with the M-B CLS and Audi's upcoming A7. Whatever it is, it needs to be packing more than a just a four-pot driving the front wheels. A serious competitor the 1-series would be a welcome addition to the Acura line, and would fulfill the automaker's...
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Sedans/Saloons , Acura Click above for more shots of the 2009 Acura TL. The 2009 Acura TL has been spied enough times to rival the Chevrolet Camaro and Nissan GT-R, and even though Acura has already released a teaser of the TL ahead of its official launch, the overly airbrushed glamour shot doesn't accurately reflect what the TL will look like in the flesh. Our new friend Dariusz came across a handful of images of the TL hanging out in a parking lot, with only the badge on the bonnet and boot obscured by tape and the steering wheel cloaked in a towel. Check the gallery to get a detailed glimpse of the new TL and check back next month for our First Drive. Gallery: More Spy Shots: 2009 Acura TL Gallery: 2009 Acura TL spy shots [Source: Buckeye1 via Flickr ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Acura Click above image to enlarge var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/2009_Acura_TL_shows_its_face'; The 2009 Acura TL is coming this fall, and Acura has released the first official image of the car. Acura's love-it-or-hate-it new shield-grille face is affixed to the front end of the new sedan, which also sports thin, slanted headlamps and a pair of angular lower intakes. A pronounced accent line sweeps down from back to front, where it leads directly into a very pronounced wheel arch. Looks like we'll have to wait a little longer to see the car's posterior. Two TL flavors will be offered, confirming the preview report that we ran back in April . Honda doesn't announce powertrain specifics other than to confirm that the new TL will be available with Acura's SH-AWD system and also offer the marque's "most powerful engine ever." We assume that to mean the 300-horsepower 3.7L engine used in the RL and MDX will also...
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Sedans/Saloons , Acura Click image above for additional pics of the 2009 Acura TL We just showed you some spy pics of the 2009 Acura TL yesterday, but when one automotive photog saw the lo-res cellphone pics we ran, he knew he could do better. Our buddy Rich Truesdell of Automotive Traveler sent over a small patch of pics that he shot of the new mid-level Acura in action out in the Mojave. Just as with the new TSX and RL, the '09 TL seems to be adopting the corporate blocky metal triangle look. To paraphrase Fletch, "It's all about blocky metal triangles these days." Besides that signature fascia treatment, however, the rest of the car could easily be mistaken for a G37 sedan. Not bad, mind you, but not very distinctive either and surprising given the aggressively styled nose and tail. We'd say the best view is the rear-3/4 shot showing how the C-pillars continue out past the rear glass at their trailing edge and become the top edge of the...
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Sedans/Saloons , Acura Acura is in the midst of a major restyling of its entire range of sedans. While we've already seen the new TSX and RL (though an even newer RL has been spied ), it's the TL that is the bread-and-butter model of the line. From what has been seen already , we're expecting a version of the blocky metal triangle at the front of the model, though the latest spy photos reveal that the angular theme will be carried over to the rear of the vehicle as well. It's always risky to make major changes to the high-volume model, but it appears as if Acura is not content to just play it safe with its line of uber-Hondas. While the stylists attempt to set new trends, we're pretty sure that the TL will continue to use a front wheel drive architecture and V6 engines, though a form of the automaker's SH AWD seems a distinct possibility . [Source: Temple of VTEC ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Safety , Acura Click on the image above for pics of our uncrashed 2009 Acura TSX The all-new 2009 Acura TSX was recently crashed into a barrier at 40 mph, and smacked with a side sled at 31 mph, by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). While the last model (2005-2008 with side airbags) scored "good" in frontal, and "acceptable" in side impact testing, the 2009 model received the highest scores ("good") in both tests. When combined with the improved rear crash test results (seat and head restraint design), the new TSX earned the Institutes's "Top Safety Pick" rating. While our caps are off to Acura, we think it is time to revise all crash test standards (IIHS and NHTSA). Each time the results are released, we can't help but think that the automakers have learned how to ace the tests over the years. Let's bump up the speed in the barrier and sled tests (maybe throw a random angle in there to make...
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Sedans/Saloons , Acura Acura may finally be getting serious about entering the large-car luxury game with a new version of its range-topping sedan, the RL. The latest spy shots of what is likely the 2011 RL appear to corroborate recent rumors suggesting that Honda will ditch the long-running front-wheel-drive layout in a bid to compete with its peer class, which includes the BMW 5 series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Though much is hidden by the stretched-out TSX bodywork, a close look at the profile shows a longer hood with the front wheels moved farther forward, which not only improves the vehicle's looks with less front overhang but also indicates that the engine may be longitudinally mounted. Considering the fact that a rear-wheel-drive architecture seems increasingly likely for the next RL, we can also hold out hope that the rumored V8 engine may be underhood. Previous reports peg its output at 420 horsepower, which should be matched with cylinder deactivation...
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Filed under: Garage , Sedans/Saloons , Acura , Driving Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Acura TSX. 2008 is shaping up to be a very busy year for Honda's up-market Acura division. With the unveiling of a new diesel engine and the revamp of their entire sedan lineup, Acura is attempting to reinvent itself as a credible player in the premium sedan segment. But ever since Acura's birth in 1986 as the very first premium Japanese brand, the automaker has suffered from an identity crisis. Acura has always been a mixed bag, as if Honda wasn't sure what it wanted it to be, and with a lineup that spanned the enthusiast-friendly Integra/ RSX , the rebadged Isuzu-built SLX and the competent but anonymous RL, consumers were equally confounded. After complaints that the previous generation of Acura sedans were utterly devoid of style, the automaker decided to give all of its vehicles a bold, new face for the 2009 model year. However, as anyone who has ever followed the follies...
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