The biggest story in 2009 for Acura is about the TL. The company replaced the TSX, leaving me and others a bit let down. Sure the new TSX is nice, but it's less sporty and fun to drive than its stylish predecessor. The RL, which also got a major redo, had gotten a lot less notice than it deserves from car writers and industry analysts.

But I predict things will be different with the TL. Arguably Acura's most important product, the TL is new from stem to stern, and it represents a dramatic departure from what has gone on before.

The TL, which competes in the entry-level premium luxury sedan market against such cars as the BMW 3 and 5 series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus IS Series and the Cadillac CTS, always has been Acura's most edgy, intriguing product, and the 2009 model continues that tradition.

In a nod to the growing popularity of all-wheel drive among luxury and sport car consumers, Acura is unveiling a new TL SH-AWD model that features a 3.7-liter, 305-horsepower V-6 that is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway.

The styling almost shouts aggression, and it sends a clear message to other cars and their drivers that the TL is a force to be reckoned with on the road. Though the front-end design is controversial with some writers, I think it's unique with a hood piece that looks as though it's floating over a large opening, flanked by those slanted, sinister looking headlamps.

The rear three-quarters view is one of my favorites. Few cars manage to look good and carry out the model theme from the rear, but this one does. Thanks to a combination of an almost fastback roof line, slanted taillights that look just as sinister as the headlights and a nicely creased trunk and dual pipes, the TL looks both classic and contemporary as it roars away ahead of you.

Acura officials hope that the new design will help elevate the TL into a more premium position in its field. For some journalists and industry observers, Acura products, while widely respected, aren't always seen as being quite as "premium" as the competition.

To help the brand get there, the TL is bristling with technology -- certainly an Acura trademark strong suit since the brand's inception and the reason a stylized set of calipers is used as its emblem.

It starts with an all new intake/exhaust VTEC system that Acura says provides more power and efficiency. The paddle shifts have several settings, such as a smart mode for instant gear selection, engine braking and sequential settings, while the manual mode offers manual transmission operation and gear hold. The "D" position provides the best fuel economy and performance, while the "S" position is for sporty driving.

It has an "intelligent climate control" system that turns the defogger system on automatically to prevent windshield fog and can provide cool air to the face and warm air to your legs and feet as well.

There's also an emphasis on little touches: The leather is a premium grade and there is stitching on the steering wheel. There's a beautiful aluminum door sill, and the dashboard has a fluid, sweeping look.

As you can tell, there's little that's traditional or staid about the new TL, so I don't expect it to be to everyone's taste. Some aspects of the interior -- namely its dramatic design and layout -- are going to rub more conservative types the wrong way. And that's OK. Kudos to Acura for pushing the envelope.

The TL handles even more aggressively than the previous model, and corners flat, with electric steering that for all the world feels like a hydraulic system. The new system is completely without the uncertainty, sloppiness and constant corrections that many electric steering systems bring with them.

In addition to the aforementioned 305-horsepower V-6 for the all-wheel-drive model, Acura's offering a 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter, front-wheel-drive model that proved to be just as fast and lusty as the bigger powerplant.

No prices for the new TL have been announced yet, though I expect them to fall between $34,000 and $42,000.

I'm reserving final judgment on the new TL until I have tested it for a week or so, but things look pretty promising for the newest version of one of my favorite cars.