2021 Acura TLX – Fun to Drive Luxury Sedan. 2021 Acura TLX – Drive, Interior and Exterior. Please Consider Subscribing.
The 2021 TLX is a sport sedan at its core, built on a new dedicated Acura sedan platform designed for Type S-levels of performance. The new chassis heralds the return of double-wishbone front suspension to Acura’s top-selling sedan, offering more precise handling and cornering grip, as well as greater mechanical compliance for improved ride quality. In addition, the TLX chassis incorporates multiple new performance-focused engineering upgrades, including a variable-ratio steering system, electro-servo brake-by-wire technology applied from the NSX and an available driver selectable Adaptive Damper System.
The TLX’s all-new chassis is anchored to an advanced new body structure — NSX aside, the most rigid ever offered on an Acura vehicle— delivering a 50 percent increase in global torsional stiffness and up to a 100 percent improvement in localized rigidity where the suspension is mounted to the body. The new structure uses 56 percent (by weight) advanced, lightweight materials, including aluminum and press-hardened steel, more than any previous Acura sedan.
First developed for the second-generation NSX, the new TLX utilizes a highly sophisticated electric-servo brake system. This system allowed Acura engineers to finely tune the brake pedal force and electronically control the brake pressure to optimize the vehicle’s performance driving characteristics.
Standard power comes from a 2.0-liter DOHC, direct-injected and turbocharged engine with VTEC, mated to Acura’s incredibly responsive 10-speed automatic transmission with Sequential SportShift. With peak output of 272 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque.
Acura’s 10-speed automatic, with Sequential SportShift and standard paddle shifters, takes full advantage of both turbocharged engines’ high-torque output, offering a wider ratio range, more discrete gears, four-gear direct downshifts and a lower first gear compared to the previous 8-speed dual-clutch and 9-speed automatic transmissions. Type S models will receive unique transmission tuning to provide an aggressive and responsive characteristic during performance driving scenarios.
Superior handling capabilities are now offered on all TLX models with the available rear-biased Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®), Acura’s industry-leading torque-vectoring all-wheel drive technology. SH-AWD is offered as optional equipment on the 2.0-liter TLX and as standard technology on the TLX Type S, the first Type S model to feature all-wheel drive.
Acura’s 4th-generation SH-AWD® system has 40 percent more rear torque capacity and 30 percent quicker front-to-rear torque transfer than the 3rd-generation system in the outgoing TLX. The Acura SH-AWD® system in the new TLX transfers up to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear axle during normal driving conditions, while continuously apportioning up to 100 percent of that rear-axle torque between either the left and right rear wheels. Additionally, the rear axle is continuously overdriven by 2.9 percent, which amplifies the yaw moment effect of left-to-right torque transfer, elevating performance through sharper and more accurate turn-in, and improved traceability when cornering.
The 2021 TLX’s more premium, personal and tech-focused cabin takes inspiration from the Acura Precision Cockpit’s intuitive functionality and flowing lines. Designed around the desires of today’s luxury sport sedan enthusiasts, the TLX is tastefully appointed with available authentic, high-grade materials including real aluminum, open-pore wood and full-grain Milano leather.
Developed under the theme of “Dual Personal Cockpit,” the sedan’s new, more luxurious interior places a strong emphasis on the driver and front-seat passenger. The TLX’s high and wide center tunnel and wrap-around instrument panel create a more personal and strongly delineated space for both front-seat occupants, while its wider body design enables true first-class seating comfort for both, with top-of-class hip and shoulder room (+0.5 in. and +0.7 in., respectively).
Both the driver and front passenger also benefit from the tailored design of Acura’s advanced front sport seats, highly customizable with up to 16-way power adjustability. For the driver, a stout leather-wrapped steering wheel, clean and clear instrumentation, and improved forward visibility serve as the foundations for an in-command and exhilarating driving experience.
