The 2021 Acura TLX takes a big step forward for the brand’s mid-size model thanks to its new platform, turbocharged engines, and bold styling. Needless to say, there’s a lot to see and talk about. That’s exactly why MotorTrend’s own Miguel Cortina took a trip out to Honda Proving Center in the Mojave Desert to pore over the new TLX with Acura’s vice president and brand officer Jon Ikeda.
The new Acura TLX is immediately distinguishable from the old model by its low-slung front end and long dash-to-axle ratio. Acura claims the latter feature increases by 7.8 inches over the previous model, giving the sedan a long hood and cab-rearward profile. Though its new proportions suggest a rear-wheel-drive layout, the base TLX continues to route its powers to the front wheels. However, the car is offered with Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), and crucially, offers a performance model that revives the celebrated Type S badge. The 2021 Acura TLX Type S is powered by a new turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, which transmits power to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Exact power figures haven’t been revealed yet, but we estimate the Type S will land somewhere in the mid-300-hp range.
That said, we do have numbers for the TLX’s new base engine. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is good for 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. That engine also comes mated to a 10-speed auto, though the Type S’s gearbox will be specially tuned for its additional performance. SH-AWD is an option on the turbo-four car, as well, and all TLXs receive a brand-new double-A-arm front suspension—Acura’s first attempt at such a setup in years.
While driving the test track, Ikeda told us about the importance of the new TLX and what it means for the brand, which recently pivoted to the tagline “Precision Crafted Performance.” The TLX is the next step in Acura’s repositioning, but it’s certainly not the last. We’ve long suspected the TLX will not be the only Acura to sport the Type S trim, and Ikeda doesn’t rule out the possibility of the next MDX, which is expected to drop after the TLX launches, getting the Type S performance treatment, too. As he told us in the interview, “Why not?” On top of that, he hinted that we can expect to see a new compact sports sedan in the future, likely a successor to the current Civic-based ILX. Check out the video for the whole story.
