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We drive the Acura TLX-GT racecar

Don't break the car. As you can tell from the video, that's the theme of the day at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, MI. After two short lapping sessions in the Acura TLX-GT fear gave way to familiarity, and a second theme emerged: this is awesome. The anxiety was appropriate. There are only two TLX-GTs in the world, and both were at Gingerman that day. A mishap would potentially put either Ryan Eversly and Peter Cunningham out of contention for the subsequent Pirelli World Challenge race. I did not want to be that guy. But back to the awesome part. The TLX-GT is barely TLX, but more Acura that you might expect. The wheelbase, roof, and doors are all stock dimensions, although all the bodywork is carbon fiber. Out go the front MacPherson struts, in goes a special double-wishbone suspension. All-wheel drive comes from an XTRAC six-speed sequential transmission originally developed for Dakar Rally vehicles. The side mirrors are stock. Under the hood lies a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with a stock block, head, crank, and throttle body. "Under the hood" is a generous term, though, because half of the engine sits inside the cabin. The front end of the block is aft of the front axle - the rest of the hood is taken up with radiators and hoses. To service the turbochargers, the RealTime mechanics remove the top of the dashboard. The front-mid engine location pushes the driver's seat back to the B-pillar, so you sit like Hightower from Police Academy. Only with less visibility. This does not calm the nerves. Nor does the din of 600 or so unmuffled horsepower. My first laps were understandably timid. But the TLX-GT is actually easy to drive. You get used to the low, rearward seating position almost immediately. Once rolling you don't need the clutch for shifts - just bang the right and left paddles to go up and down. I even became accustomed to the acceleration. At more than 3,000 pounds curb weigh the TLX-GT is quick, but not as explosive as cars like the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Where the TLX-GT blows away road cars is in grip and braking, neither of which I fully exploited. The brake pedal is so hard you feel like you're standing on it just to get the pads to bite. Once engaged, they're like an endless well of deceleration, with ABS somewhere down at the bottom of the abyss. Second lapping session over, car returned intact and adrenaline high in full effect. I had the uncontrollable urge to get back behind the wheel. I mean, I barely had time to get up to speed.

Acura TLX Type S PMC Edition gets the NSX's Gotham Gray Matte paint

Acura made three NSX-sourced colors available on the TLX Type S PMC Edition in 2022. Giving the sedan distinctive supercar flair must have struck a chord with enthusiasts, because the Honda-owned company added a fourth color called Gotham Gray Matte to the palette. If the name sounds familiar, it's likely because Gotham Gray Matte was also available on 50 units of the NSX Type S. The flat-gray paint is complemented by Berlina Black paint on the door handles, the side skirts, and the 20-inch wheels, a carbon fiber spoiler on the trunk lid, and a carbon fiber rear diffuser. Black exterior emblems add a touch of contrast to the design. But Acura painted the roof in the same color as the body, whereas the first batch of TLX Type S PMC Edition models announced in 2022 featured a Berlina Black-painted roof panel. Inside, the TLX Type S PMC Edition gains Milano Red leather upholstery, Ultrasuede inserts, black contrast stitching, carbon fiber trim, Type S-branded floor mats, and illuminated sill plates. The center console also features a metal plate that displays the car's serial number. Acura will build 50 units of the TLX Type S PMC Edition painted in Gotham Gray Matte. The sedan will enter production in April 2023, and it will be built by hand in the Performance Manufacturing Center that the company operates in Ohio; it's the same facility that built the now-retired NSX. Pricing starts at $66,995 including a $1,995 destination charge. In comparison, the standard TLX Type S costs $56,745.

2021 Acura TLX Long-Term Update | Seats look great, feel less so

There's a lot to like about our Acura TLX A-Spec's interior. In particular, I love the vivid red leather upholstery, the satisfying drive mode selector, and the loads of space inside. What I'm not so in love with is the actual design of the front seats. They look great and are quite shapely with the undulating black faux suede inserts and leather piping separating the aforementioned red leather panels. But they're underwhelming when they're under you. My biggest complaint is that the seat bottom is extremely short, and the adjustment for angle is a bit limited. As such, my thighs lack support, and on a long trip, this can become quite uncomfortable. The Acura is far from the only car I've experienced with this issue, but with our car priced over $45,000, it's surprising there isn't more adjustment, or some sort of seat base extender common in sportier cars (most notably BMW). 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec View 51 Photos Also disappointing is the lack of lateral support. The seats look like they have some decent bolsters, but they're very soft and fairly wide apart. As such, they don't do much to keep you in place. And although this isn't the full-force Type S, the A-Spec still has an air of sportiness about it, so it seems like something Acura would want to improve a little. It's not all bad, though. The seats themselves have thick and reasonably soft cushioning, so the parts of you that are supported are comfortable. The adjustable lumbar support is actually quite excellent with the ability to add quite a bit over a large area. Overall, I'm not angry with the TLX's seats, I'm just a bit disappointed. They wouldn't put me off the car, I just think that, for as good as so much else is, it deserves something better. Related Video: