Consumers have been waiting for the return of the Acura TLX Type S for over a decade. While Acura revealed the TLX Type S last summer, we’ve been waiting a long time to know when the sedan will go on sale and how much it will cost. We’re still waiting to get official information on pricing, but we now know when that the 2021 TLX Type S will arrive in showrooms before the end of May and start at around $50,000.
That’s all Acura’s willing to provide at the moment. It’s pretty ambiguous, but, hey, it’s better than nothing. While pricing isn’t official, a starting price tag that’s in the low $50,000 range makes plenty of sense for the TLX Type S. That would put it up against the likes of the Kia Stinger GT, Genesis G70, Audi S4, Mercedes-AMG C43, and BMW M340i. We’re certain the TLX Type S will continue to offer excellent value for money, which is one of the automaker’s hallmark traits, so expect to see the sporty sedan come packed with all sorts of standard features.
The sporty TLX Type S marks the return of a high-performance sedan for the TLX family. Power for the vehicle comes from a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with power being routed through a standard all-wheel-drive system. Acura’s serious about the TLX Type S’ performance, too, as the sedan comes with adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, 20-inch wheels, a unique Sport+ drive mode, and performance Pirelli tires.
Acura’s announcement for the TLX Type S comes shortly after Lexus announced the IS 500 F Sport Performance. While it’s easy to compare the two vehicles because they’re both high-performance cars, from Japanese luxury automakers, and going on sale at roughly the same time, they’re two very separate machines. Lexus’ high-performance sedan will pack a 5.0-liter V8 engine that makes 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque with power going to the rear wheels.
Compared to the Lexus, the TLX Type S is more of an entry-level high-performance vehicle, while the IS 500 F Sport Performance is a full-blown performance car. It’s going to be far more expensive than the Acura, as we expect the IS 500 F Sport Performance to cost around $70,000 and offer far more performance.
The Type S sub-brand has a lengthy history. The first time Acura used the Type S name on a vehicle was back in 2001 with the CL. Since then, Acura has introduced Type S models of the TL, RSX, and TLX. The most recent vehicle to wear a Type S badge was the third-gen TL that was available from 2007 to 2008. That vehicle utilized a larger V6, a more aggressive body kit, Brembo brakes, and an available limited-slip differential over the regular TL.
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