Brenda Priddy and team have snapped new spy photos of the all-new 2009 Acura TL.
From the looks of these photos its apparent that the TL is going to get the same (ugly) grille as the new TSX and RL sedans. Acura's best-selling model gets all-new (controversial) styling. So far the reviews on what we can see here are not that great. Let's hope it somehow manages to look better when the car is officially unveiled later this year.
It's rumored that the TL is going to be powered by a 3.5L V6 and that the Type-S version will feature the SH-AWD system.
For now head over to Motor Trend to check out the full photos.
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Comments (23)
Dammit Honda/Acura...yeah, I've seen the '09 TL in the newest Motor Trend magazine..it looks like a bloated TSX...
Posted by gilly | May 20, 2008 8:46 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 20:46
While I have been one to bash on the Acura designs, or lack there of lately, this one doesn't seem to be as bad as the TSX. The rear from straight on actually looks pretty good IMO. Let's just hope for Acura's sake that they don't kill the sales of their best and only car I would consider purchasing from them.
Posted by Gary | May 20, 2008 9:58 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 21:58
Looks like the pork got the best of it...
People will still get it because it is a Honda, despite it being FWD.
Posted by Mazda6 Guy | May 20, 2008 11:15 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 23:15
Yep, Honda has gone off the deep end with their recent models.
Posted by SlowandMellow | May 21, 2008 12:56 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 00:56
this is great. The first car that really protects pedestrians and can talk back.
Posted by lowest iq | May 21, 2008 3:29 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 03:29
They may have "gone off the deep end...", but the Accord and Civic are the only cars I would buy in that class.
I owned a 2003 Acura CL Type-S 6-spd (among many Honda/Acuras since high school) for about 9 months (I switch cars fairly often) and the quality was superb. The interior quality of that car was better than any car in it's class...I would even place it above the Audi's I've looked at. The engine was fantastic (I added a cold-air intake, cat back and header$) and this thing sounded like a race car when VTEC kicked in. If it wasn't FWD, I would have probably kept the car for at least a couple of years.
You just can't beat the quality of Honda, which I would easily rank above any other manufacturer.
Posted by Noya | May 21, 2008 3:40 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 03:40
I had nothing but Acuras in the past but the latest batch of Acuras have turned me off completely. Acura needs to go back to contemporary designs instead of these radical designs.
Posted by Andrew | May 21, 2008 4:31 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 04:31
yes, the latest Acura's look like Buicks for boomers
Posted by dork retard | May 21, 2008 5:40 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 05:40
yes, the latest Acura's look like Buicks for boomers
Posted by dork retard | May 21, 2008 5:40 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 05:40
Yeah, but is it worth it?
Posted by zippy | May 21, 2008 8:00 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 08:00
maybe, depends
Posted by dork retard | May 21, 2008 8:28 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 08:28
The side profile and everything back of the front look identical to the previous generation Nissan Altima.
Posted by Mike M | May 21, 2008 8:58 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 08:58
I can't tell what the car is going to look like.
It's pretty camouflaged, so I'm not sure how we're so englightened.
I think the current TL is one of the best looking sedans on the road.
The next one will be much larger, but with AWD and a 3.7L v6 it should be much improved engineering wise.
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | May 21, 2008 10:15 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 10:15
Acura is trying too hard to capitalize on the hard angle and wedge look that has worked so well for Cadillac. The new TSX looks like it stole its grille from a Saturn Aura with the single giant chrome bar. The rear of this TL looks like a hard edged copy of the Lexus GS. Additionally, I think it is hard to categorize Acura as Honda's 'luxury' brand. Lexus, Infiniti have worked well as premium brands of Toyota and Nissan. Lincoln is hardly a premium brand of Ford, and Acura fails to hit the mark also. Acura needs to be more than a Honda with softer leather and quiter ride. This TL stands for 'too little'.
Posted by Rich | May 21, 2008 1:12 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 13:12
@Rich
Well said. I think you managed to sum up most of my thoughts as well in that post.
Posted by Gary | May 21, 2008 5:03 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 17:03
Has nobody noticed that it already is the ugliest Acura?
Posted by hater | May 21, 2008 6:17 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 18:17
Yup, it looks like a cheap ripoff of a Lexus GS.
Get with the program Acura. Your new cars look like crap.
"Buick for boomers." LOL!
Posted by muttley | May 21, 2008 6:25 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 18:25
Yeah I don't like the plastic look that covers the front and back of the vehicle. I can't see people going for that look.
I also don't think people will like having Motor Trend painted on the vehicle like that will take off either. Maybe you will be able to get other words painted on it instead.
Posted by Peanut | May 21, 2008 7:19 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 19:19
agree with Peanut, however applaud the risks that Honda takes with soft exterior materials.
The soft front helps to camouflage the boomers speeding past 65.
Posted by dork retard | May 21, 2008 9:23 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 21:23
the next TSX is SO UGLY... i hope it wont be the same with this one....
Posted by jettto | May 22, 2008 8:36 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 08:36
so they finally make it awd but then go backwards with there styling, geez i got my TL new in 06 and im glad i did it when i had the chance it looks like this one is fugly as funk. mine is sexy and tight lol but its FWD wich is like a horse that can only use its fron legs vary strange but safer in the winter than rwd....
Posted by dennisil | May 22, 2008 9:22 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 09:22
The New Tl is going to be just as sexy as the last model. of corse its going to take some time to get used to this gen. just like it took time for the last one.
Rule of thumb for imports.
Honda
Toyota
NIssan
hence:
Acura
Lexus
Infinity
Posted by C-train | July 7, 2008 9:39 AM
Posted on July 7, 2008 09:39
Although initially I had doubts, I am glad that I bought the G35 and not waited for the ugly 2009 TL to come out... all three, RL/TSX and TL are disfigured by the grille and made to look like the new Accord.
Posted by DM | July 10, 2008 7:53 AM
Posted on July 10, 2008 07:53