Acura TL has a grip on high-performance motoring
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_.../88434697.html
What’s s in a name?
The Acura brand debuted in North America in 1986 as the “second channel” or luxury/performance brand from Honda.
It was a masterstroke. Suddenly the little solid and stolid Civic that people had come to love as youngsters was offering Honda reliability with luxury to the same people who were starting to make their way in life.
It wasn’t long before Toyota with Lexus and Nissan with Infiniti jumped in hoping to cash in on the success of Acura.
With the Legend sedan and Integra sporty coupe, Acura hit the ground running and people were fighting to get their hands on an Acura.
And then something funny happened. Even though Acura had huge equity in the Legend and Integra, the Legend somehow became the larger 3.5RL and the Legend name was abandoned.
To fill the slot left by the Legend, there was briefly the Vigor but that was dropped as Acura went alphanumeric across the board with the 3.2 TL and (if memory serves) 2.7 TL.
A former Honda/Acura executive once told me that this was done so that when people asked an owner what kind of model he/she was driving, instead of spouting numbers and letters, with simpler to say “Acura” which also served to tout the brand name like saying Audi or Mercedes.
Today the numbers and names are gone but the letters remain with today’s Acura model lineup denoted as RDX, MDX, RL, CSX and the TL as tested here.
Lets look as this week’s tester the 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive) and that’s a mouthful if there ever was one.
With a superb engine and incredible AWD system that rivals anything on the market today, I wish this sedan had a name that makes a statement.
With Honda/Acura’s association with IndyCar racing, I’d love to see a model called the Acura Indy Legend. But alas, I dream.
And to not confuse you more, there are two versions of the TL. There is the base car with front-wheel-drive and a 3.5-litre V6 (280 hp, 254 lb/ft) and this week’s tester TL with SH-AWD that gets a bigger 3.7-litre V6 (305 hp, 273 lb/ft) that is the most powerful unit Acura makes.
The SH-AWD system on the 2010 Acura goes a generation or two beyond simple AWD as we know it. It is one of the very few, Audi’s quattro driver select being another, that makes it possible to take advantage of what is called “torque vectoring”, a catchall phrase that barely describes how the system works.
Honda needs no lessons on how to build engines. It is, in fact, the largest maker of gasoline engines in the world.
The 3.7-litre unit in the TL is big for a V6 because the centrifugal force of the revolving mass of the internals has to be finely balanced.
One of the ways this is done is with (get ready for another tongue twister) Variable Valve Tuning and Lift Electronic Control. Off the line, a lower valve lift time and shorter camshaft profile combine for faster combustion thus more torque. As speed levels off, the valves lift higher resulting in a longer opening for the air/fuel mix meaning a greater charge in the chamber for more power.
But leading-edge engine mapping makes sure the right amount of fuel is available for reasonable gas mileage, in this case 12.3/8.1L/100 km city/highway with the standard five-speed automatic or 11.9/8.0L/100 km city/highway in the six-speed manual transmission option that is available for the first time on the TL.
Although it was available on other Acura models, the SH-AWD system in the TL is the most aggressive and responsive.
From launch, the system can direct up to 60 per cent of torque to the rear wheels, but in normal driving, grip is neutral.
Accelerate and traction goes to the rear as needed. Slow and traction goes partially to front as needed for better handling.
So far this is fairly typical of AWD systems.
But where SH-AWD comes into its own is in cornering where up to 100 per cent of torque (depending on speed) goes to the outside back wheel as it rotates faster than the inside wheel.
Not only do the rear tires remain stable but the front tires are able to carve through the corner with less sideslip.
An example of wheree you find this happening is on a highway on ramp.
As you transit through the bend, the car feels incredibly stable.
Give it the gas and it still feels like it is on rails instead of trying to “push” to the outside of the curve.
Cruising down the highway there is also a feeling of solidity along with almost no outside noise or vibration coming into the cabin.
I advise anyone thinking of buying this car to take it on a twisty road you know and experience it for yourself.
While you might think the “Technology” part of this car’s name is about the SW-AWD system, it’s actually a trim package available on both TL models and includes a nav/infotainment system with, get this, trilingual voice recognition that understands up to 800 verbal commands.
Part of this is the 440-watt surround sound audio that will play any kind of USB/CD/MP3/satellite you’ve got.
But it also has a very large centre-dash mounted monitor with backup camera with graded lines.
As long as you stay between the lines, you won’t bump into anything.
Amazing!
With a list price of $48,490, and an as tested price of $50,794, there isn’t too much more you’ll need unless you want to indulge in a list of options like super bright chrome 19-inch wheels or full nose mask for our Canadian winters.
Considered a mid-size car, the TL as tested is bigger inside and out than some domestic full-size cars I can think of and it is also priced about the same as one or two I can think of.
While the name may have changed, the spirit and quality that made Acura a synonym for quality is still very much there.
And with its combination of responsive engine and superior handling, the 2010 Acura TL with SH-AWD is a very formidable piece of performance sedan.
At a glance:
Body style: Mid-Size luxury sedan.
Drive method: front-engine, all-wheel-drive.
Engine: 3.7-litre SOHC V6 (305 hp, 273 lb/ft).
Tow rating: NA.
Fuel economy: Premium; 12.3/100 km city, 8.1/100 km highway
Price: $48,490, as tested, $50,794.
Web: www.acura.ca
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_.../88434697.html
What’s s in a name?
