New York 2014: 2015 Acura TLX Live Shots

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

As the Acura TL and TSX are both dropped into the crusher of history, their replacement, the production-ready 2015 TLX, took the stage today at the 2014 New York Auto Show.

Having made its world debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, the TLX in New York will retain the former’s beak nose and bejeweled headlamps on its way to the showroom later this year.

As for what future TLX drivers will receive, two engines will put the power to either the front or all four wheels: 2.4-liter four-pot with 206 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and 3.5-liter V6 producing 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque through a nine-speed automatic. The four-cylinder FWD model will be augmented by Acura’s PAWS all-wheel steering system, while the V6 receives the SH-AWD handling system when AWD is selected on the options list. Combined fuel economy is expected to be 28 mpg for the 2.4-liter 4, 25 mpg for both FWD and AWD V6 models.

Inside, drivers will enjoy soft-touch plastics, wood and alloy accenting, leather, Acura’s AcuraLink infotainment system, GPS-linked climate control, and premium stereo sound.

And the price? Acura will make that announcement closer to the launch of the TLX.





Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Stumpaster Stumpaster on Apr 17, 2014

    OK I am well qualified to talk about this. Drive 2012 TSX wagon and spent few days in RLX loaner. This car will drive like a dream - fast, tight, supple. It won't have great mileage - maybe 23mpg on average as shown by its computer. The interior noise will be accented by tire noise, usual for Honda. At some point you will wonder why the hell you need such low profile tires because you cannot really whip this car around due to lack of feedback and overwhelming overthinking on the part of the computer as to what throttle setting you deserve. You will make your final conclusion when that $250 tire blows up in a pothole. You will look sad on the side of the road because they stopped putting spares in and the standard goo-pump cannot fix your blown up tire. You will question why you decided to cheapen out on a spare tire that's a $700! extra. There will be no feel in the steering wheel so you gotta rely on your visuals alone in the turns. If it has PAWS you may be surprised by some things it would do to the car in the turns, like shifting the whole car to the side a bit. So you won't be taking the turns any faster than in a Volvo 240 (my other car). It may or may not make clanking noises from suspension when hitting bumps - depending respectively on whether it followed TSX or RLX suspension more closely. Yes, TSX suspension hits potholes better than RLX. It will continue to use that steering wheel with major ergonomic flaws. Start with those huge phone buttons that you hit with the thumb occasionally. If it has those little dial wheels for audi and scrolling, like on RLX, you will be hitting those too with your hands as you try to spin the wheel. The side spokes are too high - your shoulders will feel it. It's a bit too thick. It may not be the most quality-built car you ever drove. Thinking about the tire pressure monitor alarm that my TSX gets daily on average. Acura tackled this problem in service four times so far with zero success. You may need to resurface the rotors at about 25K miles. They will cover under warranty but then you wonder - aren't my rotors thinner now and more prone to warping? Isn't this what the warranty supposed to address? It will be scratched all over - that paint has no durability at all, forget your children rubbing their coats against it occasionally.

  • Ckgs Ckgs on Apr 17, 2014

    I just read through the entire thread, and not a single positive comment. And people now love the previously despised 2nd gen TSX and 4g TL? It makes me wonder if the backlash is more about the Acura brand than the cars they are producing.

    • Kvndoom Kvndoom on Apr 19, 2014

      I think people loved the cars from the inside. The damn can-opener beak was hideous. It got nerfed a good bit over the years, but first impressions are lasting impressions. I could see myself in a 2011-14 TL 6MT SHAWD (the seat time I've spent in one was luxurious), but automatics (and all the fancy lettering like DCT, DSG, TCT, doesn't hide what it still is at heart) don't turn me on.

  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X Thankfully I don't have to deal with GDI issues in my Frontier. These cleaners should do well for me if I win.
  • Theflyersfan Serious answer time...Honda used to stand for excellence in auto engineering. Their first main claim to fame was the CVCC (we don't need a catalytic converter!) engine and it sent from there. Their suspensions, their VTEC engines, slick manual transmissions, even a stowing minivan seat, all theirs. But I think they've been coasting a bit lately. Yes, the Civic Type-R has a powerful small engine, but the Honda of old would have found a way to get more revs out of it and make it feel like an i-VTEC engine of old instead of any old turbo engine that can be found in a multitude of performance small cars. Their 1.5L turbo-4...well...have they ever figured out the oil dilution problems? Very un-Honda-like. Paint issues that still linger. Cheaper feeling interior trim. All things that fly in the face of what Honda once was. The only thing that they seem to have kept have been the sales staff that treat you with utter contempt for daring to walk into their inner sanctum and wanting a deal on something that isn't a bare-bones CR-V. So Honda, beat the rest of your Japanese and Korean rivals, and plug-in hybridize everything. If you want a relatively (in an engineering way) easy way to get ahead of the curve, raise the CAFE score, and have a major point to advertise, and be able to sell to those who can't plug in easily, sell them on something that will get, for example, 35% better mileage, plug in when you get a chance, and drives like a Honda. Bring back some of the engineering skills that Honda once stood for. And then start introducing a portfolio of EVs once people are more comfortable with the idea of plugging in. People seeing that they can easily use an EV for their daily errands with the gas engine never starting will eventually sell them on a future EV because that range anxiety will be lessened. The all EV leap is still a bridge too far, especially as recent sales numbers have shown. Baby steps. That's how you win people over.
  • Theflyersfan If this saves (or delays) an expensive carbon brushing off of the valves down the road, I'll take a case. I understand that can be a very expensive bit of scheduled maintenance.
  • Zipper69 A Mini should have 2 doors and 4 cylinders and tires the size of dinner plates.All else is puffery.
  • Theflyersfan Just in time for the weekend!!! Usual suspects A: All EVs are evil golf carts, spewing nothing but virtue signaling about saving the earth, all the while hacking the limbs off of small kids in Africa, money losing pits of despair that no buyer would ever need and anyone that buys one is a raging moron with no brains and the automakers who make them want to go bankrupt.(Source: all of the comments on every EV article here posted over the years)Usual suspects B: All EVs are powered by unicorns and lollypops with no pollution, drive like dreams, all drivers don't mind stopping for hours on end, eating trays of fast food at every rest stop waiting for charges, save the world by using no gas and batteries are friendly to everyone, bugs included. Everyone should torch their ICE cars now and buy a Tesla or Bolt post haste.(Source: all of the comments on every EV article here posted over the years)Or those in the middle: Maybe one of these days, when the charging infrastructure is better, or there are more options that don't cost as much, one will be considered as part of a rational decision based on driving needs, purchasing costs environmental impact, total cost of ownership, and ease of charging.(Source: many on this site who don't jump on TTAC the split second an EV article appears and lives to trash everyone who is a fan of EVs.)
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