Chicago 2011: 2012 Acura TL is the face of change... at least a little bit

Acura has the sheets pulled the latest take on its bread-and butter-TL at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. Given the many criticisms, the Japanese automaker, the stylists of taking some of the edge of the sedan styling with a new front end, which goes some way towards making the car look more like a car and less like Picaso interpretation of a sentence. The 2012 TL now with shorter overhangs front and rear, and the new image includes elimination of the chrome around the rear tail lights for a look that appetizing to trim more than the previous iteration.
A few changes have been cut under the hood as well. Acura engineers managed to cut engine friction to increase fuel economy and a new six-speed automatic transmission helps the final figures come to 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. This is an increase of three mpg highway over the five-speed automatic transmission-equipped model 2010th Fans of the third pedal need not worry, though. Acura says that the buyer still be able to hook your 2012 TL SH-AWD with the same six-speed setup that is currently available.
Inside, trim TL Advance now comes with a blind-spot awareness and ventilated seats heated and cooled, while the TL-Tech has a 60-gig hard drive navigation and entertainment system. Hit the jump for the full press explosion.

2012 Acura TL softens skin, sharpens claws in Chicago

Let's face it - the Acura TL is not just a pretty car. And while the vast majority of the automotive media and enthusiasts forums immediately criticized the angular design of the TL's, we were nothing less than satisfied with its luxurious high-tech interior and solid handling dynamics - especially the six-speed manual transmission-equipped SH-AWD. For the 2012 model year, Acura has softened some of the cars hard lines, and while the automaker tells us that both the front and rear all-new ", there is no doubt this limousine for anything other than a teaspoon.
Since this only renew a modest mid-cycle, the TL powertrain has not fully recovered. Both the 3.5-and 3.7-liter V6 are still on hold, although a new six-speed automatic transmission helps improve performance and fuel economy. A new series of 19-inch all-season tires on SH-AWD models available in an effort to improve the performance on snow and ice features, to improve an updated set of alloy wheels.
Inside, Acura has made significant improvements to reduce wind and road noise and upgraded the HDD navigation system to 60 gigabytes of memory for enhanced music. What's more, a new package refrigerated Advance Networks customers things like a blind spot information system and front seats. Look for the 2012 TL to hit dealers later this year. Follow the jump for the official press release.

2012 Acura TL to debut at Chicago Auto Show

Acura has announced that it is the newly refreshed 2012 TL at the Chicago Auto Show debut next month. Details are slim as it was written, but the automaker says that the 2012 model continues to strengthen its position in the segment with aggressive, yet refined styling and performance. "

In its current form, the TL has been praised for its high-tech quality and cheerful interior, not to mention relatively impressive driving dynamics of the SH-AWD 6MT model. In particular, the angular front end - but the biggest deal-breaker for the current TL its styling, which collected a lot of praise has been negative. We are the full details of the 2012 TL closer to its official debut 9th February, so stay tuned.

Guess Barett-Jackson bids, win prizes

For us, one of the best parts of watching the Barrett-Jackson auction in Arizona tried to process the contract long before the hammer falls to guess. For the fourth year in a row, you can contact us later in a head-to-head against the rest of the world classic car lovers enter for prizes in the auction bids fantasy game. Hagerty Insurance and Speed have teamed up to allow fans to try their hand at predicting the final price tag of some of the best metal on the planet.
All you need is about the imagination to offer on-site. You can submit your assumptions about multiple posts. Fantasy bidding wraps when the car hits the stage, and players gain points by closest to the actual contract, without going over. The player with the most points after the four days at home will, at the auction, you will receive a massive prize pack that includes a 46-inch Samsung LCD-3D high-definition TV and 3D Bluray DVD player.
The second place nets an Xbox 360 with Kinect and runner-up a Sony Cyber-shot digital camera nab. Even more impressive is fantasy candidates who are the most points each day a 32-inch Sony HD TV award, and players who know the next snap to get price gaveled the joy of owning a 16-gig iPad.
We will be partnering with speed for the duration of the auction, you bring up-to-date reports while Friday and Saturday, so stay tuned. Hit the jump for the press explosion.

