2021 Acura TLX A-Spec TEST DRIVE

I really love this TLX. It is hands-down one of the most fun-to-drive cars I’ve tested this year. I don’t care if it’s front-wheel drive-based or not, this car is an absolute blast to take out on backroads. As the driver, you feel involved and excited to take on the next curve. It really is a beautiful sports sedan drive.
Two sedans, 2 SUVs and a supercar; that’s what Acura is producing these days. But the car portion has struggled to draw an audience in recent years as the utilities have taken center stage. Now enter the 2021 TLX – their premium sports sedan relaunched for its next act and this one is a blockbuster. A dedicated platform, double-wishbone suspension, turbocharged VTEC engine, super-handling all-wheel drive; these are the cast members that’ll have Acura devotees coming back to the showroom.

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2020 Acura MDX Quick Takes

As the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time, the MDX in 2018 posted a seventh straight year of sales exceeding 50,000 units, something no other 3-row model in segment can match, and continued to outsell key competitors in 2019. The 2020 MDX offers a dynamic driving experience with both a standard and Sport Hybrid version, an available A-Spec sport appearance variant and an extensive list of standard premium features and high-tech appointments on all grades, including AcuraWatch™ safety and driver-assistive technologies.

The 2020 MDX includes base, Tech and Advance package options, with optional Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) technology, which is one of the most capable and sophisticated torque-vectoring AWD systems in the marketplace. The popular MDX A-Spec, includes a comprehensive list of appearance upgrades, including unique exterior styling, high-contrast seat and door panel stitching and contrasting front seat side garnishes. Also featured on the 2020 MDX are front passenger seats with standard 4-way power lumbar adjustments, a “walk through” second-row seat configuration on Technology and Entertainment packages, and a trim-exclusive matching wood center console available on the MDX Advance Package.

The 2020 MDX is powered by a responsive 3.5-liter direct-injected i-VTEC® 24-valve V6 engine with 290 peak horsepower (SAE net) and 267 lb.-ft. peak torque (SAE net), mated to a quick-shifting and highly refined 9-speed automatic transmission.  

The 2020 MDX with front-wheel drive has an EPA fuel economy rating of 20/27/23 mpg (city/highway/combined), A-Spec is rated at 19/25/21, and all other models with SH-AWD® have an EPA rating of 19/26/22 mpg (city/highway/combined).

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2020 ACURA RDX SH-AWD A-SPEC QUICK TAKES

The third-generation RDX (2019-20) is the first in a new generation of Acura models built on the resurgent luxury brand’s original and authentic Precision Crafted Performance brand values.  In setting their targets for the design and performance, the U.S. design and engineering team drew inspiration from both the Acura Precision Concept and Acura Precision Cockpit as well as the pinnacle representation of Acura performance, the NSX supercar. The RDX is the first all-new design drawing from the Concept styling and the advanced Cockpit technology. The RDX team’s ultimate goal was straightforward: to make the best RDX ever, a vehicle that sets the foundation for an entire new generation of Acura vehicles in terms of styling, performance, premium quality and technology.

Featuring a new Platinum White exterior color for 2020, RDX carries forward the next generation of Acura design, performance and technology that debuted on the all-new 2019 model, including the popular A-Spec sport appearance package. RDX delivers an exceptional driving experience thanks in part to its 272-horsepower (SAE net) turbocharged i-VTEC® engine and available Acura Super-Handling All Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®), along with a class-leading array of standard premium features and technologies, including AcuraWatch™ safety and driver-assistive technology, an ultra-wide panoramic moonroof, next-generation Acura JewelEye™ LED headlights, and next-generation Acura sport seats. The 2020 RDX also includes the critically-acclaimed True Touchpad Interface™, Acura’s groundbreaking user interface tailored around the driver. Also offered on RDX is the available ELS Studio 3D™ premium audio, a 16-channel, 710-watt system, featuring four ultra-slim Highline™ ceiling-mounted speakers to create a truly immersive listening experience.

The third-generation RDX has received the highest possible safety ratings of TOP SAFETY PICK+ (depending on selected headlights) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and is expected to repeat this feat for the 2020 model year.

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2019 ACURA MDX QUICK TAKES

The 2019 Acura MDX has arrived boasting upgraded interior fitment, new available premium exterior colors, drivability and dynamics enhancements, and an A-Spec sport appearance package. The 2019 MDX with standard AcuraWatch® technology and available Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) carries a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $44,300 (excluding $995 destination and handling) while the new MDX A-Spec starts at $54,800 with standard SH-AWD®. The 2019 MDX lineup is further strengthened by the arrival of the 2019 MDX Sport Hybrid.
With nearly a million units sold since its inception, the MDX is the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time2. It is the only three-row luxury SUV in segment with six straight years of more than 50,000 sales3, and is the #1 retail-selling three-row model in segment year-to-date.

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Acura ILX 2019 First Look

Acura ILX 2019 First Look By Auto Critic Steve Hammes Acura says “the critical mission of ILX is to bring new buyers into the brand.” But other than the mid-sized TLX, fact is Acura doesn’t sell many traditional cars. However,…

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