2009 Acura TSX
Have a hankerin' for a sedan in the Honda/Acura family that's bigger than a Civic, smaller than an Accord and arguably sportier and more high-tech than either? Then the new TSX, based on the smaller, Japan-market Accord, may be the ticket. It's 3.0 in. wider and 2.4 in. longer than the car it replaces, and is powered by a retuned version of the 2.4-liter dohc inline-4 that now makes 201 bhp and 172 lb.-ft. of torque. That last figure isn't a huge gain (8 lb.-ft.), but it's said to provide more usable power across a wider rev range. That's good, because we suspect that with additional size comes extra weight to deal with. The engine also gets slightly better mileage (up to 21/30 mpg, city/hwy) and meets ULEV standards.
Transmissions are a close-ratio 6-speed manual and a new Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic, with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The car's structure is said to be more rigid, and employs rails inside the unit body — fewer protrusions here result in slipperier underbody aerodynamics. The styling is equally slick, with more pronounced body-side creases and an exaggerated grille graphic, sort of a big, high-tech boomerang.
The interior is said to have new seats, and a higher level of luxury and refinement. An optional Technology Package bundles a nav system with real-time traffic and, for the first time, real-time weather through information supplied through satellite radio. It also includes a 10-speaker sound system with DVD- Audio capability, tuned with input from legendary sound engineer Elliot Scheiner — a guy who's worked with that small garage band, The Eagles.
