OVERVIEW
The new cockpit-style interior has an intimate, driver-oriented feel,
resplendent in luxurious materials like the hand-stitched,
leather-wrapped steering wheel-all assembled with great
attention to detail. The 3.2TL has more usable space than its
predecessor by every important measure too. In all, the TL interior
seamlessly satisfies the conflicting demands of both sport and luxury
performance. For 2000, the window switches throughout the car are now
illuminated, the LCD odometer display has been brightened for better
daytime visibility, and the instrument panel script has a more
contemporary appearance.
STYLING
Three key words drove the TL's interior design: emotional, personal,
and elegant. Emotional in its dramatic interior shapes, and the
individual feeling of the interior space. Personal in the connected,
tactile sporting feel of the controls. Elegant in the fit and quality
of fine interior materials.
The TL's interior designers looked to the wrap-around cockpit design of powerful pacific coast cruiser powerboats for inspiration. The flow of the TL's door panels into the instrument panel, then into the center console, echoes the same sort of personal, purposeful cockpit feel.
INTERIOR ROOMINESS
The TL's new interior capitalizes on the space efficiency afforded by
the architecture of the car's unit-body design. Relative to the '98
TL, the redesigned multilink rear suspension allowed the rear
passenger's hip-point to be moved 10 mm rearward, opening up legroom
in front and rear. With a 16-mm-lower cabin floor, but the same
overall vehicle height, interior spaciousness was enhanced, and
specially engineered door structures allowed increased interior space
even though overall width of the new-generation TL is actually 15 mm
less than before.
Relative to its prime competition, the TL is significantly roomier and offers more usable interior space, with room for five occupants.
SEATS
To complement the TL's dual sporting/luxury mission, its standard
power front seats have unique design features. Careful attention was
paid to the stitching patterns in the upgraded, U.S.-sourced leather
seating surfaces to ensure comfort over long periods of time. The
supple, contoured seats with dual-density backrests provide an
enveloping feel, but offer sufficient width for continuing comfort on
long drives. To allow the driver to capitalize on the TL's elevated
handling limits, firm side bolsters provide solid support during
high-lateral-g cornering.
The driver's seat has heated bottom cushion and backrest, and the passenger's seat has a heated bottom cushion; the driver's seat is eight-way power adjustable, and the passenger seat offers four-way power adjustment. All five seating positions in the TL are equipped with three-point seat belts.
METER CLUSTER
A highly accurate micro-processor-controlled instrument cluster keeps
the TL's driver informed via a complement of analog instrumentation
with illuminated pointers. The large diameter tachometer face
includes a bold LCD digital indicator to track gear position when the
transmission is in its semi manual SportShift mode. A new script
design on the meter faces updates the TL's interior appearance for
2000. LCD brightness has been increased for better readability.
MATERIALS
Specially selected materials line the interior and lend the car an
appropriately upscale ambiance. The instrument panel and door
armrests are made with a special molding process that creates a
softer-feeling surface with a uniform surface grain; the sides of the
center console are backed with soft foam to cushion the driver's and
passengers' legs. Wood-grain accents on the door panel and edges of
the console warm the look of the interior.
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
Careful analysis of the prime competition led to the development of a
new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) for the
TL that offers significantly faster temperature correction of the
total passenger cabin. The TL's automatic system has a new compressor
and larger evaporator and is assisted by solar glass, which reduces
the heat load on the interior. In tests under hot ambient conditions,
relative to the Lexus ES 300, the TL's front passenger area cools to
a comfortable target temperature 15 percent sooner. And with the
improved flow afforded by the TL's adjustable rear seat vents
positioned behind the center console, the rear passenger compartment
reaches a comfortable temperature a full 30 percent earlier than in
the Lexus.
With a quiet blower unit, high airflow and an aluminum heater core, heater performance is similarly ahead of the prime competition. In cold ambient conditions the TL's front foot well temperature reaches the warmth target 15 percent sooner. The front to rear temperature differential is narrowed as well, meaning that rear seat passengers aren't left out in the cold.
MICRON AIR-FILTRATION SYSTEM
A passenger compartment air-filtration system traps dust and pollen
particles down to eight microns, helping to eliminate dust and other
airborne particulates from the cabin area and also traps bacteria as
small as one micron
ACURA NAVIGATION SYSTEM
The latest generation of the Acura Navigation System is the only
factory-installed option available on the well-equipped TL. In
model-year '99, it proved to be remarkably popular with customers. In
2000, the Acura Navigation System returns with significant
enhancements that boost its convenience and utility. There's a new
matte-finish touch-screen that resists fingerprinting and is easier
to read. Enhanced logic lets you type in your destination with
significantly fewer keystrokes, and route calculation time has been
reduced. You can also pre-program a route with up to five
destinations, or have the moving map display icons for gas stations,
restaurants or ATMs. And with a new DVD-ROM database with almost 14
times the storage capacity of the '99 system, the on-board system has
3.7 million additional points of interest, and covers the entire
continental United States.
