History of the Acura TL
Honda Motor's Acura TL debuted in 1996 and continues production today (as of 2009). It is a mid-size luxury sedan designed to compete against the BMW 3 Series. It was originally named the Honda Inspire in the Japanese domestic market until 2000, and the Honda Saber until 2004. Its design upgrades through four generations has made it competitive with other luxury sports sedans.
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Slow Beginning
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Sales of the Acura 2.5 TL and larger 3.2 TL got off to a slow start in mid-1995 due to a trade dispute between the United States and Japan.
Body Styling
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Introduced as a sporty sedan, the Acura TL's body design had clean lines and a rather spartan exterior appearance.
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Under the Hood
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The 1996 2.5 TL model was powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that generated 176 horsepower, while 3.2 TL was powered by a 200-horsepower 3.2-liter V-6.
New Plant
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Honda moved assembly of the Acura TL series from Japan to Marysville, Ohio, after the 1998 model year, and debuted a new design for 1999.
The TL-X
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The public got a peak at the new redesign when Honda showcased the TL-X concept car that evolved with few changes into the second generation 3.2 TL.
True Sports Luxury
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Honda made numerous improvements from 2003 to 2009 to upgrade its sports luxury pedigree with stiffer suspensions, more interior appointments, state-of-the-art navigation system and a horsepower boost of its 3.2-liter engine to 286.
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Resources
- Photo Credit The Auto Channel, Honda Motor Company
