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Acura Type S Concept Previews as a Next-Gen Turbocharged TLX

Acura Type-S is back with a vengeance. If you've been waiting for Acura to go back to its performance roots, the long wait is over. The company previewed the Acura Type S Concept recently, and by all indications, this car is a winner. The car will take center stage and debut publicly on Friday at The Quail during the Monterey Car Week. Be sure to clear your schedule if you want to see Acura Type-S Concept in all its steel and carbon fiber glory.

The All-New Type-S

With the new Type-S Concept, Acura has its sights set on going head-to-head with other performance/luxury cars in the segment. With a rumored twin-turbocharged V6 powering the new Type-S, Acura takes aim at BMW, Infiniti, Audi, Jaguar, and Mercedes Benz.

Clad in a color that the company calls "double apex blue pearl," this stunning iteration of the Type-S is a meaner and sportier take on the TLX. The sleek silhouette screams speed, and the large bumps of the rear wheel-wells are reminiscent of old muscle cars.

Styling cues from the Acura Precision Concept of 2016 are all over this year's Type-S Concept: sporty design, long hood, wide track, and low stance. The chiseled and angular styling of the Type-S looks a little bit like a Camaro at first glance, but that's not entirely a bad thing. The car also rides on huge 21-inch, 285-mm summer performance tires and has four-piston Brembo brake calipers.

The Front Fascia

The Acura Design Studio in California came up with the design of the all-new Type-S Concept. According to Chief Designer Ben Davidson and Executive Creative Director Dave Marek, the car features an evolved version of Acura's "Diamond Pentagon" grille.

The face of the Type-S has "chicane" shaped daytime running lights paired with next-gen LED headlights for a more futuristic look. The front fascia also features large side and center air-intakes for the high-performance engine and brake system. Although Acura didn't mention any engine configuration, rumor has it that the car will have a twin-turbo V6.

Viewed from the Side

The side profile of the Type-S Concept is sporty and clean. The car has four doors but doesn't have any door handles. Two character lines help define the body surface. The first one begins behind the front tires and rises at an angle towards the rear spoiler. The second one is at the bottom, rising and falling to reduce visual weight and keep the car from looking like a steel slab.

The swept-back outline is long and defines the cabin's shape. Pronounced rear-wheel haunches pay homage to the classic rear-wheel-drive muscle cars. However, Acura hasn't said anything about switching from a FWD platform to RWD. The chances for a rear-wheel-drive Type-S is slim though, and Acura is more likely to use Honda's FWD system.

The Rear

Coming up to the rear, the Type-S Concept has a creased center line that borrows elements from the car's front end. There's a carbon fiber spoiler, "chicane" shaped LED tail lights, a prominent rear diffuser, and quad exhaust pipes. The spoiler and diffuser are both made from forged carbon, which Acura claims are tougher than woven carbon fiber. Forged carbon is also used for the front splitter, wheels and side sills.

Resurrecting the Type-S

The last time Acura let loose a Type-S was way back in 2007 when the company introduced the "TL Type-S," a 286-horsepower V6 sedan that had both AT and MT versions. The old '07 TL Type-S is still a good car, even by today's standards, and is a good buy if you're looking for a sporty sedan. Don't forget to do a vin lookup when you plan on buying one.

Author’s bio:

Patrick Peterson is a writer/editor at AutoDetective. Born and raised in the automotive world. He's a passionate writer who crafts exquisite content pieces about everything related to cars and bikes.