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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Update March 3, 2022: After just of a day of angry tweets, irate Reddit threads, and order cancellations stemming from price hikes on the original quad-motor Rivian R1S and R1Ts, electric vehicle startup Rivian is reportedly backing off on increasing the price of its electric pickup and SUV for existing reservation holders. "Earlier this week, we announced pricing increases that broke the trust we have worked to build with you," Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said in a letter to reservation holders and shared with the media, "We wrongly decided to make these changes apply to all future deliveries, including pre-existing configured preorders. We failed to appreciate how you viewed your configuration as price locked. "For anyone with a Rivian preorder as of the March 1 pricing announcement, your original configured price will be honored. If you canceled your preorder on or after March 1 and would like to reinstate it, we will restore your original configuration, pricing and delivery timing. Our team will be sending an email in the next few days with more details"For those who haven't yet plunked down a refundable $1,000 deposit on a Rivian R1S or R1T, the new pricing structure for dual- and quad-motor R1s detailed below applies. If you're one of the thousands who've pre-ordered or are interested in purchasing the 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year (not to mention the only electric vehicle to cross the Trans-America Trail), the Rivian R1T pickup, and its SUV sibling, the R1S, we have some mixed news. The good news is that the company is expanding its R1T and R1S lineup, now offering dual-motor variants and a new battery pack. The bad news is that it's going to cost more for less Rivian, as quad-motor prices rise to make room for the new two-motor versions of the R1T and R1S, which will cost the same as the entry-level quad-motors did before—at least for those who lack an existing reservation, per the update above.New Homebuilt MotorsAs we long suspected, Rivian-built dual-motor variants are now slated to join the R1 lineup. Available starting in 2024, these new Rivian designed, engineered, and built motors (one installed at each axle) are said to be good for over 600 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque, and Rivian promises a 4.0-second 0-60 mph time, making the dual motor R1T about a second slower to 60 mph than the quickest four-motor R1T we've tested. Current quad-motor Rivians produce 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque.Rivian also says that its new motors are simpler, lighter, and cheaper to build than the supplier-sourced motors on today's R1S and R1T.The California-based automaker isn't publicly committing to utilizing its new motors on the quad-motor R1S and R1T, but sources at the company have told us that Rivian is currently hard at work on a quad-motor R1X super SUV that makes 1,200 hp and 1,200 lb-ft. We're not math experts, but we're fairly certain that if you put four of Rivian's new motors together, the output would add up to 1,200 ponies and pound-feet.We suspect that in addition to the R1X, a detuned quad-motor R1S and R1T featuring the new motors is in the cards given CEO RJ Scaringe's desire to bring core competencies in-house.Rivian's new battery packIn addition to the new twin-motor models, Rivian today announced its new Standard battery pack will go on sale in 2024. Available only on dual-motor R1S' and R1Ts, the Standard pack joins the Large pack (on-sale now), and Max pack (slated for 2023). Dual motor R1s will be able to travel about 260 miles on a charge with the Standard pack, 320 miles with the Large pack, and over 400 miles with the Max pack, all pending EPA certification.Quad-motor R1Ts will continue to be available with only the Large and Max packs. The Large pack is the only one currently available; it nets the R1S an EPA-estimated range of 316 miles and R1T 314 miles.Price increases for the R1Although Rivian is keen to point out that base prices for the R1T and R1S remain unchanged at $68,575 and $73,575, respectively, that's a bit disingenuous, as the dual motor, standard pack is the new base configuration for the R1 line. Previously, those prices applied to quad-motor, Large pack models.Those quad-motor prices rise from $68,575 for a Large pack R1T Explore model to $80,575, and from $73,575 for a Large pack R1S Explore to $85,575. Max pack prices rise as well. The cheapest quad-motor R1T Max pack is now $90,315. The R1S, which has a shorter wheelbase than the pickup (and therefore less underbody space for batteries), is unavailable with the Max pack.Dual-motor Large pack R1Ts will begin at $74,575, and R1S' will begin at $79,575. Prices for the dual-motor R1T Max Pack start at $84,575.What does this mean for current Rivian reservation holders?Rivian chief growth officer Jiten Behl points to global supply chain shortages, increasing component parts, inflation, and semiconductor delays as the primary reason for the price changes. "This rise in cost and complexity due to these challenging circumstances necessitate an increase to the prices of the R1T and R1S models we offer today — prices which were originally set in 2018. This decision will allow us to continue to offer competitive products that maintain the high standard of quality, performance, and capabilities that our customers expect and deserve from Rivian," he said in a statement issued to the media.A source at the company initially told us that customers who are already in the final steps of completing their R1T orders won't be affected, and at the time of the March 1 announcement, unfortunately for the vast majority of existing Rivian reservation holders, the price increases were going to apply. However, given how those price changes (understandably) did not sit well with existing R1 customers and reservation holders, Rivian has made right and announced it will honor the original prices, and no doubt hopes that the new two-motor variants will cushion the blow for everyone else.
