Evolution Of The Acura TLX
History of the TSX and TL Models
The TSX was first introduced in 2003 as an upcoming 2004 model. It was a compact luxury sedan produced to inspire excitement behind the wheel. To understand the complete history behind the TSX, let us first dig a little deeper. Let’s mention the RSX model.
After the Integra was discontinued in 2001, the RSX model came along in 2002 to fill the gap. Although the RSX was manufactured until 2006, the TSX eventually replaced the RSX altogether. It was designed to achieve a sportier exterior and more luxurious interior than the RSX. Since the TSX was gaining more attention, it became a more popular option.
The TL was a midsize luxury sedan first introduced in 1995. It was not created to replace any models- on the contrary, it was once ranked the second best-selling luxury sedan in the United States. However, due to the economy and styling errors, the TL’s sales plummeted over the last several years.
With other issues arising, both the TSX and TL models are being replaced together by the TLX model. 2014 was the last year for both of these models to see production.
TLX: Replacing the TSX and TL Models
Admirers of the TSX and TL sedans find themselves wondering: What is the TLX and why is it a replacement for these other models? Well, the TLX offers greater fuel efficiency and still promotes Acura’s impressive craftsmanship. The 2015 Acura TLX is the first model of its kind. New and improved, you can choose between the 2.4 L I4 engine or the 3.5 V6 engine. The I4 is standard and you’ll receive a unique 8-speed dual-clutch transmission to provide the experience of a manual with the convenience of an automatic transmission. If you go with the V6, you’ll get a nine-speed transmission that enhances the smoothness of the ride. The TLX also offers incredible standard features that were not available, or were optional, for the TSX and TL models. Security measures and power have vastly increased, so you are guaranteed a thrilling and safe journey.
Is the TLX Similar to the TSX and TL Models?
The TLX combines aspects of the TSX and TL that were previously adored by fans. Both the TSX and TL have loyal followers, and although these models are no longer being made, you will see them on the road for years to come. The TLX is probably more similar to the TSX, but it is still an excellent representation of both models. The TLX will certainly not disappoint- if anything, it will bring new followers with it.
What is the Next Step?
Acura strives to maintain fuel-efficient vehicles to satisfy consumers, and the TLX is no exception! If you are in the market to buy a luxury sedan, Crown Acura in Clearwater is the supplier of the vehicle you need. Check out the 2015 Acura TLX – take it for a test drive and see for yourself why it deserves a chance. We’d love for you to contact us today!
All About The Acura RSX
Will Acura Bring Back the RSX?
Rumors have been kicking around for years, but recent comments made by a company bigwig have set internet forums abuzz about the possible resurgence of one of the most popular Acura models: the RSX. At the last SEMA show, Acura’s lead designer was overheard hinting at the possibility of a resurrected RSX, but he made it clear that we shouldn’t hold our breath. According to him, any such vehicle wouldn’t make an appearance until at least 2017.
RSX 101
Acura first introduced the RSX in 2002 as a replacement to its popular Integra, bringing a luxury sporting car to a wider audience by offering high performance without the hefty price tag. Though it discontinued the model in 2006, Acura’s everyday sports car developed a loyal following. Today, the RSX has achieved an almost cult-like status. Entire clubs exist that are dedicated to preserving, modifying, and even just talking about Integra and RSX vehicles. The model has also inspired a constant stream of concept renderings; artists fantasizing about what the new RSX might look like if it ever does make a comeback.
Does Acura Make an RSX Equivalent?
What to do if you dig the RSX but didn’t happen to pick one up during its four year run? Die-hard RSX lovers can satisfy their craving by finding a used one for sale. But what about new cars? Does Acura make a modern-day equivalent of the beloved RSX? Well, almost. Some of the newest Acura cars bring so much to the table that it’s admittedly easy not to look back. RSX-lovers may just want to take the new ILX for a spin. While not a full-on sport vehicle, the approachable luxury may appeal to the sensibility of some RSX fans. If that’s not enough to scratch that high performance itch, Acura has just unveiled the all-new NSX with sport tuning and race-car looks. Although this car is not available for purchase at this time, you can easily stay tuned for release dates and other exciting information on this exciting future vehicle.
