Acura’s performance luxury sedan, the TLX, will take on a new stance in 2021 as the brand’s fastest, best-handling sedan in 35 years. Entirely constructed to spearhead Acura’s Precision Crafted Performance ethos, the 2021 Acura TLX features a model-exclusive athletic body structure to visually accent its all turbo engine lineup promising luxury style and dynamic performance.

At the core of the 2021 standard TLX lies its direct-injected, turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, paired to Acura’s 10-speed automatic transmission with Sequential SportShift. Sporting the highest horsepower in its core competitive set, with an output of 272 horsepower at 280 lb-ft of torque, the 2021 outweighs all previous TLX models. After a decade-long hiatus, the TLX will see a high-performance Type S model in addition to the standard. While final specifications are still out, the Type S will see a more than “50-per cent increase in low-end torque” from the all-new 3.0-litre, 24-valve, DOHC direct-injected and turbocharged engine.

Rear-biased Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) now comes standard on all TLX models, with the Type S becoming the first Type S model to feature all-wheel drive. This fourth-generation, industry-leading SH-AWD system offers 40 per cent more rear torque capacity and 30 per cent faster front to rear torque transfer than older generations. Additionally, in normal driving conditions, the TLX transfers up to 70 per cent of engine torque to the rear wheel while continuously distributing up to 100 per cent of the rear-axle torque between the left and right rear wheels.

Driver and front passenger are the main focus of the TLX’s luxury interior aesthetic and design, with the theme of a “Duel Personal Cockpit.” From the tailored seating of Acura’s advanced and highly customizable front sport seats, driver and passenger have comfortable access to a wrap-around instrument panel, complete with a new 10.2-inch touchscreen display. Tasteful accents of aluminum, full-grain Milano leather and open-pore wood create an authentic luxury driving experience, right down to the thick-rimmed, flat-bottom steering wheel wrapped in perforated leather with contrast stitching and larger metal-plated paddle shifters.

The 2021 TLX is set to feature nine exterior finishes and seven standard interior colours. Ebony, Espresso, Graystone and Parchment will be offered on the standard TLX models, depending on trim. Additionally, the TLX Type S will offer an exclusive Light Orchid leather interior option. As for the exterior, the TLX will offer a new Phantom Violet Pearl finish and an exclusive bold Tiger Eye Pearl on the Type S. Ambient LED lighting will feature throughout the cabin of the TLX, shifting depending on each driving mode (Comfort, Normal, Sport), as well as 24 selectable interior lighting patterns.

The TLX is set to come with a range of AcuraWatch safety and driver-assisting features to reduce driver stress in highly congested conditions such as Traffic Sign Recognition, Driver Awareness Monitor and Traffic Jam Assist. In combination with Adaptive Cruise Control and Low-Speed Follow, the TLX will actively monitor the road, keeping the vehicle in the detected lane at a set interval behind the car ahead.

Acura’s new front passenger airbag technology will also make its debut in the upcoming TLX, with a three-chamber design, reminiscent of a baseball glove to effectively cradle and reduce potential injury of front occupancy person’s head in the event of a frontal collision.

Acura’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure has also been redefined on the TLX to offer broader protection from a collision, including structural safety features such as ultra-high-strength-steel one-piece door rings and an ultra-stiff center tunnel that optimizes the absorption and direction of collision forces around the cabin.

The Acura 2021 TLX is set to arrive in Canadian dealerships in the early fall, followed by the Type S expected for spring 2021.