World Auto News & Reviews

The facelifted Acura TL made its world premiere today at the Chicago Auto Show. The 2012 model year brings a fresh look for the front and rear ends of the mid-size sedan along with a new Sequential SportShift 6-speed automatic transmission and equipment upgrades.

The first thing you’ll notice on the 2012 Acura TL is of course the revamped front end. While Acura did not totally eliminate the shield-grille, it did soften down the design making it look less gaudy. The updated headlamps and a revised front bumper with new fog light designs that led to a shorter front overhang round off the changes up front.

In less than 24 hours from now, Acura will debut the facelifted 2012 TL at the Chicago Auto Show, but just to keep us on our toes, the Japanese automaker partially lifted the covers off the mid-size sedan’s rear end. We’re pretty sure that most readers are interested in what’s happening on the other end of the car, but for now, it’ll have to do.

After unveiling its TSX Sport Wagon earlier this year at the New York International Auto Show, Acura didn’t build up much hype for the model until today, when it announced that pricing will begin at $31,820.

That figure includes a mandatory $860 destination charge. The $3,650 Technology Package mostly mirrors the conventional four-door TSX by adding goodies like navigation, a rearview camera, an upgraded ELS audio system. Unlike the sedan, a power liftgate comes with the package.

With Acura’s decision to nix V8 power and rear-wheel drive in favor of new hybrid drivetrains, dealers are worried that the brand’s relentless pursuit of Tier 1 status – on par with Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz – may be threatened. But that’s not the real news.

Buried at the end of an Automotive News piece about a recent Acura dealer meeting was this gem:

Acura’s NSX supercar may rise from the dead to compete in the Super GT racing series.

According to InsideLine, Acura circumvented Super GT Series homologation rules that require race cars be based on a production vehicle. They did this by using another rule which allows production ready (but not currently in production) cars to be entered into the series. The trick appears to have worked, as series officials (the Japan Automobile Federation) have given the NSX the green light.