Vehicle model
Acura Type-S Concept
The Acura Type-S Concept was unveiled in August 2019 at the prestigious Monterey Car Week concours in California, where design enthusiasts and collectors gather every year. This concept marked a pivotal moment for Acura, Honda's luxury division, as it officially announced the return of the Type-S badge to the North American market after more than a decade of absence. The Type-S label, historically reserved for Acura's highest-performance versions, had disappeared from lineups around 2008, and its comeback was eagerly awaited by the brand's enthusiasts. Stylistically, the concept embraced and amplified the "Precision Crafted Performance" design language introduced a few years earlier with the RLX sedan and the 2016 Precision Concept coupe. It featured the diamond-shaped grille now signature to Acura, slim headlights, muscular wheel arches and a low, wide sedan silhouette, at once elegant and resolutely sporty. The bodywork wore a deep red shade called "Curva Red," specially developed to emphasize the sculpted surfaces and the play of light and shadow across the body. Although it was a concept, the Type-S Concept was clearly much closer to a production model than a simple abstract styling exercise. Acura presented it as a direct preview of the second generation of its TLX sedan, and more specifically of its TLX Type-S variant, which would launch in 2020 as a 2021 model. As such, the concept served to prepare the public and the press for a more performance-oriented new chapter for the brand. Under the hood, Acura hinted at the arrival of a new in-house developed turbocharged V6 engine, intended to replace the older naturally aspirated V6s, as well as the torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, a technical pillar of the brand. The positioning clearly aimed to revive Acura's sporty image against the German and Japanese establishments in the compact premium sedan segment. The reception from the specialized press was very favorable, with many praising the renewed dynamism of the styling and the renewed commitment to performance, after years in which Acura was sometimes criticized for a lack of character. The concept confirmed that the Type-S strategy would not be limited to the TLX, as the MDX crossover SUV would later also receive a Type-S version. Ultimately, the Acura Type-S Concept was never produced as-is, but its legacy is tangible: it directly inspired the lines and spirit of the production TLX Type-S and marked the starting point of a new era of more performance-oriented and more emotional models at Acura, restoring to the brand some of the sporting soul that had made it successful in the 1990s and 2000s.
History
History of the Acura Type-S Concept
The Acura Type-S Concept was unveiled in August 2019 at the prestigious Monterey Car Week concours in California, where design enthusiasts and collectors gather every year. This concept marked a pivotal moment for Acura, Honda's luxury division, as it officially announced the return of the Type-S badge to the North American market after more than a decade of absence. The Type-S label, historically reserved for Acura's highest-performance versions, had disappeared from lineups around 2008, and its comeback was eagerly awaited by the brand's enthusiasts. Stylistically, the concept embraced and amplified the "Precision Crafted Performance" design language introduced a few years earlier with the RLX sedan and the 2016 Precision Concept coupe. It featured the diamond-shaped grille now signature to Acura, slim headlights, muscular wheel arches and a low, wide sedan silhouette, at once elegant and resolutely sporty. The bodywork wore a deep red shade called "Curva Red," specially developed to emphasize the sculpted surfaces and the play of light and shadow across the body. Although it was a concept, the Type-S Concept was clearly much closer to a production model than a simple abstract styling exercise. Acura presented it as a direct preview of the second generation of its TLX sedan, and more specifically of its TLX Type-S variant, which would launch in 2020 as a 2021 model. As such, the concept served to prepare the public and the press for a more performance-oriented new chapter for the brand. Under the hood, Acura hinted at the arrival of a new in-house developed turbocharged V6 engine, intended to replace the older naturally aspirated V6s, as well as the torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, a technical pillar of the brand. The positioning clearly aimed to revive Acura's sporty image against the German and Japanese establishments in the compact premium sedan segment. The reception from the specialized press was very favorable, with many praising the renewed dynamism of the styling and the renewed commitment to performance, after years in which Acura was sometimes criticized for a lack of character. The concept confirmed that the Type-S strategy would not be limited to the TLX, as the MDX crossover SUV would later also receive a Type-S version. Ultimately, the Acura Type-S Concept was never produced as-is, but its legacy is tangible: it directly inspired the lines and spirit of the production TLX Type-S and marked the starting point of a new era of more performance-oriented and more emotional models at Acura, restoring to the brand some of the sporting soul that had made it successful in the 1990s and 2000s.
Technology
Technologies, engines and platforms
As a study previewing the production TLX Type-S, the concept announced a new in-house designed turbocharged V6 engine, more powerful than the brand's older naturally aspirated V6s. It also showcased the torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, capable of actively distributing power between the wheels to improve cornering agility. The hinted platform prioritized increased rigidity and a low center of gravity for dynamic behavior. The concept suggested a multi-speed automatic transmission, a sport chassis with adaptive damping and high-performance brakes. On the onboard technology side, Acura aimed to integrate its AcuraWatch driver aids and a modernized digital cabin.
Tires and wheels
Tire and wheel compatibility
As this concept previewed the TLX Type-S, tire and wheel sizes vary by production year and trim. Always verify the exact size specified for your vehicle before any purchase.
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