Tuners: 2004 Acura TL A-Spec angelsavage02 — 2007-12-14 GTM 1 @ 07:50
"First the good news: Acura's all-new 2004 TL is such a marked improvement over its predecessor that, even in base trim, it outgunned the well-regarded 2003 TL Type-S in our performance tests. The bad news: Acura says it won't offer the new TL in Type-S trim. But there is something even better, called A-SPEC, that will be available on TLs and other select Acuras.
The 2004 TL makes use of a torquey SOHC, 24-valve 3.2-liter V-6 that churns out a solid 270 horsepower (up 10 from the previous Type-S). It serves up 238 pound-feet of torque and runs buttery smooth right up to 6200 rpm. Acura judged this "good enough" for now, so no engine mods are part of the A-SPEC package. This also helps the company avoid costly recertification. Thus, A-SPEC upgrades concentrate on suspension and bodywork enhancements.
Externally, the A-SPEC hardware consists of an aero kit that incorporates a front air dam, small chin spoiler, body side skirts, Acura Tl Ignition Switch
and a choice of two different rear spoilers--a small trunklid spoiler or a larger (yet still tasteful) rear wing. The aero kit was wind-tunnel tested and produces more downforce while generating a slightly improved overall Cd.
A-SPEC badging flanks the body panels, and the TL's well-trimmed interior is left alone save for a recontoured, slightly thicker racing-style steering wheel.
The A-SPEC's performance enhancers involve more aggressive suspension tuning, as designed by Makoto Tamamura, the famed chassis engineer behind Acura's NSX sports car. Most visible are the 18x8.5-inch alloy wheels and grippy 235/40VR18 Yokohama AVS ES100 tires. They look great and provide a notable improvement in traction without being noisy. Unfortunately, there's no tire sidewall bulge to serve as a wheel-rim protector, so you're almost guaranteed gouges from curbside parking misjudgments. The rest of the underpinning mods include a track-tuned shock and coil-spring combo that lowers ride height by one inch. Special attention was paid to spring rate and shock valving to ensure sportier handling without the tradeoff of a harsh on-highway ride."
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