2007 Acura TL Type-S

[NFS4]

Type-S, as in 'sinister'
Acura's TL line is hot and frisky, yet still elegant

By Royal Ford | August 5, 2006

Acura describes its 2007 TL Type-S as ``sinister," a word I've never associated with Honda's upscale division.

But the hot Type-S is surprisingly frisky, something I discovered during a day of driving it out of the woods of Pennsylvania and through the twisting back roads of neighboring Maryland.

I also found the base TL version to have the kind of oomph that not long ago would have been labeled high performance. Maybe that's because the new TL has the same horsepower as the old Type-S. In fact, it was powerful enough to make me wonder if the extra few thousand for the Type-S is necessary, except for those who want crazy power instead of just superb performance.

The TL in base form has a 3.2-liter V-6 engine that produces a hefty 258 horsepower and 233 lb.-ft. of torque. Upgrade to the Type-S and you get a 3.5-liter V-6 with 286 horsepower and 256 lb.-ft. of torque.

Expect around 23 miles per gallon from the smaller engine and about 21 from the more powerful option.

The standard transmission in each model is a five-speed automatic with a manual option that can be shifted with paddles on the steering wheel. In the Type-S, the engine is revved on downshifts (called ``blipping" in a race car) for smoother transitions while maintaining speed.

It is a transmission that truly let's you be in charge when you opt to go manual -- something many automatics with manual option do not allow.

As you might guess, Acura's target TL customer -- particularly for the Type-S -- is a male in his 40s with an income of $100,000 or more. That's not to say that other people won't be able to afford the car when it goes on sale in the fall. Acura is pricing its TL models at between $34,000 and $39,000.

The company calls the TL an ``entry premium" vehicle, something of an oxymoronic phrase. But I guess it somehow makes sense, since in recent years Acura has been selling more than 70,000 of the cars annually in the United States, making it the financial backbone of the company.

And though Acura officials at the press launch for the TL repeatedly referred to the ``sinister styling" of the Type-S, it is also subtle and elegant, with its broad slits of headlights, fog lights dropped into the lower fascia, a mesh grille bisected by a chrome crossbar, and a pronounced hipline running front to rear.

Actually, Acura has always been subtle. For example, only the rear ward flip of a spoiler, hot-looking wheels, and awesome-sounding quad tailpipes give any outer hint of what lurks beneath and inside the Type-S.

Inside, stainless steel pedals in the Type-S differentiate it from the base model, as do firmly bolstered, multi seamed bucket seats and carbon fiber treatments.

But safety is what Honda/Acura has been about (and look for the Koreans to push them into making stability control systems standard in even lesser models). The TL comes with antilock brake system, brake assist, stability control, air bags for front and side, and front and rear curtain air bags, as well as a front-end crash system that sends the force of an impact below and over the cockpit .

You also get an array of standard comfort features that include a moonroof, 17-inch wheels, speed-sensitive wipers, heated power front seats , a pass-through rear center armrest, and an advanced audio system.

The Type-S comes with better wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, carbon-fiber interior trim, noise cancellation, and other goodies.

The TL, in both forms, is meant to compete with the BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G35 cars, Mercedes C-Class, and Lexus ES 330. In both performance and interior quality it achieves that goal.

http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2006/08/05/type_s_as_in_sinister/

 

[Aimster]

FWD?
If so no thanks.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Aimster
FWD?
If so no thanks.

name one disadvantage that FWD has over RWD on public road.

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Aimster
FWD?
If so no thanks.

name one disadvantage that FWD has over RWD on public road.

try flooring a fwd car with close to 300hp.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Aimster
FWD?
If so no thanks.

name one disadvantage that FWD has over RWD on public road.

Have you ever driven a 250+ HP FWD car?

 

[gregshin]

my buddies and i have this saying "friends don't let friends drive FWD"

 

[Chrono]

no pictures = boo urns

TL comes with safety in mind. I think most people who shop/buy the TL are not looking for a performance oriented car, but a nice entry level luxury vehicle to travel in. A little more umph is good though.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Aimster
FWD?
If so no thanks.

name one disadvantage that FWD has over RWD on public road.

Have you ever driven a 250+ HP FWD car?

my friend's new TL. so yes. why would i want to drag race every car i drive? chances of spinning out a RWD car in the rain/snow are far higher than the chances of me throwing the TL into a tight twisties going 95 mph and understeering into a tree.

 

[RichieZ]

i'm not a fan of a nicer accord, but i have to admit its a good value

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Aimster
try flooring a fwd car with close to 300hp.

Name one time when you need to do that from a stop on the street.

I prefer RWD, I like the feel, but even I'll admit that it's far from necessary on a street car. It's an irrational preference that really doesn't have a benefit other than self-indulgence.

ZV

 

[Aimster]

sport + FWD do not mix

Stop trying to defend FWD cars.

WHY? Unless you own one and think it is a sport car I see no reason for you to defend it.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Aimster
FWD?
If so no thanks.

name one disadvantage that FWD has over RWD on public road.

Have you ever driven a 250+ HP FWD car?

my friend's new TL. so yes. why would i want to drag race every car i drive? chances of spinning out a RWD car in the rain/snow are far higher than the chances of me throwing the TL into a tight twisties going 95 mph and understeering into a tree.

