Known for its discreet and understated character, the TLX needed to be refreshed to keep pace in its segment, segment in which there are big players like the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Since TLX was merged with the TSX that gave birth to the TLX, the TLX has appealed to a class of buyers looking for understated luxury. In the same line of thinking, the 2018 version of the TLX welcomes some novelties such as cosmetic iterations to the Diamond Pentagon grille, new front and rear bumpers with dual rectangular exhaust tips a diffuser and redesigned Jewel Eye lights. Inside, the TLX “comes to town” with Apple Car Play and Android Auto and Acura Watch series.
No change in the engine department
The 2018 Acura TLX is still available with its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 205 horsepower. The SH-AWD version, on the other hand, is powered by the 3.5-liter V6 engine that develops a 290 horsepower cavalry waterproof car cover.
The TLX A-Spec set, for those who want a bit more
Acura reintroduces the A-Spec package for the 2018 TLX, a combination that slightly pushes the sporty and dynamic capabilities of the sedan. It is available on both the four-cylinder and the SH-AWD versions and gives the TLX a unique shield with LED fog lights, expanded exhaust tips and a rear diffuser. Finally, the set comes with a sporty suspension with more aggressive damping settings. For performance enthusiasts, the SH-AWD A-Spec models will offer stiffer springs and a stiffer rear stabilizer bar. With the TLX A-Spec package, the sedan interior features a sportier steering wheel, more supportive leather seats and brushed aluminum accents. The evolution is subtle, certainly. But it certainly aims to rejuvenate the target audience of the TLX in its segment, which, we can never say enough, is very competitive. The 2018 Acura TLX will arrive in dealerships in June.
Vehicle sales are falling in Canada
There has been a certain slowing in recent-year sales of new vehicles in the country, but the trend has been sharply accentuated in October as the number of units sold fell by more than 18.4 % compared to last year. In total, more than 133,000 vehicles were sold in Canada, compared with 163,100 in October 2015. While there is usually a tendency to point out passenger vehicles for these declines, still testing with a drop of 8.8% to 49,342, light trucks were also affected by the slowdown, with light truck sales down 3.7% to 83,700 units sold.
However, we must be cautious with this data, which is incomplete, since Ford was forced to postpone the announcement of its sales figures for the month of October due to a violent fire that broke out at its headquarters during last hours. If we add up to 20,000 units traditionally sold by the American manufacturer the fall in the market is much smaller. Some companies did well when they did. BMW (21.4%), Acura (12.1%) and Audi (10%), the three largest increases in the market. the more marginal sales companies Macerate (Macerate with 73 vehicles and Jaguar with 316 units, an increase of 295%). Subaru also did well with 9% increase, and Volvo with 7%. Others, however, had a more difficult month. Despite an impressive total of 19,527 vehicles sold, FCA saw a drop of 12.9% while General Motors, despite sales of 21,219, fell by 8.8%.
New 2017 Acura MDX at the New York Auto Show
It’s a redesigned and more refined SUV that the Japanese automaker Acura introduced by unveiling its new 2017 Acura MDX at the New York International Auto Show. The big vehicle benefits not only from a major restyling, but it displays especially a new technical sheet more ecological than ever. The MDX will now be offered as a Sport Hybrid version. Physically, it is the pentagon grid first seen on the Acura Precision concept in Detroit earlier this year that contrasts with the older generation. This new, more sophisticated style is therefore a first application in production version. It is, as it should be, framed by the optical blocks Jewel Eye, new trademark of the Japanese banner.
The standard engine has not been modified, while the 3.0-liter V6 is still available, but the 2017 Acura MDX will become the third family car to take advantage of the SH-AWD’s hybrid lined system. The RLX and TLX are the other cars that have them. Concretely, the all-wheel drive is managed by an electric motor with three engines. A first, located on the front axle, helps propel the car. The other two, placed at the rear wheels, intervene as needed when a slip is felt. A 7-speed automatic gearbox with double clutch is responsible for transmitting the power. It should be noted that the new Acura MDX will also be equipped with the Acura Watch module, which combines front-end collision avoidance, lane departure assistance, blind spot detection and intelligent cruise control. And automated emergency braking.
Detroit Auto Show: The Acura Precision Concept in Pictures
Acura is a brand that struggles to stand out in the luxury car market. The models of the brand have nothing to reproach themselves, but they lack a little personality to seduce consumers preferring to turn to Lexus, Infiniti, BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi. At the International Auto Show in Detroit, Acura presented a concept that could suggest a future visual signature, at least we wish.
Larger than the flagship Acura RLX, the Precision Concept is also equipped with interesting technological elements such as a system that detects the driver and the occupants in order to adjust the various parameters according to their tastes, as well as a huge curved central screen controlled using a touchpad. Acura did not talk about motorization at all.