Acura recently released one official photo of the all-new 2009 Acura TL, but now the guys over at Inside Line have put up a full set of photos and more of the details about the new TL.
Acura already confirmed that there will be two versions of the new TL, but now we know the actual specs. The base car features a 280 horsepower 3.5L that sends the power to the ground through the front wheels. The model were excited about is the top of the line TL which features Acura's SH-AWD system that is mated to a 305 horsepower 3.7L V6. Reportedly the Type-S name is now gone. Both engines are mated to five-speed automatic transmissions with paddle shifters.
The new TL features many of the same styling cues as the new TSX and RL, although the TL takes it a step further (check out the rear end). The 2009 TL is also 6.2 inches longer and gains a 1.4 inch longer wheelbase than the last generation.
Do you think the TL still holds the title of the best looking Acura sedan?
Full Story: Inside Line
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Acura May be Planning a New Four-Door Coupe Before the NSX in 2010
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Comments (40)
They took a luxury sports car and turned it into a chrome badge.
Posted by ...!!!... | August 9, 2008 1:49 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 13:49
For some reason I can't stand cars that put the speedo, tacho, and stuff in separate "cylinders".
Posted by SEALBoy | August 9, 2008 1:54 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 13:54
finally acura gets a push start button... and now if only it was RWD bias, then im sold!
Posted by dracolnyte | August 9, 2008 2:03 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 14:03
The back of that thing looks like sh*********************t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by gilly | August 9, 2008 2:40 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 14:40
"Do you think the TL still holds the title of the best looking Acura sedan?"
Since all Acuras are getting that ugly front grille, thats not saying much. And I think the Accord looks much better, I don't like paying for a name.
Posted by Mathew | August 9, 2008 2:47 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 14:47
Not sure if the rear-end is great or not, something different which may be nice. Either way if I owned this I'd drive it in reverse all the time to hide that stupid front end.
Posted by thetruth | August 9, 2008 4:51 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 16:51
Not sure if the rear-end is great or not, something different which may be nice. Either way if I owned this I'd drive it in reverse all the time to hide that stupid front end.
Posted by thetruth | August 9, 2008 4:51 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 16:51
The rear-end looks like a front-end and the front-end is ugly!
I'm sure it may look better in real-life (and drive great) but that front end just scares me.
Posted by JD | August 9, 2008 5:55 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 17:55
i had same thought as JD did, and i couldn't see pics of the rear end in thumbnails until i went through one by one... how sad !
imo, it's not too bad but definitely not good looking at all !!!
Posted by vancouverboy | August 9, 2008 7:06 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 19:06
Acuras used to be so beautiful, what a shame. This is an abomination, the dash, instrument cluster, engine, seats, wheels, front, back, sides are all ugly.
Did they hire the Pontiac Aztec's designer? OK it is not that ugly, but maybe he has become more talented.
Bring back the Acura Legend!
Posted by Tom T | August 9, 2008 7:34 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 19:34
All that extra quid to have the honor of driving an uglied up Honda. No thanks. I'd rather drive their Harmony 1011 riding mower every day.
Posted by Trooper Bri | August 9, 2008 8:40 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 20:40
Looks like it has buck teeth.
Posted by Sam | August 9, 2008 8:50 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 20:50
The front isn't bad looking and looks somewhat like the Caddy CTS. The back looks interesting, but not in a good way.
The side of the car ressembles a Nissan Maxima and Altima
(I'm right, admitt it).
IMO, 280 HP is toooooo much for a front wheel drive midsize vehicle (especially a light weight sedan).
Posted by Saheed | August 9, 2008 8:52 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 20:52
Ugly in the front *check*
Ugly in the Rear *check*
Ugly plastic abomination under the hood *check*
Dash Lifted from a WRX *check*
Awful center stack with about 100 tiny buttons *check*
On the bright side the back seat looks like a pretty nice place.
Posted by Travis | August 9, 2008 9:05 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 21:05
I won't buy another Acura after my CL Type S transmission went out on me and the dealer gave me a chevy cavalier rental as a loaner car. My parents own a Lexus GS450 and when they had their car in the shop they always got the same or a better Lexus as a loaner if their vehicle was serviced.
