Acura is caught in the middle of a major lineup overhaul. Some of its models have received significant upgrades to better compete in the luxury segment. The MDX, for example, has transformed from an also-ran into a compelling alternative with the same high-value price tag. Other vehicles, however, lumber on mostly unchanged, waiting for new generations that are due within the next couple years.
The Acura TLX sport sedan is one of the models that has waited patiently for a redesign. Now, its time has finally come. Acura will debut a refreshed 2018 model TLX at the New York Auto Show next month, but we’re getting a sneak peek right now.
Acura says the new TLX will adopt design influence from the Acura Precision Concept, but for a more practical representation of that styling, just look to the MDX. A larger, superman shaped grille (without the big ‘S’) will dominate the TLX’s front fascia. Thankfully, the beak-looking chrome piece present on most Acura models appears to be a thing of the past. The teaser also shows an updated version of Acura’s jewel headlights with a thin yellow LED border.
Apart from the front cues we can see in the image, expect the TLX to gain more creases and lose some of its curvier body panels.
“The 2018 TLX will receive new styling elements that ratchet up its emotion and reflect Acura’s focus on Precision Crafted Performance,”said Jon Ikeda, Acura vice president and general manager. “Acura customers embraced the MDX when we raised its game with bold, new styling, and we’re pumped to show how we’re elevating the TLX experience.”
It’s good to know Acura’s VP is “pumped” because we certainly are. Acura deserves a win, because apart from some questionable styling in recent years, their cars have always excelled in build quality, technology, and comfort.
The 2018 TLX was designed by the Acura Design Studio in Torrance, California, and will continue to be produced at the company’s Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio with domestic and globally sourced parts. The redesigned model will go on sales sometime later this year.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.