On paper, this car is on the heavy side compared to its rivals, but Acura masks this fairly well during regular driving by making its inputs light. Steering is unquestionably quicker and sharper even at low speeds, and lends to real precise and positive-feeling direction changes. Most of the time.Īt the risk of stating the presumed and obvious, the TLX Type S is way more fun to drive than the standard TLX. In addition to a more aggressive look and extra engine output, the Type S badge also denotes better handling and stronger brakes, and this TLX doesn’t disappoint. More positively, purposeful upshifts come with a subtle pop from the exhaust, giving this car’s powertrain some much-needed character, however mild. Also, the TLX Type S will not let you run up against the rev limiter, automatically shifting up every time you do and sort of defeating the purpose of having a manual mode in the first place. Ad-hoc downshifts happen quickly, but upshifts come with a disappointingly long delay. They’re metallic and smooth, and nicely sculpted to the fingers. It’s fine when left to its own devices, but the paddle-operated manual shifting experience is middling.įirst, I quite like how the steering wheel paddles themselves feel. Serving as the middleman between the engine and the wheels is a 10-speed automatic transmission developed and upgraded in-house by Acura. Pro tip, though: avoid driving this car with the powertrain in comfort or normal mode if you’d actually like to enjoy it, as either setting delays the throttle way too much – even by comfort and normal mode standards. Speed is delivered smoothly and with little turbo lag, and is accompanied by a sound that’s cool and racy in timbre but not overly loud. Newly developed specifically for this car (as well as the upcoming MDX Type S), it makes 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, and the TLX Type S a satisfyingly brisk vehicle as a result.Īll that torque is available at just 1,400 rpm, which means strong acceleration anytime, anywhere. While the regular version makes do with a turbocharged 2.0L making 272 hp, the Type S gets a 3.0L twin-turbo V6. Power: 7.5/10Īs much as I enjoy the aesthetic enhancements, this Type S spec is way more than a TLX with some nicer wheels and a body kit. If you had a souped-up Honda Civic Si in the ’90s but a house in the suburbs today, you’ll feel very at home in a TLX Type S. It’s all very nicely curated and clearly influenced by parent company Honda’s strong tuner heritage. I love the 20-inch NSX-style wheels that also mimic those on the old TL Type S, the exposed intercooler, the smoky gold paint, and how wide the rear fenders look. I love the red brake calipers, flat-bottom steering wheel, red stitching, and huge quad-exit exhaust tips. This much more aggressive Type S version, however, features quite a few aesthetic additions that, in my eyes, really bring this gorgeously low-and-long design together. When I drove the regular TLX Platinum Elite earlier this year, I was a little underwhelmed with its looks – especially compared to the beautiful concept on which it’s based. That’s certainly the case here, and the 2021 Acura TLX Type S lives up to them. Where there’s hype, high expectations usually aren’t far behind. Over just four days of TLX Type S testing, I witnessed a Honda dealership shuttle driver whip their camera phone out, the driver of an oncoming TLX A-Spec flash their high-beams in recognition, and one very enthusiastic Honda Accord owner at a gas station slightly lose his mind at the sight of this car and request – nay, demand – permission to take a picture of it as a souvenir. Given the unexpected attention it garnered in the short time I had it, however, it seems the arrival of the 2021 Acura TLX Type S – and the return of the Type S badge after a 13-year hiatus – has generated quite a bit of hype among a certain type of motorist. A sportier, more powerful version of a relatively common Japanese luxury sedan may not be all that significant for most folks – especially not in these SUV-crazed times we live.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |