Acura just debuted the all-new 2021 Acura TLX, its latest D-segment four-door and rival to the Cadillac CT5.
Styled after the Type S Concept unveiled last year, the new TLX is longer, lower, and wider than the preceding model. The wheelbase has grown 3.7 inches, the roof is now 0.6 inches lower, and the body is 2.2 inches wider. The front and rear track have also widened by 1.2 inches and 1.6 inches, respectively.
Styling highlights include a diamond pentagon grille, plus LED headlamps with four individual LED lighting elements. There’s also a set of LED tail lamps in the rear and dual exhaust tips. Standard spec includes 18-inch wheels, with 19’s available.
The 2021 Acura TLX takes technology from the Acura RDX for the cabin space, including the Acura ELS Studio 3D audio system, as well as the latest True Touchpad Interface for the infotainment system, with a 10.2-inch HD display and optional 10.5-inch head-up display for the readouts.
Under the hood, the 2021 Acura TLX is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0L engine with VTEC, which produces 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, while mating to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
What’s more, the new 2021 Acura TLX Type S is expected to debut in the Spring of 2021, reintroducing the brand’s Type S performance variant after a decade on the shelf. The new TLX Type S will bring with it an all-new turbocharged 3.0L V6 and the brand’s super Handling All-Wheel Drive system with torque vectoring capabilities. Specs on the new V6 will be released closer to launch, but Acura says it will mate to a 10-speed automatic with sportier tuning, plus unique styling elements like a new grille, larger intakes, a deck lid spoiler, a rear diffuser, a front splitter, and 20-inch wheels.
The 2021 Acura TLX will start in the mid $30,000 range, and arrives in dealers this Fall. In addition to rivaling the Cadillac CT5, the new 2021 Acura TLX will also go head-to-head with the Audi A4 range, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti Q50, Lexus ES, Lincoln MKZ, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Volvo S60.
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Comments
Doesn’t the ct4 compete with 3 series? The ct5 competes with the 5 series. Also, this acura is a nice fwd car, but its less of a cadillac and more of a buick. I know buick cars are going away, but it’s hard to compare this to a cadillac ct4/ct5.
Well the interior already has both the CT4/5 beat with no effort.
Have you sat in any of them? Try using the stupid non touch screen in the Acura and let me know how it goes. Typical over thinking it. Will be obsolete before it hits market.
Ct4 is a c segment.
Ct5 is a d segment.
D-SEGMENT means Ct5 competes against the 3,C,A4.
Are in ur mind putting the Ct5 against the E-Class/Bmw5? It looks too cheap and too small to compete against them.
Its ok for the d segment, but E segment for the ct5 is a suicide.
Ats was 3/C rival, but now Ct4 is in a class below.
Next gen Ct6 will be in the E segment.
The CT5 V-blackwing will have an engine more powerfull than that of the M5 competition or E63S. So the, if you are puting the CT5 in a segment with the 3series and C class, then the C63s and M3 CS are dead.
The only problem is that the CT5-V Blackwing will not have available all wheel drive.
I think it shows Cadillac a thing or two in terms of design and looks better than Buick and it is not trying to be a Caddy or a Buick, actually Caddy it is Caddy that is trying to be all things Japanese, sadly so. As a Japanese car, I love it, as an American car I hate it, became it is not 😊
I like Acura and admire them for being a little quirky and forging their own design path. That said, the photos don’t make these cars look very attractive. Maybe they’ll look better in person, but the interior seems like the only redeeming part.
I also agree with Josh: while Acrua *should* be a Cadillac competitor, this is more along the lines of a Buick competitor.
From these pics, they leap frogged Cadillac pretty bad. Cadillac is what Buick should be. They should be competing with BMW, Mercedes, Audi. Instead they are getting out classed by near luxury cars like Acura. Hyundai, Acura, Kia, Mazda…they all beat out Cadillac now. What a F$@#ing joke.
Ditch Buick and rip like 15% off the MSRP of all cadillacs while keeping the “But they’re always 20% off” strategy? Or continue on the “But the next one will be good” strategy.
Having watched a few vidz on this car, they have stepped up the interior to better compete with it’s rivals. They are playing the same game as Caddy fielding a large 3 series competitor.
Fwd = no dice….
The car looks great on the high trim and the interior is awesome too. Very sporty looks and feel i’m sure. However it started life as a FWD then AWD with transversal engine mounting. So a no go for me.
Best looking TLX so far. Doesnt look or drive as nice as a rwd Cadillac sedan though. Probably more reliable.
i’d take this over the ct5.
base engine for the ct5 has 237HP versus 272 for the acura.
its MSRP is probably less.
it doesn’t have that kink at the rear passenger window that all of you have been kvetching.
it looks sportier.
and it probably has a better interior because just about everyone has a better interior than gm.
I thought Kia was taking the world over….
pretty soon it’s going to come down to foreign cars really taking over. Beyond Dodge, American cars aren’t doing $#!t and Dodge is in serious need of some new stuff
never!!!
everyone knows cadillac is the “standard of the world”!!!!
Danmn right, just checking 😉
Right now this is the most appealing car on the market. GM and Ford are dumb for getting out of the car business.
I’ve been a GM fan forever.
But…
2021 TLX/Type S make the CT5 irrelevant.
Just wait until you see the new Genesis G80 GV80 and GV70 on the roads.
GV70 competes with the XT4 will have a turbo V6 variant.
I don’t know why GM even wasted time bringing out the CT4 and CT5.
Try getting into the backseat of a CT5 without banging your head on the door frame.
These foreign brands should scare the crap out of GM leadership.
Really? A FWD Honda will make a RWD CT5-V scared? Best chassis in the business vs a torque steer fest? Not seeing it.
Cadillac’s new slogan should be:
Standard of a different world…lol
I think it shows Cadillac a thing or two in terms of design and looks better than Buick and it is not trying to be a Caddy or a Buick, actually Caddy it is Caddy that is trying to be all things Japanese, sadly so. As a Japanese car, I love it, as an American car I hate it, became it is not 😊