09 Acura TL, I vote no.

[rn79870]

I don't like the front end at all.



Looks like one of those front ends from "CARS" the movie. I almost expect it to talk. The back looks like a cross between a Saturn and a Camry. I've seen better faces carved on pumpkins.



The floodgates will open on the '09 Acura TL soon enough, but in the meantime, Inside Line has posted a set of press photos and confirmed the car's final specs. As has been previously reported, there are two versions: a base 3.5L car with 285 horses and front-wheel drive; and the range-topping TL SH-AWD, which gets a 305-horsepower 3.7L V6. The Type S is history, replaced in essence by the SH-AWD. Both TL models are mated to 5-speed automatics, and a stiffer chassis should help make time spent behind the wheel more engaging.

Inside, the layout is one that should be familiar to anyone who's spent time in a new Honda or Acura. Metallic-look wings arc out from a center stack topped by a multifunction LCD screen and finished at the bottom by Honda's all-in-one controller for audio/info/nav interfaces. In short, techno-gadgetry abounds. The new TL is a larger car than it predecessor, with a 1.4-inch longer wheelbase and 6.2 inches added to its overall length. Consequently, interior space also improves over the outgoing sedan.

While the current-gen TL is Acura's most attractive vehicle, we have a feeling the new-for-2009 edition may not age as gracefully. The new corporate shield grille is in place, adding bling to the nose and offering enough frontal reflective surface to repel a Klingon phaser bombardment. If you miss the obviously-an-Acura front end, you might do a double-take to deduce what the car is in profile thanks to a C-pillar kink that apes BMW...and Infiniti, and the Jaguar XF, to name a few. Out back, the trunklid repeats the shield motif that started up front. Regarding the car's styling, there's much for you to discuss in the comments below. Stay tuned for plenty more information and our first drive impressions of the new TL in the days to come.

I'm thinking "fail" here. Honda just can't get it right with their lux cars. IMO.What's up Honda?

Oh, thanks Autoblog for the info.

[SVTCOBRA]

yeah, that's fugly!!!

[phil4watching]

[heliochrome85]

i best close the blinds, thar be acuras outside!

[Ar878]

I'm going to be laughing when I see people trying to show off their new Acura TL.

[CRIPES]

why god?!!! my eyes... it burns!

thats just nasty.... in a bad way

[mcheddadi]

There was a time when Acura looked great



I think it's officially over with the 2009 models...

[zozoka1212]

There was a time when Acura looked great



I think it's officially over with the 2009 models...

+1 can't agree more. I think it is really ugly now. First the accord with an upside down doorhandle now this ugly thing.

Honda/Acura .

zozo

[Jacko3]

This car is ugly not in a direct way, but in a benign and dumbfounding way that only drives the mind to wonder what aesthetics means to Honda. Honda is flailing and wondering in the desert of its own aesthetic making. This 2009 TL will only drive up the price of the preceding TL models 92005 - 2008).

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

LOL.. That is uglyer than a Pento... or a Rusty caddy

DJ

[joe603]

icky...and it's still wrong wheel drive!

[jdshift]

The front end would'nt be to bad if something could be done with the grill area. Now the back is just booty........and that ain't good.

[Slider4105]

They had two of them testing in my town a like 2 weeks ago.



They were slicing through traffic pretty well, I had a hard time following them at one point.

I kinda like the design, aside from the ugly as hell grill and the weird random red lights in the bumper. But I also LOVE Cadillac's new styling, so I like weird angular designs.

[Brabusx2]

seriously guys, you can't really blame them, since i don't think some Honda and Acura are Japan made anymore

they are made by the AMERICAN....

and draggin down to Saturn level...

[MagicM]

Acura lost it a long time ago, as far as i'm concerned there's only 2 Japanese luxury brands, Infiniti and Lexus.

[TeflonG35]

Acuras are Luxury?

That grille is disgusting. But who cares. It's a honda.

[G_whizz]

OMFG!!

They just killed that car for me. One of the few cars out there other then Infinitis that I actually liked.

[MagicM]

I used the love the 2000-2004 models 3.2TL version, but that new one looks like Acura is trying wayyyyyyyy too hard.

[bentrod]

In the words of my 2 year old granddaughter - "EEEEUUUUU Stinky"

[etschell]

it is a shame because the interior is awesome

[zozoka1212]

I just went to acura forum to see what people were saying about the Acura.

Here is the best."The only 3rd gen I'd own is an 07-08 TL-S. I feel they did it right with the styling and offer good enough performance, not to mention a lot of nice interior features. The 09 TL is good for wiping my ***."

I think that says everything.

zozo

[BrandAidDesignG35]

FAIL

This is obviously a huge fail for Acura, I know I would never own one, or any Honda for that matter...

Who are they trying to impress? Not my generation

[Sentientbydesign]

Don't large corporations usually do massive market research campaigns before releasing products? Did they rally up a bunch of trailer trash teens to research this one?

I actually really liked the 08 TL-S...well at least the rims and the rear end. The front is the typical ugly Honda design. I actually can't think of a single Honda product that really looked aesthetically awesome. The s2000 was only a partial accomplishment.

[MagicM]

THE NSX!!!!! > s2000

[Sentientbydesign]

Good point. I forgot about the NSX. I think I've only seen 3 or 4 in my life.

[ACoupe]

There are three things I can't stand.Intolerance of others, the Dutch and anything Honda!

That is one ugly SOB.

[joe603]

I almost bought one years ago (NSX) It just felt too small!