'07 Acura reworked with heart-pumping changes

When Acura said it had "freshened" its Acura TL for 2007, I didn't greet the news with excitement. After all, "freshened" can be auto-speak for adding a new cupholder to a longstanding model.

Now that I've had a week in the performance-oriented 2007 TL Type-S midsize luxury sedan, color me excited. Turns out this is a genuine upgrade.

The most heart-pumping enhancement comes in the power department, via a superlative 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 286 horsepower. What that power plant gives you is instant response at low and high revs. On surface streets, you can glide out of harm's way. On the highways, a quick blip on the accelerator jets you a safe distance away from that no-look lane changer determined to scrape off your front bumper.

The sporty feel of the tested TL Type-S with a five-speed automatic was dramatically enhanced by the presence of Formula One racing-style paddle shifters on the steering wheel. I could go full automatic or operate in semi-manual mode with my hands doing the shifting chores and no clutch necessary.

Rolling down the on-ramp with that 18-wheeler approaching fast in the right lane might have prompted me to pause in other models. With the Type-S, it was easy to zip onto the highway with plenty of space to spare.

Uphill runs were a snap. Slalom maneuvers were effortless, although the suspension seemed a tad stiff. No big deal there; that's a price to be paid for performance handling. The four-piston, ventilated Brembo brakes on the front end qualify as fabulous.

Technically, the Type-S designation represents a resurrection, not an upgrade. The Type-S has been out of the TL lineup for three years. Who am I to argue with marketing semantics? All I know is the Type-S tag has always represented high performance. On the tested car, performance came in big doses.

Other perks are subtler. The TL Type-S has been restyled inside and out. The exterior is sporty enough, but it's decidedly understated. Basically, you get an appealing, rounded shape that cuts through the air nicely. Inside, leather seating surfaces are comfortable, and the dual-zone climate control does a good job of matching up with the desired temperature. Interior quietness is exceptional, even when the Acura's V-6 is asked to excel.

The center stack of controls is nicely laid out and easy to understand. The tester's eight speaker surround-sound audio system was a quality blast. Did I mention that all these goodies are part of the starting price of $38,125?

That's impressive. What's not a bargain is Acura's recommendation of using only premium gas in the 17.1-gallon fuel tank. Ugh! The federal fuel economy ratings of 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway make the premium factor a little easier to take. Interior space is fine in the front, but three adults will feel squished in the back. All in all, this TL Type-S is quite a freshening, worthy of excitement.