05 Acura Rl
 

ITS HERE!!!


[url]http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=219695[/url]

Nice I must say, glad it doesnt look like TL/TSX, damn its fine looking. I got to start saving. This is gonna kill my checkbook. The interior is AMAZING. I hope this puppy is alot bigger than the pics suggest. Fine machine , honda. cant wait to see it this weekend.

Front looks like last gen TL refresh, back looks like opel, IMO.

New York 04/07/2004 -- Powertrain
1. World's first Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive System(TM) (SH-AWD(TM))
2. 3.5 liter VTEC V-6 engine
3. 300 horsepower
4. 5-speed Sequential SportShift automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted F1(R)-style paddle shifters
5. LEV2-ULEV emissions system

Body/Chassis
1. 4-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension
2. 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-piston calipers and slotted rotors
3. 20-inch alloy wheels with 255/35R20 Michelin high performance tires
4. Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), which features low beams that swivel based on steering wheel input for increased illumination
5. Aluminum and high tensile steel construction

Interior
1. AcuraLink(TM) Satellite-Based Communication System
2. Leather - trimmed interior
3. Genuine wood trim
4. Acura/Bose(R) DVD-Audio system
5. HandsFreeLink' wireless telephone interface
6. XM(R) Satellite Radio
7. OnStar(R) service
8. Acura Keyless Access System(TM)

Safety
1. Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) (ACE(TM)) body structure
2. Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA(R))
3. Front, side and side curtain air bag systems

Dimensions
1. Length - 193.5 inches, 4915mm
2. Width - 72.6 inches, 1845 mm
3. Height - 57.1 inches, 1450 mm
4. Wheelbase - 110.2 inches, 2800 mm

Nice machine. very nice. The interior is awesome (except for those front door handles). Now, what about Honda using the same supplier of headlight units VW uses for its Phaeton? ...and have you check the front profile? the front fenders have a similar proportion to those of the Intrepid (long front overhang, very short between wheel-arch and door)
Overall, I like it... a lot.

That's an awesome car. You'll see soon out there kicking everybody's ass in the comparos. :p :o

Nice looking car. For some reason, I expected a little more extreme, but still nice. I like the interior. That whole blue light thing looks good.

My first thought is exactly what the first commenter on that website said: the front end looks like a 1999 camry.

besides that i think it looks good. the interior is very slick.

i forgot to mention that i think acura might be putting themselves into a vigor/legend position here. depending on the price of the RL, i coudl see it and the TL competing for the same market (only 30hp difference, although AWD counts for something). The interior of the RL is a lot nicer but i still worry.

First off, thanks for the awesome heads up!

Now this car is plain BAD. Why? Because it's too late. Just based on the design, it looks like it was supposed to be for the previous generation.

I like what Acura has done to change their vehicles; the newer ones look so much nicer! If they can give this exterior design similar treatment, I think we're all in for a real ride!

yeah what happened to that mean tight headlight treatment off the TSX/TL?

Too many models based on the Accord
 

I like Acuras, and based on the success of the new TL, I think that they will sell a good amount of the new RL's (assuming they keep with their trend of aggressive pricing & features), but I have to question how many models they can sell based off of the Accord platform -- now the TSX, TL and RL are all off of the same platform, and I agree with a previous poster that the TL and RL could really compete against each other. My question is how long do we have to wait until an AWD TL? That's a car I could see myself buying.

i could be wrong, but i believe you aren't 100% right about that...

i think that the european accord (tsx) has a different platform from the american accord (also tl, rl as you pointed out).

nevertheless, your points are well taken. as the magazines said when they gave a thumbs up to hte TL, from here on in it's time to go RWD/AWD and to develp a v8

Re: Too many models based on the Accord
 

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Michael535 [/i]
[B]I like Acuras, and based on the success of the new TL, I think that they will sell a good amount of the new RL's (assuming they keep with their trend of aggressive pricing & features), but I have to question how many models they can sell based off of the Accord platform -- now the TSX, TL and RL are all off of the same platform, and I agree with a previous poster that the TL and RL could really compete against each other. My question is how long do we have to wait until an AWD TL? That's a car I could see myself buying. [/B][/QUOTE]

All brands have cars that could compete. A high end 5-series competes with a low end 7-series. I think it's pretty clear that the TL is an upscale whereas the RL is a luxury vehicle with bigger dimensions.

Re: Too many models based on the Accord
 

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Michael535 [/i]
[B] but I have to question how many models they can sell based off of the Accord platform -- now the TSX, TL and RL are all off of the same platform, and I agree with a previous poster that the TL and RL could really compete against each other. My question is how long do we have to wait until an AWD TL? That's a car I could see myself buying. [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree with you only because that platfrom is FWD. The new TL gets all kinds of rave reviews with a bunch of "if onlies" thrown in there. (If only it was RWD) The sales of the Accord/TSX/TL demonstrate that the FWD vs RWD issue does not resonate as loudly with the common folk. The new RL is pushing the limits of FWD with 300 hp, so they are going to AWD, but one could ask why not get down to business and offer a RWD platform? The NSX is RWD and has been praised as one of the best handling cars on the planet many times, so it is evident they already have the know how.....

There will be no bigger Acura...
 

The RL is the flagship. There will be no larger RWD V8 from Acura. But by not doing so, they are relegating themselves to 3d place, always behind Lexus & Infiniti in terms of prestige.

If I were Honda/Acura management, I would:
1. Come out with an AWD TL to get over this torque steer issue;
2. Put a V6 engine into the TSX.
3. Give the MDX an upgrade to the interior commensurate with the new RL's interior to compete with all of the new lux utes on the market. If you've been in one, its nice, but not nice enough - it still feels too Honda-like.

These options would be a much cheaper way to improve the line-up without having to develop a whole new platform. The brand could use a halo -- maybe the new NSX will do that, if it ever comes out.

It's nice looking, but it doesn't have the presence of a Lexis or a Cadillac. If it supposed to be on the same level as a LS 430 - or what ever it's called, they better keep on trying.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Pete63 [/i]
[B]Honda /Acura will not even try to compete in certain segments. Accura will never offer a V8 or rwd, even though its required in the luxo sport segment. The flagship of the brand, the RL, has a V6. The TL is getting thrasthed by auto mags for its torque steer. The new Honda truck will have, guess what, a V6. They will never expand if they can't adapt [/B][/QUOTE]

although the mags did criticize the torque steer, they hadly thrashed the car. that was the only negative thing most mentioned, and it was not the centerpiece of any review i've read.

To me the car looks like the Mazda 6. But just on steroids and some extra chrome! But i will give it this, the interior is very nice in that well made Japanese way. IMO Honda should have come to market with the RL having rear drive instead of AWD. This way they could have really challenged the import & domestic. Not that they still can't challenge the competition, but it would have been nice to see if Honda could really play in the rear drive luxury market. Now this is not with out understanding that they have already proved themselfs in many other ways. Just would have been a nice comparo!

It looked decent from the sketches Honda showed before NYIAS, but after seeing the new RL in person at the NY Auto Show, I was quite disappointed.

The TL sitting next to it looked more luxurious, sporty, and sophisticated. They also had an old (current) RL there - it looked quite a bit bigger than the new one. The new one looks like a further-developed last-gen Accord.

The TL and TSX brought out a more sporty, fresh-looking outlook for Acura, but this new RL looks like an upper-end Accord to me. I would definitely take a TL (if they made it RWD or AWD) over this RL....