2010 Acura TSX V6

2010 Acura TSX V6
2010 Acura TSX V6
Acura unveiled the first in a planned series of additions to its product lineup at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show: the 2010 TSX V6.

Redesigned for the 2009 model year, Acura's entry-level car earned praise for its sporty driving characteristics and reasonable-for-the-class pricing. Model-year 2010 will mark the first time this premium-compact car will offer something other than a 4-cylinder engine. The standard 201-horsepower 2.4-liter unit will be joined by a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 borrowed from the larger Acura TL sedan. A 5-speed automatic will be the sole transmission.

CG Says...
A V6 TSX is a natural, and frankly long overdue, extension of this product line. Nearly all of the TSX's premium-compact rivals offer an engine with more than 4 cylinders. At the same time, those products are also rear- or all-wheel drive. Channeling 280 horsepower through the front wheels of a 3,400-pound compact car sounds like a recipe for torque-steer disaster. Hopefully engineers have employed some tricks to minimize it while not detracting from the potential fun that can come from having a 280-horsepower, 3,400-pound compact car.
Acura will further distinguish the TSX V6 from its 4-cylinder counterpart with unique suspension tuning. Specific 18-inch wheels, a subtle rework of the front fascia, and a V6 badge on the trunklid are the only exterior clues that this not a 4-cylinder model.

V6 versions will have similar equipment levels as the 4-cylinder, including standard leather upholstery, a sunroof, automatic climate control, and a seven-speaker audio system. The optional Technology Package, which likely will be priced as a separate model, will include a navigation system with real-time traffic and weather alerts, a rearview camera, and uplevel Acura/ELS Surround audio system.

Pricing for the 2010 TSX V6 will be announced closer to its summer on-sale date. Figure at least a $2,000 premium for the V6 over the 4-cylinder, meaning a starting price in the neighborhood of $33,000. Add another $3,000 or so for the Technology Package.

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