Acura Type S Concept debuts, previews TLX Type S

As teased, Acura has revealed the Type S Concept at Monterey Car Week. The showcar made its world premiere at a private reception and will publicly debut on August 16 at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, before being showcased at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Concept Lawn on Sunday. Quite a stunner, isn’t it?

Honda’s premium brand says that the Type S Concept is a fundamental step toward fulfilling its return to Precision Crafted Performance, which started with the debut of the reborn NSX. Of course, it also sets the stage for the re-introducion of Type S performance variants to the Acura line-up after a decade.

Acura has confirmed that this concept car is a preview of the upcoming, second-generation TLX Type S. What we see here “will heavily influence the character” of the production sports sedan.

From 2001 to 2008, there have been four Acura Type S models in North America – the 2001-2003 3.2CL Type S, 2002-2003 3.2TL Type S, 2002-2006 RSX Type S (Integra DC5) and the 2007-2008 TL Type S (think CL7 Accord Euro R). Typically, Type S variants offered sportier styling, higher output engines and suspension tuning/brakes to match.

“The return of Type S is instrumental in our mission to return Acura to its performance roots. From bringing back the NSX to winning at the highest level of North American sports car racing and ushering-in a new generation starting with the RDX, we are revitalising Acura on the foundation of our original and authentic brand values, piece by piece,” said Jon Ikeda, VP and Acura brand officer.

The brand says that its design team set out to express the essence of Precision Crafted Performance through stance and proportion, crafting a silhouette that is powerful and expressive, yet clean and cohesive. Building on the Acura Precision Concept from 2016, the Type S Concept’s form is characterised by a wide track, low stance, and an expansive hood.

“We’ve been dreaming about a new performance-focused Acura concept car since the Precision Concept debuted. The Type S Concept speaks unambiguously to performance and to the essence of Acura design,” said Dave Marek, Acura’s executive creative director.

The Type S Concept showcases new elements of Acura design including next-generation, four-lamp Jewel Eye LED headlights, an open-surface Diamond Pentagon grille, and “Chicane” daytime running lights (also doubles up as turn signals) and taillights, both drawing inspiration from the Acura ARX-05 Daytona Prototype race car.

The aggressive front fascia transitions to a side profile has sheer surfaces and continually shifting angles, balanced by sharp, intersecting lines – they create the impression that every surface is changing shape as it flows to the rear, Acura says. It all gradually opens up to muscular rear wheel arches, emphasising the car’s wide track.

A sharp tail features an upswept decklid with a sharply creased centerline (drawn from the hood) and integrated forged carbon spoiler. Those “Chicane” LEDs make another appearance on the taillights, while a large diffuser and quad chrome exhaust outlets complete the look.

Besides the spoiler, forged carbon – created by bonding layers of carbon on top of one another to exceed the strength of traditional interwoven carbon – is applied to the front and rear splitters, side sills, rear decklid spoiler and multi-spoke 21-inch wheels. You’ll also find a “square” 285-series summer tyre setup and drilled Brembo four-piston brakes.

Designed by the Acura Design Studio in California, the Type S looks great in “Double Apex Blue Pearl” which employs nano pigments and a colour-infused clear coat. The hue pays homage to blue Type S heritage models, including the 2007-2008 TL Type S. As mentioned, this is a preview of the upcoming second-generation TLX Type S. Acura adds that it will roll out two Type S models in the next two years.