A couple of months ago, I joined Acura and a gaggle of fellow journalists at the Canadian launch of the completely new Acura TSX. Branded as a 2009 model, I delivered my "first impressions" of this compact sport sedan on April 11th this year. I've now had the opportunity to live with the new TSX for a week, enabling me to conjure-up more in-depth thoughts and findings on Acura's latest pride and joy.
TSX maturation
The first-generation TSX was an impressive effort. It provided Acura with a highly-refined, entry-level sport sedan that was immensely pleasing to drive provided the pleasure wasn't dependent upon scorching acceleration.
The second-generation TSX capitalizes on all that was "right" with gen-1 while providing improvements in handling ability, operational refinement, cabin quality and occupant safety. The new vehicle is also larger and slightly more powerful than whence it was.
Generally, vehicles improve with each successive generation. This is undoubtedly the case with the TSX, it has matured and in doing so it has become a significant player in the luxury sport sedan market.
How much more power?
I'm happy that Acura saw fit to further fortify its inline four-cylinder powerplant rather than concede to V6 power or turbocharging to achieve a little more underhood fire. And in these days of onerous fuel prices, Acura's strategy is sure to payoff, literally. Too bad that premium fuel continues to be required.
The beautifully-balanced 2.4-litre DOHC i-VTEC mill produces 201 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Though its maximum horsepower production is slightly less than last year, torque is up by 8 pound-feet. More important than this modest torque increase is the engine's new, flatter torque curve, which puts greater punch in a more user-friendly rpm range.
On paper, the increase may look insignificant but that's not the case. Once the RPM climb out of the basement, the 2009 TSX pulls athletically throughout its broad powerband. Never within reasonable driving parameters does the engine feel under-the-gun; it revs freely and shows surprisingly good low-end torque, reducing the necessity to gear-down when confronting inclines or repositioning in traffic.
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| The new vehicle is larger and slightly more powerful than whence it was. |
TSX maturation
The first-generation TSX was an impressive effort. It provided Acura with a highly-refined, entry-level sport sedan that was immensely pleasing to drive provided the pleasure wasn't dependent upon scorching acceleration.
The second-generation TSX capitalizes on all that was "right" with gen-1 while providing improvements in handling ability, operational refinement, cabin quality and occupant safety. The new vehicle is also larger and slightly more powerful than whence it was.
Generally, vehicles improve with each successive generation. This is undoubtedly the case with the TSX, it has matured and in doing so it has become a significant player in the luxury sport sedan market.
How much more power?
I'm happy that Acura saw fit to further fortify its inline four-cylinder powerplant rather than concede to V6 power or turbocharging to achieve a little more underhood fire. And in these days of onerous fuel prices, Acura's strategy is sure to payoff, literally. Too bad that premium fuel continues to be required.
The beautifully-balanced 2.4-litre DOHC i-VTEC mill produces 201 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Though its maximum horsepower production is slightly less than last year, torque is up by 8 pound-feet. More important than this modest torque increase is the engine's new, flatter torque curve, which puts greater punch in a more user-friendly rpm range.
On paper, the increase may look insignificant but that's not the case. Once the RPM climb out of the basement, the 2009 TSX pulls athletically throughout its broad powerband. Never within reasonable driving parameters does the engine feel under-the-gun; it revs freely and shows surprisingly good low-end torque, reducing the necessity to gear-down when confronting inclines or repositioning in traffic.
 |
| The beautifully balanced 2.4-litre DOHC i-VTEC mill produces 201 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. |