Acura Concept TL - At April's New York Auto Show, Acura showed this Concept TL that previews the styling themes of the next-generation 2004 TL sedan coming next year. The nonrunning styling display isn't exactly the next TL, but it's close. And it's expected the themes established by this car will carry across the Acura range eventually.
The proportions of the Concept TL are determined by forcing the wheels to the far edges of the car and out to the edge of the flared fenders. The windshield is more aggressively raked than before and the taillights are LED units. The HID headlights, one Acura insider confided, "look frickin' hot." They say words like "frickin'" at Acura.
Certain features on the Concept TL are unlikely to make it into production, like the side-view video cameras, 19-in. wheels, high-pressure air windshield cleaners in place of wipers and four-piston Brembo brakes. What is coming will be the first use of DVD audio in a car-BlueTooth wireless connectivity with consumer electronic devices and standard XM radio.
Acura isn't talking about drivetrains in the 2004 TL yet, either, but we expect the 3.2-liter VTEC V6 will still be aboard with output steaming to about 280 hp to distance the car from its once and future brother, the Honda Accord.
Street Racing In Iraq? - Despite the war taking place on the other side of the world, life continues to progress in the import community, regardless of high gas prices and economic woes. Although Iraqi and American cultures differ in many ways, there is a common bond both countries have that will completely surprise you. No, we're not talking about urban warfare, but the sport of drag racing. Many of the high-end luxury cars seen on the streets of Baghdad were purchased by Saddam Hussein after the first Iraqi war in 1991 for the citizens of his country. Iraqi teenagers, despite prohibiting laws, were using these cars for more than transportation. It appears to have been a week-day ritual to take these luxury cars (Mercedes, BMW, Rolls-Royce, etc.) and drag race them in the streets. We're not sure exactly what the consequences were for being caught racing in the streets, but we're guessing the punishment was nothing to write home.
As members of the 721st TALCE out of McGuire AFB, NJ deployed to an undisclosed location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. My colleague and I enjoyed reading on our downtime Import Tuner with its technical expertise and, lest we forget, exotic import models. Hope to see everyone at one of the East Coast shows when we get back.
Your avid readers,SrA J.CaoileSrA J. FernandezU.S. Air Force
P.S. We like Annisa and Lori Anne.
Jackson Racing'sRSX & Si Ready -
When we were out at California Speedway driving the cars from "2 Fast 2 Furious," Jackson Racing was also there shaking the bugs out of its supercharger kits for the 2002-and-later Honda Civic Si and Acura RSX Type-S. The kits went on sale May 1 and information is available at www.jacksonracing.com.
Built around a supercharger consisting of Eaton rotors in a special 62-cu in. case designed by and cast especially for Jackson Racing, Oscar "Incredibly Old" Jackson claims the kits whack power in the Si up from 125 at the front wheels to a thick 204, and from 159 to 255 in the RSX, on his Dynojet dynamometer. Honda rates the stock Si engine at 160 hp at the crank, and Acura states the Type-S engine knocks out 200 hp at the crank.
In a few quick runs down the Fontana strip, our testers had the Si blitzing to 60 in 6.6 sec. and running the quarter mile in 14.7 sec. at 96.3 mph. The RSX practically turned the air into butter while churning through a 5.9-sec. 0-to-60-mph performance and a 13.9 sec. at 104.6 mph for the quarter mile.