What It Is: Acura’s next-generation mid-size sedan being tested while wearing a heavy layer of obstructive camouflage. The last time we checked in on Acura’s sedan lineup, the company told us it was planning to offer just three sedans in the future. With the introduction of the compact, Honda Civic–based ILX and the RL-replacing RLX large sedan, only the TSX or the TL—but not both—will soldier on. Based on the apparent size of the four-door in these spy photos, it seems Acura has decided to go with a new TL. We’ll give TSX fans a moment to collect themselves. In keeping with Acura’s latest three-letter, X-centric (Bazinga!) nomenclature, we expect the TL moniker to give way to a more brand-appropriate TLX designation.

Why It Matters: Although Acura as a brand has seen flagging consumer interest in recent years, the TL especially has waned in the eyes of luxury buyers. Partly due to age, and partly due to its lack of a premium image, the TL simply falls short of its German competition. The new TLX will need to claw back from the TL’s position of irrelevancy by making an impact in the ever-popular compact-to-mid-size luxury-sedan arena. The TLX’s job will be made somewhat easier, we think, by the departure of the smaller, comparatively affordable—and fun-to-drive–TSX.

Platform: Like the outgoing TL, we expect the new TLX will use some variation of what underpins Honda’s North American Accord. The TL shared its bones with the previous-generation Accord (the smaller TSX was based on the European Accord), which was updated heavily for 2013. Just as the latest Accord sedan essentially is the same underneath as the car it replaced, look for similar upgrades to the TLX’s structure, possibly along with some weight savings.

View Photos BRIAN WILLIAMS FOR KGP PHOTOGRAPHY , BRENDA PRIDDY, THE MANUFACTURER

It’s difficult to make out any specific styling changes from these spy photos, but it’s clear that Acura largely will carry over the TL’s swoopy greenhouse and high beltline to the TLX, although the new sedan does look less chubby in profile. Somewhat amusingly, Acura’s camouflage folks decided to use a contrasting-color, pentagon-shaped mesh insert for the area covering the TLX prototype’s grille, and it fairly gives away the test car’s origins. Behind the camo, the brand’s signature beak-like grille barely can be made out. It looks as though RLX-style LED headlights will be available on the TLX, considering that they can be seen gleaming from behind the camouflage, as well.

Powertrains: Perhaps the TLX’s biggest potential changes relative to the TL have to do with its engine, transmission, and drive layout. The TL offers two engines, one for front-drive models and another for all-wheel-drive versions. A 280-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 powers front-drive TLs and a burlier, 305-hp 3.7-liter motivates TLs with the brand’s signature torque-vectoring Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). We’re betting that, like the larger RLX, the TLX will carry over its dual-powertrain strategy, but with a twist.

View Photos BRIAN WILLIAMS FOR KGP PHOTOGRAPHY , BRENDA PRIDDY, THE MANUFACTURER

Look for the front-drive TLX to get a 3.5-liter V-6 shared with the two-wheel-drive RLX and the 2014 MDX crossover—depending on the application, this mill produces between 290 and 310 horses. The TLX also could inherit Acura’s Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) rear-wheel-steering setup from the larger RLX for an added shot of agility. All-wheel-drive TLXs, on the other hand, could inherit the same Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive as the four-wheel-drive RLX. This new version of SH-AWD pairs the aforementioned 3.5-liter V-6 with a 40-hp motor/generator and a pair of 27-hp electric motors fitted to the rear axle. Each motor powers a single rear wheel, enabling precise torque vectoring in corners and contributes to a total system output of roughly 370 horsepower. Even though Acura did not fit the latest all-wheel-drive MDX with the Sport Hybrid gear—instead sticking with a carry-over mechanical clutch-pack-based setup—the company could toss it into the TLX to give it a leg up on its non-torque-vectoring entry-luxury sedan competition.

Competition: Audi A4, BMW 3-series, Cadillac ATS, Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-class.

Estimated Arrival and Price: The outgoing TL starts in the mid-$30,000 range, and we don’t expect the TLX to deviate far from that mark. In fact, there’s not much wrong with the current TL’s pricing when you consider that the sedan packs a lot of luxury and technology content while splitting the prices of the smaller Audi A4 and BMW 3-series. Based on how finished-looking the test mules in these photos are, the TLX likely will debut soon, probably as an early 2015 model.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io