ProsSupercharged power wallopFantastic chassis controlExcellent six-speed manual transmission ConsComplicated performance modesFeels big at timesVery thirstyThere's a scene in the movie Mad Max where Max gazes upon a blown V-8, whining and roaring in the engine bay of a Pursuit Special as the mechanic maniacally exclaims: "It's the last of the V-8s!" We couldn't help but replay that clip in our minds as we hammered the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing around the Hyundai Proving Ground and later as a finalist on Angeles Crest Highway and the Streets of Willow circuit. We're not in some distant dystopian future, yet here is the last of Cadillac's supercharged V-8 superheroes, a stupendous, 668-hp sendoff to the marque's high-performance V-series cars."What a shame Cadillac is going to stop making monstrous supercharged track machines like this," senior features editor Jonny Lieberman said. "Because it just feels so good to drive. So, let's call the big Blackwing bittersweet. As well as awesome!"The rest of the judges were as effusive in their praise, lathering love on the CT5-V Blackwing for its composed chassis—thanks in part to GM's excellent magnetic ride control—and its exceptional, stout brakes. (Our test car had the $9,000 carbon-ceramics.) And we can't forget the six-speed manual transmission and its no-lift shift feature; the gearbox garnered plenty of judge fan mail (and more all-caps exclamations) and is a novelty on a performance sedan these days."Great manual transmission," features editor Christian Seabaugh said. "It's one of the best ones here. Short, precise throws with just enough assist to ensure you never miss your gate, but not enough to make the shifter feel springy. Good clutch feel, well-spaced pedals."Although it's on the heavy side at 4,067 pounds, the CT5-V Blackwing still lays down some impressive performance numbers. It rumbles to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and on to a quarter-mile time of 11.5 seconds at 127.5 mph, and it reels itself in from 60 mph in 102 feet."Power, power, power, power, and a boatload of torque, too," Lieberman said. "I barely needed to shift gears on the Crest, as a tsunami of torque [659 lb-ft] was flooding the joint. You quickly notice this is a large family sedan with a massive rear seat. That said, the suspension does its part, and the body control is surprisingly solid."Indeed, it was hard to find any real flaws with the CT5-V from a performance vehicle perspective. A few judges thought the car felt big at times on Streets, but only in the context that it would have fit better on a larger track where you could take more advantage of its prodigious power. That, and editorial boss man Ed Loh wasn't enamored with what he considered the car's over-configurability. "Like BMW, all the modes are entirely too complicated to navigate. It's dumb to be left wondering if, among the many combinations, you're in the right mode for the conditions," Loh said. Oh, and it also flat-out swills gas.After our evaluation, however, there was zero question the Blackwing's capabilities are immense, the result of two decades' worth of honing and harnessing a front-engine, rear-drive super sedan formula. Max would no doubt approve.And although it's a drag that this Caddy is the last of the supercharged V-8s, the fact the CT5-V is so good it finished third in the inaugural Performance Vehicle of the Year bodes well for Cadillac's high-performance future—electrified though it may be.2022 Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing Specifications Base Price/As tested $84,990/$112,545 Power (SAE net) 668 hp @ 6,500 rpm Torque (SAE net) 659 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm Accel, 0-60 mph 3.6 sec Quarter-mile 11.5 sec @ 127.5 mph Braking, 60-0 mph 102 ft Lateral Acceleration 1.04 g (avg) MT Figure Eight 23.4 sec @ 0.89 g (avg) EPA City/Hwy/Comb 13/21/15 mpg Vehicle Layout Front-engine, RWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan Engine, Transmission 6.2L Supercharged direct-injected OHV 16-valve 90-degree V-8, 6-speed manual Curb Weight (F/R DIST) 4,067 lb (54/46%) Wheelbase 116.0 in Length x Width x Height 194.9 x 74.1 x 56.5 in On Sale Now Show All
