Performance, Polish and Refinement
Canada's west coast is often referred to as Canada's wet coast, and quite rightly so thanks to the rainforest eco system that beholds the area. Along with developing an appreciation of automotive engineering and performance, a west coast auto journalist must also develop an appreciation for rain, regardless of whether a test vehicle is a convertible sports coupe or an all-weather SUV. Well this week's road test enhanced my appreciation for flawless automotive engineering and performance, even though the rain remains under-appreciated.
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| Flawless is literally the only way I can describe Acura's new TL near-luxury sport sedan. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Flawless is literally (no pun intended) the only way I can describe Acura's new
TL near-luxury sport sedan. This is one sweet automobile, and at a fully-loaded starting price of $41,750 including PDI, to a high of $44,950, also including PDI, there may be no better sport sedan value available anywhere through lawful means.
The new TL is the third generation of the Acura line that, after initially starting out as the Vigor in 1992, first met the public in TL form in 1995. It was further redesigned and much upgraded for the 1999 model year. The latest TL incarnation improves upon the second-gen version in every respect, the obvious goal of the engineers. The new TL does in fact out-handle, out-brake and out-perform the old guy, which is remarkable given the high thresholds set by the most recent's 03 TL.
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| Acura set out to "create an all-new vehicle with an exterior design that is more taut, athletic and powerful than before." (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
In addition to eclipsing the old model's performance limits, Acura set out to "create an all-new vehicle with an exterior design that is more taut, athletic and powerful than before." I think Acura again achieved its goal, even if the TL's side-profile smacks of a 3 series BMW. But that's where any similarity comes to a grinding halt. The TL's traditional Acura nose has taken on a pointy-ness that is further sharpened by the car's slim, wrap-around Xenon headlights. Large cooling slots in the lower front fascia add to the assertive face sure to be approaching quickly in the rearview mirror cars ahead.
