2019 TLX now gets four-cylinder version of its sporty A-Spec trim

All the sporty styling plus a lower price and better fuel economy

Good news! Acura is now making its sportiest A-Spec trim line available with the more affordable four-cylinder-powered 2019 TLX.

This means you can now get your four-cylinder-powered TLX with a matte-black grille, sportier front fascia design with larger air intakes, dark chrome internal headlights, fog lamps, extended side sills, a gloss black rear trunk lid spoiler, dark tinted taillights, special glossy black 19-inch alloy wheels on 245/40 R19 all-season tires, A-Spec branded door sill garnish, red LED ambient interior lighting, a thicker-rimmed leather-wrapped A-Spec sport steering wheel, red-accented primary instruments, a metallic driver's foot rest pedal, brushed aluminum inlays, unique heavily bolstered A-Spec leather sport seats, and a black roofliner for just $39,400 plus freight and fees, a $4,365 savings over the V6-powered TLX A-Spec.

Four-cylinder engine combines strong performance with stingy fuel-efficiency

To be clear, the 2.4-litre inline-four may be the base engine, but it's still a sporty alternative to the 3.5-litre V6 thanks to 206 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque, an ultra-quick shifting eight-speed dual-clutch automated transmission with standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, rear-wheel steering, and a reduction of 123 kilograms in curb weight.

Its lighter weight no doubt contributes to its fuel economy advantage, with the four-cylinder-powered 2019 TLX A-Spec rated at 10.2 L/100km in the city, 7.4 on the highway and 8.9 combined, which is only 0.2 L/100km more city/highway combined fuel consumption than the base TLX due to its larger wheels and tires, yet it's also 1.4 L/100km combined city/highway more efficient than the V6-powered car.

That V6 makes a substantive 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, and couples that performance to a sophisticated nine-speed automatic transmission and Acura's renowned torque-vectoring Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). What's more, the V6-powered TLX A-Spec also includes faster reacting quick-ratio steering, stiffer springs, and an upgraded rear anti-roll bar, enhancing high-speed handling.

2019 TLX A-Spec comes loaded with standard features

Strong customer demand prompted the addition of four-cylinder A-Spec model, which incidentally is otherwise outfitted in well-equipped Tech trim. Therefore, along with the aforementioned styling modifications, the front-wheel drive model gets rain-sensing wipers, power-folding side mirrors, a heatable steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, powered front thigh extensions, perforated leather upholstery, navigation, AcuraLink connectivity, a 10-speaker ELS audio system with AM/FM/CD/ MP3/WMA/satellite radio, hard disk drive (HDD) media storage, Blind Spot Information System with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor System, and more.

Additionally, highlights pulled up from the $36,190 base TLX include LED headlights with automatic high beams, passive keyless entry with pushbutton ignition, adaptive cruise control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, a large infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a multi-angle backup camera, a powered glass sunroof, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a four-way powered front passenger seat, heated front seats, and the list goes on.

All 2019 TLX trims come packed full with leading edge safety equipment

Also standard, the TLX features a bevy of AcuraWatch advanced driver assistance systems including Forward Collision Warning (FCW) with autonomous Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with steering wheel haptic feedback, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), and more.

The 2019 Acura TLX A-Spec is available now, along with the 2019 TLX Tech, TLX Elite, top-of-the-line TLX SH-AWD A-Spec Elite, and other TLX trims. To learn more about the 2019 TLX, contact Acura of Langley by phone at 888-690-0290 or drop by the showroom at 20257 Langley Bypass, Langley.

Story credits: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press
Photo credits: Acura
Copyright: Canadian Auto Press Inc.