2009 Acura TL coming in 2 flavors, gets AWD

[VH_Supra26]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/2008_acura_tl_badge.jpg

Honda/Acura had its 2009 dealer meeting in New Orleans last week, and a little birdie that claims to have attended has whispered some details about the 2009 Acura TL in our ears. According to our anonymous tipster, the '09 TL range will consist of two models. The front-wheel-drive car will be powered by a 3.5L V6 delivering 280 horsepower. The step-up version will feature SH AWD and have a 3.7L, 300-horsepower V6 underhood (presumably the same one used in the MDX). We're told the latter car is not a Type-S, by the way -- that trim level goes back into hibernation with the arrival of the '09. Word is, the car "looks amazing." The TL in its current state is Acura's best-looking vehicle, so our curiosity is definitely piqued.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/12/rumormill-2009-acrua-tl-to-come-in-2-flavors-gets-awd/

[Renaissanceman]

yeah awd

[TXBlackout03]

yeah awd

Your new name is gay.

[al]

I enjoyed driving even the FWD one because everything else was great. I'll wait for a Type-S

[Maxima96]

TL is a nice ride already..but i bet it will be pretty fun with awd

[SexualChocolate]

TL has always been a very nice car for the money!

[mtran]

finally. now all it needs is a snail, which probably wont happen.

[syntheticGT]

I dont think some of you guys understand how the AWD system from Honda ACTUALLY works.

lolz

[IIIVOVE]

i think they can make more than 300hp with that 3.7 maybe 320 in sporty sedan trim. the IS350 already makes 300 with it's 3.5. either way, I found my newe car next year!

[al]

I dont think some of you guys understand how the AWD system from Honda ACTUALLY works.

lolz

It's easy to assume that by default, it's a FWD system with RWD assist, which is the opposite of Nissan's ATTESA. Looking into it a bit more, it seems that up to 70% rear bias is achievable while turning, and torque bias between L/R wheels are controllable. Not a bad system for a luxury sedan. HOW it actually works is beyond me, but I think it's a system that doesn't feature a center diff.

[IIIVOVE]

Here's my driving impression from our AWD RDX. There is a display with the AWD system as a display option.

Upon hard acceleration from dead stop, most of the power is delivered to the front wheels 70/30 with the remaining powering the rear. actually, any hard (LINEAR) acceleration, like lane passing, this is true.

The only time I've seen (from the display) that it sends more power to the rear like 30/70 or 40/60 is in cornering. Not only that, it sends most of that rear power to the wheel on the inside of the turn when you are in a really tight turn.

At constant cruise speeds you can see it almost 50/50 more like 60/40.

Daily driving you won't notice, but when you start to dig into a corner it keeps on track with very little understeer. The RDX, for an SUV, handles exceptionally well thanks to SH-AWD and the firm ass suspension.

I think the new TL with SH-AWD will win over many ppl.

plus AWD pwns wet weather.

[al]

IIIVOVE, isn't the RDX actually 90/10 by default? I thought I read somewhere that those were the numbers. I could be wrong tho, I'm not that well versed in Hondas.

[IIIVOVE]

yeah, hard linear acceleration you can see 1 maybe 2 bars notating the rear wheels' power and 6 or 7 bars for the front. at cruise speed, each wheel has one bar.

maybe one day I'll take a pic of the display when I'm taking a hard turn. like in a hard, tight, sweeping RIGHT turn, the lft front tire will have 2 or 3 bars, the rght front will have 2, the lft rear will have 1 or 2, and the lft rear will have 3 or 4.

its hard as hell keeping an eye on that display and taking the corner at the same time so I'll take a pic one day.

[Houstone713]

i guess its time to upgrade

[jakk]

gotta love hondas

[syntheticGT]

It's easy to assume that by default, it's a FWD system with RWD assist, which is the opposite of Nissan's ATTESA. Looking into it a bit more, it seems that up to 70% rear bias is achievable while turning, and torque bias between L/R wheels are controllable. Not a bad system for a luxury sedan. HOW it actually works is beyond me, but I think it's a system that doesn't feature a center diff.

Most people automatically think that Honda's AWD offerings are on par with ATTESA and Subaru. But you pretty much said what I was thinking.

:thumb:

[mofoD]

AWD > *

[tuanieee]

i would like to upgrade... :gonk:

[suleman]

oh the glory of shawd :)

[BigDash]

i already love the TL, so AWD just makes it that much better imo

[Htownmalu]

hopefully they wont put that big chrome grill like what they did with the new tsx

[LeetoEG6]

hopefully they wont put that big chrome grill like what they did with the new tsx

I hate to say it but it probably will. It's apart of Acura's new Corporate look.