The TLX Type S is the first proper sports sedan by Acura since the TL Type S departed in 2008, and it’s finally hitting dealerships, which means more reviews are starting to come in. In his newest video, Doug DeMuro takes us on a tour of the TLX Type S and shows off what makes it so special.
Starting with the exterior, the Type S features a new body kit, new wheels and brakes, and extra badging over its normal TLX sibling, while the Tiger Eye Pearl paint shows off the angular design nicely. The optional 20-inch wheels frame big Brembo brakes, and they weigh 24 lbs (11 kg) less than the regular Type S wheels. Out back, there’s an aggressive diffuser flanked by quad exhaust tips, the insides of which have active exhaust valves to make them louder or quieter at the push of a button.
Read More: 2021 Acura TLX Type S Packs 355-HP For $52,300, Is Cheaper Than BMW M340i, Pricier Than Audi S4
Moving to the interior, it features Type S-exclusive carbon fiber trim, ambient lighting, and a refreshing amount of physical buttons for things like the climate control and radio. The flat-bottomed steering wheel and red analog gauges are also exclusive to the Type S, and the drive mode selector is featured prominently in the center of the dash. One thing that’s a bit lacking is rear seat room, which comes as a direct result of Acura shrinking the cabin for a better dash-to-axle ratio. Essentially, while the car is roughly the size of a BMW 5-Series, it has 3-Series legroom as a result of Acura’s pursuit for better exterior proportions.
See Also: Is The 2021 Acura TLX Type S All We’ve Been Hoping For?
As for the driving experience, the Type S’s 355 hp (360 PS / 265 kW) 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 makes for genuinely quick acceleration, and it has a nice throaty exhaust note that we don’t often hear from cars like this. Another big thing is its rear-biased all-wheel drive system that can send up to 70 percent of the power to the rear wheels through the 10-speed automatic transmission, allowing for a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time in the mid 4 second range.
All in all, the TLX Type S stays true to the Type S formula by offering around 75 percent of the Germans’ performance for around 75 percent of the price, and you can watch Doug’s full take on the car in the video below.