Acura TSX

scooter71

TOV's (Jeff, specifically) "whisper numbers" seem to match yours- 200 HP I4, 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic, 17" wheels, navigation as the only option, etc.

Any word on whether the TSX suspension setup will lean towards the sporting RSX variety, or the freeway-cruising TL variety?

Should be quite the battle against the sexy Mazda 6...

dudleyr

Hope there is a version with no sunroof! They take away too much headroom (can't come close to fitting in an Accord with the roof) and add weight exactly where you don't want it -right at the top of the car.

Would rather have the Acura, but I can get the 6 how I want it - and in wagon form to boot.

robertsmx

I'm hoping for JDM Accord 24S (sport, P215/45/R17 wheels) setup but it is possible that Honda could use Accord 24T/TL (Touring Luxury w/16-inch rims) setup for auto equipped TSX, 6-speed getting the 24S version. i.e. if Acura goes for one trim (no separate Type-S).

heisnstein

At the Washington area auto show held last week, an Acura rep told me that Honda will bring out both a base and a Type S trim level for the TSX. Let's hope he's right.

On size, I really don’t think car purchasers are as monolithic as you seem to believe, i.e., thinking that size means Accord (or TL if you’ve got the cash), but performance means something else. I believe that a lot of potential TSX purchasers do want decent interior space without having to go to a jumbo-sized car and, seeing that the TSX’s natural competitors (Mazda6 on the low end and Saab 9-3 on the high end) have accomplished this on the same wheelbase, will be disappointed if the TSX comes up short.

robertsmx

No. I'm a potential TSX buyer, and for me, the car as a package matters more than fractions of an inch in interior dimensions. It doesn't matter to me, and I'm sure to most buyers, how a wheelbase translates to front+rear legroom.

Remember Civic's redesign? Honda tweaked the rear suspension a little (still the same 3-link design) and replaced front double wishbones to improve room and safety, and people complained. I don't mind giving up fraction of an inch to keep double wishbone front and 5-link rear suspension in the TSX. Its about a compromise, something must give.

And if you think TSX buyers will not think about Accord or TL as a larger car substitute if they can't fit it, you couldn't be more wrong. Saab 9-3 will probably be the last car they will think about.

rickcls

Is there anyone out there in Europe presently owning a Euro Accord who could give us North Americans an idea of the interior/exterior measurements and more specs if possible, so everyone will have an pretty good idea of what the NA TSX will look like. Thanks

heisnstein

It does no one any good to consistently mischaracterize arguments. Obviously, the issue isn’t how the “wheelbase translates to front+rear legroom space.” But it should also be obvious that the majority of car purchasers also don’t think in terms of whether a car has “front double wishbone front and 5-link rear suspension.” Buyers simply want to know whether a car has adequate space and decent handling. You think the Saab 9-3 will be the “last car [potential TSX purchasers] will think of.” Neither you nor I know. But I do know that it and the Mazda6 demonstrate that you can have space, performance and handling at the size the TSX is coming in with at the price I think many of those potential TSX purchasers are looking at. Yes, people are waiting for the TSX because they want that in a Honda brand, but if I were Honda, I would not be as confident as you that they will uniformly go back to another Honda choice they’re already trying to avoid.

ickes_mobile

I think Honda is going to be aiming the TSX at the Saab 9-3, Volvo S60, and Audi A4 more than the heralded 3-Series or the G35 and IS300. There may be some in-the-know straglers from the Accord/Mazda6/Passat/Altima market.

varmint

All this time I thought Acura wanted a 4-door companion for the RSX...

robertsmx

Varmint, and I can bet you're not alone.

Heisnstein,
Believe me, a lot of potential Accord buyers are waiting for TSX, especially those who thought the pre-98 Accord was the right size. And others like me, are looking for adequate space and handling that you suggested most buyers are looking for. Adequate doesn't necessarily translate into 'most'. TSX may be classified on the smaller side of midsize sedan, or may be even a compact. But, so is a Saab 9-3 (90 cu. Feet interior volume) and Accord Coupe (88 cu. Feet w/moon roof). 94-97 Accord had an interior volume of about 93 cu. Feet, and I have a feeling, TSX would be about the same size on the inside. That's good enough.

As far as packaging goes, Macpherson strut rules. Saab 9-3 benefits from that. Mazda6 benefits from additional 3.5 inches in overall length. So, it is not always the wheelbase that determines interior volume. A lot of potential TSX buyers would be disappointed, for a reason or not, if Honda dropped double wishbones in order to improve interior volume. They were, with Civic. And Honda managed to squeeze more volume on the inside with Civic compared to Saab 9-3.

