The Honda of America Mfg.’s Marysville Auto Plant celebrated a new milestone Friday with the exclusive mass production of the all-new 2021 Acura TLX Performance Sport Sedan, a project five years in the making for the first Acura sedan that was created from the ground up, Marc Ernst, Acura TLX Development project leader, said during a media event hosted just outside of the plant.
“Five years ago, we had this dream to make the best handling, most well-appointed sport sedan. We’ve overcome so many difficulties and challenges and couldn’t feel better today,” he said Friday, which coincidentally also marked Ernst’s 31st anniversary working for Honda.
“It’s a completely redesigned vehicle from the former TLX. It is super quick-feeling and responsive to the touch; it is a light and agile. This is a special vehicle that we are very excited about.”
The launch of this new vehicle signals that all Acura models sold in North America for the 2021 model year are made in Ohio — including Acura models made at the Marysville Auto Plant, East Liberty Auto Plant and the NSX supercar manufactured at the Performance Manufacturing Center. The new TLX, as well as the TLX Type S high performance variant that will be released in the spring, will be built exclusively at Marysville.
Following the start of production Friday, the 2021 TLX will arrive at dealerships Sept. 28 with a manufacturer suggested retail price starting at $37,500.
Bill Easdale, Marysville Auto Plant general manager and vice president, said he is most grateful to his associates for their work during the recent uncertain times, and for stepping up to learn the complex processes involved with manufacturing this new vehicle.
“This is the highest-performance sedan that we’ve ever made, and to develop it under these COVID circumstances is nothing short of amazing,” he said. “Just like other families around the world, our associates are under the extra stress that the health situation brings, and to somehow still be able to concentrate to accomplish this, I am very proud of them.”
Similarly, Ken Sheridan, Acura TLX engineering project leader, related the impressive quality maturation that the Marysville Auto Plant associates are producing by “really leveraging their experience.”
At the Marysville plant, the 2021 TLX is built on an all-new, Acura-exclusive platform engineered for Type S levels of performance. Sophisticated manufacturing technologies have been implemented to assure superior build quality and premium refinement for the new sedan.
Using a high-accuracy body weld process and high-performance adhesive, the team created the most rigid body ever for an Acura sedan, to help TLX deliver on its dynamic performance intentions,
The sedan was designed, developed and manufactured by a team of Acura associates in Ohio and California following the brand’s return to Precision Crafted Performance, officials said.
At the company’s engine plant in Anna, manufacturing associates will build both powertrains for the new TLX. That includes a powerful 2.0-liter DOHC VTEC Turbo powering the standard TLX and an all-new 3.0-liter Turbo for the TLX Type S set.
Both engines are paired with a responsive 10-speed automatic transmission designed and developed in-house.
The 2021 TLX is also the first Acura model to feature a laser brazed roof. This new process joins the roof to the body side panels, creating a clean, seamless exterior appearance with no need for a garnish over the rain channels.
Friday’s launch of the 2021 TLX was also a major milestone prior to the approaching retirement of Lori Humble, Marysville Auto Plant new model staff engineer, who has worked for the company for 36 1/2 years.
“It is huge to see something go from a digital stand point to hitting the road,” she said. “I will have a big smile on my face when I begin to see these cars driving down the road.”