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2023 Acura TLX Type S PMC Edition adds NSX colors to the palette

The 2023 Acura TLX Type S is getting a PMC Edition with some extra-pretty color options derived from the Acura NSX.  Per usual with Acura’s PMC Edition cars, the TLX Type S PMC Edition is hand-built at the same Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio as the NSX is. The regular TLX Type S is right down the road in Marysville, Ohio, so while itÂ’s not a massive location change, the environment in which the PMC cars are built in is entirely different from AcuraÂ’s typical assembly lines. As for the new colors, youÂ’ll be able to choose between Long Beach Blue, Curva Red and 130R White — all of those shades were previously offered on the NSX. In addition to the main shade, all PMC Edition cars will get a Berlina Black (also an NSX shade) painted roof, antenna and door handles. The quad exhaust will also be finished in black chrome instead of the bright chrome that comes standard. You get the same Y-spoke 20-inch wheels as the regular Type S has, but these are finished in a copper paint, and they sure do stand out. Other exterior changes include a carbon fiber lip spoiler and rear diffuser alongside glossy black side sill garnish and model badging. On the inside, Acura uses carbon fiber trim and adds illuminated side sills and unique Type S-badged floor mats. Each exterior color is paired with a single interior option. The Curve Red car gets an Ebony black interior with red stitching. All Long Beach Blue cars get an Orchid (cream) interior with blue stitching. And finally, the 130R White cars will get a red interior. All PMC Edition cars get a serialized plaque on the center console, as well. Similar to other Acura PMC cars of the past, this one is put through the same quality control checks as the NSX, including a dyno check, rough road simulation and paint inspection. TheyÂ’re also given special coverings for transport to the dealer and delivered via fully enclosed single-car carriers. Yes, you should expect the paint to be utterly perfect upon first inspection. Pricing for the PMC Edition isnÂ’t out yet, but expect it to be available when Acura releases pricing for the full lineup of 2023 TLX models. Related video:

2020 Acura NSX Suspension Deep Dive

The Acura NSX has been a special car as long as I’ve been in the business. The first one came out in 1990, the same year I started my career in automotive engineering. I vividly remember driving one briefly back then when we brought one in for benchmarking. I'd drive it again 22 years later when my previous employer bought a used 1991 example for a long-term test. Reader interest was sky-high and the car was still gorgeous, but the march of time and automotive engineering had clearly left it behind. Then, in 2016, a second-generation NSX emerged, and it was packed with bleeding-edge thinking. It has a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, but this new NSX is a hybrid with an electric motor-generator sandwiched between the engine and its nine-speed DCT transmission. Two more electric motors – one for each wheel – power the front axle. There they can add traction, regenerate electricity under braking and dole out hyper-accurate levels of torque vectoring. The carÂ’s tire package was changed from Continental SportContact 5 to SportContact 6 tires in 2019, and numerous suspension re-tuning tweaks came along with them. The result is a lively and well-balanced car that is relentless when driven hard and a pussycat around town. LetÂ’s see what theyÂ’ve got going on under there.   At first glance the 2020 Acura NSX appears to have dual wishbone front suspension. But we canÂ’t tell for sure because that big two-piece brake rotor is in the way. The coil-over shock looks obvious, but a few odd details are apparent even from here.   This view also seems to indicate double wishbone suspension. But the pivot axis (green arrow) between the upper and lower ball joints looks wrong – itÂ’s far too vertical. WeÂ’re missing something. But I would be remiss if I failed to point out a few other things before we moved on. For one, the front drive axle confirms this to be an all-wheel-drive machine. Second, the forged aluminum damper mounting fork (yellow) that envelops the axle is mounted to the lower arm about 75% out from the armÂ’s inner pivot. The spring and damper motion ratio would be 0.75-to-1 relative to wheel movement, with a tiny reduction due to its lean angle. Lastly, just look at the huge cast aluminum upright (white). Beautiful. Normally these are called hub carriers or steering knuckles, and I use the terms interchangeably. But the motorsports-derived term upright is normally applied when the piece is tall and, well, upright like this one.   This explains everything.

2025 Acura MDX ditches touchpad, embraces touchscreens, Google, Bang & Olufsen

The 2025 Acura MDX sees a number of updates and upgrades, especially inside, where a new infotainment system is a potential game-changer for Acura's flagship SUV as well as, potentially, the entire brand. Now, at first glance, adding a 12.3-inch touchscreen to a new luxury car shouldn't be that big of a deal, even if it features over-the-air updates and Google built-in tech. It could even evoke an eyeroll if you found out that both the screen and interface are basically the same as you'd find in a range-topping Honda Accord. The reason it's significant is because of what it replaces. Acura's True Touchpad interface has been unloved since it debuted on the current-generation RDX and subsequently spread throughout the Acura lineup to everything not named Integra. This interface that paired a dash-top screen with a unique touchpad on the center console (pressing on the touchpad would select an icon on the corresponding spot on the screen) was not exactly a critical darling. The entire system felt like Acura was being contrarian, as if a touchscreen or even knob-and-display setup, were too basic. Well, they basic now. Even if the new touchscreen is shared with an Accord, so what? It's sensibly laid out, looks good enough and Google built-in means an enhanced version of Google Maps is on board along with various Apps from the Google Play store. And yes, Apple CarPlay is still present.  With the True Touchpad truly gone, real estate opened up on the center console. There's a new, wide, kinda shallow bin that might be useful for something but seems a bit vestigial. It's located where the volume knob used to be — that's migrated west to where the touchpad was and therefore closer to your hand. The Touchpad's wrist rest that used to hover over the wireless phone charger is obviously no longer there, either, making it easier to place and remove your phone.  2025 Acura MDX with Advance Package View 7 Photos Another big-time change for 2025 is the addition of Bang & Olufsen sound systems instead of the Panasonic/ELS upgrades that have been an Acura staple for two decades. Although the ZDX is technically the first Acura to get a Bang & Olufsen system (the 2025 MDX will arrive at dealers after Acura's electric love baby with GM), the MDX gets the most powerful version. Not just in terms of an Acura Bang & Olufsen offering, but most powerful Acura sound system ever.