ACURATL 1999 - 2003

　　The second generation of the Acura TL was built in the U.S., unlike its predecessor that was built in Japan. It was the model that Honda pushed hard into the premium segment market.

　　The 1999 Acura showed-up on the market with features that were mind-bending for that year. It wasn't only the navigation system, but that unit featured a touch-screen, which was unique on the market. It was well equipped and offered good performance for those times.

　　The designer took their inspiration from an off-shore speed-boat, and that's how the grille took shape. The aggressive style of the car, with raked grille and A-pillars, formed a balanced shape for the TL. Dual exhaust was installed in the back, to enhance the sporting appeal.

　　The interior featured new materials for the brand. Special leather upholstery was used for most of the cabin. Some interior trims mimicked wood. The center console offered two cup-holders with a dual-split lid. The instrument cluster was typical for any Honda or Acura, with four round dials. On the center stack, on the upper trim levels, the Acura TL featured a touch-screen navigation system. In 2000, the car-maker replaced the CD-based system with a DVD based one. With the new version, it was possible to cross guided the U.S. from coast to coast.

　　For the platform, the Acura TL featured a double-wishbone front suspension, which was much better on road-handling than the McPherson struts used by most of its competitors. There was only one transmission offered, a 4-speed automatic with sequential manual shifting. It was replaced in 2000 by a similar 5-speed unit.