Acura TL Type S Still a Winner a Decade Later
Top-tier TL Type S stole the show from the Germans in the 2000s, could serve as inspiration for the 2021 TLX Type S to come.
Near the end of the 2000s, the world was in rough waters. Yet, there were a few points of light in the darkness. For example, the third-gen Acura TL kept stealing away customers from the German luxury brands. Its handsome design and excellent performance sent shockwaves all the way across the Atlantic.
Then, the TL Type S arrived in 2007. With 286 horsepower from its 3.5-liter V6 on tap, it was no contest as to who made who. Redline Reviews host Sofyan Bey takes us back to those times to show why this machine is still relevant in the New ’20s.
“Back in 2004, when the third-generation TL first came out, I was in high school,” said Bey. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow! This truly is the pinnacle of Acura design language.’ If you look at Acura today as a brand, they are really struggling to find the brand identity that they had in the early 2000s. Even the current generation TLX, which Acura really kind of focused their design efforts on this particular TL, just doesn’t have the same kind of elegance that this car has.”
According to Bey, the 2008 TL Type S wouldn’t look out of place on the showroom floor today, despite a few features which have since been updated. Yet, the power it delivered bested comparable machines from Mercedes, BMW and Audi despite offering only front-wheel drive.
“Looking at the rest of the profile of the TL, just like the car itself, it just looks really elegant and timeless,” said Bey, “even though the car has been around for quite some time.”
Bey goes on to say Acura nailed with the TL and the TL Type S. Every bit of the car is right-sized, compared to the heavyweights rolling from the showroom today. In fact, Bey says the 2020 Honda Civic is nearly the size of the 2008 TLX Type S, the latter a midsize car. Even the wheels are a welcome respite from where wheel design has gone since then, coming in at just 17 inches.
“Getting inside the 2008 TL, this really again brings back memories, right down to that old-school Honda chime,” said Bey. “I really like the way that sounds. Honda and Acura have gotten rid of that chime in all their newer models.”
The infotainment system, meanwhile, hasn’t aged well. The OEM satnav pales in comparison to new systems with Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Not to mention the touchscreen radio controls, CD player and cassette player. Bey says it’s possible to upgrade the screen to a new unit, so long as it fits in the original housing. The camera, too, may need an upgrade, since it lacks telemetry and video quality.
“Looking at the interior of this one, just like the exterior, it is incredibly well-preserved,” said Bey. “The Type S model has its own unique interior trim, with some of the imitation carbon fiber and the aluminum trim that is genuine in this car. The seats are also very unique on this car. They are very much a wider sport seat with more aggressive bolstering.”
Rear seating is roomy in the Type S, though a hump in the middle does take away some leg room for the center passenger. It’s an oddity, since it’s a front-drive car, but there it is. Of course, the middle section includes cup holders, so it’s still usable. Average-sized adults could certainly enjoy a long trip in the back.
“Of course, the best part about the Type S wasn’t its design,” said Bey. “It was the fact that Acura actually put a different engine in this model back then. In 2008, all the standard TLs had a 3.2-liter J32 naturally aspirated V6 with VTEC. That made 258 horsepower and around 232 pound-feet of torque.”
The Type S, on the other hand, used the 3.5-liter V6 from the RL. The long-runner delivered 286 horsepower and 256 lb-ft of torque, smoking the fronts to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Connecting the two was either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The 2007-08 Type S was the only car to have said manual, which came with a limited-slip diff.
“One thing I forgot about this generation TL is the steering feel,” said Bey. “It is so BMW-like in how heavy it is, how responsive it is. When you turn the wheel, the car just changes direction. You can feel exactly what the front tires are doing because it has hydraulic power steering.”
The TL Type S behaves well on the road, acting like a regular luxury car until it’s go time. The front-wheel drive, though, limited all that can be done with the car; thus why Acura moved onto its famed Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. Not to mention the torque steer. Yet, it can still handle itself now as it did in 2008.
“Despite the fact that this 2008 TL Type S is a 12-year-old vehicle today, I was shocked to see just how much I liked this car,” said Bey. “Back then, this was a highly desirable, sought-after car, where people were trading in their European sports sedans.”
The TL Type S is popular on the used market, too; nice examples go for $20,000. Despite its dated tech and front-wheel drive, it still blows minds. May the next Type S take it to the next level.
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