Acura TL sedan rebuilt for comfort as well as performance
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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AUBURN, Wash. -- A long chute plunges downhill for a speed trial on the closed-loop course at Pacific Raceway near Auburn, Wash.
Yet all momentum generated on the straight stretch quickly switches to a significant brake check because of the too-tight S-curve at the end of the straight as it curls down to the circuit's lowest point.
It's a tricky cataract on an otherwise tame sequence of sweeps and bends bound by swift long shots and it's further complicated by the physics of inertial mass and gravity.
However, it's not too tricky for the latest vehicle in the line of Acura, a marque of performance and luxury vehicles derived from Honda of Japan.
Posed on a stiff new platform that counterbalances the strength of a souped-up engine with beastly brakes and fast-twitch steering gears, the revamped TL sedan manages to scoot through the snaky section in smooth but flat stance with high-performance tires out front clawing the blacktop.
It romps around the curlicue and wiggles through several more curves climbing out of the hole, then blasts down the subsequent straight back on high ground.
The track course reveals that this new TL can perform hard-wrought maneuvers like a racy performance car, although the contents of a five-place passenger compartment -- with soft leather hides covering the cushy seats and sophisticated electronic controls governing the climate and sound and navigation gear -- portray a conflicting image, one of elegant, even luxurious, motoring.
Dressed in a sleek and chic new exterior package, the TL slices through still air in superior aerodynamic fashion that leaves scant concession for wind noise to disrupt the serenity of the upscale cabin.
It stocks the Acura ELS Premium Audio System, first automotive application of a standard DVD-Audio surround sound system with eight well-placed speakers to produce stunning audiophile sound quality.
It's also the first automobile to offer a Bluetooth-based hands-free phone system as standard equipment.
Dubbed the HandsFreeLink, this device employs a wireless Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone and TL's voice recognition and audio interfaces so a driver can make and receive phone calls while keeping hands firmly attached to the steering wheel.
Consider the TL a car of malleable character -- a keen performer if you prefer to romp but always a plush and comfortable ride fitted with high-tech and haute-cush gear.
Acura defines it as a mid-size performance sedan for the near-luxury category.
The new generational treatment represents a significant upgrade with fresh exterior styling evident, a boost in power from a new engine and noteworthy chassis improvements.
Beneath the revamped skin there's a fortified structure with increased torsional rigidity and additional soundproofing around the passenger compartment with new acoustic front windshield glass and more plush appointments in the five-place cockpit.
The new gear includes twin zone and dual modes for the automatic climate control system and the stunning Acura/ELS Premium Surround Sound System tied to a six-disc CD changer.
Xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights are also aboard, as is a power-operated glass moonroof, and the cabin is trimmed in brushed aluminum accents with perforated leather covering all seats.
Despite the extra gear and an exhaustive list of standard features, Acura holds the line on prices.
TL's MSRP amounts to $32,650, plus $545 for delivery.
The competitive figure reflects a philosophy for Acura and Honda to design and produce automobiles in the country where they are marketed for economic advantages that translate to the bottom line.
Styling and engineering work on the new TL series was conducted by Honda R&D Americas in California and Ohio, with production tooling by Honda Engineering North America in Ohio and the engines constructed in Ohio at Honda's Anna Engine Plant.
Then the vehicles come together in Ohio at Honda's Marysville assembly plant.
TL's new all-aluminum V6 engine displaces 3.2 liters with overhead camshafts, four valves for every cylinder and a drive-by-wire throttle plus Honda's VTEC (variable valve timing and lift electronic control) technology. The system continually adjusts phasing of the intake camshaft with changes in valve lift, timing and duration.
Net effect: Higher power in a smooth flow with reduced emissions and enhanced fuel efficiency.
The plant achieves 270 hp at 6200 rpm and 238 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm.
Standard transmission is an electronically-controlled automatic five-speed outfitted with Honda's SportShift override for manual shifts without clutching when desired.
The transmission has a unique "grade logic" shift point governor that selects top gear settings after measuring variables like throttle position, road speed and the rates of acceleration and deceleration.
Also available for the same price point is a sporty six-speed close-ratio manual transmission and a limited slip differential.
Front suspension, honed from Honda's experience in racing, consists of a double-wishbone design that precisely controls wheel motion.
The rear suspension, in a multi-link double-wishbone layout, settles the rear and delivers an exceptionally smooth ride.
Big disc brakes also apply to all four wheel posts, with anti-lock brake system (ABS) and traction control system (TCS) added, along with a vehicle stability assist (VSA) mechanism to correct lateral skidding.
With the manual gearbox aboard, front ventilated discs bump up to four-piston Brembo calipers.
TL rolls on Bridgestone Turanza all-season rubber mounted on 17-inch cast-aluminum alloy wheels, while a TL equipped with the six-speed manual shifter earns the choice of Bridgestone Potentza high-performance tires for $200 extra.
The only other option concerns the Acura Navigation System, which lists for $2,000. It's a new version with voice recognition for a menu of 293 voice commands and turn-by-turn voice guidance provided plus a large touch screen display mounted on the dashboard.
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| 2004 ACURA TL VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Mid-size near-luxury sedan
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size near-luxury sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
107.9 inches
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| Overall Length: |
186.2 inches
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| Engine Size: |
SOHC 3.2-L V6 VTEC
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| Transmission: |
Auto/5 SportShift
Manual/6
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
A/5: Power 4-disc
ABS/BA/EBD/TCS/VSC
M/5: Power 4-disc with
4-piston Brembo calipers
ABS/BA/EBD/TCS/VSC
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
+ 4 (side curtain)
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| Gas Mileage: |
A/5: 20/28 mpg
M/6: 20/30 mpg
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| MSRP Price: |
$ 32,650 |
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