If only this was the Aussie Honda Accord
Acura TLX Type S now on sale in the US with 265kW turbo V6 to take on Audi S4 and BMW M340iHonda’s US-based Acura premium brand has brought out the big guns with the 2021 Acura TLX Type S – a new mid-size sports sedan that packs a 265kW punch via its 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6.
There is no Honda-badged version yet, so no Honda Accord of this magnitude in the making for Australia, but it does show that the Japanese car-maker is continuing to develop high-performance sports-luxury sedans to meet buyer demand. In the US at least…
Described as “the first in a new generation of Type S performance variants”, the Acura TLX Type S is left-hand drive only at this stage and was clearly developed to take the fight right up to Germany’s executive sports sedans, including the Audi S4 (260kW/500Nm) and BMW M340i xDrive (285kW/500Nm).
Priced well below these rivals from $US52,300 ($A69,740), the 265kW/480Nm TLX Type S drives through a tuned 10-speed automatic transmission and fourth-generation Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system with torque vectoring.
Independent testing in North America shows it can sprint from 0-60mph (96km/h) in 4.4secs, while braking performance is aided by a Honda NSX-derived electro-servo braking system and Brembo four-piston front callipers with larger 363mm rotors.
Other highlights include 20-inch alloy wheels with wide 255/35 Pirelli P Zero tyres, updated double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, revised steering and adaptive damping calibration, and extra structural reinforcement of the body.
Seen here in the Tiger Eye Pearl colour exclusive to the Type S model, the hi-po Acura TLX also comes with a sporty body kit and plenty of standard features to take on flagship versions of Lexus IS and Genesis G70 sedans.
Think 16-way power-adjustable front seats upholstered in premium suede trim, a 17-speaker sound system and a 10.2-inch touch-screen infotainment system.
At this stage Acura has no plans to enter the Australian marketplace, but the latest-gen Honda NSX hybrid, which was badged an Acura in the US, was sold here.
We can only live in hope…
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