2003 Acura CL Type-S

Effectively blending high performance and personal luxury is a genuine automotive art form, one that Acura has shown an amazing talent for doing, and doing well. The arrival of its latest CL 3.2 Type-S proves that Honda's luxury division still has the magic touch. When it stormed onto the scene for 2002, the original Type-S boasted a host of meaningful powertrain and suspension upgrades in its formidable resume, including a trick SportShift sequential 5-speed automatic transmission. For '03, this understated overachiever adds several new touches to make it an even more appealing ride to the purists.

Tastefully drawn sheetmetal, devoid of wings, flaps, flares and all other types of paste-on appendages, makes the CL Type-S a near-perfect street-sleeper?on the outside.

Visually, the new Type-S gets minor tweaks to its front and rear fascias, revamped wheels and bolder looking exhaust tips. However, the real news is the arrival of the 6-speed, close-ratio, manual transmission. Opting for this do-it-yourself cog-changer also brings a new helical-gear limited-slip differential in place of the stability system and traction control found in its autoshifted counterpart.


Those with higher-profile predilections are likely to find that even with the exterior changes, the CL's remarkably understated styling remains a bit too subtle for its own good. But that tastefully drawn sheetmetal—devoid of wings, flaps, flares and all other types of paste-on appendages—makes the CL Type-S a near-perfect street-sleeper. That's a good thing, because this new 6-speed variant is even more willing than its predecessor to accommodate those with a natural inclination to regularly roam in the supra-legal speed range.


The additional gearbox exactly doubles the number of "option" choices that face a potential Type-S buyer. Like the standard CL 3.2—which is still only available with the SportShift transmission—save for a yea/nay vote on the $2,150 Navigation package (now fitted with OnStar), this coupe comes fully equipped. It commands $30,550 plus $500 in destination fees regardless of transmission.

Inside, the CL 3.2 Type-S carries on a styling motif that parallels its subtle exterior treatment, and the well-formed buckets offer a good combination of comfort and support.

That tariff brings leather upholstery, automatic climate-control air conditioning, a gaggle of power assists, moonroof, Bose AM/FM/cassette stereo with 6-disc in-dash changer, power/heated seats, HomeLink programmable garage-door opener, dual 12V powerpoints, tilt steering column, steering-wheel-mounted audio/cruise controls and remote keyless for starters. Those comfort/convenience features are backed by dual front/front-side smart airbags, 3-point seatbelts with pretensioners/force limiters, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, HID Xenon headlamps, anti-theft/immobilizer system and rear LATCH anchors for child seats on the safety/security front.