The real head-scratcher is that this car has the same wheelbase (same platform actually) as the 9G Accord, yet the Accord has 4 inches more rear legroom than the TLX. It’s actually quite impressive how small they were able to make the interior for a car so long on the outside. For what’s supposed to be a midsize car,…

Maybe this is semantics, but for unibody cars isn’t the floorplan synonymous with platform? After all, the suspension, drivetrain, etc. aren’t part of the platform.

Small truck? This is the same engine in the Accord which came first. 

Problem is that the latest crop of Acura’s haven’t exactly been a paragon of reliability either. The same 2.0T engine in the RDX has had a number of reports of the car going into limp mode at WOT, the infotainment system crashes more than Maldonado, and there’s a long thread of complaints about the pano sunroof…

Resale value on the TLX is actually pretty bad, worse then the Germans even. That said, I was one of those who bought one because of the incredible deal (22% off sticker on a brand new model). At sticker they’re horribly outclassed, but at the market price it’s a pretty good value. Though that probably explains the…

The TLX is actually larger than the 3-Series. It’s between the 3 and 5-Series (191 inches vs 186 inches and 194 inches, respectively)

I’m pretty sure the TLX rides on the 9G Accord’s platform and not some bespoke platform.

Actually the 10G Accord shares a platform with the 10G Civic. The 9G Accord is on the same platform as the current TLX, but the Accord came first (2013) so it’s really the TLX that uses the Accord’s platform.

Not necessarily. The 3G RDX has the same 2.0T engine, and the 2G RDX has the same outgoing 3.5L V6. Turns out the V6 is faster because there’s a huge torque dip in the 3G RDX. Acura engineers have hinted that they had to reduce torque to protect the driveline in lower gears. Hopefully they beefed things up for the TLX…

Again, how is any of that relevant? Neither BMW nor Toyota designed or built the transmission; does that mean anything the two of them say about it is irrelevant too? You still haven’t answered my question about why that makes their statement about the engine changes being untrue. All you’ve done is parrot the same…

And how exactly is this point relevant? Who cares who built the damn thing. It seems like you’re in agreement that there are changes beyond just a simple tune, unless you would like to dispute that. Is your assertion that because BMW built the motor, anything Toyota says about it is irrelevant, even when it is in fact…

And yet, it’s not exactly that simple. The 2020 Supra had the B58B30C engine, which is closer to the B58B30M1 engine used in the Euro-spec M40i and regular 40i cars than the B58M30O1 engine that the US-spec M40i cars got. The 2021 Supra in the US now has the same B58M30O1 as all the other US-spec M40i cars, so it’s…

Sure, but who knows, maybe now it can reliably make 450hp with just a tune. Nobody knows yet, but what we do know is that the internals and ancillary parts not in fact identical as you suggested.

Are you suggesting that Toyota is lying?

Toyota says that it has a new exhaust manifold with 6 ports instead of 2, and new pistons with a lower compression ratio, presumably so that it can handle more boost up top. So no, it’s not just a tune.

One knock against 2+2; if it were a 2-seater, I’d be able to use the 3-person carpool lane with just 1 person in the passenger seat. Instead, I’d have to figure out a way to cram someone into the backseat too,

Sizewise and pricewise, is this supposed to compete with the Outback and Passport? A less capable but presumably more luxurious alternative?

There are a ton of Acura fanboys willing to pay an arm and a leg for a TL Type-S. The A-Spec package is even rarer yet, although IMO the A-Spec wheels look like ass and I much more prefer the waffle wheels on the regular Type-S.

I think you’re reading way too much into it. I said that it would be selfish of ME, in my situation, with my 4-month old daughter. If she’s 10 and enjoys being in that car, it’s a totally different situation, but as a 4-month old there is no possible way she can derive any sense of enjoyment from that over another…

I doubt a 4-month knows what car she’s riding in. I sure had no idea until I was at least 4 or 5 years old.