Outside of a few brands (or maybe only one) exaggerated styling is all the rage. Take a basic design then make all the details huge makes me wonder if the designers stare at their screens too long and scale gets warped.

 

The concept looks way better then the so called leaks that have come out of the infotainment system. I think if you put an audi badge on the front, folks would call this the greatest thing since the RS5.

They are not going longitudinal. seems like theyre going to stick with the transverse motor, and tbh its perfect for them. Honda knows how to build a good mix in FWD SHAWD. hopefully their engine is upto snuff (most likely the accord engine as base and then some kind of hybrid addition).

 

I agree! The new TLX likely will be on the current Accord platform. Base engine is likely the 2.0T with (hopefully) a V-6 turbo for the Type S. I suppose Acura could do a much uprated 2.0 4 cyl like the Civic R, but the will still need something for the MDX so a new V-6 makes sense.

 

The design motto here is probably what we have seen with Volvo new SPA platform; keep the tranverse FWD setup with optional AWD/EWD but make the proportions of a RWD setup (long overhangs).

 

No, rwd setup usually means short front overhang. And longer distance from front wheel to front door. Typical fwd has a tiny distance front wheel to front door. This concept, volvo, and a few other fwd setups though have packaged things differently with a longer front wheel to door space, appearing more rwd looking, but that usually means a long front overhang too, so the hood is huge. But, compromises must be made...

 

Styling is very subjective.
Acuras from the 80's and 90's were handsome and sold very well.
The sales figures are fact, while the styling is my personal opinion [to help explain the facts], but interesting to see how the two often match [though obviously not always].

I generally have very good tastes for styling, so I just know that this Acura Type S styling won't sell.

I knew consumers would no longer accept the new 5LS over the S Class, despite the latter being on its final few months after 7 long years; it has more to do with styling, than the sporty compact interior, or the lack of a V8.

A few years ago, before the new 2018-24 Camry's release, Steve used to criticize about how I was so sure that the new Camry had a smaller interior than the outgoing model, when no specs had been released.
I explained that with experience, I know that lower cars generally have: lower Center of Gravity & less suspension travel for superior handling, less CdA for lower wind noise, but on the downside - more difficult entry/egress, smaller interiors, often shorter & narrower cabin length due to the greater wheelarch intrusions when seats are lowered, often compromized rear foot space, while the lower waistline results in shorter suspension travel for less ride comfort.

In engineering, there are a set of general characteristics, such that once we lower a car, we generally know what to expect - unless something exceptional arises.
As it turned out, the new Camry does indeed have a smaller EPA volume than the outgoing model.

NSX II is a handsome car, but the hybrid is much too heavy to be a sports car.
As a sports car, NSX best be full gasoline ICEV, or a full battery powered electric vehicle BEV with a loss in agility, but a burst in acceleration.

Likewise, I knew handsome Genesis/G80 would sell well, while the all new Korean-looking G70 is struggling at just 3,300 units to date this year, despite its competent engine and RWD chassis.
Despite its low prices, I knew poorly styled G90 wouldn't sell well.

I can tell you that Tesla Model S looks nice; apart from the duck like nose of the midlife refresh.
Apart from the prominent duck-like nose of the Model 3, it looks nice too, especially the canopy and the rear.
Hence, they both sell at least reasonably well.

Styling sells.

However, Acura is still lost.
I wonder what happened to Acura's stylists from the 80's, 90's and early 2000's?

Even these early transverse FWD Acura TL & RL looked nice, or at least decent, and sold well with a peak of an ES-bashing 78k in 2005 for the prettier TL & but only 17k in 2005 for the RL with the blander rear end.

At its peak in back in 1991, the much more attractive longitudinal behind the front axle FWD Acura Legend sold a GS-bashing 65k.
Amazing how both Acura & Infiniti lost the plot to Lexus...

1998-03 Acura TL [nee Honda Saber]





2004-12 Acura RL [nee Honda Legend]





1990-95 Acura/Honda Legend

 

While Acura maybe "lost" I think anything is better then what they currently have with the inverted frown. Again sales will tell, plus whatever the production model ends up being will actually determine how they do this.

MY21 is for the MDX and TLX from my understanding.

 

volvo was able to come really close to RWD proportions with the s60 and s90, moreso the s60.... short front overhang and long wheel to dash distance.

 

That is because they all only come with a little 2.0l 4cylinder so they don't have to contend with a larger engine when it comes to design and proportions.

 

True.

 

I personally think that looks fantastic and outside of the second gen NSX is the best new design to be introduced by Acura in nearly 20 years