Is There a Place for RSX Today?
Is there room in the Acura family for a modern-day RSX? Many would argue that there is a noticeable gap to be filled within the current lineup. The NSX, which is probably the most similar to what the RSX was, uses a hybrid electric motor – something that many say isn’t true to the RSX’s performance-first legacy. This leaves potential space for a raw, sporty model like the RSX – and the luxury carmaker has been placing a noticeable emphasis on its smaller offerings in recent years. Does this mean that Acura is priming us for an upcoming announcement about the reintroduction of one of its most beloved models? The only thing that’s certain is that we’ll all just have to wait and see.
Until then, you can always come down to Crown Acura in Clearwater and check out the latest models or get updates on the most recent industry news.
5 Simple Tips to Prep Your Car for Winter
It’s a high probability we won’t receive any snow in Clearwater, FL this winter, but that doesn’t mean our vehicles are automatically prepared for everything Mother Nature throws our way. If you’re a native Floridian you already know; when it rains, it pours. Roads in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, and Tampa, FL are going to be slick. Here are the top 5 ways you can not only prepare your car for winter but avoid accidents and stay safe as a result.
Get Serious
First of all, SLOW DOWN! Give yourself enough room to stop at all times by traveling at appropriate speeds, keeping a good distance behind the vehicle in front of you and taking your turns a little slower than you normally would. Second – schedule an appointment to have your brakes inspected by a certified technician. They may need to be replaced.
Tread It Up
Unfortunately, those shiny new brakes won’t be much help if your tires are bald. If you replace them, it’s always best to get all four tires at once. And no – this isn’t something mechanics suggest simply to get you to spend more money. We’ve found the best place to buy new tires is typically a car dealership – not the all “all tire” places. The service and parts department at Crown Acura in Clearwater usually has the lowest prices in Pinellas County.
Don’t Get Hosed
Have your antifreeze checked to avoid freezing all of the important hoses under your hood. If it gets too low, you’ll expose your engine and radiator to freezing temperatures as well. This is a super easy, inexpensive tip to avoid a mechanical catastrophe. Major repairs are the last thing any of us budget for during the holiday season.
Lookout for Cats & Dogs
Replace your windshield wiper blades before the Florida winter storms hit – not the moment you realize it’s raining cats and dogs and you can’t see the road. Poor visibility when it rains is a serious safety issue for drivers across the entire southeast. If you’re planning on heading north for a road trip during the holiday season, consider buying a special set of winter blades and de-icing windshield washer fluid. You can find both at Crown Acura in Clearwater, FL.
Keep Going, and Going, and Going…
Drivers in Clearwater should definitely have their car battery tested by a certified auto technician. This is one of the easiest, quickest tips to prep your car for winter that can save you from the unpleasant surprise of a dead battery. Because you know if it’s going to happen, chances are it won’t be close to your home.
We’re not sure what it is about summer that invites road trips, but the summer months are often a time for spontaneous trips and long drives. You can have a great time on your summer road trips while ensuring the safety of yourself, your passengers and everyone on the road around you. Follow these tips from your Largo area Acura dealer for a memorable and safe summer road trip this season:
Road Trip Necessities: Food and Drinks!
No summer road trip is complete without a healthy supply of food and drinks. This is a necessity for travelers of all ages, but especially required if your summer road trip experience includes the kids.
Get a small cooler and pack it with favorite healthy snacks and drinks. To avoid sugar crashes and irritability, it’s a good idea to pack fruit, veggies and healthy snacks over candy bars and chips, but it’s also a good idea to pack a wide variety of treats to please everyone on the road! Keep water and juice available to cure thirst.
