Has Acura Been Listening? Spy Shots of 2011 Acura TL

You don't really warm up to the styling of the current-generation Acura TL. You either accept it as high modernist art or you go to town on the message boards, wracking your inner thesaurus for synonyms for macabre. For our part, we've written, "The TL's nose is ideal for opening old cans of Hawaiian Punch."

Not content with the quiet response, Acura will evidently attempt to shake things up a bit for the 2011 model year by putting a new front fascia on the TL. This prototype was spotted by photographers during hot-weather testing in Death Valley.

Although the camouflage obscures things a bit, you can just make out the smaller beak on what's likely to be the 2011 Acura TL. Probably, then, we won't be opening quite so many cans of Hawaiian Punch.

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Blindcorner - 7/22/2010 8:11:51 PM

+6 Boost

It sure looks as if they have. From what can be made out it doesn't look like a complete departure from the Power Plenum design but rather an attempt to subdue it into blending with the rest of the vehicle similar to that of the TSX. Okay so the front may not illicit scowls from innocent bystanders anymore but now what are you going to do about the back Acura? There is a comment in the blog by Sundaydrive and I think he hit it right on..."Acura you basically made a more angular version of the Saturn Aura". Ouch, truth hurts!

quizz - 7/22/2010 8:52:42 PM

+5 Boost

REVAMP the whole damn thing, geeeze, why are they trying to salvage that design theme? What a nightmare that has been.

LACMAN - 7/23/2010 2:38:21 PM

+2 Boost

Since when do u like Benz and Bimmer?!?! Wow. Im shocked at ur comment above. Although I agree somewhat, Acura's TL is just too ahead of its time in the design department. If it was RWD based, there would be PLENTY more on the road. Its fun to pick on its design but its a head turner in a good way when you see it coming down the street among traffic. De-boost me all you want, its the truth.

RNeekChic - 7/23/2010 12:40:56 AM

+3 Boost

So I'm not sure if I can talk about another website here but whatever. Go to vtec.net and they have the article about this a while ago. Also they have pictures of the rear. They changed the matt silver piece on the back and it's now smaller and blend into the trunk better. the license plate is moved up more. IMO the back looks more uniform.

uaw_lax - 7/23/2010 2:06:17 AM

+2 Boost

still ugly

Agent63 - 7/23/2010 8:42:14 AM

+2 Boost

I don't like it much. But I do like Acura's interiors. Especially in the TL. It's always been well made.

uaw_lax - 7/23/2010 9:57:21 AM

+1 Boost

The interiors of Acura is one of there few bright spots right now.

PlanB - 7/23/2010 10:04:47 AM

+2 Boost

I'm cracking up that the only part of the car thats covered is the nose, LOL. This tells me that yes, they have heard all the criticisms.

KKO84 - 7/23/2010 7:20:02 PM

0 Boost

The beak is still there. The car is still an exterior eyesore. Fail Acura, fail.

Brisk - 8/31/2010 12:08:52 AM

+1 Boost

I applaud Acura for finally taking the lead with this bold, brilliant, exterior design for the TL. The car’s front and back end are designed to shatter conventional thinking and stand apart from a sea of copycats. Actually, the satin aluminum look of the front grille gives the car a spicy, yet very classy, character. Had Acura introduced all of the new front and back end styling features of the 09/10 TL over three design cycles (~15 years), no one would have raised an eyebrow … but then that would have defeated the intent!!

There are plenty of options out there for those who can’t break away from the old paradigm: Lexus ES350, Infiniti G37, and now the new 2011 BMW 5 series … to name just a few. Go knock yourself out and leave Acura alone.