The Acura TL SH-AWD Advantage

           The Acura TL All-Wheel-Drive gets suspension, brake and steering upgrades that further sharpen its performance. The SH-AWD system is ideally positioned to lead the performance luxury sedan category where the Acura TL competes, as 35-percent of all vehicles in the class have all-wheel drive. Priced competitively with AWD packages on competing vehicles, the Acura TL is expected to be a strong competitor in the segment.While the Acura TL SH-AWD offers satisfyingly quick turn-on, flat cornering, a high level of grip and highly neutral characteristics when driven aggressively, with its larger and more powerful engine, and more sporting suspension tuning and tires, the Acura TL SH-AWD model takes performance a step further to deliver racetrack-quality handling-without losing the composure required of a daily driver.

        The SH-AWD  lightweight unit-body suspension is the basis for a great-handling sport sedan, with low mass allowing quick acceleration, cornering and braking capability. Meanwhile, suspension structural stiffness provides maximum suspension and steering precision, an ultra-quiet interior and lasting durability. The SH-AWD 2009 Acura TL  meets all these objectives with sophisticated unit-body engineering suspension that provides maximum stiffness as well as low weight through the use of the highest volume of high-strength steel in Acura history, as well as the use of key aluminum components.

As a result of the SH-AWD front-suspension strut bar and a pair of additional lateral suspension stiffeners at the front suspension of the vehicle, lateral body rigidity is up 15-percent compared to the previous generation Acura TL. In fact the new SH-AWD unit-body suspension is so rigid that six mass dampers formerly used to quell vibration have been deleted, for a weight savings of nearly 14 lbs.

      SH-AWD FRONT SUSPENSION

The 2009 SH-AWD front suspension is double-wishbone system with spring, damper and stabilizer-bar rates tuned for performance handling while retaining a flat, comfortable ride. The SH-AWD stamped-steel upper and cast-iron lower control arms hold a forged-steel steering knuckle, with the SH-AWD upper arms attaching to the unit-body via special low-vibration pivot bushings and theSH-AWD lower control arms attaching to an aluminum box-section sub-frame via specially tuned conventional pivot bushings and hydraulic compliance bushings. The SH-AWD sub-frame is in turn connected to the unit-body via special vibration-reducing mounts. Nitrogen-charged blow-off dampers, coil springs, a stabilizer bar and a tubular steel shock tower brace completes the SH-AWD front suspension system. The 2009 SH-AWD TL suspension is engineered to have 8-percent less front-end lift under acceleration (to reduce torque steer) and 37 percent less dive under braking than the previous TL. In addition, 22 percent greater roll stiffness keeps the SH-AWD body flatter during aggressive cornering. Lowering the SH-AWD suspension center of gravity and raising the front roll center by 1.7 inches also contributes to reduced body roll.

           SH-AWD REAR SUSPENSION

  In back, the SH-AWD new multi-link rear suspension is similar to the suspension found in the 2009 Acura TSX. Like the front suspension, it features stamped steel upper A-arms with increased roll center height, while two steel tubular links and a single toe link provide the lower control. The lower links are mounted to a floating subframe that reduces the intrusion of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) into the TL's cabin. A forged aluminum knuckle, nitrogen-charged blow-off dampers, coil springs and a 50 percent stiffer stabilizer bar complete the rear suspension.The new rear suspension geometry controls camber gain 40 percent better than the previous TL while the body is rolling in a corner,keeping a larger portion of the tire footprint on the ground for higher grip. Along with the new SH-AWD lower center of gravity, a 1.5-inch higher rear roll center contributes to reduced overall body roll.

• SH-AWD offers satisfyingly quick turn-on .
• More sporting suspension tuning .
• Suspension of the vehicle, lateral body rigidity is up 15-percent .
• SH-AWD unit-body is so rigid .
• SH-AWD model takes performance a step further.
• SH-AWD  suspension is engineered to have 8-percent less front-end lift .