Acura TL offers two cars in one
Acura adds a second trim level to its midsize TL sedan family this year and inadvertently gets a third.
The sporty Type-S trim went on hiatus three years ago, but has been resurrected for ‘07.
Like other members of the extended Honda/Acura clan, the Type-S has a pair of personalities. In the hands of the virtuous, it’s an elegant entry-luxury four-door with a long list of standard features, exceptional build quality and lovely ride and handling characteristics.
And with its front-wheel drive configuration, it’s an excellent choice for Northern Tier drivers.
Its dodgy Other Side is revealed only when one’s inner demons take control — usually as prompted by an inviting freeway on-ramp or a set of oncoming twisties. Give the boot to the throttle and a different car emerges, a snarling and snapping TL that demands to be tamed and lives to be driven hard.
Two cars in one. How cool is that?
The Secret Heartbeat
As you would expect, power is the primary differentiator between the TL (from $34,295, including destination) and Type-S ($38,795). The TL is equipped with a 3.2-liter V-6 rated at 258 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque. The Type-S gets a 3.5-liter six that makes 286 hp and 256 pound-feet.
Both employ double overhead cams and electronic valve control. Each makes peak horsepower at 6,200 rpm and peak torque at 5,000 rpm. Both like premium fuel best.
In the TL, the 3.2 is paired with a five-speed automatic with Sequential SportShift and Grade Logic Control. The Type-S can be had with that transmission (adding steering-column mounted paddle shifters) or a close-ratio six-speed manual with limited slip differential.
The automatic, which we tested, uses downshift rev-matching to synchronize engine and transmission speeds. It’s a sweet one, as automatics go.
Independent testers catch the Type-S in the 0-60 sprint at a tick or two below six seconds.
Split Personality
Take another look at the power profile. Both engines come to a full boil at around 5,000 rpm, long after most engines have punched the clock This is the Dr. Jekyll side of the Acura powerplants’ dual nature: Keep your foot in it long enough and the beast emerges.
In the Type-S, a powerful surge of acceleration pulls hard from around 5,000 rpm all the way to the 6,800-rpm redline. It’s accompanied by a sweet metallic symphony emanating from the engine bay.
To extract the last degree of performance from this top-heavy torque band, one engages in an entertaining clutch-and-shift-lever-ballet. As long as that free-revving engine remains in the heart of its power band, it produces a foot full of thrust.
Suspension revisions are visited on both trims this year. The setup comprises upper and lower A-arms up front and multilinks in the rear. Stabilizer bars limit roll in corners.
Acura has its system at a point of virtual perfection. Running on low-profile, 17-inch tires, our tester shrugged its shoulders at our potholed streets and laughed at freeway expansion joints and railroad crossings.
Yet when asked to perform, the Type-S dug in hard and maintained both its poise and its balance.
Typical of front-drivers, it’s prone to substantial, but manageable, understeer and doesn’t like to rotate. The standard stability control system can be switched off, giving the driver the ability to push as hard as he wants.
Our tester wore all-season tires; high-performance summer tires are available and would increase cornering power, without, as I understand, seriously affecting ride quality.
Large Brembo brakes are backed with Acura’s very good anti-lock system.
Control Central
The Type-S is a driver’s car, but even those sequestered in the rear seats will feel welcome.
The front sport-buckets are firm and well bolstered and a pair of adults fit comfortably in the back.
Standard TL gear includes leather seats, power and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, Home Link, full power accessories, heated mirrors, automatic headlights and moonroof. The Type-S gets a the more powerful engine, a sport-tuned suspension, larger wheels and tires, bigger brakes and a navigation system that incorporates a rearview monitor.
Also standard on both trims is the exceptional ELS Surround Premium eight-speaker sound system. It was the first car audio system with DVD capability and for ‘07 has been upgraded to accept MP3 and WMA formats.
Beyond being simply the best car-bound audio system I’ve heard, the ELS system includes noise-cancellation technology that reduces cabin noise.
Factor in a lovely design, outstanding materials and first-rate fit and finish and both TL variants add up as among the most comfortable in the business.
Until it decides to build a rear-drive sport sedan, Acura will play second fiddle to the big boys in that market. For those legions of drivers who see FWD as an asset, there’s hardly a better blend of performance, comfort, quality and price point.