Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - (Page 23) AUGUST 25, 2008 • 23 With redesigned TL, Acura adds power, awd Kathy Jackson kjackson@crain.com NEW YORK — Acura’s redesigned TL sedan, which goes on sale in September, is a total makeover — inside and outside and under the hood. The fourth-generation TL gets new and more powerful engines, more safety features and an all-wheel-drive version — the TL’s first. Telematics also abound. The car, designed in California, is critical for Acura as it continues its quest to reach Tier 1 luxury status with the likes of BMW and Mercedes. The TL was introduced at an event here last month. The basics: The TL comes in two trim lines: the base TL and the TL SHAWD (superhandling all-wheel drive). The sporty Type-S trim has been dropped for now but could return. Every critical dimension, from the exterior and interior size to engine power, is grander than its predecessor. The base 3.5-liter V-6 produces 280 hp, up 22 hp, while keeping the same mileage as the 2008 model — 18 mpg city/26 highway. The awd version gets a new 3.7-liter V-6, the TL’s biggest engine ever. And at 305 hp and 275 pounds-feet of torque, it is Acura’s most powerful engine — more than the 300 hp flagship RL sedan. The 3.7-liter version gets 17 mpg city/25 highway. Acura parent Honda says more aluminum parts on the engine boosts fuel economy. The redesigned car will be introduced with a five-speed automatic transmission only. A manual will debut for the 2010 model year. Notable features: The five-speed automatic transmission that powers both cars has a steering wheel paddle-shifter system that works whenever the gear is in drive. Before, it only worked in the manual mode. As for safety, the TL gets Honda’s ACE body system, which helps minimize damage during a frontal collision. A new rear frame mode minimizes damage in a rear-end collision. The windshield defogger comes on automatically. The option package includes premium leather, the first time on the TL. There’s also a 10-speaker surround sound system and a hard-disk drive that holds up to 2,500 songs. The awd version is available with 19inch wheels and tires. What Acura says: “We want the driver to go out and seek the twisty roads with this car,” says Mike Unger, vehicle performance manager for the TL. The market: The TL is in the entry premium segment. Executives say it will be cross-shopped by consumers looking at the Infiniti G35 and BMW 3 series. Awd was added because Acura expects the feature to penetrate about one-third of the segment by 2010, up from 17 percent in 2000. The base model is expected to account for about 75 percent of the The TL is Acura’s next step toward becoming a Tier 1 luxury brand like BMW and Mercedes. sales. About 70 percent of the consumers will take the options package, which is available on both trim lines. Compromises and shortcomings: Without a V-8 and rwd, the Acura brand still lacks Tier 1 luxury cachet. The skinny: The TL has a much more distinctive and athletic look, gets decent fuel economy and is loaded with technical goodies. With consumers shying away from big engines, Acura has a good chance of selling the targeted 70,000 units annually.c TL of the tape 2009 TL 2008 TL Wheelbase Length Width Height Curb weight Base engine Horsepower Torque, lbs.-ft. EPA mpg Base price *Estimate **Includes shipping 109.3 in. 195.3 in. 74.0 in. 57.2 in. 3,708 lbs. 3.5-liter V-6 280 @ 6,200 rpm 254 @ 5,000 18 city/26 hwy.* $34,000* 107.9 in. 189.3 in. 72.2 in 56.7 in. 3,636 lbs. 3.2-liter V-6 258 @ 6,200 rpm 233 @ 5,000 18/26 $34,485** Katie Foco Advertising Consultant Denver, CO The more traffic we draw to our site, the more exposure your cars get. This year we’re going for unparalleled exposure. High-impact ads on the biggest shows and the biggest networks. We’re reaching millions MARKETING THAT WORKS with our sponsorship of the NBA on TNT, plus we’re at auto shows and baseball stadiums everywhere. We’re spending big to increase traffic to your dealership and inventory. To learn more about how What We Do Works, call 1-888-249-6860 or visit us online at whatwedoworks.com. http://whatwedoworks.com http://whatwedoworks.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - August 25, 2008 Automotive News - August 25, 2008 Looming cuts worry L-M dealers Bad blood Study: Toyota top U.S. lender How the kid got in the picture Hyundai affiliate to build transmission plant White House names acting NHTSA chief S&P lowers outlook on Sonic, Group 1 Now you can talk back: Join our online community Dodge dealers: We're in a box Company gets a fix-it list for pickups, SUVs from J.D. Power Mahindra delays U.S. launch Dealer Beyer now selling a 2009 Obama Nissan to leap into U.S. commercial-truck fray in 2010 China's Brilliance to show cars in Detroit Lawsuit alleges insider trades by CarMax execs Honda: Dealerships will have Fits more than a month early Infiniti's stylish stretch Cadillac will offer 4-cylinder sedan in '10 Chrysler redesigns new design boss' spot in exec ranks Genesis aims at low-priced luxury Letter to the Editor It's show and tell for auto industry in Washington Price cuts both ways The love affair continues Advance ads cost a lot, but help little Dealer-customer mandatory arbitration works Lithia sheds 2 of its Detroit 3 stores Japan sales slide; output, exports keep expanding L.A. dealers split on taking thumbprints of buyers Picture This With redesigned TL, Acura adds power, awd Personnel Chevrolet adjusts plans for coming decade GM revamps its vehicle lineup to succeed in a changed world Caddy relies on model updates over product development Buick buzzes about China Dismal sales make future of Hummer uncertain Budgets may crimp the lineup at Saturn Dreams aside, Pontiac will rely on small fwd cars Will GMC overhaul