Be Prepared with an Emergency Roadside Kit
When you travel, you should always have a roadside emergency kit available for minor injuries or illnesses. If you get stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire or other car problem, the problem can easily be a big one if you have a child with a headache or a bee sting allergy. Keep any medical supplies necessary for the people you’re traveling with, and add a tire inflator, road flares, jumper cables, and a spare tire. It’s also a great idea to keep a spare battery for your cell phone or a car charger so you can call for help if you need it.
A Jug or Two of Water
In the heat of the summer, an engine is more likely to overheat. Keep a jug or two of water in the trunk just in case you need to cool your engine down enough to get to the nearest service station. You can pour it into your coolant reservoir temporarily to enable your car to make it a few miles to be serviced, but don’t make the mistake that it will solve the problem long term!
Plan for Driving Breaks
If you are traveling for a long distance, make sure you schedule plenty of driving breaks and stops along the way. Get out and stretch your legs, make a phone call if needed so you don’t need to use the phone while driving, use a rest room. Always rest if you are too tired to drive, and you’ll arrive to your destination safely!
If your vehicle has luxurious leather seats, you have probably noticed they tend to show every last bit of dirt or dust. You can’t use most cleaning agents on leather, so it is important that you learn how to properly care for your leather seats to maintain their appearance and quality. Clearwater area Acura provides the following tips for maintaining your leather seats:
Three Steps to Maintaining Leather Seats
Proper maintenance of leather seats is not difficult but it does require three steps. You will need to wipe, clean and then condition the leather against future damage. Ideally, you will take these steps to maintain your leather on a regularly scheduled basis. A bi-weekly or once a month cleaning schedule is recommended for the best results.
Supplies Needed to Clean Leather Seats
Your Clearwater area Acura dealer recommends that you keep the following items in your garage or toolbox so you are always prepared to care for leather seats:
- Leather conditioning product (specifically designed for protecting leather seats)
- Leather scrub brush
- Microfiber towels (one to use damp and one to use dry)
- Leather cleaning product (specifically designed for cleaning leather seats)
It is important to avoid all cleansers and c leaning agents that are not specifically designed for leather seats as they can damage or discolor the leather.
Step 1: Wipe With Lightly Dampened Cloth
Get one of your microfiber towels damp and wipe down the seats to remove food, dirt, dust and lint that may have accumulated since your last cleaning. Not only will the seats look nicer with dirt removed, but it will prevent damage caused by sitting on particles.
Step 2: Use Leather Cleaner
About once a month, use a leather cleaning product that sprays on the seats. Spray according to package instructions and then wipe off. If there are any stains or trouble spots that aren’t coming clean, use your leather brush to work the solution into the leather seat gently. Wipe all excess cleaning solution off your seats.
Step 3: Use Leather Conditioner for Protection
Finish your cleaning routine with a conditioner designed to protect your leather against future damage and keep it soft. Follow the instructions on the package and use regularly for the best results.
Getting pulled over by a police officer can really put a damper on your road trip’s good time, or make for a miserable commute. Traffic tickets can be a costly experience, not to mention a one-time ticket can result in a long-term consequence if your car insurance rate is increased due to the ticket. Here are some tips from your St. Petersburg area Acura dealer for avoiding getting pulled over and getting traffic tickets:
Pay Attention to Speed Limits
Some drivers are so used to driving faster than posted speed limits that they don’t even think about it. If you want to avoid getting pulled over and avoid a speeding ticket, you need to learn to keep an eye on the posted speed limits and your speedometer so that you aren’t traveling too fast. Everyone is in a hurry, and it is human nature to rush everywhere – but don’t speed. Not only does it increase your risks of being pulled over, but speeding increases your risks for car accidents and injuries.
Leave More Space Between Vehicles: Avoid Tailgating
A common reason drivers get pulled over by police officers is from tailgating. Tailgating is following the vehicle in front of you too closely. It’s very dangerous because it reduces the amount of time you have to stop. If the car in front of you stops unexpectedly, you are at risk to rear ending the car. If cops see drivers tailgating, they will often pull them over and issue a ticket. Try to leave a car length between you and the car in front of you for every 10 miles per hour you are driving. If traveling at 50 miles per hour, leave five car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Use your Turn Signals and Make Proper Lane Changes
If you are going to turn, don’t forget to use your turn signals – that is what they’re for! Many drivers get lazy or forget to put their turn signals on before turning. Help other drivers and pedestrians know your intentions by using your turn signals, and you won’t be at risk for getting pulled over for lack of using turn signals. Also, when changing lanes on a multiple lane highway, always use your turn signal and change one lane at a time. If you zoom across several lanes at once, you are at risk for being pulled over for improper lane changes.
