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The 2013 TL, Acura’s performance luxury sedan, has been named “Best Upscale Midsize Car for Families” by U.S. News & World Report in its 2013 “Best Cars for Families” awards.

“The Acura TL offers the ideal blend of performance, comfort and safety, resulting in a luxury sedan that’s a smart choice for families,” said Mike Accavitti, vice president of national marketing operations. “The TL provides parents with the performance they desire in a luxury sedan paired with a well-appointed interior, top safety ratings, a host of standard Acura technologies and spacious second row seating that is ideal for clients and children.”

The “Best Cars for Families” awards combine quality, size and family-friendly features into a composite score. Quality is measured using a weighted average of scores from the U.S. News rankings at the time the awards are published. The rankings compare cars on the basis of safety, reliability and a consensus of automotive critics’ opinions. Size is based on a vehicle’s seating capacity and interior space. For family-friendly features, U.S. News factors in the availability of features deemed to be helpful to families by its editors.

The 2013 TL, featuring Acura’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, was among the first vehicles to receive the highest possible safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) under its more-stringent testing guidelines. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. Standard safety equipment on all Acura models includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control, ABS, dual-stage/multiple-threshold front airbags, front-side airbags, side curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions, front seatbelts with automatic tensioning system and load limiters, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

The 2013 Acura TL is offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive drivetrain configurations. The front-wheel drive TL is powered by an all-aluminum, 3.5-liter, 24-valve, VTEC® V-6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel drive version of the TL utilizes Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system and comes equipped with an all-aluminum, 3.7-liter, 24-valve, VTEC® V-6 engine that produces 305 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Both versions are equipped with a Sequential SportShift 6-speed automatic transmission as standard. For the enthusiast, a 6-speed manual transmission is available on the TL SH-AWD model when equipped with the Technology Package.

With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP*) starting at $35,905, the 2013 Acura TL offers an outstanding array of standard features such as premium leather seats; adjustable, power front seats with 2-position driver’s seat memory settings; Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® cellular telephone interface; an 8-speaker, 276-watt audio system with a 6-disc CD changer, AM/FM radio, XM® Radio, Bluetooth® Audio and USB port and AUX jack connectivity; Dual-zone, dual-mode automatic climate control system with auto humidity control; power moonroof; and aluminum wheels, sized at 17×8 inches for the front-wheel drive TL and 18×8 inches for the TL with SH-AWD.

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The 2013 Acura TL luxury performance sedan is among the first vehicles to receive the highest possible safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) under its more-stringent testing guidelines that now include the new small overlap frontal crash test. The IIHS’ small overlap frontal crash test is designed to simulate a collision between a vehicle and a fixed object, such as a tree or utility pole, where only 25 percent of the vehicle’s front structure is engaged by the opposing object.

In addition to the TL achieving TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating, four additional Acura vehicles have received TOP SAFETY PICK ratings from the IIHS. The Acura ILX, TSX, MDX and RDX have all earned the top rating of GOOD in all four rating areas, including the more rigorous roof-strength test.

The new IIHS small overlap frontal crash test involves a collision between a fixed five-foot-tall rigid barrier and a vehicle traveling at 40 miles per hour. This frontal impact test focuses stress on a narrow section of the vehicle, outside of the side frame, which is typically the primary energy absorbing structure in frontal crashes, and requires a strong cabin structure. According to a 2009 study by the IIHS, small overlap crashes accounted for nearly 25 percent of frontal crashes resulting in a serious injury or fatality. The Acura TL was the first of two vehicles to achieve the highest rating of GOOD in the small overlap frontal crash test.

Acura’s “Safety Through Innovation” initiative is based on the brand’s commitment to make safety a top element in every new vehicle that Acura builds. As such, Acura is in the process of incorporating the next generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure to all fully redesigned models. This reinforced front frame structure provides further enhanced frontal crash energy management through a wider range of offset and oblique crashes. The result of such efforts should increase occupant protection while also increasing the likelihood of achieving a GOOD rating in the IIHS new frontal small overlap crash testing, with new Acura model introductions moving forward. The all-new 2014 Acura RLX flagship sedan coming to market in early 2013 will be the first to utilize the next-generation ACE™ II body structure.

All models in the current Acura line up utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment.

Standard safety equipment on all Acura models includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control, ABS, dual-stage/multiple-threshold front airbags, front-side airbags, side curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions, front seatbelts with automatic tensioning system and load limiters, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Daytime Running Lights (DRL).