2015 Acura TLX
Out with the old, in with the new… and so goes it in the automotive world. And one of the latest to do so is Acura with the 2015 TLX.
Partially an exercise in consolidation, the TLX enters the Acura lineup as both the TL and TSX depart. Wheelbase measures the same as the TL-just over 109 inches—though the chassis is different with four-wheel steering on most models.
While the bodywork is still conservative, there are cues that lend aggression: short front and rear overhangs, sweeping profile with a teardrop like greenhouse, and optional larger wheels. Acura’s jeweled LED headlights make an appearance here, as well.
But to us it is the interior that really shines. The TLX rivals some of the best for comfort, with great seats and materials. Technology is always an Acura focus and there is quite a lot of it inside. The dual screen center stack is an evolution of the Honda trademark setup. Again true to Acura form, the overall looks is certainly premium but not over the top.
Power is by way of a 206 horsepower 2.4 liter inline 4 with an in house designed 8-speed dual clutch automatic, or a 290 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 with a 9-speed ZF box that includes push button gear selection. Front wheel drive is standard with all-wheel drive an option for the V6.
Neither engine felt particularly sporty, but the IDS drive mode selector can spice things up.
So with plenty that’s new for Acura this year, the TLX is on sale now, starting at around $32,000.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.4 liter/ 3.5 liter
- Horsepower: 206/ 290
- Price: starting around $32,000
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S
The Porsche 911’s trim structure has a niche for just about every buyer. For instance, a refreshed Carrera S has arrived along with 2025’s 992.2 update. So, we headed to Southern California for a First Drive of both the Coupe and the Cabriolet.
Its twin-turbocharged, rear-mounted flat-six may share an entry-Carrera displacement of 3.0 liters, but 473 horsepower is an 85-horsepower bump over the base Carrera and 30 HP for the S. The S’s 390 lb-ft remains, its torque curve staying strong as you roll the digital needle out to 7,500 rpms, shifting with the precision of Porsche’s eight-speed PDK.
Yes, the 2025 Carrera S receives the digital gauge cluster and push button start we’ve commented on before. Love it or not, there’s no denying it’s keeping up with the times. Meanwhile, the optional Sport Chrono package keeps time literally. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and the Sport Exhaust System is standard; so is Porsche Active Suspension Management, though PASM Sport, which drops the car 10 mm, is optional, as is real axle steering.
And, if you’re worried about losing some performance by going with the drop-top, don’t be.
ALEXANDER KELLUM: “I mean, if you look on paper, the main difference is– you’ll see on the spec sheets– the cab is about 200 pounds heavier; and the 0 to 60 times, I think it’s two-tenths of a second slower. To just kind of be blunt about it, uh, anyone who buys this and then drives it, you know, every day or on the weekends or through the canyons like this, you’re probably not really going to notice that.”
The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S is everything we loved about the base model, just kicked up a notch. And that does unfortunately include the price, starting under $150,000.
And we’ll have more Quick Spins soon!