Acura Announces Junior TLX A-Spec

Acura expands availability of the popular package.

Following last year’s redesign and the addition of the A-Spec sport package, Acura announced the 2019 model will gain a new Platinum White Pearl color, new 19-inch wheels, and a new 2.4-liter A-Spec sport version. The 2.4-liter model is an interesting proposition, especially considering the 206-horsepower engine comes hooked to an eight-speed dual clutch automatic, compared to the V6’s nine-speed auto. Opting for a 2.4 A-Spec will set you back $39,400 plus a $965 destination charge, representing a $6,400 price premium.

The extra cost of the A-Spec brings a matte-black pentagon grille with a dark chrome border, a reworked lower front fascia, LED fog lights, and a set of darkened Jewel Eye headlights. The kit also includes 19-inch Shark Gray alloys, a gloss-black painted deck spoiler, smoked taillights, a rear diffuser, and 4-inch wide dual exhaust tips. Moving inside, the 2.4-liter A-Spec gains the same sporty seats as the V6, which feature high-contrast stitching and piping. Elsewhere, there’s red LED ambient light, a black headliner, brushed aluminum instrument trim, and a thicker steering wheel with A-Spec badging.

There’s also the exclusive Still Night Blue Pearl color and the choice of either Black with Alcantara or Full Red interior schemes. Standard equipment on all 2019 Acura TLXs includes LED headlights, 10-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, Smart Entry withpush buttonstart, and dual-screen infotainment featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Additionally, every 2019 TLX comes with the AcuraWatch suite of safety and driver assistive technologies, which includes Collision Mitigation Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control withLow SpeedFollow, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning.

Available options include a 360-degree Surround View Camera system, a heated steering wheel, AcuraLink and a 10-speaker Acura/ELS Studio audio system. Lastly, there’s a new 19-inch wheel available on V6-powered Technology and Advance trims. The new Platinum White Pearl color simply replaces Bellanova White Pearl while the company has chosen to sadly discontinue Black Copper Pearl.

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2019 Acura MDX Gains Sporty Looks With New A-Spec Package

But is there any extra power to go along with the looks?

Acura made a bold proclamation when it revealed the all-new 2019 RDX - the Japanese luxury brand would move back towards its sporty roots with new A-Spec and Type S models. So far, we haven't seen any of those more powerful Type S models, but the company has just added another model to its A-Spec line. Unlike the RDX, the 2019 MDX is not an entirely new model. Acura is attempting to keep the MDX fresh for another model year with some minor improvements and a sporty new A-Spec package.

The A-Spec package doesn't have any additional power - it is simply an appearance package. So the MDX continues to be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 producing 290 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque going out through a nine-speed automatic to front-wheel-drive or super-handling-all-wheel-drive. To differentiate A-Spec models, the MDX will have 20-inch grey wheels, a new front fascia, body-color sills, larger exhaust tips, dark chrome trim, A-Spec badging, and rear tailgate spoiler. All A-Spec models will be equipped with SH-AWD with torque vectoring as standard.

Further distinguishing the A-Spec on the inside will be red or black leather with black Alcantara, unique gauges, sport pedals, and an A-Spec steering wheel with paddle shifters. Aside from the new A-Spec package, all MDX models will receive some other important updates. 2019 models can now be optioned with an Active Damper System (ADS), which was previously limited to the hybrid. Acura says it has made the MDX smoother by prioritizing second gear starts on the nine-speed transmission, and a new stop-start system is now standard across the range. There are also some new colors and interior trim options for 2019.

The MDX will continue to be an incredibly safe car, thanks to the standard AcuraWatch suite of advanced safety and driver-assist technologies. AcuraWatch includes collision mitigation braking with forward collision warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation with lane departure warning. The base MDX with FWD starts at $44,300, with SH-AWD available for an extra $2,000. The A-Spec model starts at $54,800 with standard SH-AWD, and prices for the hybrid have yet to be announced. All prices exclude a $995 destination fee. The 2019 Acura MDX should be hitting showrooms soon.

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Custom Acura RDX A-Spec Comes To SEMA With 345 HP

Acura's luxury crossover gets a significant power upgrade with the help of Graham Rahal Performance.

While Ford brought some modified Mustangs, trucks and SUVs to the SEMA aftermarket tuning show this week, Acura chose to customize the 2019 RDX A-Spec luxury crossover. Designed and built by Graham Rahal Performance founded in 2017 by race-winning Honda IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, the 2019 Acura RDX A-Spec received a wealth of performance enhancements thanks to updates to the RDX's powertrain, suspension, brakes, wheels and tires.

"As owners of an Acura dealership, we know how strong the new 2019 RDX is out of the gate. I didn't want to mess with a good thing," said Graham Rahal. "Sometimes, subtle enhancements can make a big difference in the look of a vehicle. And that's exactly what my team and I aimed for with this GRP RDX."

Under the hood, GRP has used its experience of tuning Honda Civic Type Rs to upgrade the RDX's factory 2.0-liter turbo engine with a new turbocharger, intake and exhaust manifolds, and downpipe. The SUV also received a custom intercooler and intake setup, a lightweight cat-back exhaust system, and a remapped ECU.

With these modifications, the GRP RDX produces 345 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque, up from the 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft delivered by the standard model. Power is sent to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission with the aid of Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system.

To cope with this extra muscle, the chassis has been modified with custom sport springs that lower the RDX by two inches, while stopping performance is improved by six-piston StopTech brakes. The custom RDX A-Spec also rides on lightweight 21-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

On the outside, the GRP RDX is painted in Apex Blue Pearl supplemented with GRP custom carbon mirror caps and carbon grille accents. Interior modifications include carbon fiber accents and a custom steering wheel designed by renowned racing driver Max Papis.

An assortment of Acura race cars are also being showcased at SEMA, including the Acura NSX GT3 Evo ARX-05 that finished second in the 2018 IMSA Weathertech GTD Championship, the Acura ARX-05 that raced in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2018 season, and the RealTime Racing TLX GT that returned to Pikes Peak earlier this year. Also on display is a 2019 Acura NSX road car finished in Thermal Orange Pearl and a customized 2019 Acura ILX showing the range of accessories available to Acura customers.

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