NSX for the Family? The Widebody 2021 Acura TLX Type S Gets Turbo V6 and AWD
Last year when Acura showed off its rather beautiful looking Type S Concept, there was a lot of curiosity about how close the concept would be do the eventual production car. And well, today we can report that the production version is the real deal.
The freshly-debuted 2021 Acura TLX looks to carry over nearly everything we liked about the concept, namely its wide and aggressive body shape It will also come packing a variety of high performance options to elevate Honda's luxury brand to a new level.
For starters, the '21 TLX will employ an all new double wishbone front suspension setup, a big improvement over the MacPherson setup in the outgoing model.
The base TLX will offer a Honda's 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine not unlike the one in the Civic Type R. In the TLX it will make 272 horsepower and come mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Front wheel drive will be standard, but Acura's SH-AWD system will be optional. Providing more than just additional traction, the TLX's AWD setup has been engineered with quick and aggressive application of rear-wheel power for much improved handling and balanced feel.
The even hotter machine though is the TLX Type S. Not only will it have torque-vectoring SH AWD standard, it will be powered by a new 3.0 liter turbocharged V6 engine developed by many of the same engineers who worked on the NSX's powerplant.
Power figures for V6 haven't been released, but the 350 horsepower range seems like a reasonable guess, with a similar amount of torque.
Elsewhere, the TLX gets a cockpit that's just as handsome as its exterior. It will of course come equipped with all of the advanced safety features and tech toys that sport sedan buyers are looking for.
The 2021 TLX is scheduled to hit Acura dealerships this fall and will have a starting price in the mid $30,000s, which seems quite fair considering all of the car's new hardware.
In recent years Acura has fallen behind some its rivals when it comes to making performance-oriented luxury cars but the 2021 TLX looks to be changing that.
If you ever wanted a the feel of a Civic Type R in a more mature and luxurious package or the spirit of the NSX in a cheaper and more practical sedan, this could be the car for you.
While sticking with the Acura theme, you can check out our story here to see how the NSX compares with the new C8 Corvette.
