2023 Acura TLX Type S PMC Edition: Handbuilt Is Back
With Acura's NSX supercar being sunsetted this year after the final run of Type S variants is built, the Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) where it is assembled by hand is going to need purpose. Well, a different purpose, at least—and Acura's been trying to give it some over the past few years with its normal-looking-on-the-outside, secretly hand-built batches of PMC Editions of its mainstream models. These mostly ordinary Acura models are usually gifted some special paint—a lustrous red on the 2020 TLX PMC Edition, a blazing orange on the 2021 RDX PMC Edition, etc.—and carry the distinction of being hand-built in the same factory as the NSX supercar, by the same technicians, even. The newest addition to this PMC family? The latest-generation TLX sedan.
As mentioned, there has been a TLX PMC Edition previously, but that was based on the previous-generation TLX. This 2023 Acura TLX PMC Edition blends not only the newest TLX with the PMC treatment, but also the TLX in its spicier 355-hp Type S form, which also gets Acura's torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. This sport sedan with a name of many characters will, ironically, be limited in number, though Acura hasn't outlined yet what that number will be. (Past PMCs were built in numbered runs, with each model wearing a plaque inside with its unique figure; there is a similar plaque pictured on the new '23 TLX, but it only shows "001," not how many that number is out of.) It is, of course, built by hand at Acura's PMC in Ohio, and for an added dash of fancy, each car will be delivered in a covered, single-car transporter to its delivery dealership in order to keep the paint free from blemishes.
In no small part because this TLX PMC Edition is based on the already saucy looking Type S version of Acura's midsize sedan, it is an altogether more serious-looking machine than the old one. Acura steps up the visuals with copper-colored 21-inch wheels, carbon-fiber rear spoiler and diffuser pieces, and Berlina Black (a classic Honda color) roof and door mirrors. Three colors will be available, and (go, America!), they're Curva Red (with a black interior), 130R White (red interior), and Long Beach Blue (with a white interior)—perfectly timed for a certain celebratory weekend in the U.S.A. All three colors are borrowed from the NSX, too.
Other enhancements on the PMC include Pirelli P-Zero summer tires, carbon fiber interior trim, backlit "Type S" door sill plates, and blacked-out badges. The result is a TLX Type S that is subtly different, but in a hard-to-place way if you just saw one on the street.
Of course, the delicious, even subtler aspect of these PMC cars has long been their hand assembly, which is just plain unusual for cars not priced in the stratosphere. Like with past PMC Editions, we anticipate the TLX Type S version won't break the bank, costing a few thousand bucks more than a regular one. Again, imagine someone paying just a little more for, say, a hand-built Ford F-150 or Honda Civic. It's both weird and kind of, secretly, maybe cool. We'll know final pricing and, likely, how limited production will be when the order books open for the TLX Type S PMC Edition later this year.
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In the late '70s, the automotive performance world had been decimated by government regulations and soaring gas prices. MPG and going far had replaced having fun and going fast. If you were a hot-rodder, it was a dark time. Things over at the Chrysler Corporation were especially bad and the company was on the verge of going belly-up. Then along came a guy named Lee Iacocca to try and right the floundering ship. Spoiler alert: He pulled off a minor miracle and saved Chrysler.
land-rover defender Full OverviewI don't know what it is about adulthood, but I've noticed that the older I get, the more weekends become a time for chores and projects and less about actually resting and recuperating for the upcoming week. It, to be frank, sucks. But every once in a while, the calendar is miraculously free and clear, and vehicles like MotorTrend's long-term 2021 Land Rover Defender 110 really help me make the most of those rare days. Faced with a free Saturday a few weeks back, my wife and I decided to load the pups up in the Defender and make a beach day out of it.Located smack dab in the middle of the Central California coast about 200 miles north of Los Angeles, Oceano Dunes is one of the few beaches in the state you can drive on without being in law enforcement or the military. Rex, our 8-year-old beagle dachshund mix, is a regular road warrior, but this four-hour stint would be the longest drive Rosie, our 11-month-old German shepherd mutt, had had since we scooped her up from a rescue in San Diego. All of four months old at the time and still traumatized from her stint living in a dumpster on the other side of the border, Rosie's first ride with us was marked by her utter refusal to get into the car in the first place and her attempt to bail out on the way back to Los Angeles near the Orange County line.Despite that rocky start, Rosie quickly made herself at home in the back of the Land Rover. With a massive greenhouse and spacious back seat, she spent the first hour of the trip window surfing before settling into a nap, while all 25 pounds of Rex made himself comfortable sleeping on top of the Defender's jump seat. Up front, my wife and I cranked up the stereo and took advantage of the now-wireless Apple CarPlay capability; the Defender's cabin, already noisy due to the gear carrier and expedition roof rack, had only gotten louder since we fit the roof ladder and onboard air compressor. Looking cool has its costs.We arrived at the beach just past sunrise and slotted ourselves into the long line of pickups, Jeeps, Subarus, and the odd minivan or two. Thinking back to when I beached a Rivian R1T at the tail end of our Trans-America Trail expedition a year back, I made sure to ask about the conditions out on the beach. "You'll be fine," the park ranger said while looking over our Defender's snorkel and all-terrains. "Not so sure about them, though," as she gestured toward the Toyota Sienna in line behind me.Reassured, I pulled past the gate into the parking lot to air the Defender's tires down while my wife attempted to keep the increasingly impatient pups focused on treats instead of the exciting ocean smell, distant crashing waves, and legions of beachgoers in 4x4s around us. I normally avoid airing down unless it's absolutely necessary (I'm lazy; sue me), but the Land Rover's relatively high 47/50 psi front/rear recommended air pressure coupled with how easy the Defender's new onboard air compressor is to operate was motivation enough. I quickly connected the air compressor to each wheel, twisted the dial to drop the pressure to 35 psi, and let it painlessly deflate each tire. 