Acura TL offers manual shift

It is even more unusual when the manual transmission models costs more than the base car with an automatic. Officials at luxury carmaker, Acura, aren’t expecting shoppers to flock to the 2010 mid-size TL sedan because it has a new, six-speed manual- from the look of things. Maybe 5 percent of TL buyers will opt […]

It is even more unusual when the manual transmission models costs more than the base car with an automatic.

Officials at luxury carmaker, Acura, aren’t expecting shoppers to flock to the 2010 mid-size TL sedan because it has a new, six-speed manual- from the look of things. Maybe 5 percent of TL buyers will opt for the manual, they said.

But the sporty transmission, combined with higher-power V-6 and retuned suspension for 2010, makes the TL a more compelling vehicle for drivers who need four-door room but want sporty, spirited driving.

The TL is the middle car in the Acura lineup — above the TSX compact sedan and below the ritzier RL. Like all Acuras, it comes with many standard features. These include leather seat trim and front seats with power adjustment.

The manual transmission is available only on TLs with an all-wheel drive. It has turned out to be more expensive than the automatic transmission. This includes a 305-horsepower, larger-displacement V-6 than a base TL has, plus a technology package that adds navigation system with voice recognition and rearview camera.

Competitors to the TL include the rear-wheel drive BMW 5-Series. It is likely it might share the same price tag 2010 528i comes with 230-horsepower, six-cylinder engine and manual transmission.

The manual transmission will give a new dimension to the TL as I managed shifts to maximize power.

It’s true that many cars today have electronically controlled automatic transmissions with settings that allow drivers to shift from one forward gear to another without a clutch pedal. But there’s nothing that feels artificial when the driver pushes in the clutch pedal and shifts for himself.

The greater horsepower and torque of the 3.7-liter, single overhead cam V-6 that comes with the manual transmission is palpable compared with the base, 3.5-liter, single overhead cam V-6 in front-wheel drive TLs. Torque peaks at 273 foot-pounds at 5,000 rpm in the TL with manual transmission compared with 254 foot-pounds at 5,000 rpm with the base engine.

The TLs all-wheel drive feature, which Acura named Super Handling-All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), did an excellent job of maintaining wheel and grip control as engine power came on.

And because SH-AWD can divide power between wheels from side to side, not just between front and back axles, the TL tracked impressively around corners. All safety equipment is standard.

What may not be promising is the fuel consumption. Let’s face it achieving fuel efficiency has a lot to do with your driving manners.