Posted by Peter | August 9, 2008 9:49 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 21:49
ugly as fuck
Posted by cobaltssman | August 9, 2008 10:30 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 22:30
Not nearly enough. They need more than 305. a 3.7 dohc might have been enough, but not sohc. Also 5 speed auto when others are doing 6, and 7. That is not going to work. These guys need to wake up.
Posted by mf | August 9, 2008 11:31 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 23:31
looks a bit like a Totoya with some things of Honda, Honda and Nissan. The front looks like a can-opener.
Posted by gary | August 9, 2008 11:45 PM
Posted on August 9, 2008 23:45
When you look at it from the rear it looks like its a fucking Transformer ready to shape shift tear a town a new ass. What the fuck is it?
Posted by Jim Bader | August 10, 2008 12:20 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 00:20
I meant to say almost as fucking ugly as my Cobalt.
Posted by cobaltssman | August 10, 2008 12:41 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 00:41
Wow.. from blowing us all away with an incredible TL in 2004 to blowing us all away from ever buying another TL in 2009. Seriously - I feel sorry for who designed this car, it's really unpleasant to look at.
Posted by Jerry Rosa | August 10, 2008 7:58 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 07:58
you know this web forum is being run down, all you ppl that post shit under other ppls name is just horrible. make this a great web forum where you can freely express yourself with out fear of being harassed. Seriously stop and grow up this isnt highschool
Posted by muscleoverrice | August 10, 2008 9:48 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 09:48
oh my word! what happened to the rear end? The front isn't that great either... after the new Civic, Accord, and the Euro Civic, I thought Honda was really stepping up their designs (which were pretty good already), but now they bring out this disaster and sell it as their second best sedan (after the RL)...
granted, Im pretty sure it will be a blast to drive, have excellent ride quality, and of course Honda reliability.
What's with all the plastic in the engine bay, though? It seems like it would trap all the heat in there and act essentially as an oven for the engine and other components, barring of course the cooling fans and inlets... (i dont have a degree in thermodynamics, so those in the know, please educate me)
Posted by Eddie | August 10, 2008 9:59 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 09:59
i really wonder who they consulted for that design....
did they went to some redneck or what???
this car is freaking ugly....!
seems like japanese cars are more american than american cars...
japanese getting bigger, american getting smaller
Posted by JeTTTo | August 10, 2008 10:30 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 10:30
I wonder if Honda is secretly trying to phase out Acura or something? I really can't believe they let the designers do this to the TL. Where the hell did Acura find it's designers, and why haven't the been fired yet? The TL was a beautiful car when it first came out, and now it looks like they ripped the fenders off a Camry, the rear quarters off a Lexus GS, kept the original headlights, and uglied up the rest pretty bad.
Those little round fog lights look horridly out of place on a car with that many creases and angles.
The interior does look pretty top notch though and it will probably hold it's resale pretty well.
I'm still wondering if the SH-AWD is still front biased?
I also have a feeling Acura is going to lose a lot of sales to the Genesis Sedan when it comes out...
Posted by Gary | August 10, 2008 11:33 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 11:33
Just to make sure it wasn't just us guys who thought it was ugly, I just asked my wife and one of her friends what they thought. Both said they didn't like it, it looked too "funky", or was not "cute at all". Both of them love the looks of current TL and my wife's friend has a 2006 TSX... They're both pretty typical women when it comes to girly stuff as well, so they're reaction is probably going to be pretty typical of what most women will think of it. The thing that makes this bad for Acura is that this car in no way will appeal to a guy looking for a $40k car with only a 305hp V6.
So if the looks don't appeal to men or women and the performance doesn't appeal to men, who's going to buy this car? Women usually don't buy for performance so you can win them over with reliability and looks, lose the looks and you lose the sale. What self respecting man would consider buying a comparably priced car with a weenie little V6 that has to run premium, when other luxo companies have V8's that run regular and get similar MPG?? Guys can be won over with performance over looks, (Subaru WRX) but this car won't be faster or handle much if any better than any of it's competitors.
Someone please enlighten me as to who Acura thinks will buy this car?
Posted by Gary | August 10, 2008 11:50 AM
Posted on August 10, 2008 11:50
That is seriously one ridiculous looking car. That is all.
Posted by Jung | August 10, 2008 2:01 PM
Posted on August 10, 2008 14:01
This is probably one of the ugliest cars on the market right now. The back looks part of a mutated Saturn Aura, the front looks like a can opener. Gross. Pointless. Buy an Accord. Or a Pinto.
