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"   LOS ANGELES\u2013As sprightly and as poised as the four-cylinder Acura TSX is, a quick scan of the spec sheet would probably send torque junkies to more powerful pastures. That car has just 201 hp and 170 lb.-ft. of torque\u2013not exactly the stuff of our 1/4-mile dreams. Well, Acura decided that the TSX could use a bit more muscle under the hood too. So iit has added a new model to the lineup and shoehorned the 280 hp V6 from the Acura TL sedan into the TSX&amp;#039;s smaller package. The result? Perhaps our favorite sedan in the Acura lineup. \u2013Ben Stewart  The Specs  The V6-powered, 3,600 pound TSX is fundamentally the same car as the four-cylinder model\u2013both are based on the European Honda Accord. The only cues that this car has two more cylinders under the hood are the functional air intakes next to the fog lights, new wheels and that little V6 badge on the trunk. Under the skin, engineers fitted what is essentially the 3.5-liter V6 from the base-level Acura TL paired to a 5-speed automatic controlled by steering wheel paddle shifters. Thanks to the 11.2:1 compression ratio, and tech like VTEC variable valve timing and lift, and a magnesium dual stage intake manifold, the V6 makes 280 hp at 6200 rpm and 254 lb.-ft. of torque at 5000 rpm. The V6 is rated at 18-mpg city and 27-mpg highway, which isn&amp;#039;t too far off the four cylinder TSX that is rated at 21-mpg city and 30 mpg highway.   Beyond the engine transplant, V6 models get firmer springs and dampers to compensate for the 210 lb weight increase over a four-cylinder automatic TSX. The brake system (11.8-inch front discs and 11.1-inch rear discs) gains a new brake booster, larger master cylinder and new rear brake pads. Wheels have been upgraded to 18X8-inch and tires grow to 235/45R18 over the 225/50R17s on four-cylinder TSX sedans. The electric power steering system has been re-tuned for V6 duty as well.   Inside, the TSX V6 comes with a long list of standard features including a leather steering wheel and heated leather power seats, a 7-speaker 360 watt sound system, USB port connectivity for iPods and iPhones or a removable memory stick. But the smartest standard system on the TSX V6 is the new Active Sound Control, which decreases engine boom noise below 2000 rpm as well as high frequency noise during engine cruising. The system uses mics strategically placed in the cabin to determine the sound level and then decides when and how much noise-cancelling sound (inaudible to the driver) it should pump through the sound system to mute the bad stuff. According to John Watts, Acura&amp;#039;s Sr. Manager of Product Planning, the system not only effectively quiets the cabin but it does so with less weight gain to the car than adding additional sound deadening material would. Opt for the Technology package and you&amp;#039;ll get a navigation system with rearview camera, dual-zone climate control and a 10-speaker, 415-watt audio system.  The Drive  Plant your right foot in a four-cylinder TSX and you&amp;#039;ll wait until the tachometer hits high noon before you feel the grunt of the motor. Flat-out, the four-cylinder isn&amp;#039;t slow, it&amp;#039;s just not sport sedan quick. The experience in the TSX V6 is markedly different. The V6 model leaves the line with a torquey thrust as the steering wheel dances in your grip ever so slightly and the traction control attempts to limit wheelspin. It&amp;#039;s quick. Acura says the V6 TSX will hit 60 mph in around 7 seconds, but it feels quicker\u2013especially after driving a four-cylinder TSX.   On our drive through some of the best roads in the Santa Monica Mountains we noticed the steering feels a bit heavier and a touch quicker than the four-cylinder TSX too. And that, along with the additional weight makes the car feel more substantial. The TSX V6 drives a lot like the previous generation TL. And since the new TL has grown slightly from its predecessor, some Acura loyalists might view this TSX as it&amp;#039;s proper successor. Bend the TSX into a tight corner or a gentle sweeper and this sedan generates serious smiles. And that&amp;#039;s really what separates a good sport sedan from an average one. Did you enjoy the last 17 hairpin turns, or did it seem like work? The Acura TSX V6 is quite fun to drive hard.   The V6 experience is also more serene than the base model TSX. The four-cylinder car generates a fair amount of engine noise when it&amp;#039;s working hard. But the V6 is smooth and comparatively silent. There&amp;#039;s enough exhaust note to let you know it&amp;#039;s a six. But don&amp;#039;t expect to hear a sonorous wail comparable to a V6 Infiniti. Perhaps Acura will offer a Type-S model with a more vocal exhaust note.  The Bottom Line  When Acura launched the new TSX last year, many speculated that there would be two optional engines\u2013and both of them would be four-cylinder. The 2.3-liter, 240 hp turbocharged four-cylinder from the RDX seemed like one powerplant Acura would choose. However Acura&amp;#039;s Watts mentioned to us that not only did this engine not fit into the bay of the TSX without serious modification, but its fuel economy hasn&amp;#039;t been as good as the company had hoped and wouldn&amp;#039;t deliver the consumption consumers would expect in sedan like the TSX.   Speaking of fuel consumption, Acura had announced that it would include a diesel option in its lineup soon. And since the European Accord comes with a diesel option, the plan was to use the 148 hp 2.2-liter i-DTEC diesel in the TSX too. With consumer demand for diesel in state of flux due to fluctuating fuel prices and the still-nagging perception among US buyers that diesels are either dirty or noisy, Acura has decided to wait. However, Watts eluded to the fact that if the company perceived a stable demand, a diesel TSX could move into the product plan relatively quickly.   The 2010 Acura TSX four-cylinder starts at $30,120 and the V6 model begins at $35,660. That extra five grand is no small sum in this economy. But the larger, smoother engine does make the TSX a more compelling sport sedan. And even at its fully loaded $38,760 price point, the V6 model still undercuts many of its competitors. Now if we could only get that diesel option too.   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