Shoppers looking for a performance-oriented midsize luxury car have a new option that brings back an old name. The 2021 Acura TLX Type S marks the rebirth of this performance trim level.
Many luxury automakers have an in-house tuner shop that produces sportier editions of their cars, such as BMW’s M division or Mercedes-Benz’s AMG shop. Acura’s Type S brand, however, disappeared more than a decade ago.
It returns with a high-performance version of the revamped TLX sedan. Acura says the Type S will carry a sticker price “starting in the low $50,000s” and will reach showrooms in late May.
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Big Boost in Power
It is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 making 355 horsepower. That’s a significant boost over the 272 of other TLX models, but still well below what a top-end — and pricier — Mercedes-AMG C-Class or the new BMW M3 brings to the fight.
The Type S comes with Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive with torque vectoring. It delivers engine output through a 10-speed automatic transmission. Also standard are 20-inch Pirelli tires and 4-piston Brembo brakes.
On the outside, Acura’s new Type S distinguishes itself from the standard TLX thanks to a diamond-pattern grille, quad exhaust outlets, and two exclusive wheel options. Inside, Ultrasuede 16-way power seats and Type S badging are unique to the performance model. It also carries equipment from the TLX Advance Package, including a 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D stereo system.
This Type S is hardly a one-and-done deal. Acura plans a Type S version of its popular MDX 3-row SUV next.