It will always be a GOOD entry-level luxury sports sedan, but it can never be a GREAT entry-level sports sedan without RWD. If you want to take on the likes of the 3-Series, FWD is not an option. So far, the G35 has come the closest and the 2007 G35 looks to be even better than before.

And I'm tired of hearing the snow argument. RWD cars aren't THAT bad in the snow with snow tires and half of a brain upstairs.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: RichieZ
i'm not a fan of a nicer accord, but i have to admit its a good value

I think it's strange that the RL looks a lot more like an Accord than a TL does (TL doesn't look like an accord at all). TL looks a lot nicer than RL and Accord.

Extra couple of thousand for the Type-S seems pointless, but if you have money to blow have at it.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: RichieZ
i'm not a fan of a nicer accord, but i have to admit its a good value

I think it's strange that the RL looks a lot more like an Accord than a TL does (TL doesn't look like an accord at all). TL looks a lot nicer than RL and Accord.

Extra couple of thousand for the Type-S seems pointless, but if you have money to blow have at it.

I've though the same thing as well. The TL looks like the more expensive car (at least from the outside). The RL looks boring as hell.

 

[ElFenix]

if the TL had AWD there would be no point to the RL. the RL looks like the front half of the 1998 accord.


when turning left and trying to hustle my car with 165 hp steers itself hard, i really have to fight with the wheel to get it to straighten out. not that honda can't design a chassis to handle it, but those ponies would go down so much nicer with rear wheel biased awd.

 

[NFS4]

07tlil7.jpg

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Aimster
sport + FWD do not mix

Stop trying to defend FWD cars.

WHY? Unless you own one and think it is a sport car I see no reason for you to defend it.

How about.....It's not a sports car. It's a "sportier" version of their luxury car.

 

[theeedude]

Ooooh, FWD luxed up Accord is now "Sinister" LOL.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Ooooh, FWD luxed up Accord is now "Sinister" LOL.

Damnit, stop following me!

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: senseamp
Ooooh, FWD luxed up Accord is now "Sinister" LOL.

Damnit, stop following me!

Mazda3forums, now!!!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Aimster
sport + FWD do not mix

Stop trying to defend FWD cars.

WHY? Unless you own one and think it is a sport car I see no reason for you to defend it.

You can see in my sig what cars I own, so your grade-school ad-hominem falls flat.

Fisrt of all, the TL is not marketed as a sports car. It's marketed as a slightly sporty entry-level luxury sedan. A goal that it achieves just fine.

Second of all, for 90% of all driving (and 100% of all legal driving on public roads) there is no practical, legitimate reason aside from towing to require RWD.

I will admit to liking RWD better (obviously I do, or I wouldn't own the cars I own), but I suffer no delusions regarding RWD being anything more than an indulgence of an impractical side of me that is willing to accept the practial shortcomings (reduced poor-weather stability, decreased interior room, etc) in exchange for the "feel" of RWD and the very occasional times when I take the car onto a track.

For street driving, LEGAL street driving, there is no compelling reason to choose RWD, and several compelling reasons (poor-weather stability, interior room, etc) to choose FWD.

ZV

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Aimster
sport + FWD do not mix

Stop trying to defend FWD cars.

WHY? Unless you own one and think it is a sport car I see no reason for you to defend it.

You can see in my sig what cars I own, so your grade-school ad-hominem falls flat.

Fisrt of all, the TL is not marketed as a sports car. It's marketed as a slightly sporty entry-level luxury sedan. A goal that it achieves just fine.

Second of all, for 90% of all driving (and 100% of all legal driving on public roads) there is no practical, legitimate reason aside from towing to require RWD.

I will admit to liking RWD better (obviously I do, or I wouldn't own the cars I own), but I suffer no delusions regarding RWD being anything more than an indulgence of an impractical side of me that is willing to accept the practial shortcomings (reduced poor-weather stability, decreased interior room, etc) in exchange for the "feel" of RWD and the very occasional times when I take the car onto a track.

For street driving, LEGAL street driving, there is no compelling reason to choose RWD, and several compelling reasons (poor-weather stability, interior room, etc) to choose FWD.

ZV

::applaudes::

Well said.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: NFS4
It will always be a GOOD entry-level luxury sports sedan, but it can never be a GREAT entry-level sports sedan without RWD. If you want to take on the likes of the 3-Series, FWD is not an option. So far, the G35 has come the closest and the 2007 G35 looks to be even better than before.

And I'm tired of hearing the snow argument. RWD cars aren't THAT bad in the snow with snow tires and half of a brain upstairs.

It's a GREAT sporty sedan. The 3-Series and G35 are GREAT sports cars with extra doors. Different aims. Besides, I can fit into the back seat of a TL, the back seat of a 3-series is a joke. Haven't sat in a G35, so I can't judge there.

And you're right that RWD isn't "THAT bad" in the snow, but it's still worse than FWD. Just because it's not dangerous doesn't mean that someone shouldn't be allowed to prefer to have the added safety of FWD. (Or prefer not to have to spend an extra $400 on snow tires every couple years, plus going through the hassle of having them mounted each year or having to spend money on a second set of wheels just to have better winter traction.)

ZV

 

[Thraxen]

Oh gawd... more FWD drive bashing on ATOT... who would have guessed? The way many people talk here I would expect to see people breaking their car's rear end loose around every corner during my morning commute. But guess what? I have never seen that.

 

[NFS4]

Official pics