Topic: 2006 Acura TL drop in horsepower??

[tirekicker42]

Firstly, I am still kicking tires, however leaning hard on the TL.  I downloaded the 2006 brochure to find the horsepower rated at 12 less (258) and the torque at 5 foot pounds less (233).  Has something changed with the motor, or the system of measuring horsepower.

Secondly, Is there anything new about the 2006 (other than the increased lease rate) or should I still look for a 2005??

Any help is appreciated.

[GTI-Gabe]

All new cars are now rated using a different standard called SAE
So it's not that it has less horsepower, it's just rated differently.

Search the forum to find more info on it.

[tsx]

Honda/Acura and Toyota/Lexus have both volunteered for the year 2006 to start using the new SAE standard to measure horsepower/torque...
That doesn't mean it has less horsepower or it's slower etc... its a new standard! you will see there is drop in every model from these companies....
Exception models are Honda Accord which is now at 4 cyl. 166 from 160... v6 from 240 to 244 and TSX from 200 to 205!
Honda increased the HP in these models by modifying exaust manifolds etc.. so it doesn't decrease the numbers and plus they are refreshned models for 2006 model year!

None of the other manufacturers (except GM) are using the new SAE standards yet.. when they do you will see the revised numbers!!

[ovr50]

IIRC, DC and Ford are using the new calculations for new power trains but are not retesting all engines. I think GM is doing the same - I don't believe that GM is retesting ALL their engines?

[a4_tom]

Its not until 2007 before facelifted TL arrives.

[tsx]

Its not until 2007 before facelifted TL arrives.

I mentioned TSX not the TL!!

[tsx]

The only Engines that GM tested on was the 4.6L V8s in the V-Series and the 3.5L V6...
the other engine is their new 2.4L which went from 170HP to 167HP with the new SAE ratings!

Ford has yet to test it out, as their are no new engine develpment.... maybe the 3.0V6 in the fusion!

[canadacraig]

tsx said, "Exception models are Honda Accord which is now at 4 cyl. 166 from 160... v6 from 240 to 244 and TSX from 200 to 205! Honda increased the HP in these models by modifying exaust manifolds etc.. so it doesn't decrease the numbers and plus they are refreshned models for 2006 model year!!"

Hi tsx!! [and all the rest of you]

Honda's plan was for the Accord 4 cylinder to have 170 h.p. The Accord V6 to have 250 h.p. and the TSX to have 210 h.p. And they would be rated at those figure IF Honda still measured power the old way.

tsx said, "None of the other manufacturers (except GM) are using the new SAE standards yet.. when they do you will see the revised numbers!!"

Without a doubt in my mind - ALL other manufacturers have already tested their engines using the new SAE methods. Can you imagine - even for a second - Chrysler [for instance] NOT testing their HEMI in the chance of it being rated HIGHER? Not likely. One can only assume that the HEMI [and other engines NOT tested the 'new way'] have not fared very well. [in other words - the h.p. ratings were lower than what they now say they are] Hence the, "we will only test NEW engines" excuse. I could be wrong. But I doubt it.

Craig!!

[tsx]

tsx said, "Exception models are Honda Accord which is now at 4 cyl. 166 from 160... v6 from 240 to 244 and TSX from 200 to 205! Honda increased the HP in these models by modifying exaust manifolds etc.. so it doesn't decrease the numbers and plus they are refreshned models for 2006 model year!!"

Hi tsx!! [and all the rest of you]

Honda's plan was for the Accord 4 cylinder to have 170 h.p. The Accord V6 to have 250 h.p. and the TSX to have 210 h.p. And they would be rated at those figure IF Honda still measured power the old way.

I didin't mention those figures cuz there is no point any as Honda/Toyota will use the new standards to meansure power in the new way!

Some of the other cars by Honda Also include..
2006 Acura RSX:
Old Standard: 210HP for 2006 (up 10)
New Standard: 201HP (up 1)

2006 Civic Si:
Old Standard: 200HP
New Standard: 197HP

I can't wait to see the figures from Nissan...
With their much appraised VQ Engine Series.. the 3.5V6
that will affect em' big time as 80% of their models are using this engine!!

Other manufacturer don't have the guts to do it.. as they are riding on the HP wave right now...
the biggest being the 5.7L Hemi

Repect to Toyota/Honda for leading the example for other follow!!

[robarakira]

2006 improvements include software upgrades that further minimize torquesteer feeling. 

It's an excellent car and provides great value.  If you can live with FWD you've got a winner. 

I like almost all aspects of the TL over the G35 sedan.  Only time G35 would feel better is when accelerating well in a quick corner.  TL looks far more sharp IMO too.  Engine is strong regardless of figures.