When it is time to shop for a new car, many people put safety as their top priority. Modern vehicles are designed to deliver passengers from point A to point B as safely as possible, and there are a wide variety of safety features to help prevent car accidents and to minimize injuries if you are involved in a car accident. Your Clearwater area Acura dealer discusses the following safety features of the 2013 Acura MDX:
Airbags
Airbags have come a long way since they were invented. Originally they were in the front only, protecting the driver and front seat passenger from smashing their faces in the dashboard or windshield. The 2013 Acura MDX has multiple airbags positioned in several places to protect all passengers:
Front impact airbags – these are traditional airbags in the front to protect the head if the collision occurs in the front of the car.
Side impact airbags – help prevent injuries to bodies if there is a collision on the side of the vehicle.
Overhead airbags – protect passengers during rollover accidents and side collisions.
Anti-whiplash Restraints
In the 2013 Acura MDX, anti-whiplash head restraints react when the vehicle is involved in a rear collision. The head of the driver and passengers are cradled to help prevent whiplash.
Seatbelt Pretensioners
If you are involved in a car accident in the 2013 Acura MDX, the seatbelt pretensioners will automatically tighten in order to put you into the best seating position during the collision to minimize injuries.
Anti-lock Brakes
To prevent the brakes from locking in place and causing skidding or sliding, anti-lock brakes sense when a tire stops rotating while the brake is being used and will modulate brake pressure. The tire is able to rotate when the brakes are applied and released repetitively which will prevent skidding and enable the driver to maintain control of the vehicle.
Stability Control
The car uses multiple sensors to determine when the driver is starting to lose control of the vehicle. The car will automatically apply brakes on one or more wheels to help the driver maintain control and prevent rollover accidents.
Advanced Security Systems
If your 2013 Acura MDX is broken into, it will automatically disable the ignition and prevent the intruder from starting the car without the original manufacturer’s key.
If you plan to trade in your existing vehicle to purchase a new car, SUV or truck, there are a few things you can do to increase the value of your trade-in. The more you can get for your trade, the better your deal on your next car! Here are some tips from a Pinellas Park area Acura dealer for getting more for your trade-in:
Thoroughly Clean Inside and Out
Before you bring your vehicle into the dealership to get a trade-in value, spend some time cleaning it thoroughly inside and out. You can go through the car wash to make cleaning the outside easy and quick. Make sure you remove all belongings and trash from the interior of your car, vacuum every surface and nook and cranny, and then wipe down every inch of your dashboard, console, and doors. The cleaner you can get your car, the better your trade-in value will be. Appearances matter!
Research Car Value
Look online for services that will estimate the value of your car. You can check for the Kelley Blue Book value, which is a standard measurement of car value and should give you a good idea what the car is actually worth. You can also jump online to Craigslist or another classified website to see what similar cars are selling for.
When you bring your car to the dealership, understand that the dealer will not give you the full value of the car. This is because they need to resell the car at a profit. If you want, you can always try to sell the car yourself instead of trading it in, but it can take considerable time to find a buyer where as a trade-in is instant. The value of your traded in vehicle is immediately applied toward the purchase of your next car.
Knowing the approximate value of your car before you trade it in helps you know whether you’re getting a fair price for your car. If they offer you something ridiculously low, you can just say you know the Blue Book Value is so much; and that they shouldn’t be that far below it for the trade-in value.
Consider Getting a Trade-in Value from Multiple Dealerships
You may want to see what a few dealerships can offer you for your trade in. It is possible one dealership may be in need of the car you have and are trading in, and can offer you more for it than another dealership.
