Acura Tl Receives Upgrades
In the luxury car segment, a car manufacturer has to be always on the lookout on how to improve a car whenever it is called for. Established in 1986, Acura is a relative newcomer to the luxury car segment. But the quality and popularity of their models belie that fact. The Acura TL, in fact, is the second best selling luxury sedan in the United States and it is next only to the BMW 3 Series.
To compete with a long list of competitors which includes the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35, Jaguar X-Type, Lexus ES, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Saab 9-3 and the Volvo S60, the TL was redesigned recently by the Japanese car manufacturer.
The best selling Acura model was restyled not only on the outside but also inside and even under the hood. Outside, the new Acura TL is characterized by rounded edges which give you the feeling that the car would cut through the air gently. In fact, the Acura TL’s redesign gave it a lower coefficient of drag. This makes the new TL come with a sportier look than its predecessor.
Inside the car, Acura used high quality materials to give it the luxury aura that it exudes. Complementing the exterior of the TL, the inside has comfortable leather seats. The seats adequately support both the lower and upper back of its occupants. To make the cockpit more appealing, Acura gave the TL a dual-zone climate control system which is easy to operate. The interior of the TL is adequately padded that little to zero outside noise can be heard inside the vehicle.
The dashboard and center stack are configured to complement the luxurious seats. The center stack of controls is easily visible and understandable. It is also equipped with an eight-speaker surround sound audio system.
The most notable upgrade for the Acura TL is made under its hood. The new Acura TL is now equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of producing as much as 286 horsepower. The engine’s power can be effectively increased with the use of an AEM Acura intake but even without that aftermarket part, the engine provides instant power whenever the driver demands for it.
The engine is designed to provide power almost instantly. Its responsiveness is evident in the fact that it can provide adequate power whether in low or high revs operation. Available for the Type S trim level of the TL is a five-speed automatic transmission. The TL uses paddle shifters which mean that a driver would only need to use his or her hand to shift gears.
The engine provides good power for the TL that it can easily tackle hill climbs. Steering the luxury car is also a strong selling point for the TL. Its responsive handling complements the responsive engine under its hood. Suspension for the Type S is somewhat stiff. This is because the S Type is a performance-oriented trim line.
With the upgrades that the TL has received, it will not be surprising if the popularity of the brand increases. Acura is the luxury division of Honda and it is a known fact that vehicles of these brands are known for heir reliability. With that reputation and the changes made in the exterior, interior and under the hood of the TL, the car would surely give the BMW 3 Series a good fight in the auto market.
January 23, 2010 5:11 am 
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