Acura waited three model years before bringing back the Type-S to the third-gen Acura TL and boy, this one was arguably the spiciest Acura TL Type-S of them all.
The 2007 Acura TL Type-S was both a shock because of all the added performance you got from the third-gen Acura TL and also sort of a disappointment from the automotive community because, well, Acura still didn’t let the TL throw its power to the rear wheels. But this editor absolutely loves the underdog nature of Acura and how they still arguably competed with the best in the segment, and in some cases, dominated, even though the TL Type-S is front-drive.
With an improved chassis, new Bauhaus design, and more performance, the TL and TL Type-S were both hits.
Here are five things you probably didn’t know about this already potent sedan pumped up to Type-S standards.
The sweetheart of an engine, the J35A8, was a Ward’s 10 best engine
When Acura blessed the TL with its J35A8, this V6 powerplant already cemented itself as literally one of the best engine’s in the world, bar none. Introduced two years prior in the Acura RL, the J35A8 was the most powerful V6 engine built by Honda.
Before SAE changed its testing in 2006, the J35A8 was rated at a whopping 300 HP at the crank. SAE knocked that power rating down by 10 HP the next year.
Still, what a monster of an engine making 286 HP and 256 lb-ft naturally aspirated.
Today, the Civic Type R makes a bit more power with two less cylinders thanks to turbos, but 14 years prior, naturally aspirated was the Honda way.
Here’s what Ward’s had to say about this gem of an engine when they awarded it 10 best in ’05.
“It equals the Ford Mustang GT’s 4.6L V-8, and represents a 75-hp jump over the same-size V-6 it replaces. This luxury/sport sedan engine has more power and torque than the high-revving 3.2L DOHC V-6 in Acura’s NSX supercar!
On top, engineers fitted a dual-stage intake manifold (worth 15 hp), and there’s Honda’s well-known VTEC (Variable Timing and Lift Electronic Control). Acura says a host of improvements generated 40 horsepower, while the variable exhaust system netted 20 extra horses. Yet it manages the same city fuel economy as its predecessor, better in the highway cycle.”
Iterations of the J-series won again in 2007 and 2008.
Type-S meant larger, 4-piston caliper brakes upfront from Italy.
If you didn’t read the brochure or read up on the changes to Type-S and looked behind those iconic waffle-style alloys, you’d think those big, beefy, brakes were from Honda. You’d be wrong because getting a Type-S meant Brembo brakes upfront.
.3 inches larger than standard TL’s rotors, the tale of the tape on these Brembo’s is as follows. TL and Type-S shared the same rear brakes.
TL Type-S Front – Ventilated Brembo, 12.2 in (310 mm) diameter, 0.98 in (25 mm) rotor thickness
Rear- Solid, 11.1 in (282 mm) diameter; 0.35 in (9 mm) rotor
Anyways, weighing in at 3,680 with an automatic, you bet you’re going to need Brembos to stop this four-door super sedan.
Get the optional six-speed manual and Acura throws in a helical LSD just like in the CL Type-S
To atone for the sins of its past with the previous 2002-2003 Acura TL Type-S, Acura blessed its six-speed manual with a helical limited-slip differential. Just like the CL Type-S, that meant the front end could at least dole out more power to the wheel with more traction, handy when sending 286 HP all through the front wheels.
The only other car to get an LSD at the time was the 2006 Honda Civic Si.
Go with the TL Type-S and the 5-Speed Automatic transmission and you got paddle shifters and an external transmission fluid cooler.
Keen to not repeat its shoddy automatic transmissions of the past, Acura made sure their 5-Speed automatic was up to snuff for its premier sedan.
Stepping up to Type-S probably meant drivers would demand more from its automatics. To ensure the ATF was nice and cool, you got an External Transmission fluid cooler in Type-S only.
In a nod to F1, Type-S also got you F1-style paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
Keen eyes will notice that, if you so wanted, you still could shift like the old TL Type-S, sliding the automatic into Sequential SportShift and shifting up or down.
Exclusive on TL Type-S was the optional Kinetic Blue Pearl color
Arguably one of the best optional colors on an Acura for that year was the optional Kinetic Blue Pearl, exclusive to Type-S.
It’s a shame since Acura really can’t patent that shade of blue because it’s been watered down by GM throwing it on anything and everything in recent times (Cruze, Equinox, Blazer, and Colorado.)
When up against the likes of the BMW 330i, Lexus IS 350, Infiniti G35 and the like, the FWD TLX Type-S kept up with the best, oftentimes only falling short in handling because of the limitations of FWD.
The 2007-2008 TL Type-S is arguably the pinnacle of Type-S performance, that is until we find out what Acura has in store for 2020.
Used TL Type-S sedans still demand a premium. Finding one under $10,000 with low miles is difficult today. If you do find one, buy it immediately.
