Hmmm. I've been to Cleveland, maybe 2 years ago. It's years ahead of Buffalo. This is a bit off-topic, but it wasn't a bad city, pretty nice, methinks.

 

Thanks. I don't want to get too o.t., but Cleveland has come a very long way in the last 10 years..... every ugly memory from every joke you used to hear about our city has been cleaned, erased, rebuilt, and better than ever. I'm very proud of my city (and our sports teams..... we're the only city in U.S. history to save the name, colors, and history of a sports franchise after the move was announced. Not even New York City could do that with the Dodgers)

 

i don't know what to say about this new TL, i don't really like the looks of the current one, the front end is just :screwy:. although, i like the looks of the 1999 model. i just hope they remove the side thing lining the doors and bring awd.

didn't they say something about bladeless windshield wipers, like it uses strong air jets to clear mist and rain? :dunno:
the exhaust pipes are okay looking, at least you will have a hard time putting fart cans in its place. i know this guy who has dual fart cans on his 2002 TL type S and ohhh its just terrible! h:

 

The integration of the exhaust tip with the bumper will make it impossible to change exhaust w/out replacing the bumper. 04 Acura TSX brought up a good point. Although, not all aftermarket exhaust are fart cans.

 

You're wrong. It won't be neccessary or 'impossible' to replace the bumper when replacing the exhaust.

 

I think this car is going to turn out great (knock on wood). The seem to be trying to dupe us with the coverings. I have some opinions on a couple of things.

The taillights:
I doubt the taillights will extend into the trunk (it appears the reverse lights do, but then what are those next to the liscense plate?). Also, the look of the lights themselves seem to suggest LED. They seem like mainly a reflective surface and then two light areas (brakelight/taillight and turn signal).

The bodyline:
It appears the concept's body line could make it after all. While the reflective part of the taillights wrap around, the lit part does not. DOT standards mean taillights need to be seen from the side (hence side markers). This could also be why Acura isn't using the TSX's turnsignal-blinkers, as the turn signal will be in the body line. (I think this is a creative way to incorporate the lights, handles, and bodylines; however, I think there's better looking ways to do it than the concepts. Hopefully this will be better looking, because it just reminds be of an 80's for Econoline )

The exhaust:
I personally think it looks good. I don't see this "Pontackiness" everyone is screaming about, I think it looks sporty. Also, if companys want to make aftermarket exhausts, can't they do so and have the tip in the shape of an upside down T?

The drivetrain:
Ok, so the big word as of late seems to be Acura's going to throw in HPT, a performance oriented version of VTM-4. In my mind, this is a very realistic rumor. Honda knows that Acura has fallen, and that while FWD won't survive in luxury, RWD isn't necessary. Now, everyone seems to be saying '270hp standard, 300+ in Type-S'. Now, there is no TSX Type-S, and apparently no upcoming TL Type-S, which would leave only the RSX Type-S. Now, if 270hp is standard, then does Acura feasibly need a Type-S model? That 10 more than the current Type-S. I think HPT 6-speed will be for the enthusiasts. I'm not saying Acura won't make a Type-S, just it seems they don't need to be in any rush to do so.

 

I think the very first spy pictures caught the hind end at a bad angle. One could clearly see that the square exhaust lead into a round pipe. The latest spy pictures do the exhaust MUCH more justice. I'm not so worried about it as I was before!

Now for all this HPT/Type-S talk. Everyone is talking so much about this over on acura-tsx.com and (cough) that *other* honda website (cough) that it makes me vomit. I'm venting here, but everyone acts as if they know for sure what's going to happen.

Acura has *never* been known to offer several trim levels on their cars, especially anything Acura. I'm not gonna bore you with my prediction, but I'll say that the trim levels will be a lot less than their being hyped up to be. AWD in my mind, is a huge maybe, and HPT? as an M3 or M5 fighter? (someone DID say this) Not a chance.

 

All very interesting (really).... I too am more satisfied with the exhaust trim/design, now that I've seen it a reasonable angle.

Forgive my ignorance, but HPT?

 

You're right, it won't be necessary in term of performance. But as it look like the tip will be perfectly fitted w/ the bumper. So if you either get a round tip or a bigger tip, it would have to be hanging lower than it should. Which would make it very ugly.