The Acura brand debuted in North America in 1986 as the “second channel” or luxury/performance brand from Honda.
It was a masterstroke. Suddenly the little solid and stolid Civic that people had come to love as youngsters was offering Honda reliability with luxury to the same people who were starting to make their way in life.
It wasn’t long before Toyota with Lexus and Nissan with Infiniti jumped in hoping to cash in on the success of Acura.
With the Legend sedan and Integra sporty coupe, Acura hit the ground running and people were fighting to get their hands on an Acura.
And then something funny happened. Even though Acura had huge equity in the Legend and Integra, the Legend somehow became the larger 3.5RL and the Legend name was abandoned.
To fill the slot left by the Legend, there was briefly the Vigor but that was dropped as Acura went alphanumeric across the board with the 3.2 TL and (if memory serves) 2.7 TL.
A former Honda/Acura executive once told me that this was done so that when people asked an owner what kind of model he/she was driving, instead of spouting numbers and letters, with simpler to say “Acura” which also served to tout the brand name like saying Audi or Mercedes.
Today the numbers and names are gone but the letters remain with today’s Acura model lineup denoted as RDX, MDX, RL, CSX and the TL as tested here.
Lets look as this week’s tester the 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive) and that’s a mouthful if there ever was one.
With a superb engine and incredible AWD system that rivals anything on the market today, I wish this sedan had a name that makes a statement.
With Honda/Acura’s association with IndyCar racing, I’d love to see a model called the Acura Indy Legend. But alas, I dream.
And to not confuse you more, there are two versions of the TL. There is the base car with front-wheel-drive and a 3.5-litre V6 (280 hp, 254 lb/ft) and this week’s tester TL with SH-AWD that gets a bigger 3.7-litre V6 (305 hp, 273 lb/ft) that is the most powerful unit Acura makes.
The SH-AWD system on the 2010 Acura goes a generation or two beyond simple AWD as we know it. It is one of the very few, Audi’s quattro driver select being another, that makes it possible to take advantage of what is called “torque vectoring”, a catchall phrase that barely describes how the system works.
Honda needs no lessons on how to build engines. It is, in fact, the largest maker of gasoline engines in the world.
The 3.7-litre unit in the TL is big for a V6 because the centrifugal force of the revolving mass of the internals has to be finely balanced.
One of the ways this is done is with (get ready for another tongue twister) Variable Valve Tuning and Lift Electronic Control. Off the line, a lower valve lift time and shorter camshaft profile combine for faster combustion thus more torque. As speed levels off, the valves lift higher resulting in a longer opening for the air/fuel mix meaning a greater charge in the chamber for more power.
But leading-edge engine mapping makes sure the right amount of fuel is available for reasonable gas mileage, in this case 12.3/8.1L/100 km city/highway with the standard five-speed automatic or 11.9/8.0L/100 km city/highway in the six-speed manual transmission option that is available for the first time on the TL.
Although it was available on other Acura models, the SH-AWD system in the TL is the most aggressive and responsive.
From launch, the system can direct up to 60 per cent of torque to the rear wheels, but in normal driving, grip is neutral.
Accelerate and traction goes to the rear as needed. Slow and traction goes partially to front as needed for better handling.
So far this is fairly typical of AWD systems.
But where SH-AWD comes into its own is in cornering where up to 100 per cent of torque (depending on speed) goes to the outside back wheel as it rotates faster than the inside wheel.
Not only do the rear tires remain stable but the front tires are able to carve through the corner with less sideslip.
An example of wheree you find this happening is on a highway on ramp.
As you transit through the bend, the car feels incredibly stable.
Give it the gas and it still feels like it is on rails instead of trying to “push” to the outside of the curve.
Cruising down the highway there is also a feeling of solidity along with almost no outside noise or vibration coming into the cabin.
I advise anyone thinking of buying this car to take it on a twisty road you know and experience it for yourself.
While you might think the “Technology” part of this car’s name is about the SW-AWD system, it’s actually a trim package available on both TL models and includes a nav/infotainment system with, get this, trilingual voice recognition that understands up to 800 verbal commands.
Part of this is the 440-watt surround sound audio that will play any kind of USB/CD/MP3/satellite you’ve got.
But it also has a very large centre-dash mounted monitor with backup camera with graded lines.
As long as you stay between the lines, you won’t bump into anything.
Amazing!
With a list price of $48,490, and an as tested price of $50,794, there isn’t too much more you’ll need unless you want to indulge in a list of options like super bright chrome 19-inch wheels or full nose mask for our Canadian winters.
Considered a mid-size car, the TL as tested is bigger inside and out than some domestic full-size cars I can think of and it is also priced about the same as one or two I can think of.
While the name may have changed, the spirit and quality that made Acura a synonym for quality is still very much there.
And with its combination of responsive engine and superior handling, the 2010 Acura TL with SH-AWD is a very formidable piece of performance sedan.
At a glance:
Body style: Mid-Size luxury sedan.
Drive method: front-engine, all-wheel-drive.
Engine: 3.7-litre SOHC V6 (305 hp, 273 lb/ft).
Tow rating: NA.
Fuel economy: Premium; 12.3/100 km city, 8.1/100 km highway
Price: $48,490, as tested, $50,794.
Web: www.acura.ca
The 2010 Acura TL with Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (Technology trim level shown) combines Honda’s legendary engine design with one of the most sophisticated drive trains in its class.
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