By Veeno Dewan
Acura’s stellar TL sedan has a few but significant changes for 2012 including a new Sequential SportShift 6-speed automatic transmission for improved performance and fuel economy, revised interior appointments, a host of technology upgrades, numerous improvements to make for an even quieter interior cabin and a new top-of- the-line Elite package.
“The 2012 Acura TL is refined, yet aggressive,” said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, Honda Canada Inc. “Already known for its great performance, the enhanced TL features a sophisticated new look, an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission designed to take performance to the next level, as well as a new fully featured Elite Package.”
The 2012 TL’s refined new look includes a redesigned front bumper with improved aerodynamics, a revised grille, updated headlights and turn signals, a new fog light design and a shorter front overhang. At the rear, a new rear bumper incorporates a significantly repositioned license plate opening and smaller rear reflectors, while updated taillights and a thinner rear trunk edge trim add to a sophisticated new look. In
addition, all TL models now receive body-coloured door handles and rear window trim. To increase performance, a new Sequential SportShift 6-speed automatic transmission is applied on all TL models fitted with an automatic transmission and provides improved fuel economy to 11.4 / 7.6 L/100km. Matched with the transmission is a new final drive gear ratio that allows for more relaxed cruising on the highway.
For 2012, two distinct versions of Acura’s performance luxury sedan remain: a 280-horsepower, front-wheel-drive TL along with a powerful 305-horsepower TL paired with
Acura’s exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®). The performance- minded 6MT model (with 6-speed manual transmission, handling and steering improvements) returns to the 2012 TL SH-AWD® lineup, helping broaden the TL’s appeal among luxury performance sedan buyers. When equipped with the available Elite Package, the TL SH-AWD® is fitted with 19×8-inch split five-spoke aluminum wheels paired with new performance 245/40R19 all-season tires that offer significantly improved performance in snow and ice.
Inside, the 2012 TL benefits from an even further refined cabin that includes instrument cluster changes, new surface finishes for many interior appointments and available ventilated front seats.
Technology improvements include refinement of Bluetooth® Audio (now with artists name, song title, etc.), new “active pairing” functionality for Bluetooth® enabled cellular telephones, Dial-By-Number and dial-by-voice tags, and much faster connection speed for the USB port.
Both the TL and TL SH-AWD® models offer an available Technology Package which includes the Acura Navigation System with Trilingual Voice Recognition™, and an Acura/ELS Surround® 440-watt Premium Audio System. In addition, the hard disk drive (HDD) based navigation system increases in size to 60 gigabytes, map coverage is more expansive, and the full VGA monitor is brighter with even richer colours with the new backlit LED display. With the revised HDD system, there is an increase to 15 GB of dedicated space for the storage of up to 3,500 songs. Also new is Song By Voice™ that allows the driver to choose music by artist, album, song title, genre, playlist and even song composer.
The new for 2012 is an available Elite Package that incorporates all-new ventilated front seats, the larger wheels and a new Blind Spot Information (BSI) system that alerts the driver when another vehicle is detected behind the driver in an adjacent lane.
The 2012 TL will have a MSRP of $39,490. Equipped with the available Technology Package, the MSRP is The TL SH-AWD® will have an MSRP of $43,490. Equipped with the available Technology Package, with either the new 6-speed automatic or manual transmission, the TL SH-AWD® MSRP will be $46,990. The new Elite Package will have an MSRP of $48,990.
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