Manufacturer Honda Model years 2015–present | Production July 2014–present | |
 | ||
Assembly Marysville, Ohio
Marysville Auto Plant Class Mid-size luxury car (E) Layout Front engine
front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive | ||
The Acura TLX is a mid-size luxury sedan manufactured by Acura, the luxury vehicle division of Honda, since 2014.
Contents
Design history
The Acura TLX was first shown as the "TLX Prototype", a sedan designed in Acura's Los Angeles Design Studio, as a replacement of the TL and TSX sedans. The production version was unveiled in April at the 2014 New York International Auto Show. Sales began in August, the TLX entered production during July at Marysville, Ohio, United States.
Production model
Two powertrain options are available. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine is available with direct injection mated to a dual-clutch transmission and Motion-Adaptive Electronic Power Steering, Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) through Integrated Dynamics System. The Honda designed dual clutch transmission is the first to use a torque converter, this is done to absorb transmission gear shift shock reducing NVH. The engine is rated at 206 hp with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24/35/28 mpg (city/highway/combined) compared to 22/31/26 from the previous TSX. Honda estimates it is 1.5 seconds faster from 0 to 60 mph, the 4-cylinder TLX will start at $31,890 or $360 more than the retiring TSX. Both the 4-cylinder TLX and 4-cylinder automatic TSX weigh the same.
A 3.5-liter direct injected SOHC VTEC V-6 with cylinder deactivation (VCM) is mated to Honda's first time use of a 9-speed automatic transmission (sourced from ZF), it's available with either P-AWS or all-wheel drive (SH-AWD). The SH-AWD system uses hydraulic clutches instead of the electromagnetic clutch packs found on the previous TL which significantly cuts weight, size and cost. The engine is rated at 290 hp and front-wheel drive models deliver 21/34/25 mpg while all-wheel drive models are rated at 21/31/25 mpg. The V6 TLX will start at $36,115 or $810 less than the outgoing TL, SH-AWD models will come standard with the "Technology Package" costing $1,860 less than the previous SH-AWD TL equipped with the "Technology Package". TLX models configured with the V6 engine will lose nearly 150 lbs compared to the FWD TL and over 225 lbs compared to the SH-AWD TL. The SH-AWD model is no longer offered with high performance summer tires rather less sticky all-season tires.
Like the RLX and MDX, the TLX comes standard with LED headlamps, also amber LED turn signal indicators incorporated into the side mirrors and rear LED brake lamps. Overall length compared to the previous TL was reduced by 3.8 inches while the wheelbase maintains the same length. As with the 9th generation Accord the TLX loses the front double wishbone suspension of the TSX and TL replacing it with a MacPherson strut arrangement.
To significantly cut down on interior noise, triple door seals are used as well as additional sound insulation.
Safety
Features Lane Keeping Assist System with Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Blind Spot Information System, Tire Pressure Monitoring system with Tire Fill Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Vehicle Stability Assist. 7 airbags, including driver's knee airbag.
1 vehicle structure also rated "Acceptable" 2 strength-to-weight ratio: 5.67Motorsports
A TLX-GT, a race car version of the TLX SH-AWD with a twin turbo version of the direct injection V6 engine found in the production TLX SH-AWD sedan has also been developed by the Acura Motorsports Group at Honda Performance Development. This has a modified chassis and aerodynamic performance parts approved for Pirelli World Challenge competition. The TLX-GT was unveiled at the 2014 North American International Auto Show.
RealTime Racing entered a factory-backed car in the GT class at the Mid-Ohio and Sonoma rounds of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge, with Peter Cunningham claiming a best result of 13th. In 2015 the team fielded two full-time entries for Cunningham and Ryan Eversley. The latter won the first St. Petersburg race and finished sixth in the GT class drivers classification, whereas Cunningham ended 14th. Eversley continued as full-time driver in 2016, winning the two Road America races. Cunningham raced the first half of the season, claiming a runner-up finish at Road America race 1, then Spencer Pumpelly took his place for the last three rounds. The TLX-GT will be replaced by the Acura NSX GT3 in 2017.