ACURA TL TPYE-S

ROAD AND TRACK FEBRUARY 2007

Good Sports: Acura TL Type-S, Infiniti G35 Sport and Lexus IS 350Three shining examples of the modern-day sports sedan.In short, the Type-S acts like a base TL wired on Red Bull. The interior styling of the TL also remains fresh, with first-rate fit-and-finish and all controls within easy reach of the driver. Drive the car in a civil manner, and it revs effortlessly, providing seamless power delivery from idle all the way to its 6800-rpm redline. Drive it hard, and VTEC makes its presence known, as the intake cams change profiles at 4950 rpm, providing an extra kick higher in the rev range. The 6-speed manual gearbox is the best transmission here (and may well be the best manual in the entire segment); the linkage has a solid overall feel, and the gates are well defined. Also, close gear ratios keep the engine consistently on the cams when driving the car spiritedly. Turn-in response is crisp and body roll is minimal.Around the 200-ft. skidpad, the Type-S outperforms many rear-drive cars, including the two here, posting 0.91g. What’s impressive about the TL Type-S is that it also has a smooth ride quality. We all agreed that for a cross-country trip, the TL would be our choice.