Acura is bringing back the Type S badge on the 355-horsepower 2021 TLX which is going on sale in May. To properly mark the return of the Type S badge, Acura is taking a trip back to the nameplate’s origins.
We know that whenever the Type S nomenclature is mentions, things tend to shift on to the sportier side. In other words, Type S-labelled cars are a combination of mechanical spices applied in the right places so that they stand out from the crowd.
Acura says that when a Type S version is created, it gets passed through a “filter” during R&D. This filter is defined by three talking points: stop, turn, and go. So, a Type S has to do these tasks better than a standard car. This means more horsepower and a stiffer suspension.
As for origins, the Type S moniker debuted in Japan on the 1997 NSX. Unfortunately, the NSX Type S wasn’t sold in the United States but the Type S philosophy did reach America’s shores with the AC-R concept, a show car that could reach 166 mph which eventually spurred Acura to produce the Acura 3.2CL Type S, aka North America’s first Type S.
The 3.2CL Type S had a short lifespan of just three years (2001-2003). However, it packed a 3.2-liter V-6 good for 260 horsepower, which was a sizable increase from the stock 225 horsepower. In addition, Acura’s engineers tweaked the steering response and the suspension. Tires and wheels were upgraded, too.
After the 3.2CL Type S came the 3.2TL Type S, then the RSX Type S which made 210 horsepower (40 more than the standard RSX). The meanest Type S in the States was the TL Type S, which packed a 286-horsepower V-6 engine, four-piston Brembos, and quad exhausts.
Fast-forward to present day and Acura is gearing up for the market launch of the 2021 TLX Type S, which features a 3.0-liter turbo V-6 good for 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque sent to all four corners by a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Type S story goes on.