Acura has finally confirmed that the current TSX and TL models will be replaced by another model known as ” TLX ” . The new model’s car sale will start in the second half of 2014, as a 2015 model, and will fill the gap between the ILX and RLX in Acura’s sedan lineup.
We’ll get our first official look at the 2015 TLX when Acura unveils a prototype version at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show in January. The new mid-sizer will be positioned as a sportier and more dynamic option than the entry-level ILX and range-topping RLX, and its styling is said to reflect this.
Acura describes the styling of the car as “emotional” and featuring “sports sedan proportions.” Our own spy shots of a prototype reveal a fairly conventional three-box sedan body with Acura’s trademark grille up front and a wide rear section.
The design of the car was handled by Acura’s Los Angeles design studio while most of the engineering took place at the automaker’s Ohio R&D center. Production will take place at the Marysville plant, also in Ohio, where Acura currently builds the TL.
Underpinning the car is believed to be a premium version of the platform underpinning the Honda Accord. Two all-new engines will be available on the 2015 TLX. They will feature direct-injection technology and be mated with a new transmission, possibly Honda’s new eight-speed dual-clutch unit. Front-wheel drive will be standard but all-wheel drive will be offered as an option.
With the TSX being discontinued, it’s not clear yet if Honda’s version of the car sold overseas, the Accord Euro, will be replaced. We should know more once the TLX prototype makes its debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show on January 14. For more from the show, head to our dedicated hub.
