Just the Facts:
- Honda's premium brand hints that its midsize sedan will get a face-lift for 2012.
- Look for tweaks to the TL's styling and performance.
- The brief announcement describes the changes as "aggressive, yet refined."
TORRANCE, California — Honda's premium Acura brand said it will unveil a "newly refined" 2012 TL sedan in early February at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. Acura declined to provide details.
In a brief statement, the brand said the TL will "further enhance its position in the segment with aggressive, yet refined styling and performance."
The official unveiling will be broadcast via Webcast on February 9.
Inside Line says: Let's hope the TL face-lift actually results in a new face. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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rats says:
07:55 AM, 12/12/2011
Man, it must be tough being a Honda/Acura engineer. They build such world class internals wrapped around some of the ugliest designs on wheels today.
hondacura4 says:
01:15 PM, 02/10/2011
"It destroys Honda's J37 in power but Honda beats the Nissan in refinement."
Hondalvr4life, true but that's not the only advantage of the Acura V6. It's lighter, physically smaller, more efficient and the 6MT is just about as fast as a 6MT G37 despite all the "superior technology" the G37 employs like; VVEL and DOHC architecture. So despite the Infiniti's on paper advantage the Acura V6 is still just as good or better without all the technology. With that said, I keep wondering what an Acura V6 would do if it had DOHC's, a-VTEC (Honda's throttless valve technology), DI and other small mechanical features that most 6 cyls have in this class. Acura may be asleep currently but given Ito's change of thought as of late (NSX is back on) I think Acura may have the chance to FINALLY spread its wings.
jacton says:
11:20 AM, 02/09/2011
The 2004 era cars were the pinnacle of this model's design. It still looks fresh today and doesn't have the gimmicky crap that this design has. Designs are supposed to get better with each generation not worse.
6sptl says:
07:49 AM, 02/09/2011
The present generation TL is a classic example of how to screw up a perfectly good car with a makeover. I was one of the first guys to buy a 2004 6 speed model, a fabulous car particularly after swapping the crappy OEM rubber for much stickier tires that could harness the whopping power that could be laid down by the engine. It was strickingly good looking and probably the best acura design aside from the NSX. Then some idiot decided it was too plain looking (I have no idea who). They grafted that disgusting shield design on its nose, not only is the design ugly they made sure it covered the entire front end including the forward end of the hood! It looked like an old man with a disfiguring tumor of the nose! THen, they added a strip of bling in the rear so it would look like a saturn! I have never seen such a disastrous redesign in my entire life!!! From an almost debutant to quasimodo in one fell swoop. The TL went from the best selling acura model to an also ran, even with an available more powerful engine and the great SHAWD system. It has been an utter disaster, I surely hope who ever was responsible for it was fired.
shogunwars says:
05:08 PM, 02/07/2011
Having reviewed the previous comments on this article, i am disheartened to say that there is absolutely no chance that the Acura Gods will take the time to absorb the general public's opinions, good or bad. There seems to be an air of arrogance at Honda Corp. Very GM like, back in the day, when they used to rest on their laurels and gave the public what they thought the public wanted. OR...
The only other reason i can even think of is that.... they're broke. They may simply just not have the money to spend. Period. Food for thought...
lions208487 says:
12:41 PM, 02/07/2011
They may have gone from a buck tooth to a small over bite, but the rear end still needs some plastic surgery. The interior is fantastic and it performs great for the money. I don't get why people state that Nissan's VQ in the G37 gets whinny, I have pushed that car hard at freeway speeds or perhaps well over, but other then the exhaust note, I don't notice the engine straining as some of you people are writting about. Either way the G is starting to become as bland as a 3 series, but will be ready for an update for 2012, so I don't mind waiting. Out of the Acura lineup, only the TSX looks like an attractive sedan to me, but FWD is not a good mix for the 280 V6 that they offer, so again the G37 is the better car. I might take the new S60 T6 before I opt for an Acura.
hondalvr4life says:
11:19 AM, 01/26/2011
@ maxman
I hate how Nissan calls the current generation Maxima a 4DSC (4 door sports car) when it is only available with a power sapping, annoying, rubber band feeling, non-enthusiat style CVT transmission. It is also ridiculous because they actually have a real 4DSC in their lineup called the Infiniti G37... Although I do love the G37 I am starting to think the styling is getting a bit bland and dated and the engine is a bit too loud and coarse at high revs. It destroys Honda's J37 in power but Honda beats the Nissan in refinement. I think I would take the refinement at the end of the day bc the noisy VQ might get annoying in the end. If you plan on selling your TL soon and its in my area I'll be looking for it, although silver is not my favorite color, the fact that its a 6MT might change my mind lol
rednsx1 says:
10:07 AM, 01/26/2011
I know that styling is very subjective but I for one find the most recent iteration of the TL totally unacceptable in the styling department. I am on my 4th TL (the first a 2000, the second a 2003, the third a 2005 and now a 2006). I think that the TL is a wonderful car and the dealership has taken very good care of me over the years. I love the Honda product for reliability and overall ownership experience but find the styling both inside and outside the new TL so objectionable that this drove me to a 2010 Volvo S80 T6 for my wife. Although the Volvo is not on par with the TL in refinement and a few other areas, it is sufficiently quick/powerful and pleasing to the eye. I am in agreement with Maxman -- to my eyes, the new TL is totally disharmonious on the outside and way too busy on the inside. This is truly a shame IMHO because the loaner TLs I have driven (and I have driven the base model as well as the SH AWD but not the 6 speed) do everything about 10-15% better than my /06 -- better ride, better handling, better brakes, although I don't find the steering to be quite as connected as on the /06. I bet the 6 speed is tons of fun. While I would love to replace the Volvo once off lease with a new TL, I just can't live with the current looks so hopefully a full re-skin in the future will bring the car back in line with the 04/08 MYs styling which in my opinion was classic in the idiom of the E39 BMW (5 series 1999-2003). Just my 2 cents and no offence intended to any of you who like the new styling.
iutodd32 says:
07:50 AM, 01/26/2011
This new one will look better. And get a power bump, 6AT all around, and have some new tech.
So basically a very strong car becomes even better.
And, for the love of Jar-Jar Binks...nobody cares that you still think the styling sucks. It's been around for over 2 years. Get over it already.
zoomzoomn says:
06:28 AM, 01/26/2011
"The 2012 Acura TL won't look dramatically different from this 2011 model."
And that's the worst thing that can be said about it. This car desperately needs a facelift!!!