If you’re going on a road trip, there are a number of technology devices and gadgets that can make your trip even more fun. The warm, summer months are the perfect time to take a trip. Your Largo area Acura dealer offers the following tips for the latest gadgets that you might consider for your next road trip:
Even if your current car isn’t loaded with the latest car gadgets, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun. There are a number of things you can buy and bring along in your car even if they weren’t factory installed when you purchased your car.
Navigation System
Many cars come with navigation systems already installed, but if you don’t have one – you can purchase a GPS unit. Some are priced at under $100, and can really help you get where you’re going. Your cell phone might even double as a GPS unit with the right app.
Portable DVD Player
This gadget is especially useful for long trips with kids or teenagers in the backseat. Mount a DVD player (or better yet, one with dual screens) to the back of the headrests and the backseat passengers can enjoy a movie on the road.
Tablet Mounts for Headrests
If you’ve upgraded your portable DVD players to a Tablet computer, invest in a headrest mount that will hold your tablet on the back of the front seat for viewing by the backseat passengers. You can watch movies without having to hold the tablet in your hands the entire time.
Chargers
With all of these technology devices and gadgets, you’re going to be in need of recharging at some point. There are chargers you can plug into your cigarette lighter and there are solar charging pads you can use to recharge multiple devices at the same time without needing cords or your car battery.
USB Port
Are you jealous of the new cars that have USB ports built-in? Don’t be! You can get a charger that plugs into your cigarette lighter and has USB ports on the other end for you to use with your devices.
Internet
You can even get internet access in your car with a mobile router. You’ll basically have a wi-fi hotspot right in your car to use your tablet, laptop or mobile phone online. Obviously, only passengers should make use of this gadget – not the driver!
Can a vehicle be sporty and an affordable luxury car at the same time? It can if you are looking at the 2013 Acura TSX Sedan or Sport Wagon! The vehicle features a number of items that are considered “upscale” in the world of cars, but are offered as standard options on the base model (and for no additional cost). If you want to see what all the fuss is about, stop by our Tampa Bay area Acura dealership and take the Acura TSX Sedan or Wagon for a test drive:
Standard Features of the Base Model
There are a list of things that come standard with the 2013 Acura TSX Sedan and Sport Wagon. The base engine is a 2.4 liter, 4-cylinder with automatic transmission. The car includes:
- Satellite radio, 7 speaker audio system, cd player
- Bluetooth connectivity
- iPod input, USB input
- Navigational system
- Traction and Stability control
- Side/curtain airbags
- Xenon headlights
- Foglights
- Heated front seats and leather upholstery
- 17” alloy wheels
- Heated outside mirrors
- Sunroof
- Keyless entry
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- 8-way power driver seat with memory settings
- 4-way power passenger seat
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks.
The base model receives 22 miles per gallon fuel efficiency in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
Upgrade Options and Additional Features
If you go with the Sedan, you can choose the V6 engine instead of a 4-cylinder. This upgrade also provides a firmer suspension, 18” alloy wheels, and the audio system has road-noise-cancelling.
The Special Edition package is available as an appearance upgrade for the 4-cylinder sedan, and contains faux-sued seats, red light cabin illumination, a unique rear bumper, side sills and wheel treatments, and a more aggressive appearance front spoiler.
You might also upgrade to the Technology package to receive a navigation system, rearview camera, voice recognition and a more advanced surround sound audio system with 10 speakers. If you get the technology package with the Sport Wagon, you’ll receive a power lift gate.
Power and Performance
On the 2.4 liter, 4-cylinder engine, you will experience 201 horsepower and 170 lb/ft of torque. With a manual transmission, you’ll increase torque to 172 lb-ft. The 3.5 liter V6 engine creates 280 horsepower and 254 lb-ft torque.
The Acura TSX Sport Wagon does not have a V6 engine option. The 4-cylinder sedan provides an additional option of either a 5-speed automatic transmission with sport shift paddles or a 6-speed manual transmission.
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