Acura no longer to get bullied in the automotive locker room...

Thanks again for checking this out and. Chances are you if you have talked to me about cars lately, I have been negative about the dated looking designs or the crappy drive and such of how today’s cars are on the road, on the inside, or how they steer, etc. Yes, you may have been thinking, it’s that whole shabang again. Many have seen my previous post, which somehow scored over 100 page views.

Well, not anymore. Not quite, at least. They are not all garbage, not in the near future. The whole point of this rambling and, at least among those who like Japanese brands that are pseudo-American, Acura. Yes, Acura. Opened in 1986 as Honda’s only automotive offshoot branch not offered in other countries (here in North America and not anywhere else, that is), the brand has had some ups and downs, some hits and some forgettable misses (Acura ZDX anyone?). Nowadays, they are usually silver or white, midsize, and have a Honda engine underhood.  And very Honda-looking, which normally didn’t scare anybody off. Well, it looks like they are spicing that formula up, as they are releasing their 4th new model in two years, the new TLX.

TLX will be big news for Acura, as the outgoing TL was its longest running cars, even longer than the popular MDX crossover. This will be the first time the old car has been updated since its 2009 redesign, and technology-wise, its all uphill from here. Both TL and TSX are out, as TSX has not been as popular as they hoped.

Acura is hoping for a huge hit, as they have imported some of the tech from RLX, but with a German competition in mind. Now sporting as many gears as BMW and Audi, the base car will be powered by a 4 cylinder engine (think TSX) coupled to a new 8-speed twin clutch automatic transmission, a first right now for any car brand (Bimmer and Audi both have 8-speeds, but are not dual clutch). Optional is the familiar 3.5-liter V-6 (think TL) with a 9-speed automatic transmission (no dual clutch here). This beats the Germans, Americans, Japanese and the Swedish, and whatever other country you can think of, because this is it. 

Welcome to Shiftville, to you all who drive Acuras.

Gas mileage is expected to fly for all models, due to the gearing, and all are available with all wheel drive, now a permanent staple in luxury car dealer lots. Acceleration will be a cinch, with instant torque, power, traction, and a host of computers on board  easily clear 6-something zero to 60 mph time, ranging from 6 or so (4 cylinder/dual clutch) to as possibly as low as 5 seconds for the big V-6 (with 9-speed). The old 2.4 has been replaced with direct injection, and the thirsty 3.7-liter engine is out as well, for now.

Look out, America and Europe, because Acura is not bringing a knife to a gunfight, they may well have a “gun” now, and from the looks of it, it has magnum rounds.