Key Takeaways
Tiger Eye Pearl seems to have been discontinued from the Acura Type S color options for the 2025 model year. The Type S badge history dates back to 1997, introducing performance enhancements and sleek appearances. Tiger Eye Pearl was a polarizing color; it’s possible Type S will be represented by a new hue.
Make your way to Acura’s website and select any of the available Type S trim level vehicles for the 2025 model year and take note that something is missing from the color swatch. Tiger Eye Pearl, the glowing golden, somewhat copper hue that shone brilliantly in direct sunlight yet took on a more brown mustard tone in low light is being taken off the menu for the new model year. First noticed by a user on the Acurazine forum, no official communique regarding this color’s discontinuation has yet been issued.
It’s not uncommon for an automaker to switch to different color options and even eliminate a color from existing and upcoming line-ups, but in the case of Tiger Eye Pearl, a rather uncommon paint code to come across, it was specifically designed for the range of Type S models that sit atop the brand’s current vehicle line, and it’s peculiar that it’s been axed from the list of options.
History Of The Type S Badge
Serving as Acura’s sportiest trim level, the Type S designation dates back to 1997, when the Japanese market received the NSX Type S variant. Borrowing some of its parts from the NSX-R, engineers were able to shave 99 pounds from its overall weight while also incorporating stiffer suspension for a more robust package to the delight of Honda fans. That, in turn, opened the doors for Acura to bring a similar approach in the form of other Type S models to the US market.
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Initially, the 3.2-liter Acura CL was the first North American vehicle to get the Type S treatment, but it wouldn’t remain the sole option for buyers. Soon after, from 2001 through 2008, Acura injected the Type S formula into the TL and the Integra-replacing RSX, as well. The idea was to increase performance and improve appearance of these vehicles without sacrificing ride quality or amenities. The Type S program ended with the 2008 models and was seemingly gone for good.
The Golden Touch
That all changed in 2021, when, after more than a decade without a Type S trim in the Acura stable, the nameplate returned attached to the TLX. Acura’s press kit at the time even featured the sports sedan draped proudly in Tiger Eye Pearl, a color they noted as being exclusively available on the Type S model. Just a year later, the MDX became the first Acura SUV to get a Type S badge and also included the paint code as an option, and in 2023, a year after a rather tame standard version was launched, the wider, much more powerful Integra Type S followed suit with that familiar hue available to interested buyers.
Admittedly, it’s loud and attracts plenty of attention, which is something that some savor, while others do their best to avoid unwanted eyes. A striking color, especially when applied to the muscular lines of the TLX, the widened hips and shoulders of the Integra, and the bulky MDX, all in Type S form. The color could often be found on display in the showroom of your local Acura dealer, but interestingly, it isn’t a common find in the real world. We’ve reached out to Acura for more information and will update this article once we receive a reply; perhaps Tiger Eye Pearl will be replaced by Indy Yellow Pearl, as seen on Acura’s recent Integra HRC prototype.
Acura
Source:
Acurazine