The 2021 Acura TLX has been quite the force to be reckoned with since it made its long-awaited debut last year. Now in its second generation, the Acura TLX boasts a sophisticated, yet sporty look, a refined suspension, and drivetrain, as well as a potent engine choice that’s soon to be upgradeable when the Type-S model arrives this year. But did you know that it has a lot in common with the current NSX?

The TLX shares a lot of the same interior features with the NSX

Take one look at the cockpit of the TLX and you might notice some glaring similarities to that of the NSX. Both cars have the same push-button shifter configurations, the same giant knob in the middle for the different drive modes, and even the steering wheels are similar. While this might not bode well for the lucky buyers that shelled out over $100,000 for the NSX, it should put a sporting smile on the faces of those that buy the TLX, since their sporty sedan has something in common with a supercar.

The Acura TLX Type-S will be powered by a turbo 3.0-liter V6

Currently, the 2021 Acura TLX only has one engine choice: a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that pushes out 272 hp and is derived from not only the current-generation Accord but also the venerable Honda Civic Type-R. It’s a great engine that can propel the car up to 60 mph from a standstill in just seven seconds, according to Motortend, but the forthcoming TLX Type-S will be even more powerful.

That trim level will be powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that will put out 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, which should be able to rocket the car to 60 mph in around five seconds. No, those stats aren’t anywhere near what the NSX is able to achieve, but if anything, we can consider the TLX Type-S a “baby NSX,” with four doors.

They’re both all-wheel-drive

The 2021 TLX comes in either a front- or Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive configuration, which is Acura’s clever way of transferring power to all four of its wheels. It can shift power from front to back to side-to-side in the rear half of the car so that it finds the best traction in any corner and through any type of weather. The NSX uses the same system, although, it has a dual-motor setup behind the front wheels to power those.  

Both cars use a double wishbone suspension

This one might be a little bit of a toss-up considering that the NSX uses a pretty unique suspension setup to coincide with its super-unique drivetrain. However, as Autoblog pointed out, the NSX’s suspension setup isn’t too far removed from the double-wishbone setup that you can find behind the wheels of the 2021 TLX. A double-wishbone suspension is great when it comes to the car’s tires maintaining the best contact with the pavement through the corners, so it’s no surprise that Acura incorporated it into both cars.

Same same, but different

While the all-new TLX and the NSX might not have all too much in common, it’s safe to say that there are some striking resemblances when you look a little deeper into both cars. And although you can’t really say that the TLX is an exact copy of the fabled supercar, it’s nice to see that some of the NSX’s DNA was spliced in.