Just like Honda's brand-new TLX in the 1990s, can it help Acura find itself?

At the end of May, Acura officially announced the launch of a new TLX in North America. To our surprise, the TYPE S version, which started from TSX (the predecessor of TLX) and left today, came back with a brand-new V6 twin-turbo engine.

Speaking of the brand-new TLX, people have to think of its predecessor, which is the domestic Acura TLX-L now sold in China. Since the domestic Acura TLX-L went on the market at the end of 20 17, the average annual sales volume of this model specially extended for China market is 1000. The uncoordinated proportion of the whole vehicle, coupled with the old 2.4L naturally aspirated engine, really makes people uninterested, let alone feel the traditional sports attributes of Acura. Besides the product itself, is there a problem with Acura's product planning and marketing strategy?

Replacement is not activated.

As long as the word Acura is mentioned in China, people will associate the sales volume in China market with its sales performance in the US market. Indeed, Acura has performed well in the American market, and its sales volume is second only to BBA and Lexus. But behind the surface of prosperity, no one noticed the dilemma of eulogizing "ice and fire". The SUV represented by MDX has shown overwhelming advantages, while in the remaining car product lines, ILX, TLX and RLX are all struggling, and their sense of existence is very low. RLX from the car product line was also officially discontinued by Acura not long ago.

The Acura brand, which started with a car, is now stumbling on the car.

Looking back at China, in the past two years, the product features of Acura TLX-L did not meet the needs of domestic consumers, which can be said to be its fatal flaw. The 2.4L naturally aspirated engine is not as good as the 2.0T engine of the German BBA, and the high-end 3.5L model is obviously not suitable for the characteristics of the China market, so it has not been launched. In recent years, Honda China began to fully turbo-charge, and Acura, as a high-end brand of Honda, had to rely on old technology to support it. The reason for this situation is very simple, and there is a time difference between generations.

Ten generations Honda Accord

It stands to reason that if you want to pursue a Honda model that is younger and more sporty than the tenth generation Accord, you should go to the Acura brand in the same period. However, due to the different replacement times of Accord and TLX, this rule is reversed, that is, the new TLX just unveiled is three years later than the tenth Accord released on 20 17.

Just when everyone thought Acura was ready to give up the car product line, a brand-new TLX was born and returned to the sports medium-sized luxury car market with a stronger sports atmosphere. This time, can the long-brewing Acura regain itself?

Dressed up and armed to the teeth

In 20 19, at the Pebble Beach Auto Show in the United States, Acura officially released the TYPE S concept car, which also showed people the design idea of the next generation TLX model, which also meant that the legendary TYPE S performance car series was about to return.

As a luxury medium-sized car with sports attributes, the new TLX basically "copied" the design style of the concept car Type S, but the taste of the concept has converged. The iconic diamond grille shape on the front face and the narrow and fierce light group finally give TLX "the flavor of the times". A large number of blackened decorative strips, original spoilers and angular ribs have become the standard of the new TLX.

The new TLX has changed the most, and the most obvious improvement is the side. The new TLX lost the bloated body of the previous generation and made the design of long front and short back to the extreme. The more backward visual center of gravity creates a sports atmosphere that only longitudinal rear drive can have, so that vehicles can enjoy the visual enjoyment of FR layout.

Moving from the back door to the triangular window on the car body makes the layout angle of C-pillar have the visual effect of GT model, and also makes the size of the rear more compact. Although the length of the replaced car increased by 73mm, the wheelbase was lengthened by 94mm, and the body was reduced by 15mm, it still created a more compact visual effect compared with the previous generation. I have to admit that Acura has a good grasp of the sense of movement.

Undoubtedly, the K20C four-cylinder turbine engine that Honda dreamed of in China has appeared on the brand-new TLX. The peak torque of 272 HP and 380 Nm is transmitted to the front wheels or four wheels through the 10 speed automatic transmission. Although the overseas version of the tenth generation Accord is also equipped with this powertrain, the new TLX has been separated from the Accord. The new TLX built on the platform of Acura Special Purpose Vehicle is essentially two completely different cars from the Accord.

First of all, it is reflected in the design of the front suspension. The McPherson front suspension on the Accord has been replaced by a more complex double wishbone structure. This double wishbone structure of flat knitting machine allows us to see the shadows of predecessors TL and TSX, which is the most basic hardware support for the models advertised as "sports attributes". Moreover, Acura announced that this suspension will not be used on any Honda model in the future.

Secondly, the new TLX has improved the torsional stiffness by 50% on the basis of the previous generation, and even increased the torsional stiffness by 65,438+000% in some places. At the same time, 56% lightweight materials were added, which increased the proportion of aluminum alloy and high-strength steel in the whole vehicle. The front bumper, fender and top of shock absorber are all made of aluminum alloy. In order to reduce the weight of the front of the car, Acura engineers moved the battery to the trunk of the car. The main purpose of this common practice in racing is to reduce the weight of the front of the car. Finally, the weight ratio of 57:43 was obtained on the 2.0T version of the new TLX, which is excellent for the predecessor platform.

As for the interior, the new TLX has not escaped Honda's shadow, mechanical instruments, familiar steering wheel, Accord electronic shift lever and so on. Easy to use is really easy to use, but it always feels worse in Acura. In short, the upgrade of the interior is far less thorough than the mechanical level.

The ambience lights in the new TLX car provide 24 lighting schemes, but interestingly, these 24 schemes are all named after the destination or track that drivers yearn for, such as "Pacific Coast" and "Suzuka". Well, this is really Honda.

S-type returns are strong.

As a version of the A-Spec kit of the previous generation TLX flagship model, I'm sorry that I have to make way for TYPE S this time.

If you see a model with the suffix "TYPE" in Honda, its influence is by no means worse than BMW's M Power and Mercedes-Benz's AMG. As a new TLX performance version of TYPE S, how much its power system can be improved is definitely what everyone expects most, and this time the new TLX TYPE S has not disappointed Honda and Acura fans.

Based on Acura NSX 3.5T, the 3.0T JNC VTEC twin-scroll twin-turbocharged twin-injection V6 engine has not been officially announced, but according to the official statement, it will be at least 50% stronger than the previous generation V6 engine, and the data of more than 350 horses will definitely not run away.

Don't forget that Acura has another killer: SH-AWD symmetrical vector four-wheel drive system. This four-wheel drive system can transmit 70% of the power to the rear wheels, while the differential can distribute 0- 100% of the single-wheel power. The end result is that TLX can get more flexible rear axle response when cornering.

Of course, in order to match the heavier body, 4-piston Brembo calipers and larger brake discs have also become standard for TYPE S models. In addition, according to the official, in addition to the common comfortable, normal and sporty driving modes, TYPE S also "enjoys" customized driving modes, and the owner can control the engine throttle, transmission downshift logic, four-wheel drive system response logic, steering wheel hardness and so on. More fun was given to the driver.

Pure black front grille surrounded design, exclusive TYPE S logo of China Net, duck tail with the same effect as BMW M3, and "grumpy" exhaust on both sides ... This brand-new TLX S model is more and more like Honda in the 1990s.

Write it at the end

Today's mid-level cars are moving closer to sports, and the new TLX is doing the same thing. It is determined to take the performance and movement route, and its appearance, power and adjustment are clearly telling us this. However, these changes in the new TLX are just "old jobs" for Acura. I don't know if this different sports car can find the long-lost luxury performance RV experience for consumers. However, TLX and even Acura brand seem to be getting farther and farther away from our domestic consumers.

This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.