truck offerings? GM downsizes product lineup GM's powertrain plan: Less weight, better technology Hummer hopes pickup brings new buyers Dealers 'Ambush' boosts GM Certified DealerTrack adds market price checks Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July Mexico sales up 2.6% in July; '08 near pace of '07 Collectors revive GM classics Honda's new Fit subcompact: Bigger, sportier Survey: Suppliers reconsider business with Chrysler Web site offers vehicle listings from Detroit 3 Nissan trains inspectors to improve quality A bumpy ride for dealer/lawmaker Buchanan Detroit dealers duel over bulk mailing Story links Nissan suicides, work pressure Times change, but supplier talk doesn't Garbage in, good stuff out Creed's creations Automotive News - August 25, 2008 Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - (Page BRC1) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - (Page BRC2) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Study: Toyota top U.S. lender (Page 1) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Study: Toyota top U.S. lender (Page 2) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dodge dealers: We're in a box (Page 3) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Nissan to leap into U.S. commercial-truck fray in 2010 (Page 4) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Nissan to leap into U.S. commercial-truck fray in 2010 (Page 5) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Cadillac will offer 4-cylinder sedan in '10 (Page 6) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Cadillac will offer 4-cylinder sedan in '10 (Page 7) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Genesis aims at low-priced luxury (Page 8) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Genesis aims at low-priced luxury (Page 9) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Genesis aims at low-priced luxury (Page 10) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Genesis aims at low-priced luxury (Page 11) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - The love affair continues (Page 12) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - The love affair continues (Page 13) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dealer-customer mandatory arbitration works (Page 14) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dealer-customer mandatory arbitration works (Page 15) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Lithia sheds 2 of its Detroit 3 stores (Page 16) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Lithia sheds 2 of its Detroit 3 stores (Page 16a) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Lithia sheds 2 of its Detroit 3 stores (Page 16b) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Japan sales slide; output, exports keep expanding (Page 17) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Japan sales slide; output, exports keep expanding (Page 18) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Japan sales slide; output, exports keep expanding (Page 19) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Picture This (Page 20) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Picture This (Page 21) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Picture This (Page 22) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - With redesigned TL, Acura adds power, awd (Page 23) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24a) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24b) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24c) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24d) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 25) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - GM revamps its vehicle lineup to succeed in a changed world (Page 26) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Caddy relies on model updates over product development (Page 27) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Budgets may crimp the lineup at Saturn (Page 28) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Budgets may crimp the lineup at Saturn (Page 29) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dreams aside, Pontiac will rely on small fwd cars (Page 30) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - GM downsizes product lineup (Page 31) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - GM's powertrain plan: Less weight, better technology (Page 32) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dealers (Page 33) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 34) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 35) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 36) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 37) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 38) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Mexico sales up 2.6% in July; '08 near pace of '07 (Page 39) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Collectors revive GM classics (Page 40) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Honda's new Fit subcompact: Bigger, sportier (Page 41) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Survey: Suppliers reconsider business with Chrysler (Page 42) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Survey: Suppliers reconsider business with Chrysler (Page 43) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Nissan trains inspectors to improve quality (Page 44) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Nissan trains inspectors to improve quality (Page 45) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Creed's creations (Page 46) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Creed's creations (Page 47) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Creed's creations (Page 48)
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