No Acura today is electric, though a few are electrified—namely the NSX hybrid supercar, which is on its way out the door. It will most likely be replaced by an all-electric sports car in the future, but what might that car and every other electric Acura look like? The new Acura Precision EV concept SUV is the closest thing to a preview, at least until concepts previewing individual electric Acuras begin cropping up in the coming years.It Kinda, Sorta Previews the GM-Based Acura EV SUVWhile it'd be easy to jump to the conclusion that this Precision EV concept will become the promised electric Acura SUV that'll share its GM-sourced Ultium architecture with the forthcoming Honda Prologue, not so fast. Honda is known for showing "concepts" that are nearly production-ready examples of upcoming models; this isn't quite one of those direct snapshots. Inasmuch the Precision EV previews that model, it does so tangentially, just as it previews all future Acura EVs. Per the automaker, "The Acura Precision EV Concept is a design study that will shape the direction of future Acura products in the electrified era including our first all-electric SUV in 2024." What Acura is showing here instead is, in a nutshell, how it plans to tackle "the grille issue" that's common among established automakers attempting to adapt their current design languages to electric cars. For the past century or so, car designers have leveraged grille shapes, slats, and the like (along with other key components such as headlights) to create the literal faces of different car brands. Every car with an engine requires an opening somewhere to shovel air over and into said engine, after all. Electric cars, meanwhile, still need cooling airflow over components, but that air needn't enter explicitly through the vehicle's nose. A more closed-off schnoz, of course, aids range-conscious engineers in their quest for slipperier aerodynamics, while erasing a styling focal point from designers' arsenal.Acura Makes Light Work of the GrilleThe solution Acura's designers have come up with for that pesky grille issue? Lights! The Precision EV concept generally hews to Acura's current design theme, with slim headlights, clean surfacing, and a sporty stance—but where the pentagonal grille on today's Integra, MDX, RDX, and TLX lives there is… a pentagonal area. (Those vehicles, by the way, were all previewed by the last Precision concept from 2016.) This familiar outline is closed off, though—and rather than utilizing a black-plastic dummy grille like BMW employs on its iX SUV and i4 hatchback, Acura stuffs the Precision EV's pentagonal snoot with LEDs. Acura dubs it a "theatrical lighting approach" using "particle glitch" styled lighting.Essentially, color-shifting fragments form the general shape of Acura's diamond pentagonal grille, as well as the broad-strokes outlines of various internal-combustion-vehicle-standard addenda such as bumper intakes and other styling cues. It's an interesting way of delineating that this smooth-surfaced, squinty eyed SUV is, in fact, an Acura. After all, the overall profile of the vehicle is otherwise fairly standard stuff; heck, this could be the next-generation MDX family SUV, so conventional is its shape. The 23-inch wheels might be a stretch, though the eventual production Acura EV SUV does share its Ultium platform with GM, which offers its similarly sized products with fairly huge rims, so don't count those out.The RestAcura isn't talking much about the concept's powertrain—other than to say it is, theoretically, electric—but again, that's not really the point of this styling exercise. In keeping with the general theme of previewing the interactive and visual aspects of future Acuras, the automaker does outline two drive modes of sorts: Instinctive Drive and Spiritual Lounge. The former bathes the cabin with red ambient lighting, sportier instrumentation on the dashboard, and, presumably, primes the electric powertrain for maximum attack. The Spiritual Lounge deal aims for a calming vibe, delivering "soothing scents and restful 'under water' animated projection." The cabin is fanciful enough to support those mood-like modes, what with its steering yoke, floating central display, and copious ambient lighting. Overall the Precision EV concept's precise lighting blends well with Acura's athletic styling, which bodes well for the brand's evolution to an electrified future lineup. Unlike the steering yoke and translucent screens inside, the exterior lighting array looks vaguely production-feasible. Just takes some precision manufacturing, of course…
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