2013 Acura TL Special Edition rolls up carrying $37,405* price tag

Sat, 08 Jun 2013

Acura hasn't done a whole lot with its aging TL line in recent years, the sedan only getting a very mild refresh for the 2012 model year. And while we don't see that changing anytime soon (as we reported earlier, the car is likely going to be replaced with a new TLX sedan that will serve as the replacement for both it and the smaller TSX), Acura is offering this new 2013 Special Edition TL, priced from $37,405 *plus $895 in destination fees.

The new TL SE slots in just above the base model and below the TL with Technology Package in terms of pricing, but offers a bit more in the way of added content. Special Edition features include unique 10-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels, a body-colored decklid spoiler and the appropriate SE badging. Keyless entry with pushbutton start is also standard on the Special Edition model, and the whole package is available in four exterior colors – Bellanova White, Crystal Black, Graphite Luster and Silver Moon – all with a dark leather interior.

Acura will offer the Special Edition with the TL's base engine, a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 good for 280 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Special Edition is on sale now, and you can peruse all the other official details in Acura's press blast below.

New Acura TL Special Edition Debuts with Key Feature Upgrades

Slotted between the TL and TL with Technology Package, the TL Special Edition offers popular added features at a tremendous value

06/07/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif.

The new 2013 Acura TL Special Edition is now on sale with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $37,405. Joining the TL line as a mid-2013 model, the TL Special Edition offers a step up from the standard TL, with the addition of highly desirable feature upgrades, creating an incredible value in the luxury four-door sedan segment.

The front-wheel-drive TL Special Edition features distinctive 10-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels, a color-matched deck lid spoiler and trunk-mounted Special Edition badging. Standard keyless access with pushbutton start adds convenience and ease of use. The TL Special Edition is available in four exterior colors: Bellanova White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Graphite Luster Metallic and Silver Moon Metallic. All exterior colors are matched with a leather-appointed Ebony interior with contrast stitching.

KEYLESS ACCESS SYSTEM

The TL Special Edition's standard Keyless Access System lets the driver enter and drive the car without having to handle a key or fob. The Keyless Access Remote has a unique digital identity that is automatically communicated to the car; the driver simply pulls one of the front door handles while the remote in his/her possession and the door unlocks and opens. When carrying the fob (or if all doors are unlocked), the trunk can be opened by pressing a button located on the TL Special Edition's rear spoiler.

The system identifies which of the two supplied fobs is in use each time the driver's door is opened (even if it is already unlocked), and then automatically sets the driver's seat, steering wheel, outside mirrors, climate control and audio system (including audio system presets) to a profile preset by the driver using that fob.

Once the driver has opened the door and is seated, the Keyless Access System allows the TL to be started with a push of the Engine Start/Stop button positioned on the instrument panel. When leaving the car, a press of the soft-touch button on the outside of the door handle locks all doors. Alternatively, a press of the Lock button on the Keyless Access Remote will also simultaneously lock all doors. The Keyless Access System will not allow the transmitter fob to be locked in the interior or the trunk of the TL.

POWERTRAIN

The front-wheel drive TL Special Edition features an all-aluminum 3.5-liter V-6 with single overhead camshaft cylinder heads and 24 valves, with the intake valves actuated by Acura's VTEC® (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control®) system. This compact and efficient engine produces 280 horsepower and 254 lbs-ft of torque (SAE net). A Sequential SportShift 6-speed automatic transmission operated by a straight-gate style console-mounted shifter is standard. For more spirited driving, a racing-inspired steering wheel paddle shifter system is standard and works when the transmission is in "Drive" or "Sport."

INTERIOR

The 2013 TL Special Edition's interior exemplifies Acura's driver-oriented sport-sedan thinking, matched with outstanding luxury. Sweeping shapes and high-quality materials blend a luxury aesthetic with a feeling of advanced technology. A 10-way adjustable power driver's seat and an 8-way adjustable power front passenger's seat are standard. A power moonroof, 276-watt audio system with eight speakers, and dual-zone, dual-mode automatic climate control system with automatic humidity control are also standard. The 2013 TL Special Edition comes well-equipped with standard technology features including a Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® wireless telephone interface, USB port connectivity, and a high-resolution Multi-Information Display (MID) on the center cluster.

SAFETY

Standard safety equipment on all Acura models includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control, ABS, dual-stage/multiple-threshold front airbags, front-side airbags, side curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions, front seatbelts with automatic tensioning system and load limiters, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

The TL recently earned the top-level rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including a GOOD rating in the IIHS' new small overlap frontal barrier crash test. The new IIHS small overlap frontal barrier crash test is designed to simulate a collision between a vehicle traveling 40 miles per hour and a fixed object, such as a utility pole, where only 25-percent of the vehicle's front structure is engaged by the opposing object. According to a 2009 study by the IIHS, such small overlap crashes accounted for nearly 25-percent of frontal crashes resulting in a serious injury or fatality.

The 2013 TL SE is produced using domestically and globally sourced parts at Honda of America Mfg., Inc., in Marysville , Ohio, recipient of the J.D. Power and Associates' Silver Plant Quality Award in its 2012 Initial Quality Study.

By Steven J. Ewing