Historically, Acura Type S models were only marginally more sporting than the workaday versions, so as not to infringe on the Type R ideal of all-out performance. But what Acura has done with the 2021 TLX Type S, the first in a reborn line of Type S-badged cars that includes versions of the new MDX SUV and the NSX supercar, moves the needle much closer to Type R territory without sacrificing what makes a Type S approachable and livable.
Not only is the TLX Type S a serious performer, it’s also far and away the best version of the TLX you can buy. When we tested the 2021 TLX A-Spec at our Car of the Year competition, we said it had the right moves, and despite not putting up big numbers, it could still hang with the best when it came to handling and overall feel. The Type S brings the numbers to the party, courtesy of a burlier engine.
Its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 makes 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, way up from the A Spec’s 272 hp and 280 lb-ft. The result is a 0-60-mph sprint of 5.1 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 13.7 seconds at 101.8 mph. That’s way down from the A-Spec’s 6.1-second sprint to 60, and the gap opens up even further once they reach the end of the quarter. In terms of braking from 60 to 0 mph, the Type S’ optional performance tires helped the 4,179-pound car stop in 112 feet—4 feet shy of the 220-pound lighter A-spec car. For the full story, check out this article from Motor Trend.
