2009 Acura TL thread (merged threads, painted beak)
08-08-08 | 10:34 PM
#271
And I think I would really like the design of this car if it was smoothed out. There are simply too many hard edges and creases on it to have any sort of cohesive flow.
08-08-08 | 11:01 PM
#273
When you really look at it, the number of creases and hard edges on this car is astonishing. The only other way to achieve something like this would have been to blindfold the Taliban and let them chop at a hunk of metal with their machetes.
Creases over/on:
- both wheel wells
- Beltline (Horizontally)
- lower part of both doors (Horizontally)
- middle part of the rear bumper (horizontally)
- middle, middle part of rear bumper (Vertically)
- middle lower part of the rear bumper (Vertically around license plate)
- exhaust tips (Horizontally)
- center of trunk lid (Vertically)
- sides of trunklid aft of the C pillar
- descending edge of trunklid
- Spoiler
...and this is only the rear 3/4!
Creases over/on:
- both wheel wells
- Beltline (Horizontally)
- lower part of both doors (Horizontally)
- middle part of the rear bumper (horizontally)
- middle, middle part of rear bumper (Vertically)
- middle lower part of the rear bumper (Vertically around license plate)
- exhaust tips (Horizontally)
- center of trunk lid (Vertically)
- sides of trunklid aft of the C pillar
- descending edge of trunklid
- Spoiler
...and this is only the rear 3/4!
08-09-08 | 02:04 AM
#276
I see what you're saying, but it really wouldn't hurt. Especially when we're talking about Honda which used to be a world class powertrain company. Another cog in the tranny would help acceleration and gas mileage, even if by tenths of a second or mile...but that stuff adds up. My GS 300 is only 5 gears and there are times where I really wish it had another one or two, just to play with. Infiniti and Mercedes offer 7 speeds, Lexus offers an 8 speed, and everyone else (EVEN HYUNDAI!) offers a 6 speed...and yet here in 2009 on their bread and butter model, the best thing we've got is a 5 speed automatic?
And I think I would really like the design of this car if it was smoothed out. There are simply too many hard edges and creases on it to have any sort of cohesive flow.
And I think I would really like the design of this car if it was smoothed out. There are simply too many hard edges and creases on it to have any sort of cohesive flow.
08-09-08 | 06:41 AM
#277
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,806
Likes: 6
From: californication
When you really look at it, the number of creases and hard edges on this car is astonishing. The only other way to achieve something like this would have been to blindfold the Taliban and let them chop at a hunk of metal with their machetes.
Creases over/on:
- both wheel wells
- Beltline (Horizontally)
- lower part of both doors (Horizontally)
- middle part of the rear bumper (horizontally)
- middle, middle part of rear bumper (Vertically)
- middle lower part of the rear bumper (Vertically around license plate)
- exhaust tips (Horizontally)
- center of trunk lid (Vertically)
- sides of trunklid aft of the C pillar
- descending edge of trunklid
- Spoiler
...and this is only the rear 3/4!
Creases over/on:
- both wheel wells
- Beltline (Horizontally)
- lower part of both doors (Horizontally)
- middle part of the rear bumper (horizontally)
- middle, middle part of rear bumper (Vertically)
- middle lower part of the rear bumper (Vertically around license plate)
- exhaust tips (Horizontally)
- center of trunk lid (Vertically)
- sides of trunklid aft of the C pillar
- descending edge of trunklid
- Spoiler
...and this is only the rear 3/4!
that's what happens when you have too many designers on board, and 3/4 of the designers take cadillac's angular designs overboard.
08-09-08 | 07:01 AM
#278
Speaks French in Russian
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,303
Likes: 65
From: What is G?
2009 Acura TL Specs
Information about the 2009 Acura TL leaked out today, revealing full details of the fourth-generation sedan from Honda's premium division. Two different models of the TL will be available: a front-wheel-drive TL with a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and the all-wheel-drive TL SH-AWD with a 305-hp 3.7-liter V6.
