2009 Acura TSX Preview

Acura's TSX returns with four-cylinder power, and a slightly larger body for the 2009 model year.

The TSX is Acura's "world-class sport sedan" - so noted by Honda, since it's a version of the European Honda Accord that's also making its debut at the Geneva motor show in March.

The TSX continues to soldier on with a four-cylinder engine, not a V-6 like those found in competitors. The TSX's powerplant is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with double overhead cams. This year, the engine adds dual balance shafts and direct ignition, which bumps power up to 201 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque in manual-transmission models.

Two gearboxes are offered. A six-speed manual is the standard transmission, which a five-speed SportShift automatic is available as an option. The automatic features steering column-mounted paddle shifters.

Acura says the new TSX's body gets several refinements, including additional bracing and sound deadening in its pillars. The body itself has a 3.0-inch longer wheelbase and is 2.4 inches longer overall, which Acura says improves the cabin's interior room. The newly refined shape puts Acura's new corporate grille front and center, while the rest of the body gets slimmer pillars and a slightly beefier look than the outgoing model.

In the cabin, the TSX wears metallic trim on its dash, leather on its seats, and gets a raft of technical gear in keeping with its brand tradition. Steering-wheel audio controls are offered, as are Bluetooth; a seven-speaker CD audio system with XM; a USB music interface; and dual-zone climate control. A navigation system with XM real-time traffic and weather is an option, as is a ten-speaker premium audio system with DVD Audio.