Acura Planning TSX Hybrid

Rumor has it Acura is finally taking a long hard look at the hybrid game. Honda’s luxury arm has been noticeably bereft of fuel-saving models, leaving the green market to rival Lexus. If the pesky whispers dusting up on the interwebs are to be believed, we could see a battery-laden Acura sometime soon. Even more surprising, the company is skipping the standard tactic of offsetting SUV fuel consumption with an electric motor. Instead of giving the MDX the electron treatment, rumors suggest the entry-level TSX sedan could be the first model to go hybrid.

Details are noticeably absent at the moment, leading us to take the whole thing with a grain of salt. Still, if true, odds are the hybrid TSX would benefit from Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist, or IMA. In that system, a thin pancake electric motor is situated between the engine and transmission. At low speeds, the motor can take over power duties, allowing the engine to cut cylinders or shut off all together. It can also add an extra punch when more power is needed for a pass.

At this point, it’s unclear which engine Acura would opt for, though a modified version of the current 2.4-liter four-cylinder is a possibility. In that configuration, power would likely sit close to the current 280 horsepower.

Source\ AllCarsElectric