Spy Shots: Mystery Acura sedan
Acura's non-CUV lineup has been rather quiet lately while the Japanese, German, and American competition have been steadily adding new and refreshed models to their lineup. Judging by these spy shots in the California desert, that's all about to change. The folks over at KGP Photography caught a mystery Acura sedan testing in the middle of the night, and even though the vehicle is heavily camo'd, there are a lot of interesting cues that can't be hidden with black padding.
The sedan appears to be rather large, meaning that it's likely the TL (the RL isn't scheduled to arrive until 2010 or later), which has been on the market virtually unchanged since 2004. The greenhouse looks like it's been to the Lexus/Nissan design school with its steeply raked C-pillar, although the camo doesn't give much away. What's visible of the front end shows a much more aggressive look for Acura, and judging by what appears to be a mesh grille and performance-oriented wheels, the model caught testing may be Acura's next stab at a sport model. The automaker's car lineup could use a shot in the arm to keep up with the competition, and with Honda's penchant for excellent quality and powertrains coupled with their outstanding AWD system, this new model should be great, whatever it may be.
[Source: WorldCarFans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
AlexP 10:09AM (7/31/2007)
How are we suppose to tell that this is an Acura, and what's with the gigantic antenna? Spy shots like these aren't even worth publishing, I can barely tell what's hiding under all that camouflage.
Reply
AlexP 10:11AM (7/31/2007)
**I mean, there's nothing that screams Acura to me about the front and rear of the car, I don't know about you guys.
Richard 10:25AM (7/31/2007)
I hope that Acura is bring out something new. The RL is a wonderful - I mean really wonderful - car.
But it doesn't sell well among those with small attachments who need a tri-star or propeller/ sky logo on the hood and a V8 under it.
I hope that Honda/ Acura come out with a kick-ass little and very high-tech V8 that, combined with SHAWD, blows away the current luxo offerings with technology, handling, power and price.
Reply
Erich 10:28AM (7/31/2007)
Yeah, with close inspection of the front grille you can tell its a Acura. You can make out the same look/grille on the RDX and MDX. This is defintely the AWD TL that has been rumored for some time. Do we really have to wait till '09? Usually Honda/Acura testers are seen w/in 8-10 months of release. As someone who was looking to get another in May 08....I can hope its out by then.
Reply
Carlos 10:35AM (7/31/2007)
That's a short-looking front overhang.
Reply
Doogs 10:49AM (7/31/2007)
Considering that the new US-spec Accord is just around the corner, I'd put my money on this being a TL.
Reply
psipwrd 10:55AM (7/31/2007)
TSX with AWD, manual and RDX engine would be nice. *Fingers crossed*
Reply
Big J 10:59AM (7/31/2007)
I agree Alex that spy shots usually aren't worth posting but this is no doubt a new Acura. The front definitely screams Acura, the sharp V grill resembles the Acura Advanced Sedan Concept and the headlamps are a dead give-away.
Reply
speedball3 11:46AM (7/31/2007)
Sure it's worth posting. It gives us a heads up about what's going on behind the scenes. So it doesn't show you an entire car and you have to base the make of the car on the grill... what else is new in terms of spy shots? They basically tell you, "Yes, something is in the works... keep watching."
Kowell 10:59AM (7/31/2007)
Too long to be a TSX, most probably a TL since that model will be due for replacement/upgrade around 2009. It would be logical since the new Accord baby brother should arrive as a 2008½ model.
Reply
DC_1 11:21AM (7/31/2007)
Can't wait!!! This is definitely the next TL. The grill is a dead giveaway!!
Reply
Avinash machado 11:50AM (7/31/2007)
I do not much like these names like TL,RL,TSX etc. I do wish Acura would bring back names like Legend,Integra etc.
Reply
iamhoff 12:22PM (7/31/2007)
I don't like them either, but snobby non-car people do like them. I remember Acura's press interviews when they first changed the Vigor into the TL. They were tired of people identifying that they owned a Legend or an Integra, and they wanted people to say that they owned an Acura, much as people who own BMWs and Mercedes (and now Lexus, Infiniti, etc.) do. They're trying to pump up the cachet of the brand. Caddy did the same thing when they brought out the Seville Touring Sedan and shortened that to STS, and now Lincoln is doing it with the Zephyr/MKZ and such. It's marketing for snobby Americans (which I am, American, not too snobby, tho) to try and keep up with the German Joneses.
brock.ferguson 12:32PM (7/31/2007)
I am betting that Acura is trying to break into the new trend of full size sport sedans. A competitor to the likes of the Mercedes CLS, BMW, Porsche and Aston Martin have also recently show prototypes for the space.
Reply
J 12:58PM (7/31/2007)
hood looks awfully long, def not a L4 in there...
Reply
J 12:59PM (7/31/2007)
Is it just me or does it look like that is RHD?
Reply
Ben 1:03PM (7/31/2007)
Hey look, it's a Mitsubishi Galant!
Reply
Big J 1:19PM (7/31/2007)
Speedball, there is always stuff going on behind the scenes. Despite this being one of the better spy shots most show a car cladded up in so much covering you can't recognize remotely what it is supposed to be, making it useless. A small blurb or article would suffice. By the way, "something is in the works, keep watching".
Reply
DJ 1:55PM (7/31/2007)
"The automaker's car lineup could use a shot in the arm to keep up with the competition, and with Honda's penchant for excellent quality and powertrains coupled with their outstanding AWD system, this new model should be great, whatever it may be."
Gee, I was expecting a NEWS story about an upcoming car, NOT an EDITORIAL from the Hondafanboys..........
Reply
Honda 3:34PM (7/31/2007)
the grille looks like it came from the advance sports sedan concept. I would like to see the car with less camo on it, Honda is so secretive.
Reply