The 2009 Acura TL moves further upmarket with a more aggressive interpretation of Acura's latest styling vocabulary, known as "Keen Edge Dynamic." The size of the car has increased slightly as a consequence, and the wheelbase has been stretched 1.4 inches to 109.3 inches. The car is also 6.2 inches longer overall, 1.8 inches wider and 0.5 inch taller. Rear legroom improves by 1.3 inches and rear shoulder room increases by 0.5 inch. The all-new package also improves structural rigidity significantly, thanks in part to the use of high-strength steel in 47.6 percent of the chassis.
The standard TL will be front-wheel drive and is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 280 hp and 254 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 22 hp and 21 lb-ft over the previous 3.2-liter V6. The new TL SH-AWD ("Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive") replaces the previous TL Type-S and is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 305 hp and 275 lbs-ft, an increase of 19 hp and 19 lb-ft over the 3.5-liter V6 of the Type-S. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment for both engines and features shift paddles on the steering wheel.
The chassis features double-wishbone front suspension and multilink rear suspension. Electric power steering is standard for both models. The TL rides on 245/50R17 tires, the TL SH-AWD has 245/45R18 tires and 245/40ZR19 summer performance tires are optional for the TL SH-AWD.
As before, the 2009 Acura TL continues to provide an extensive list of electronic convenience items, now including a central multifunction display, an eight-speaker audio system with a six-disc CD changer, XM Satellite Radio and USB port connectivity. An Acura/ELS audio system with 10 speakers, surround-sound and DVD-A compatibility is available.
What this means to you: The 2009 Acura TL looks more aggressive and backs it up with more power and all-wheel drive, but we'll see if more personality can counter Acura's slow sales decline in recent years.
Information about the 2009 Acura TL leaked out today, revealing full details of the fourth-generation sedan from Honda's premium division. Two different models of the TL will be available: a front-wheel-drive TL with a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and the all-wheel-drive TL SH-AWD with a 305-hp 3.7-liter V6.
The 2009 Acura TL moves further upmarket with a more aggressive interpretation of Acura's latest styling vocabulary, known as "Keen Edge Dynamic." The size of the car has increased slightly as a consequence, and the wheelbase has been stretched 1.4 inches to 109.3 inches. The car is also 6.2 inches longer overall, 1.8 inches wider and 0.5 inch taller. Rear legroom improves by 1.3 inches and rear shoulder room increases by 0.5 inch. The all-new package also improves structural rigidity significantly, thanks in part to the use of high-strength steel in 47.6 percent of the chassis.
The standard TL will be front-wheel drive and is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 280 hp and 254 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 22 hp and 21 lb-ft over the previous 3.2-liter V6. The new TL SH-AWD ("Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive") replaces the previous TL Type-S and is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 305 hp and 275 lbs-ft, an increase of 19 hp and 19 lb-ft over the 3.5-liter V6 of the Type-S. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment for both engines and features shift paddles on the steering wheel.
The chassis features double-wishbone front suspension and multilink rear suspension. Electric power steering is standard for both models. The TL rides on 245/50R17 tires, the TL SH-AWD has 245/45R18 tires and 245/40ZR19 summer performance tires are optional for the TL SH-AWD.
As before, the 2009 Acura TL continues to provide an extensive list of electronic convenience items, now including a central multifunction display, an eight-speaker audio system with a six-disc CD changer, XM Satellite Radio and USB port connectivity. An Acura/ELS audio system with 10 speakers, surround-sound and DVD-A compatibility is available.
What this means to you: The 2009 Acura TL looks more aggressive and backs it up with more power and all-wheel drive, but we'll see if more personality can counter Acura's slow sales decline in recent years.
08-09-08 | 07:13 AM
#279
Guest
Posts: n/a
That might be the ugliest car to debut the last 10 years or so. That busy IronMan interior doesn't help either.
The car got huge, 6 inches longer than last? That makes it 195 inches long, as long as a LS 430!
lol, the 3.7 is 1hp shy of the IS 3.5 and 25 or so shy of the G37. 5 speed auto from the 1960s.
I got the below quote from another forum.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
The car got huge, 6 inches longer than last? That makes it 195 inches long, as long as a LS 430!
lol, the 3.7 is 1hp shy of the IS 3.5 and 25 or so shy of the G37. 5 speed auto from the 1960s.
I got the below quote from another forum.
