Hot off the wire from Brenda Priddy & Company!

Early this morning, not far from Honda’s U.S. facilities, we were lucky enough to get a quick glance at the next generation Acura TSX. The new TSX will take on a more aggressive look, taking design cues from the SPORTS 4 concept car shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. An improved 2.4L i-VTEC 4 cylinder motor will go into the base model with an expected 20-30 horsepower bump. The entry level model will sport either a 6 speed manual, or 5 speed auto, and will be front wheel drive. A hotter Type-S model should also appear with around 260hp, coming from an up-tuned version of the 2.3L (240-hp) turbocharged motor currently found in the Acura RDX. The sportier model will feature a 6 speed auto/manual DSG gearbox, and is expected to feature Honda's Super Handling All Wheel Drive system. While this vehicle will be sold as the Acura TSX in the United States, this same car, with just a few minor styling adjustments, will also sell in European markets as the new Honda Accord. With the 2008 Honda Accord getting a diesel motor, it is possible that we could see a diesel TSX as well. Look for the TSX to start production towards the end of 2008.

NOTE:, some of the info in Brenda's report above doesn't exactly jive with what we've heard. First of all, there's the issue that the RDX's engine is only rated at 240hp. It wouldn't surprise me, however, if the turbo motor were retuned to deliver 260hp for duty in the TSX, so perhaps that was what was meant. Furthermore, the expectation is that the '09 TSX will actually appear in showrooms sometime in the first half of '08. It's also our understanding that the '09 TL will be introduced in the Fall.

Update: Brenda and Chris corrected their text, so we updated it.

Last edited by JeffX on October 03, 2007 15:59