Posted by Alex | August 10, 2008 4:22 PM
Posted on August 10, 2008 16:22
After reading about ppl constantly calling it the ugliest car ever it doesnt make sense...the new TSX is selling decently right now which has the same front end, the rear looks similiar to the Accord which is doing very well and the side profile looks like Lexus GS which is a nice car according to most ppl and the wheels look good as well, and the interior looks better then the old one, but when they put it all together then its ugly? idk what people consider beautiful these days then.
Posted by Phil | August 10, 2008 5:20 PM
Posted on August 10, 2008 17:20
World's UGLIEST car... EVA!
Im glad disgusting garbage like that will never come to Australia.
So much for 'save the environment'. Every new car article i see list power output as going up, and up.
Posted by Mez | August 10, 2008 7:06 PM
Posted on August 10, 2008 19:06
I think Acura hired the designer who brought the world the B9 Tribeca!
Posted by Chad | August 11, 2008 6:36 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 06:36
I agree with the majority sentiment on the looks of this vehicle:
"Ewww."
Honestly, the Malibu looks better. The OLD Malibu looks better. Hell a Ford Taurus (pre-Ford 500 badge change) looked better than this.
What the hell is Acura's problem? Just how can they get it all so wrong?
And it still has a FWD setup, with AWD thats going to be FWD biased. They call this "luxury?" I call it "wasted money compared to a Passat."
Like hell anyone would take this over a CTS. And I hate the CTS. For the same money most people would rather have a Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, or even a Cadillac.
Posted by Allen | August 11, 2008 8:00 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 08:00
If this ugly car sells well, then we should all question are taste in cars and maybe just call ourselves hypocrites(: lol
Posted by Saheed | August 11, 2008 9:28 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 09:28
I think they spent too much time at the rear, and as a result, over-did it. O, and it looks like the rear of the '08 Accord Coupe (which is beautiful, but ugly on a 4-door).
This makes me appreciate the "ugly" rear of the BMWs now.
Posted by JD | August 11, 2008 9:59 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 09:59
I'm the only idiot who likes this Acura, right?
As usual, i'm feeling lonely and just wanna listen to sad love songs by Anita Baker.
And worse, I drive a pontiac Aztec, now that my sunfire broke down. (I have terrible taste in cars but am okay with that)
Posted by Joe | August 11, 2008 10:35 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 10:35
@Phil:
Lexus IS, 04-08 TL, 04-08 TSX, 09 Jaguar Xf, or even the new Saturn Aura and Mazda 6 that are coming out look better than this thing.
Posted by Gary | August 11, 2008 10:36 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 10:36
WOW this car is weird looking. Definitly something I'll never drive. However, I'm shure there's some Honda fanatic just drooling over it. (Noya)
To each their own, whether we like it or not.
Posted by 426Hemi | August 11, 2008 11:05 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 11:05
@426Hemi:
I'm actually a Honda fanatic. I've had 1 accord, 2 civics, and I'm still driving my second Interga. When I had the time I used to go to car meets, tracks, etc.. However the only thing coming out of my mouth when seeing this car or any Acura lately, is whatever I had to eat last. Most of my buddies on Team Integra think the same thing. I can't even count how many people have posted their new cars on that site and only about 1 out of 10 is a Honda/Acura. Only the die hard fans are buying used RSX, S2000, or SI's. None of them are even willing to pay the crazy sticker price of the SI new so they buy used ones. Honda/Acura has totally lost touch with it's performance oriented buyers. Honda pretty much started the sport compact scene and has all but pulled out of it now.
Posted by Gary | August 11, 2008 4:04 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 16:04
Honda corp has lost the plot, first that horrible SUV with the Lector front, then Hannibals' bro the Ridgeline, and now this.
Did they hire some Ford 'specilists lately?
Anyway, they should close down that 'second' brand (Acura) immediately. Waste of time and certainly one thing that the Japs all got wrong. Stick with Toyota, Nissan, Honda.
Multi-brands are for FMCG.
Posted by lowest iq | August 12, 2008 4:10 AM
Posted on August 12, 2008 04:10
looks like i got the last good looking one in my 2006, I was thinking that once the new one came out i would feel like that sucks i want the new one, so i guise... thanks honda you have kept me from waisting more money on a car.
Posted by Dennisil | August 12, 2008 7:42 AM
Posted on August 12, 2008 07:42