Multi-platform coverage of Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
Dual screen experience includes three camera angles, 'Magnante MINUTES "& New interactive Facebook application
LIVE linear network coverage begins January 18; HAGERTY FANTASY BID STARTS January 20

SPEED.com is ready for a significant number of multi-platform coverage of this year's Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event and "no reserve" auction. The lineup of live streaming from multiple camera angles highlighted the popular Hagerty Fantasy Bid game celebrates and original video content as part of SPEED 40-hour live coverage of the auction 40-year anniversary.
The program will begin Tuesday at 07.00 clock ET / 4 pm PT, while the Hagerty Fantasy Bid game starts on Thursday at the same time.
For the auction total of three live cameras are steaming with an optimized feed for Apple iPad, iPhone, iTouch and Android 2.0 applications, all of the action in and around the tent West World auction. presents "The Block" reporter Steve Magnante web-exclusive "Magnante Minutes' video blogs, while SPEED.com automotive editor Bob Golf collects the latest news, notes, reactions and personality storylines, the design of the collector car market place in Scottsdale, throughout the week.
An online chat, photo galleries, collectors car Trivia "Ask the Broadcast Booth" and a new speed record Facebook Barrett-Jackson Content Application capturing the entire interactive experience also tap.
Beginning with live coverage SPEED on Thursday 18 January, collector car expert Rick DeBruhl and Justin Bell, 30 cars at this year's interactive Hagerty Fantasy Bid Game. Once established, have imagination to guess bidders a chance to make the final "gaveled" price of each vehicle by several border crossing points (or log on speedfantasybid.com SPEED.com Barrett-Jackson Landing Page (http://www.speedtv.com / programs / Barrett -Jackson Automobile Auction /) for details). Fantasy bidding closes once a car rolls on the main auction block per car, with daily and overall prizes awarded during the game to the next guesstimated price of not more than the closing auction number. Incremental points are also assigned to the said rules base line.
"Our bid fantasy game the best and most popular multi-platform integrated package of speed and SPEED.com," said Kevin Annison, VP of digital interactive & Media. "We had almost a million fantasy bids during the four (Scottsdale, Arizona, Palm Beach, Florida, Orange County, California and Las Vegas, Nevada) Barrett-Jackson broadcasts in 2010. It's a great interactive game which is our audience more engaged. One of our goals is to continue giving away great surprise to increase our numbers and let the audience have fun with the show.
"We also offer a two-screen experience with our unique camera angles and content," Annison added. "And our new interactive Facebook application allows all users of our SPEED.com the auction experience on other platforms."
The grand prize for winning the Hagerty Fantasy Bid game, the player with the most points accumulated during four days of a 46-inch Samsung, 3D, LED, LCD, HD TV with a Samsung 3D, Blu-Ray DVD player. The game is runner-up wins a Xbox 360 games with interactive technology Kinect console while the third-ranked player grabs a Sony Cyber-shot digital camera. For those with the most points on a daily basis, is a 32-inch Sony LCD excellent high-definition television, while those who think the next gaveled price on every car to win a 16-gigabyte iPad.

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction 2011 Scottsdale (Arizona) Coverage Schedule (All times Eastern; Schedule subject to change)
Tuesday, January 18 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 7 - Midnight (Live) SPEED.com Live Streaming 7 - Midnight (Live)
Wednesday, January 19 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 7 - Midnight (Live) SPEED.com Live Streaming 7 - Midnight (Live)
Thursday, January 20 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 7 - Midnight (Live) Hagerty Fantasy Bid Game 7 - Midnight (Live) SPEED.com Live Streaming 7 - Midnight (Live)
Friday, January 21 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 2 clock - Midnight (Live) Hagerty Fantasy Bid Game 2 Clock - Midnight (Live) SPEED.com Live Streaming 2 clock - Midnight (Live)
Saturday, January 22 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event from 14.00 bis 01.00 Clock Clock (Live) Hagerty Fantasy Game bid of 14.00 bis 01.00 Clock (Live) SPEED.com Live Streaming of 2.00 to 01.00 clock clock. (Live)
Sunday, January 23 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 2-6 Clock (Live) Hagerty Fantasy Game bid of 2 bis 6 Clock (Live) Live Streaming SPEED.com 2-6 Clock (Live)