TV in his fist. Test Drive Acura TLX – Autonews.ru

There is an old anecdote in which the Japanese asked what he clamped in his fist. After receiving the answer, “television”, he says, “Right, and how many pieces?”. Japan – a high-tech means. TVs that fit in my hand, the robot Asimo, cars with all pivoting wheels, S2000 with resourceful atmospheric engine. But over the years the glory of “Honda” somewhat faded, Japanese manufacturers are forced to economize. And for the spectacular facade of modern models hiding technique, not dazzling. But there’s Acura, and by her side technologies do not save.

Honda pulled long official withdrawal of the Russian market its premium brand, allowing the gray dealers meet the demand for “Acura”. This spring, before the 30-year anniversary of the Acura brand was sold officially. But the debut was modest: only two models of crossovers in two metropolitan dealers. Now, however, it added sedan TLX, and in the future, possibly in Russia and bring supercar NSX.
Long TLX would cost attributed to the D-class, but he concedes Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3-Series in the size of the wheelbase: 2775 mm only. TLX is created on the current Accord, and the power structure of bodies of these two sedans same. Identify their relationship can be, if you look at the car in profile. TLX- fundamentally different. And I must say it looks impressive. High-tech highlights and details: LED lights with five pupils, push-button control “machine” on the version V6, though at a supercar.

The new sedan has got probably all that can only offer engineers Honda. Take, for example, an eight robotized transmission with two clutches – it is equipped with the most accessible version of TLX with the engine 2.4. If the thrifty Germans, the first to introduce this type of transmission, brought smooth shifting and reliability even in the economy of sacrifice, the Japanese not only that supplied robotic box “wet” clutch, but also added to her … the torque converter. Car rides really smoothly: neither you jerks at low speeds, no jerks when switching. Comfort here in the first place. If there are small hitch, then under hard acceleration.

Japanese to the question about the benefits of such an intricate scheme indicate that the torque converter is cheaper dual-mass flywheel, which is equipped with German robotic preselektivnoy transmission. As for the comparison with hydromechanical “automatic”, the robot, according to representatives of Honda, shifts gears faster.

However, even the passport data flow Acura TLX with “robot” and the atmospheric Quartet 2.4 liter. higher than that of Volkswagen and Audi models with the turbo engine and similar transmissions. All the same advantages tricked “robot” is not so obvious. One gets the impression that the Japanese engineers have created a robotic gearbox with two clutches sport. Yet the new “robot” in comparison with 5-speed Honda’s “machine” – is an Olympic leap forward.

It works polnoupravlyaemoe chassis P-AWS on a larger sedan RLX. In
TLX principle is the same.
The cabin is quiet thanks to new acoustic materials and proprietary system of active noise cancellation. Rudder is relaxed, and the dense suspension on smooth Italian roads lulls. Clicking inconspicuous button next to the IDS selector lever returns accelerator sensitivity. Another pressing – and steering effort is poured, and the salon breaks sound of the engine. Click – and switched mode Sport +, wherein “robot” is not hurry up switch and a manual transmission for holding the cutoff. This algorithm allows the engine to fully unfold. Maximum capacity of 208 liters. c. he achieves at 6800 rpm, and the peak of 247 Newton meters at 4500 rpm goes.

And how willingly TLX dives into turns. A front-drive cars polnoupravlyaemoe chassis: the rear wheels can taxi up. But the maximum angle at which they are able to turn, very small: only 1.8 degrees. For maneuvering in the parking lot that is not enough, but at higher speeds Chassis P-AWS noticeably improves handling. The rear wheels can be rotated in opposite phase, spinning car in turn and phase: it provides stability at transpositions. And during heavy braking the rear axle stand “house”, which makes slowing more confident.

more powerful and faster Acura TLX c V6 engine seemed less athletic – it is set too American. The suspension is not as dense and collected, and efforts are not enough. As for AWD, there is more of a pressing need. Link to each of the rear wheels is transmitted individually by a separate board package clutches. This allows you to control the thrust vector. By default, the front-drive sedan, but enough to fly in a sharp turn at high speed and continue to accelerate it as a diagram on the dashboard will show the growth of thrust on the outer rear wheel.

The motor capacity of 290 liters. c. can quietly at low load is disconnected three of the six cylinders. For even greater savings, he is paired with 9-speed German “automatic» ZF. However, these machines on the test were the most “raw”. On one gear turned into a single-stage, on the other exposed to 100 km / h active cruise control suddenly began to twist the motor cut-off in the urban bustle. Stable working system and retention within the band. She followed the markings, then suddenly lost it, then woke up again, leaning on the steering wheel. Push the selector lever, by the way, is very convenient and does not require getting used to, tossed tricks with handbrake. Japanese shrug: test machines – from the first batch. On production (and TLX already being sold in the US), these problems will not be.

Russian cars, sales of which will start before the end of the year, will be different from the US minimum. Our “Acura” mounted laminated noise insulating glass, heated steering wheel and a zone of peace windshield washer fluid level sensor and a plastic case protection. Only two complete sets. In the initial Techno c motor 2.4 already has leather seats, audio system ELS 490 Watt power with 10 speakers and navigation. Advance version is equipped with a V6 engine adaptive cruise control and a host of insuring electronics interfering with the band immediately, warning of a collision and the appearance of another vehicle in the blind spot.

The engineers have managed to create on the basis Accord completely different car. TLX rides and handles better, but the “Accord” with the appearance of a sedan Acura does not turn into a pumpkin. Firstly, he did not bad going, and soon on the Russian market will be an updated version of the sedan. And secondly, between these machines – price chasm. TLX depending on engine maximally expensive packaged “Accord” at 460- 670 000 rubles. TLX with motor 2.4 worth of 1,899,000 rubles, with the engine 3.5 – from 2.369 million rubles.

In a series of crash tests IIHS sedan TLX got good grades, and only the result of a collision with a 25 percent overlap was considered satisfactory.
from Japanese premium sedans TLX – the most exotic and one of the most technically advanced. Spectacular appearance and advanced all-wheel drive can be put in the car pros. But in comparison with the same German competitors “Akure” lacks of breeding in the settings of the chassis. Despite its high-tech stuffing, TLX rides yet rustic.

Eugene Bagdasarov, especially for Autonews.ru

Photo: author and company Acura