Photo: SB-Medien
The Acura TLX is an entry-luxury sedan that competes with the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. However, the brand now wants a slice of the sports sedan action and is going after the S4 and C43.
Now, you can already buy a V6 with SH-AWD in the sexy TLX A Spec, but our latest batch of spyshots suggests a turbocharged version of that will be added. And how do we know this is the TLX Type S?
Simply because the nameplate was registered back in January of this year, " Type S" was last used on the 2007 and 2008 TL, which had a 3.2-liter VTEC V6 engine with 258-hp at 6,200rpm.
The normal TLX already exceeds that with a 3.5-liter V6 making 290-hp, but that's nowhere near the output of the two rivals that are lined up here. The Audi S4 currently employs a single turbocharger for its 3.0-liter V6, resulting in an output of 354-hp (we know that's wrong, but it's what's on the website). Currently, the 2018 C43 gets 362-hp from its twin-turbo V6, but it should go to around 390-hp with the 2019 model year.
If Acura wants to go after these $50,000+ performance sedans, it will need a turbo V6 of its own, which it currently doesn't offer. But, reports say it will be a de-tuned version of the NSX system with around 400 ponies going to the Super Handling AWD system via the familiar 9-speed ZF automatic. Also, the TLX Type S will be joined by an RDX or MDX Type S... because people want SUVs.
Other than the engine, the Type S will have a sporty body kit with side skirts and a diffuser. Our spy photos already reveal the massive quad exhaust pipes fitted to the American sedan. Hopefully, it sounds good when VTEC kicks in.
Simply because the nameplate was registered back in January of this year, " Type S" was last used on the 2007 and 2008 TL, which had a 3.2-liter VTEC V6 engine with 258-hp at 6,200rpm.
The normal TLX already exceeds that with a 3.5-liter V6 making 290-hp, but that's nowhere near the output of the two rivals that are lined up here. The Audi S4 currently employs a single turbocharger for its 3.0-liter V6, resulting in an output of 354-hp (we know that's wrong, but it's what's on the website). Currently, the 2018 C43 gets 362-hp from its twin-turbo V6, but it should go to around 390-hp with the 2019 model year.
If Acura wants to go after these $50,000+ performance sedans, it will need a turbo V6 of its own, which it currently doesn't offer. But, reports say it will be a de-tuned version of the NSX system with around 400 ponies going to the Super Handling AWD system via the familiar 9-speed ZF automatic. Also, the TLX Type S will be joined by an RDX or MDX Type S... because people want SUVs.
Other than the engine, the Type S will have a sporty body kit with side skirts and a diffuser. Our spy photos already reveal the massive quad exhaust pipes fitted to the American sedan. Hopefully, it sounds good when VTEC kicks in.
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