IMO, TSX and Accord duo is just the right ingredient in the $25K price range. Want room, Accord is there, want distinction, not as much room and, may be more sport, a Honda buyer will have another option in the form of TSX.

mariobros100

Somebody at clubTSX.com (nick: justinjsw
...claims to be a salesman for Acura) posted the following:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The "official" specs for the TSX:

2.4 Liter DOHC, I-VTEC
200 Horsepower@6800 rpm; 166lbs-ft of Torque@4500 rpm
5 sp sequential auto transmission
6 sp close ratio manual transmission
Drive by wire throttle system
Double wishbone suspension
VSA
17 inch Alloy whls P215/50 R 17 Tires
Dual stage airbags, side airbags and side curtain airbags
HID headlights
Navi system with voice recognition
perforated leather seats
dual zone auto climate control
360 total watts audio system with 8 speakers and 6 disc in dash changer""

Thats your standard trim not the Type S. ""

Also said this: ...

"'The Type S will NOT be released at the same time. There are no prices yet. And the pics we have been seeing online already...thats what it will look like including the turn signals on the rear view mirrors. And there are no fake wood trim in the interior at all.""

mariobros100

The site is: clubTSX.com

scooter71

I'm sorry but there are not "a lot" of Accord buyers waiting for the TSX. The facts are that most Accord owners don't know what a TSX is, and those that do are relatively insignificant. Americans don't make buying decisions based on an inch here and there or by engineering terms- what matters to them is the perception of the benefits. TSX shoppers won't consider generic Accords, Camrys, or other family haulers. They'll look at the Mazda 6, 9-3, IS300, G35, and A4 which provide buyers similar benefits of sportiness, exclusivity, decent economy, and four doors all in the same (general) price range.

venus537

i'm not buying the so called official specs, especially the part about the Navi system with voice recognition being standard. it's not standard with any other (and more expensive) acura models.

iceman16

I am an Accord owner, and I am waiting for the TSX. The new Accord is too large and chunky; the TSX, Mazda6 and Saab 9-3 are the right size and much better looking than the new Accord.

venus537

though i'm a current jetta owner, i have previously owned 4 accords and i too am looking forward to the tsx.

diploid

A LOT of people don't know what a TSX is. Honda still has not made the "official" announcement that the sedan debuting at the auto show will indeed be called the TSX.

mariobros100

They are small but at least we can se some ...

go to :

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/provench/slideshow?.dir=/Acura+TSX&.view=t

diploid

If the above link gets you to an error page, just click the refresh button on your browser until it loads. The link works.

The interior - they've managed to make it look different than the Accord (although overall shape is the same). It looks similar to the RSX - metallic trim pieces, no fake wood at all.

The rear - well, so much for the different tail lights. We're getting the same tail lights as everyone else, and the license plate isn't on the bumper (so much for my theory regarding Acura's corporate "look").

But we are getting the cool and very upscale turn signal indicators...yippee. Also, the whole door handle does not appear to be chrome. The handle (at least from the scanned pics) appear to be body colored with a chrome strip running across. And it looks like fog lamps are not standard equipment.

diploid

venus -

Don't know if nav is standard, but it's there in the picture:

http://web.utk.edu/~aharper2/tsx2.jpg

1wiseguy

I agree with you. I'm waiting for the TSX (and the Mazda 6 as it's not for sale in Canada til mid January)and I'm not an Accord owner. I doubt most Accord owners (i.e my father) would have any interest in the TSX.

The TSX appeals to me because I want a reliable and sporty 4 door sedan with lots of power, good handling, and a manual transmission. Being in Canada, I won't buy a rear drive so that rules out G35 and IS300 (terrible on snow/ice) What's left that fits the bill? I can think of only a few: Mazda6, TSX, Altima or Maxima. Anyone else have alternatives?

vcjumper

Saab 9-3 and Audi A4

ambull

If you look carefully at the yahoo photo link above, you will see page TSX 8, which says: Acura Navigation System (Available), which means it is apparently the only option other than the automatic transmission, because only the nav. system says "(Available)".

ickes_mobile

Nice color and nice wheels!!!

heisnstein

The Acura rep who posted the pix last night said "I know that there will be at least a 8K difference" between the TSX and the upcoming TLS.

kthenke

On two separate occassions (Washington, D.C. Auto Show Acura Rep.) and an Acura saleman (in Maryland) both indicated that the TSX will be less than $25,000.

To me this is probably translated to $24,999. We should all know pretty soon. Hopefully the pricing will be announced in Detroit on Sunday.

diploid

I think it's so funny we're all excited about these pictures...as if we've never seen them before in the form of the Euro Accord!

ambull - I couldn't get the text to appear clearly on my screen. Now that you've typed it out, I can sort of make it out in the pic.

ickes_mobile

Make that $24,999.99...

And, we've never seen those wheels and the interior trim is somewhat different below the nav screen. Well done.

sunilb

It seems like power-wise the TSX sits squarely between the Mazda 6i and 6s.

I wonder what type of gas it will use, and how much insurance will cost (I'm very concerned about theft of the wheels and Xenons). Any thoughts on this?

Pricing will be a huge factor, though-- if H/A prices this too far away from a comparably equipped 6 (I think it should be priced somewhere in between the i and s), then it's going to be a tougher sell.

1wiseguy

I like the A4 but its reliability is questionable. Not really a SAAB fan, so I'm still left with the TSX, Mazda6 and Nissans.