Like the similar system in the 3.5RL, the 3.2TL's unit uses Global Positioning System (GPS) data received from satellites, as well as its own inertial guidance system, to precisely pinpoint location and velocity. When asked to guide the driver from one location to another, the system provides both audio and visual cues, helping the driver find the proper destination quickly and easily and with minimal distraction. Verbal instructions such as, "Keep right" or "Next exit on the right" give the driver the basic direction. An LCD, located high on the center console, provides a moving map with direction arrows, detailed information on street names, turning instructions and driving distance. The navigation system also provides information and directions to local restaurants, theaters and points of interest.
The large six-inch, color LCD display has a picture-in-picture capability, so you can see the "big picture" map and get detailed turning instructions simultaneously. The system will also display your current position at any time, and a balloon function instantly shows the address of any location you select on the map. You can also search for a selected point of interest simply by inputting its phone number. The touch-screen display can also be used to provide manual control over the TL's automatic air conditioning operation. The voice guidance control has 11 different volume settings and automatically mutes the audio entertainment system front speakers momentarily when direction commands are given.
All freeway networks and major metropolitan areas in the U.S. are mapped by the system. The TL's on-board database can be updated annually by Acura dealers. The owner pays a minimal charge for annual updates.
AUDIO SYSTEM
A customized Acura/Bose™ Audio System is standard equipment on the
TL. Designed and built as an integral part of the car, the system is
engineered to take advantage of the TL's unique acoustics. All
speakers have been carefully selected and placed, and the electronics
have been specifically tuned to work with the car's interior. Bose
equalization circuitry automatically maintains proper tonal balance
at all times to produce natural, lifelike sound for drivers and
passengers.
Another innovation in this music system is the Bose Nd™ woofer in the rear package shelf. Using a rare earth neodymium iron boron, its breakthrough design enables deep, powerful bass and high output from a remarkably slim, lightweight speaker. The music system comes complete with an in-dash CD player, cassette player, AM/FM stereo tuner, and convenient steering wheel controls.
POWER GLASS MOON ROOF
Another standard feature on the highly equipped TL, a glass moon roof
with tilt-up and sliding action can be used to increase interior
ventilation or opened fully for open-air motoring. Its thin,
efficient design is a contributing factor in the TL's abundant
headroom.
MULTIPLEX DATA BUS
CPU-controlled functions in the TL such as the various warning
systems, illumination intensity, intermittent wipers, power windows,
the remote control security system, auto headlight system and more
are divided among three separate CPUs. Communication among the CPUs
is via a multiplex data bus, which requires considerably less wiring.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
Offered in just one trim level, with a remarkably short options list,
the TL has a formidable roster of standard comfort and luxury
features.
Here are some of the more notable items:
- Overhead sunglasses storage compartment
- Large dual cupholder in the console with a removable liner for easy cleaning
- Illuminated two compartment center console, with internal power port and hidden storage area
- Padded center armrest slides fore and aft for comfort
- Soft-touch instrument panel and interior panels
- Glove box has a damper-controlled door and interior light
- Four-disc CD storage tray built into dash (when not equipped with navigation system)
- Trunk opening switch on driver's door panel and main switch in glove compartment
- Sliding sun visor extensions
- New illuminated power window switches at all positions
- HomeLink" remote system operates three different devices
- Speed-synchronized intermittent wipers
- Dual cupholder built into rear fold-down armrest
- Security system with remote keyless entry
- Automatic day/night rearview mirror
- Lockable trunk pass through
TRUNK STORAGE
With the compact dimensions of the TL's multilink rear suspension,
the trunk volume is a generous14.3 cu ft. A wide opening and low
lift-over height eases loading and unloading. A lockable flip-down
pass-through door to the passenger compartment expands utility
further, for carrying long objects. A cargo net with multiple
attachment points makes it easy to restrain cargo. The jack is in a
closed compartment on the right side of the trunk, with a toolbox
positioned nearby. A storage compartment is positioned on the left
side of the trunk. A convenient hook just above allows plastic
grocery bags to be secured in place. A tether with a hook allows the
trunk floor to be secured in the raised position for convenient
access to the spare tire.