ALTHOUGH Honda makes some of the best-selling models in the world, its luxury nameplate, Acura, is nowhere near as popular. Say the words “luxury import” to most people and they will reply BMW, Lexus, Mercedes. Except for the super-sporty, to-die-for NSX, and its redesigned and newly souped-up baby sister, Integra, Acura is best known for its dependable, but undistinguished, mid-luxury sedans. Unlike those other imports, Acura’s sedans are not known as so-called performance sedans like the BMW 3 Series or Lexus ES 300 models that are its “benchmark” competitors.
Acura is introducing a new model designed to narrow the gap between its “so-so” sedans and “oh-wow” NSX.
The new TL S-Type is a sporty version of the 3.2 TL, the number one seller in the Acura line-up. This new model is most definitely the result of the marketing guys telling the engineers to create something packed with features that will appeal to a younger customer and do it for $10,000 less than the competition.
I recently had the opportunity to test drive one of the first 2002 models on some curvy California mountain roads and boring straight freeways. It’s a winner. I loved the dual-automatic transmission. Pop it into sport-mode and the suspension and handling tighten instantly. Even on a straightaway, you get a Euro-style, closer-to-the-road feel. Steering is designed so the wheel follows the road. The tire wheels turn in tandem with the steering wheel, making it hard to over-steer or under-steer. It also helps to have over-sized 17″ wheels.
The marketing guys say that the S-Type bucket seats are less padded than the regular TL seats for a sportier feel, but I found the deeper back and bottom bolsters extremely comfortable, while providing a sense of security and support in fast turns.
“Fuel economy is always a priority at Honda,” Chief Powerplant Engineer, Jeremy Hall told me. The 260-horsepower engine has a unique intake valve that was developed for Honda Racing. It provides extra power without using extra fuel, so the hunkier S-Type engine has the same 19 MPG city and 29 MPG highway rating as its less powerful 3.2 TL sibling. More power means more noise, but Acura’s engineers significantly reduced interior noise, so road noise would not interfere with the sounds from the Bose, in-dash, six-CD system.
The marketing guys did focus groups and found out the colors red and silver signaled “sporty” to potential customers. No, the S-Type will not be available in a Corvette Red exterior, but some interior frou-frous are red, including the logo on the shift lever, and the read-outs on the dashboard are a cool silver.
Both the 3.2 TL and the S-Type have been re-designed with a sharper hood shape, including a larger grille and Acura logo. Chief Engineer, Ichiro Sasaki described it as “aggressive and sophisticated.” The 2002 TL S-Type also has ISOFIX, child-seat brackets, a safety feature that should appeal to the mid-30s target customer. There’s a big, bright, user-friendly GPS navigation screen in the middle of the dashboard. Acura uses the OnStar system, developed by General Motors, for emergency notification and other services, such as traffic updates.
The new Acura will be available beginning next month, priced at $30,000 and fully loaded – a good deal less than it’s benchmark competitors. That’s why I called the TL S-Type a winner.