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It's quite literally off-roading for dummies.After exploring for a bit and putting the Defender through its paces, we finally found a secluded spot and made it our base camp for the day. Rosie had never been to the beach before, and she initially looked unsure of the sand between her toes and the loud ocean waves. But after watching Rex howl into the wind, dig after sand crabs, and chase the receding waves, she quickly got the hang of the beach, running up and down the dunes, helping dig, and splashing after seagulls in the ocean. Meanwhile, my wife and I made ourselves at home picnicking out of the Defender's cargo area and reading on the front bench.After a few hours hanging out and playing with the pups, we made our way back to the park entrance, aired up, and pointed the Defender's nose back south toward home. While Sunday would no doubt be filled with all the responsibilities we shirked, we were thankful for that one brief respite—all made possible by our Defender's baked in capability.Looks good! More details?For more on our Land Rover Defender:Our 2021 SUV of the Year joins us for a yearlong testBetter than any pickup truckSo, about that break-in period…A rooftop tent just looks so right on the Defender 110Accessorizing our Land Rover Defender
For many of us, 2002 feels far more distant than 20 years ago. The world has drastically changed since then—just think about it. Smartphones weren't even around. One thing that was around and stuck around is Volkswagen's Golf R, even if it has drastically advanced since then. The hatchback's beginnings as the still beloved Golf R32 in Europe and, later, here in America, gave way to a lineage of hardcore Golfs, though they've long since dropped the "32" from their names, leaving them as Rs only.Those original R32s used a 3.2-liter VR6 engine (VW's narrow-angle V-6), so naturally, when the follow-up arrived with a 2.0-liter turbo I-4, the "32" part of the name went away. The R has kept the same all-wheel-drive, turbocharged-four-cylinder layout since, and now VW is celebrating 20 years of "R" with a limited-edition 2023 Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition limited to under 2,000 examples and just three color options for the North American market.Typically badge and paint "Anniversary Editions" of performance cars, you know, the kind that lack performance enhancements, aren't terribly thrilling. Brand aficionados usually eat them up, of course, for their rarity or special colors. Volkswagen combines the usual style upgrades and rarity with a few interesting twists for its Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition. A quick note, too: This version is distinct from the "20 Years Edition" Golf R introduced for Europe earlier this year. The first and really only performance enhancer? VW deletes the Golf R's sunroof, reducing some mass from the Golf's roof, likely lowering the center of gravity fractionally relative to a normal R. Inside, the Golf R's interior is treated to real carbon fiber trim, which VW says is a first from the brand. But wait, didn't our European friends had a shot a few years back at the über rare and ultra-efficient XL1 diesel-hybrid, which not only sported a carbon fiber monocoque, but also featured carbon fiber in its interior? VW clarified to MotorTrend that the Golf R therefore is "the first mass-produced VW with carbon fiber trim, and first ever for North America."Everything else is standard Golf R, which includes the 315-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged E888 I-4, six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission choices, front 14.1-inch cross drilled rotors, and 235/35R19 summer tires. Every R gets all-wheel drive with torque vectoring and DCC electronically adaptive dampers. These mechanicals make every Golf R fun to drive, at least when you don't accidentally bump the sensitive capacitive touch controls on the steering wheel, meaning the 20th Anniversary should be just as zippy.So, what about those visuals? The Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition will only be offered in three colors, each with contrasting mirror cap colors. Lapiz Blue (pictured here) will come with gloss black mirror caps, while Deep Black Pearl and Pure White will come with Lapiz Blue mirror caps. Regardless of paint color, the 19x8-inch Estoril wheels are finished in Gloss black. There are also special blue finished R logos on the bumpers and front fenders while a gloss black 20th Anniversary badge on each B-pillar. The "R" logo will also have a blue finish on the steering wheel clasp, and the key fob will also be unique to the Golf R 20th that has a blue "R" logo painted on it.Finally, the Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition won't cost you much more than a standard Golf R. The six-speed manual version starts at $46,035, and adding the seven-speed DSG will cost $800. That represents an $850 premium over equivalent regular Rs. The only problem is that only 1,800 models of the 20th Anniversary Edition will be available. If you're an absolute VW Golf and "R" fan, you can't miss this, otherwise you can opt for the standard Golf R that's already an amazing vehicle—again, save for its frustrating interior climate and radio controls.
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