2004 Acura A-Spec Review
Is This a Future TL Type-S?
Canadian Acura enthusiasts will be familiar with the A-SPEC designation, being a limited edition 2003 3.2 TL Type-S available to them last year. For those living here at home the name will be new, but the idea of custom tuning an already hot ride is part and parcel to the territory.
Whether the A-SPEC concept launched at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week comes to market as a the Type-S, or a specially equipped version of the same, is hardly important. What matters is that something close to this prototype becomes part of the U.S. Acura lineup.
Whats so good about it? The formula is simple really. Cool aerodynamic aids, enhanced handling and more power.
Starting with the styling, a seriously revised front fascia, larger grille, raked headlight clusters and massive lower ducts redefine the TLs persona from sinuous long-distance runner to muscle-bound sprinter. The view from the front should appeal to Touring Car Championship aficionados as much as NASCAR fans, its that aggressive.
Behind back a new trunk lid integrates a Kamm-style lip for increased downforce at high speed. It looks sweet too, complimented by redesigned taillight lenses and a new bumper that incorporates larger, “high flow” exhaust tips.
Nothing less than 21-inch alloy rims wrapped in performance rubber manage road control, coming off even more purposeful due to the concepts two-inch wider track. To fit the wheel and tire package under the fenders theyve been flared, adding to the cars machismo.
The wider track and beefy tires do much to keep the car between curving lines, but Acura didnt stop there. Adding to pumped-up TLs road-holding capabilities are track-tuned shocks and springs, lowing the suspension by an inch in the process. The stock 4-wheel discs are giving the Brembo treatment, with larger 15-inch drilled rotors and 8-piston calipers all-round for as much stop as the engine has go.
With that last subject in mind the A-SPECs 3.2-L V6 adds a high flow intake and exhaust system plus a few internal engine mods to the standard engine resulting in more than 300-hp, up from the regular TLs already potent 270. Power gets to the front wheels by the TLs optional 6-speed manual gearbox. All it needs now is all-wheel drive to iron out an expected increase in torque steer.
from front to rear, shedding light on quite a few interior upgrades. The concepts seats and trim are fashioned in Matador Red leather, the former featuring ovoid metal vents that deliver a quick blast of heat or alternatively keep driver and passengers cool under pressure - a feature common in 60s era racing cars such as Fords GT40. Those Spartan rides might have added the carbon/Kevlar interior trim accents if it were available at the time, but wouldnt have bothered with an ultra-suede adorned upper headliner. Carbon/Kevlar is also used to lighten the steering wheel while featherweight aluminum sport pedals look as sporty as they no doubt react to input. Aluminum also graces the concepts dash, center stack and door panels, appearing identical to the metal trim in the current road car.
Not only does the A-SPEC showcase racy bodywork, enhanced performance and a seriously sporty cabin, but Acura took the opportunity to pull the curtain back on a few future possibilities. First on the list is Adaptive Cruise Control, a feature that controls the accelerator and brakes to speed up or slow down the car based on integrated laser sensors targeting the car ahead, always keeping a safe distance.
The A-SPECs rearview camera might be considered less controlling by some drivers, but either way its one of the best new safety features currently available with some of Acuras competitors products. The camera, concealed within the trunk lid, immediately transmits a video feed to the cars navigation screen on the center stack when the reverse gear is selected. It doesnt replace the sideview mirrors, but works in unison to completely eliminate blind spots. Ive tried this feature in Infiniti and Lexus models, among others, and find it really useful.
What is most impressive about the A-SPEC is the ability to get the navigation system and 6-speed manual transmission in the same package, amazingly not currently a possibility. I really hope this combination, more of a marketing decision rather than a particular logistics problem, makes it to production.
Each of these features is now showing up on more and more top-tier sport/luxury car competitors, and being that the brands new TL has escalated Acuras image farther up the food chain such accessories would certainly be welcome.
While the A-SPEC concept is not yet available, a possibly will never be, Acura recently introduced an A-SPEC accessory package for its current 2004 TL. The kit features a half-inch lowered track-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloys on performance tires, plus an aerodynamics package that adds to the standard cars styling while improving its performance. The A-SPEC kit is dealer installed and covered by the full Acura warranty, so its a good bet if personalizing your new car is important to you.
As nice as it is the A-SPEC accessory package doesnt offer anywhere near the styling or performance upgrades of this one-of-a-kind prototype. While Acura states in its accompanying press release that the A-SPEC concept was “built to explore the next level of performance accessory possibilities for Acuras best-selling sedan,” the automaker would do well to continue on its original Type-S mission and deliver a radically improved TL.
Truly, I have no doubts customers would line up all day long to willingly dish out ten plus thousand over the current cars reasonable price for something like the A-SPEC concept. It would still hit the showroom floor thousands less than any competitor, and secure Acura permanent front row seats on every performance-sedan enthusiasts radar screen.