[sterling]

Ford has yet to test it out, as their are no new engine develpment.... maybe the 3.0V6 in the fusion!

Ford released the new horsepower figures for the Fusion V6 weeks ago (221hp).

[tsx]

2006 improvements include software upgrades that further minimize torquesteer feeling. 

It's an excellent car and provides great value.  If you can live with FWD you've got a winner. 

I like almost all aspects of the TL over the G35 sedan.  Only time G35 would feel better is when accelerating well in a quick corner.  TL looks far more sharp IMO too.  Engine is strong regardless of figures.

Agreed 100%.... i'd take the TL over the G35 anyday!
Can't wait for the Type-S version to come out!!

It'd be a true winner, if they can add in RWD with the 3.2 putting out 300+HP to surpass the Lexus IS350!
I think Acura needs to upscale the next TSX to compete with the BMW 3 Series class... and TL needs to compete with the Lexus GS, BMW 5 Series... the Acura RL with the long wheelbase version which can take on Lexus LS and BMW 7 Series... obviously they would need to include the new V8 Engine from Honda!!

[Snowman]

2006 improvements include software upgrades that further minimize torquesteer feeling. 

It's an excellent car and provides great value.  If you can live with FWD you've got a winner. 

I like almost all aspects of the TL over the G35 sedan.  Only time G35 would feel better is when accelerating well in a quick corner.  TL looks far more sharp IMO too.  Engine is strong regardless of figures.

Agreed 100%.... i'd take the TL over the G35 anyday!
Can't wait for the Type-S version to come out!!

It'd be a true winner, if they can add in RWD with the 3.2 putting out 300+HP to surpass the Lexus IS350!
I think Acura needs to upscale the next TSX to compete with the BMW 3 Series class... and TL needs to compete with the Lexus GS, BMW 5 Series... the Acura RL with the long wheelbase version which can take on Lexus LS and BMW 7 Series... obviously they would need to include the new V8 Engine from Honda!!

I drove a friends new TL and was not impressed with the handling. The TL is a nice car and I like the styling vs. the G35 but I would never pick a fwd car over a rwd.

Acura needs to develop RWD platforms to be a serious contender in the entry level luxury market.

[hondasalesguy]

snowman i agree. As long as Acura stays with FWD platforms and doesn't have a "true" RWD car, they will not be direct competition for the Germans and Lexus/Infiniti. But who knows, maybe this is a concious decision on their part, the cost saving by sharing platforms with lesser Honda products may make these cars more profitable fot the parent corporation. They do very well in the U.S., iI recently read that they recently posted their 23rd consecutive record selling month down there. So their strategy is working pretty dang well even if it disappoints the enthusiasts who just KNOW that with RWD and a few more ponies, the TL would kick some pretty serious butt in the mid luxury market...

[Snowman]

snowman i agree. As long as Acura stays with FWD platforms and doesn't have a "true" RWD car, they will not be direct competition for the Germans and Lexus/Infiniti. But who knows, maybe this is a concious decision on their part, the cost saving by sharing platforms with lesser Honda products may make these cars more profitable fot the parent corporation. They do very well in the U.S., iI recently read that they recently posted their 23rd consecutive record selling month down there. So their strategy is working pretty dang well even if it disappoints the enthusiasts who just KNOW that with RWD and a few more ponies, the TL would kick some pretty serious butt in the mid luxury market...

Exactly…the enthusiast drivers are small in numbers and the driveline systems are not important to the majority of the buying public. Just look at the ratio of automatic vs. manual transmissions sold in the 3 series.

Honda makes few mistakes and they have been a successful…what do we know….but a  280 hp RWD TL would kill G35 sales.

[JSCC]

Form the people/customers that I have met.
"Looks" is usually more important than the "drive".

[avtoller]

Form the people/customers that I have met.
"Looks" is usually more important than the "drive".

I always find that amazing! I have owned and cherished some of the ugliest cars this side of the Aztek. Looks have ALWAYS been very low on my priority list. I'm always reading on this forum thing like "Wow, what an awesome car!" when the only basis is a picture or 3 of the sheet-metal. To me, it can't even begin to be considered "awesome" until it has proved itself on the road.

[Snowman]

Yep….if I was concerned about styling I sure as hell would not be driving a bug-eyed WRX….look away, I’m hideous.

[a4_tom]

Isn't a FWD TL already killing RWD/AWD G35 sales?

[Snowman]

Isn't a FWD TL already killing RWD/AWD G35 sales?

Yes….waiting for our resident insider info auto motive guy to interject at this time.