Acura TSX

This page is about this vehicle's North American model, see Honda Accord (JDM) for article

Acura TSX
Overview
Manufacturer	Acura
Also called	Honda Accord
Production	2004–present
Assembly	Sayama, Japan
Body and chassis
Class	Entry-level luxury car / Compact executive car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout
Related	Honda Accord Tourer
Powertrain
Engine	2.4 L 205 hp (153 kW) @ 7000 rpm and Template:Auto ft.lbf @ 4500 rpm I4
Transmission	5-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Template:Auto in
Length	Template:Auto in
Width	Template:Auto in
Height	Template:Auto in

2006-2007 Acura TSX

The Acura TSX is an automobile manufactured by Honda, introduced in April 2003, sold in North America to compete in the entry-level luxury car segment against the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Saab 9-3, Volvo S40, and Lexus IS.

Sold in North America under the Acura name, it filled the gap as Acura's 4-door, entry-level sedan since the demise of the Integra sedan in 2001. The TSX is badge engineered from the CL-series Honda Accord sold in Europe , Japan and Australia. However, the TSX had a restyled interior and different suspension tuning when it was introduced. The interior is now standardized for all three markets. As of 2006, the TSX is the smallest sedan in the Acura model line, other than the Civic-based CSX sold only in Canada. Prices range from US$27,890 - $29,890. All TSXs were built in Saitama Sayama, Japan. In the Australian & New Zealand markets, Honda sells the car as the Accord Euro, a smaller mid-size car, where the USDM Accord is sold in the large car category.

Overview

The 2006 model year TSX's powertrain is comprised of a 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission (which features a magnesium casing, to reduce weight), and a front wheel drive layout. A five-speed automatic transmission is optional and does not incur extra cost in the U.S. based on MSRP. Such is not the case in Canada.

The engine, the K24A2, is related to the engine in the Honda Accord (7th generation), the Honda CR-V, the Honda Element, and a smaller version in the Acura RSX and RSX Type-S. The K24A2 features intelligent variable valve timing and produces 205 horsepower (150 kW) in this iteration.

The TSX's suspension setup of a double wishbone front and a multi-link in the rear was especially tuned by the Honda engineers to maximize handling and cornering speed.

In 2006, the TSX was updated with slight tweaks to the engine (adding 5 hp); a sportier exterior styling featuring a slightly new front and rear treatment, standard side skirts, and standard, integral fog lights; and restyled wheels. State of the art interior features have been added, including a Multi-information Display (MID) in the instrument panel, more standard safety features, and luxury features such as an auxiliary MP3 player input and Bluetooth-compatible HandsFreeLink.

In 2007, besides a new TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) and an improved electronic rear view mirror, the TSX is the same.

In testing conducted by the United States based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Acura TSX received an overall rating of Poor rear crash protection, an overall rating of Good for frontal offset testing, and an overall rating of Acceptable for side impact testing.

Engine

The 2006 Acura TSX features a new 2.4-litre engine making 205 hp (153 kW) SAE J1349 net. The advertised increased power figures on previous models were over-estimated by +10 hp (7 kW), the actual power rating is 205 hp (153 kW). SAE J1349 is a third party program designed to eliminate ambiguities that allowed engine makers to cite power and torque ratings higher than the engine's actual capabilities. The most significant changes to the motor are described as follows:

On the intake side of the TSX engine, the diameter of both the throttle body and the intake duct were enlarged to increase induction flow rate from 95 liters per second to 110 liters per second. In addition the diameter and shape of the intake valve were enhanced to help increase intake flow by 16 percent and the high RPM cam profile for the intake cam was modified to provide increased intake valve lift and duration. In addition, a ventilation passage was machined into the engine block to reduce pumping friction by increasing air flow between cylinders.

The European Honda Accord is also available with a Diesel engine, a 2.2 L i-CTDi engine of 140 hp (104 kW). It was the first Diesel engine made by Honda.

Awards and recognition

• Ranked best resale value in the Sedan category in CNN's "Best Resale Value Cars" article on November 29, 2006.[1]
• The Acura TSX was on Car and Driver's Ten Best list in its first three years of production (2004 - 2006).
• Top-Value Car of 2004 in the Category: Sedan under $35,000 from SmartMoney.com.
• It has received the "Frontal Five Star Rating" from the NHTSA's frontal crash tests.
• "Best Pick" in a Frontal Impact from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
• In November, 2004, the TSX earned Consumer Reports' "Recommended" mark; in addition they rated the car "best overall in tests of four sporty sedans." In April 2007, the magazine rated used TSX' a "Good bet."

Racing

Realtime racing prepares a factory TSX and RSX to compete in the Speed World Challenge Touring Car series. The factory TSX is refashioned to be stiffer and lighter, and includes motor work with raised compression, and a custom built sequential transmission. Driving for RTR in 2007 is Peter Cunningham, Pierre Kleinubing, Brandon Davis, Nick Esayian, and Kuno Wittmer. Acura won the Manufacturers' Championship of the Speed World Challenge Touring Car class in 2006, running both RSXs and TSXs. TSX drivers finished in 3rd and 4th in the Drivers' Championship.

References and footnotes

• "2004 Acura TSX Summary & Specs". Automotive.com. Retrieved 2003-12-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)

External links

• Official American site
• 2006 TSX Avg MPG - Chart of real world MPG.