The last post on gas prices was a good one and raises a good point. With premium fuel hovering around the 90c/litre mark, it makes driving a premium fuel car very expensive. My current car costs over $100 round trip from Ottawa-Toronto. My wife's Civic does it for less than half. Another reason for nixing the A4 (not sure about the SAAB)

The difference of 10c/litre works out to over $500/year.

Mazda6 uses regular for both the 6i (GS in Canada) and the 6s (GT in Canada)

Given that Honda pumped 240 horses out of its new Accord engine using regular, I expect that the TSX will also use regular. At least I hope so.

wayde

So I think it will use premium fuel - just like the RSX-S does and the previous GS-R's and Preludes. Given that it's a 4-cyl... maybe Honda wizadry has done something wonderful again tho and given us a high rpm 4 banger that can run on regular fuel (just don't know how they could get the compression up high enough).
I realllllly like the TSX. Can't wait to see it in person on January 11th (my first time going to the Detroit auto show --- I'm PUMPED!)

venus537

i'm extremely disappointed with what they did with the interior (especially the dumb [non-permissible content removed] looking gauges, the accord's are much better). this may appeal to adolascient acid heads, but not me.

phild_mason

I like the European interior which looks a bit more subdued with wood inserts, not brushed chrome. I think their S model tends to have the metalic look with the Recaro seats.

I hope Acura has a more subdued version for those of us that want luxury fun car. I am driving a Millenia for work, an adequate car, considered a TL but saved a few bucks, but think the TSX looks like a fun compromise, but I want a classical interior.

I have an RL for family cruising.

bigdaddycoats

if this has been mentioned, but there are pictures on clubtsx.com taken from a TSX brochure.
Looks sweet.

diploid

I think it's the somber all-black interior that's causing the chrome accents to jump out at you. I have a feeling the tan interior (and I'm hoping it comes in tan) will be better mated to the metallic accents.

mazda6s

Did I read the specs right? The TSX will be available in leather only? If this is true then the TSX is off my list and I'm one step closer to getting the Mazda 6.

1wiseguy

Looks like I'm cross shopping the same two cars you are.

I read (link from Canadiandriver.com) that the TSX will be 200hp because it will use regular fuel (higher with premium).

In canada, the price difference between regular and premium is 10c/litre (about 40c/gallon). Since we already pay 75c/litre (changes by the hour) which is roughly $3/gallon, the extra amount for premium is a big deal.

Anyone know for certain what type of fuel will be required for the TSX?

ickes_mobile

Check MSN's auto channel site for more info. The press debut should be later this afternoon...

scooter71

Check out http://www.vtec.net

I'm glad Honda's using a bit of a classy contrast theme in the interior, as VW has lately. Looks great.

diploid

If vtec doesn't work for you (it hasn't for me), I siphoned pics of the interior from the site.

I'm glad it comes in tan - it looks much more classy. Even the plood looks better than the one from the TL (I think it's plood because there's no way that's real wood at this price).

http://makeashorterlink.com/?C209549F2

http://makeashorterlink.com/?N119329F2

http://makeashorterlink.com/?U229619F2

Leg room looks tight, though.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?G149239F2

I really like what Acura did to the interior for the TSX. I wasn't too excited about the "metal + wood" theme of the Euro Accord. If you look closely, even though Acura says it's perforated leather on the sheet we've seen, the side bolsterings are actually non-perforated ("genuine"?) leather. It's only the inner portions that are perforated.

diploid

Better trick - vtec isn't working at all now.

But if you google, type in vtec.net in the search box, and once you have the result, by clicking on the result, the page loads. Weird.

venus537

boo. boo. boo.

it looks like the steering wheel and upper dash will be black on all models no matter the interior color. add this to the juvenile gauges and i'm one pissed off potential buyer (make that, was a potential buyer).

what a choice. the bland looking accord with a nice elegant interior or the good looking tsx with the interior all mucked up. mazda 6 for me i guess. maybe the accord.

diploid

I would take the TSX's interior over the Mazda6's interior any day. But I agree - the Accord's non-black dash top interior beats them both.

diploid

Even Lexus is doing it!!

ickes_mobile

do it with the last generation Legend too? BTW, the new RX330 looks sharp. Honda needs an update of the MDX soon to counter it and the new Volvo XC90.

bjvjs

Check out the naias.com site . New photos were released today.

diploid

Must be the traffic. naias.com doesn't load up for me.

mazda6s

Actually the black dash top reduces reflections on the windshield, so I'd rather have it with any color interior. If you've ever had a car with a light colored dash you know what I mean.

diploid

I wouldn't endure the aesthetic drawback (IMO) of a black dash top because of that advantage. My Civic reflects onto the windshield only about 3 inches up. Only the vents and all at the bottom of the windshield are reflected. The whole dash top doesn't reflect.

venus537

it also shows every single piece of lint. it's a chore to keep my jetta looking clean. that's what i like about the 6. in beige, the 6 looks like an easy car to keep looking clean.