Acura TL
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Photography by Sammy Chan
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Text sourced from Honda Canada Inc.:
Since its inception, the Acura TL performance-luxury sedan has set lofty standards for styling, performance, comfort and technology. Available for 2009 in two distinctly different models – TL and TL SH-AWD® – the all-new fourth-generation Acura TL expands the model’s capabilities and appeal with evocative style, a choice of two VTEC® engines (including a new 305-horsepower V6 engine), and the TL’s first-ever application of Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®).
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing for the new 2009 TL starts at $39,990 for the front-wheel-drive model, and $44,490 for the all-wheel-drive TL SH-AWD® model.
Boasting larger dimensions, optimized suspension, more powerful powertrain and a new Sequential SportShift transmission, the 2009 TL offers more appeal than ever before. It is by far the most technologically advanced sedan ever offered by Acura.
A choice of two different all-aluminum VTEC® engines enables the new 2009 TL to satisfy a wide range of customers. Standard is a 3.5-litre V-6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque that sends power to the front wheels. This new, more powerful engine is also fuel efficient, with fuel economy ratings of 11.6 L/100km city and 7.5 L/100km highway.
Serious performance-sedan devotees will choose the TL SH-AWD® to make winding roads their own. Its all-new 3.7-litre V-6 engine produces 305 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. The 3.7L engine has fuel economy ratings of 12.3 L/100km city and 8.1 L/100km highway.
The pièce de résistance on the TL SH-AWD® is the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ system, now available on the TL for the first time. During spirited cornering, SH-AWD® seamlessly distributes more torque to the outside rear wheel to create a “yaw moment” to help the TL turn in more quickly and precisely – while also continuously apportioning drivetrain torque front to rear and left to right. The result is a remarkably balanced and precise all-wheel-drive performance sedan that excels year-round, not just during inclement weather.
The standard transmission is a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic with F1®-style steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Grade Logic Control. Merging the convenience of an automatic with the enjoyment of SportShift manual gear selection, the transmission also features an overdriven top gear for maximum fuel efficiency on the highway. In fact, the Acura transmission has the widest gear-ratio spread of any 5-speed transmission in its class, providing strong acceleration in lower gears and relaxed, fuel-efficient highway cruising.
Ride quality and passenger comfort benefit from the 2009 TL’s larger exterior dimensions. Featuring 152 mm (6.0”) greater exterior length, 45 mm (1.8”) more overall width and a modest 11 mm (0.5”) increase in overall height, the TL is noticeably larger than its predecessor.
The larger body size directly contributes to greater interior roominess; it also allows a 35-mm (1.4”) longer wheelbase to improve ride quality and a significantly wider track –28 mm (1.1”) wider in front and 44 mm (1.8”) wider in the rear – helps generate even greater cornering control.
On the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) model, more performance-minded suspension and brake tuning, larger 18-inch wheels/tires, racing-inspired front brake cooling ducts, and specially-tuned Electric Power Steering are designed to take the enthusiast’s driving experience to even higher levels.
The TL interior features a new “dual personal” layout that provides both the driver and front passenger with their own personal space. Thanks to its larger exterior dimensions, the new TL has 33 mm (1.3”) more rear legroom and 14 mm (0.5”) of added rear shoulder room compared to the previous generation TL.
For improved safety, the Acura TL features Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. The ACE™ body structure better dissipates crash energy in a severe frontal collision through the use of dedicated load-bearing frame structures that efficiently distribute crash energy through the body structure, while also helping to preserve the integrity of the passenger compartment.
MSRP pricing for the new 2009 Acura TL:
$39,990 – Acura TL
$43,490 – Acura TL Technology Package
$44,490 – Acura TL SH-AWD
$47,990 – Acura TL SH-AWD Technology Package