Originally Posted by JrodVW
isn't conservative good looks luxury. This is stay up all night doing coke
This isn't traditional luxury. This isn't country club luxury. This in a basement club luxury. This is double bagger luxury. This is lease it, love it, leave it, forget it, because you don't ****in' need it luxury.
The new TL.
This isn't traditional luxury. This isn't country club luxury. This in a basement club luxury. This is double bagger luxury. This is lease it, love it, leave it, forget it, because you don't ****in' need it luxury.
The new TL.
08-09-08 | 07:17 AM
#280
Guest
Posts: n/a
Don't get me wrong having more gears usually means better fuel efficiency but going 7-8 doesn't seem to pull much more from your gas. I do believe that they should really step up and try to compete but they don't need something like a 20 speed auto. The only real problem I have with them not doing a 6 speed is that it doesn't show they're trying to innovate. It makes them seem like they're cheapening out because they don't want to spend the money to develop something better. My only argument is that there's a certain extent where gears aren't doing anything more than just saying "my ego is bigger than yours."
Acura rather focus on outsourcing and have top NAV and a nice Soundsystem and give their cars old engine and old transmissions.
Lexus gives you top Nav, a nice Soundsystem AND new engines and new transmissions.
Acura is clearly only for the Honda faithful b/t outside of having the ugliest lineup around, they really don't offer anything over any of the luxury competition and now, not even the non luxury competition.
Total joke
08-09-08 | 08:14 AM
#281
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,806
Likes: 6
From: californication
the new TL will still sell 5-7k per month, because america likes ugly cars.
08-09-08 | 09:10 AM
#282
Don't get me wrong having more gears usually means better fuel efficiency but going 7-8 doesn't seem to pull much more from your gas. I do believe that they should really step up and try to compete but they don't need something like a 20 speed auto. The only real problem I have with them not doing a 6 speed is that it doesn't show they're trying to innovate. It makes them seem like they're cheapening out because they don't want to spend the money to develop something better. My only argument is that there's a certain extent where gears aren't doing anything more than just saying "my ego is bigger than yours."
That would only be capable with a transmission of that caliber. On paper 8 gears sounds like overkill, but they've produced a car that gets class leading gas mileage on nearly class leading power. Also, this day in age, every little bit helps.
08-09-08 | 09:12 AM
#283
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,330
Likes: 1
From: I wonder why I live alone here...
Wow. The Corolla has a more elegant interior than the TL.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-acura-tl/967228/
And the way the consoles fades into the dash...It looks like they got their inspiration from a bowling alley. I mean Honda/Acura has the most bulbous and stupid-looking shifters/gates in the industry today. Straight out of the Civic. Zero effort.
Over the years the TL has gone from being a very nice Accord to a monster-ized Civic. Fail, fail, fail.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-acura-tl/967228/
And the way the consoles fades into the dash...It looks like they got their inspiration from a bowling alley. I mean Honda/Acura has the most bulbous and stupid-looking shifters/gates in the industry today. Straight out of the Civic. Zero effort.
Over the years the TL has gone from being a very nice Accord to a monster-ized Civic. Fail, fail, fail.
Last edited by SecPole14; 08-09-08 at 09:18 AM. Reason: Did not adequately express the extent of the new TL's failure in my initial post.
08-09-08 | 09:41 AM
#284
Guest
Posts: n/a
You see the last TL offered the size of the GS with the price of the IS 250 with a great style inside and out.
People on the internet really underestimate how much people want to own and buy and be seen in just "a good looking car". THe TL was a VERY good looking car. Again, you could buy it JUST based on that merit.
This new one is being blasted on every internet forum known to man. Goat weekly printed "it looks like a robot goat from the future".
Acura is so clueless, the Accord and now TL are bigger than the flagship RL. That just confuses the public.
08-09-08 | 10:18 AM
#285
I'm one of the few who loves buttons and more buttons
The bad thing is the honda accord's interior that sicklex posted is 99% identical to the TL, but the TL is so hideous on the outside and cost more. Doesn't make any sense for me to buy a TL then
The bad thing is the honda accord's interior that sicklex posted is 99% identical to the TL, but the TL is so hideous on the outside and cost more. Doesn't make any sense for me to buy a TL then