In 1991, Acura stunned the automotive world with the NSX, creating an instant sportscar legend. With striking mid-engine design and dazzling performance, the NSX caught “old guard” sportscar brands off-guard, besting their performance while uniquely offering Acura quality and reliability.

Flash-forward to 2009 and the NSX legacy lives on in Acura’s all new, redesigned TL sport sedan. The heart of the NSX was its 290-hp VTECV6 engine. The 2009 Acura TL Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) model (MSRP $38,505 plus $760 destination charge) is the brand’s most powerful vehicle ever with a 305-hp 3.7-liter VTEC V6 revving under its sharply chiseled hood. The standard TL model with an MSRP of $34,995 plus $760 destination charge boasts an impressive 280 hp from its 3.5-liter VTEC V6.

The driving fun comes with responsible fuel consumption with up to 26 EPA mpg in highway driving.

In true Acura fashion, the TL delivers alluring performance wrapped in evocative style while packaging a long list of luxury and high-tech amenities. Wearing the new “face” of Acura, with its signature grille and standard HID projector-beam headlights, the TL looks ready to devour any road. Sharply defined character lines and pronounced wheel arches makes the TL demand to be noticed.

The TL’s reflexes on the road are as razor-sharp as its body. The newest Acura comes in two distinct models: The standard TL delivers sport sedan performance with all-season front-wheel drive traction. For maximum driving pleasure, you can control the Sequential SportShift five-speed automatic transmission using the Formula One-style steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters.

If you grin rather than cringe at the sight of a “Caution: Curves Ahead” road sign, the TL SH-AWD model is your car. All-wheel drive is commonly available in luxury models, but the technology in Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive is anything but common.

Like other AWD systems, SH-AWD regulates power between the front and rear wheels for confident traction in all driving conditions. When the driver is exploring the TL’s twisty-road handling prowess, though, SH-AWD also precisely controls power between the left and right rear wheels. The result is sportscar-like handling agility, but still with a smooth and quiet ride.

The NSX was a thrill ride, but only for two people. The TL accommodates five in a roomy, quiet, luxurious cabin that deftly blends premium materials with easy-to-use technology. Standard leather seating surfaces are accented by metallic and wood-pattern trim.

The TL is a solid value for the class that gets even better when you look at all it includes as standard: A power moonroof, dual-zone adaptive climate control, 10-way adjustable driver’s seat and eight-way adjustable power front passenger’s seat. The front seats are heated – something that costs extra on competitors; some even charge hundreds of dollars more for the metallic paint that’s standard on the TL!

There’s no lack of user tech in the TL. The standard eight-speaker, 276-watt audio system includes a six-disc CD changer, AM/FM radio, XM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth audio, a USB port and auxiliary jack connectivity plus the HandsFreeLink wireless telephone interface.

The available Technology Package brings the works including the Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition^™ and Keyless Access System with pushbutton ignition. The nav system is a high-tech co-pilot, providing real-time traffic and weather with Doppler-style radar mapping on its eight-inch high-resolution color display.

The Technology Package will delight music buffs, too, with its Acura/ELS Surround^® 10-speaker, 440-watt premium sound system featuring DVD-Audio, CD, DTS^™ (a DTS CD is one that contains music in surround-sound format), AM/FM radio, XM Satellite Radio and 12.7GB hard disk drive (HDD) media storage. This package, in addition, heightens the TL’s luxurious feel with Premium Milano leather seating surfaces.

The new Acura TL puts you in the forefront of safety, too, with Advanced Compatibility Engineering^® (ACE) body structure, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), six airbags and new active front seat head restraints. It’s no wonder that Acura made news this year when it became the first brand to garner the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick” rating for all its models.

The Acura TL makes this clear: Drivers satisfied with just-average performance and yesterday’s technology should look elsewhere.

 

**FEATURED SPECIAL LEASE: Closed-end lease for 2009 TL Automatic Transmission (Model UA8629JW) for $399.00 per month for 36 months available to customers who qualify for the AHFC Super Preferred credit tier. Other rates/tiers are available under this offer. $2,699.00 total due at lease signing (includes first month's payment with no security deposit, AHFC upfront acquisition fee and capitalized cost reduction; total net capitalized cost and base monthly payment does not include tax, license, title, registration, documentation fees, options, insurance and the like). Not all buyers may qualify.