This will eventually be the new Acura TLX Type S.
Two weeks ago, Acura teased the Type S Concept’s appearance at Monterey Car Week, and now we get to see what it actually looks like. Contrary to what I thought a couple weeks ago, this is actually a sedan, though it looked like Acura could have feasibly debuted this concept as a coupe. The company will publicly show this car on Friday, August 16 at The Quail, a show geared toward motorsports enthusiasts.
After more than a decade out of production, Acura is using this concept to revive the Type S name on future models. That’s models, as Acura plans to debut two new Type S variants within the next two years. The first one will be the a performance variant of the second-generation TLX: the TLX Type S. Acura didn’t hint at what the second Type S model would be, but it does have plenty of cars to choose from. Knowing automakers’ penchant for performance crossovers, I’m guessing we may see an Acura RDX Type S before long. Though, that is purely speculation.
Getting back to the Acura Type S concept, this car sports styling familiar to the current generation TLX. Up front, Acura’s signature grille dons the “Type S” badge, while the four-lamp “Jewel Eye” headlights are thinner, with more aggressively styled “Chicane” LED running lights. The large center and side intakes are meant to funnel air into the engine and onto the performance brakes.
Performance bits
Going down the side, you can see this Acura Type S concept fitted with Brembo brakes, as well as 285 millimeter tires wrapped around multi-spoke 21-inch wheels. The Type S has four-piston brake calipers and drilled rotors.
Around the back, the Chicane LED theme continues with the taillights. Add onto that a forged carbon spoiler, a healthily-sized rear diffuser and quad exhaust tips, and the Acura Type S Concept looks like a true sports sedan.
That said, Acura makes no mention of what will ultimately power the upcoming Type S models. Most likely, we’ll see an upgraded version of the 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 that is slated to make its way into the standard TLX. In the current model, the V6 engine produces 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Acura’s heritage with the Type S name stems back to 2011, with the 3.2CL Type S coupe. Beyond that, Acura also produced Type S versions of the 3.2TL sedan, as well as the later TL and RSX coupe. The company hasn’t used the Type S name since the third-generation TL went out of production in 2008.
