Motor Authority - blog Category: RL

Apart from Lexus, Japanese luxury brands still pale in comparison to their German rivals in terms of the number of models they produce and the prices they can command. Overall image in the marketplace and status on the street have likewise proven difficult to develop. That's why Acura is making a hard push specifically to boost its image and achieve 'tier 1' luxury carmaker status.

The Acura plan for becoming top-tier doesn't focus on the cars, however. "Being a premium luxury brand is not just about product. It's the way dealers handle customers. You've got to earn your way into the segment. You don't necessarily have to have a $90,000... Apart from Lexus, Japanese luxury brands still pale in comparison to their German rivals in terms of the number of models they produce and the prices they can command. Overall image in the marketplace and status on the street have likewise proven difficult to develop. That's why Acura is making a hard push specifically to boost its image and achieve 'tier 1' luxury carmaker status. The Acura plan for becoming top-tier doesn't focus on the cars, however. "Being a premium luxury brand is not just about product. It's the way dealers handle customers. You've got to earn your way into the segment. You don't necessarily have to have a $90,000 sedan to get there," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co. in an interview with Automotive News. But that doesn't mean that new, better cars aren't part of the plan. In fact, the door remains open on whether the NSX will eventually see production. The car's development is "mostly done" according to Colliver, and that means it would be a quick move to market if given the green light. The reasoning behind dropping the NSX plan in the first place was largely centered around the weak economy and Honda's plans to cut costs. If the market turns around, there's no reason not to bring the NSX out of mothballs. More every-day cars will be part of the brand push as well. Acura previously announced its intent to move toward tier 1 status at a dealer conference last year, and has since been working toward that with its new model run. The first of these new models include the RL and TSX sedans, plus the new - though oft-maligned - 2009 TL. If Acura is really serious about competing with brands like BMW and Mercedes it will also likely need to more premium options such as RWD powertrains and high-output engines - both of which make a strong argument for revival of the NSX program. The next model likely to come from Acura won't be a RWD sedan or a next-gen supercar, however. Instead, it is likely to be a mid-sized crossover, fitting between the current RDX (read our review here) and MDX.2009 Acura TLAcura RL 092009 Acura TSX Read More

Acura has made it clear it wants to be a top tier luxury brand but to do this it will need to change its lineup to suit the tastes of wealthy buyers, who are more likely to demand RWD cars with powerful engines.

The company’s CEO Takeo Fukui recently confirmed that a new V8 engine was in the works and that it could arrive within the next 18 months. However, an inside source at Acura has told Auto Observer that there is no V8 in the immediate product-development pipeline, and that the previous comments made by Fukui were very general and were more about the development of the engine rather than the actual launch.

According to the... Acura has made it clear it wants to be a top tier luxury brand but to do this it will need to change its lineup to suit the tastes of wealthy buyers, who are more likely to demand RWD cars with powerful engines. The company’s CEO Takeo Fukui recently confirmed that a new V8 engine was in the works and that it could arrive within the next 18 months. However, an inside source at Acura has told Auto Observer that there is no V8 in the immediate product-development pipeline, and that the previous comments made by Fukui were very general and were more about the development of the engine rather than the actual launch. According to the source, the new engine won’t be ready for the next-generation RL, due around 2010 or 2011, but will most likely appear in the generation after that, sometime around 2015. Acura has major plans for its future lineup, with a range of RWD models designed to target BMW’s 3, 5, and 7-Series. While the current global economic climate has seen most manufacturers downsizing their engines and focusing on fuel efficiency, Acura is eager to build a top tier brand image. The bigger and more powerful V8 engine should give it the boost it needs in terms of marketability. However, fuel efficiency has not been completely forgotten. Referring to the future V8, Fukui remarked that it will be "completely different from conventional, past-generation" engines and that it will "have excellent fuel efficiency". Another senior Acura executive, vice president Koichi Kondo, also recently revealed that a V10 engine will appear in the NSX replacement due to arrive in 2010 and there’s a strong possibility the supercar will feature a V8 option as well.Acura RL 09 Read More

The new 2009 Acura RL sedan has won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award in the Institute’s latest round of testing. To qualify, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of 'good' in the institute’s front, side, and rear tests and be fitted with electronic stability control. The new RL improved significantly compared to the previous model, with the side impact test result going from acceptable to good and the rear test result improving from poor to good. The RL is also the fourth Acura and ninth model from Honda to earn the coveted safety rating.

Significant improvements in protection for... The new 2009 Acura RL sedan has won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award in the Institute’s latest round of testing. To qualify, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of 'good' in the institute’s front, side, and rear tests and be fitted with electronic stability control. The new RL improved significantly compared to the previous model, with the side impact test result going from acceptable to good and the rear test result improving from poor to good. The RL is also the fourth Acura and ninth model from Honda to earn the coveted safety rating. Significant improvements in protection for people in rear crashes highlight the latest changes incorporated in the new model. The seats and head restraints in the previous car were rated poor for occupant protection in rear crashes. In response, engineers redesigned the seats in the 2009 RL to earn a better rating, and when the Institute tested the new seat, it earned the highest rating of good. Some of the RL’s standard safety features, which also contributed to the top score, include several crash avoidance features such as a forward collision warning, emergency brake assist, and adaptive headlights. The Institute’s frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle’s overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test. Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Rear crash protection, meanwhile, is rated using a test that simulates a collision in which a vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. 2009 Acura RLAcura RL 09 Read More

Acura has made it clear it wants to be a top tier luxury brand but to do this it will need to change its lineup to suit the tastes of wealthy buyers, who more often than not demand RWD cars with powerful V8 engines.

That’s why for its next-generation RL sedan due in 2010 Acura will make the car RWD and add a new V8 option. The information comes from an inside source who told Edmunds the new engine will displace 4.8L and output close to 420hp. It will also benefit from cylinder deactivation technology to help improve fuel consumption.

The new RL was originally meant to be based on the Acura Advanced Sedan Concept (pictured) from the... Acura has made it clear it wants to be a top tier luxury brand but to do this it will need to change its lineup to suit the tastes of wealthy buyers, who more often than not demand RWD cars with powerful V8 engines. That’s why for its next-generation RL sedan due in 2010 Acura will make the car RWD and add a new V8 option. The information comes from an inside source who told Edmunds the new engine will displace 4.8L and output close to 420hp. It will also benefit from cylinder deactivation technology to help improve fuel consumption. The new RL was originally meant to be based on the Acura Advanced Sedan Concept (pictured) from the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, but it has since been completely restyled after scathing criticism of the original design. Expect to see more of an evolution of the design of the facelifted RL (pictured below), which was launched at last month’s Chicago Show. With its new styling, powerful V8 and RWD platform, it looks as though Acura is finally capable of achieving the same success as Toyota's Lexus - and it will likely get a price tag to match. Expect to pay over $70,000 for the new RL when it debuts in 2010. 2009 Acura RL faceliftAcura RL 09 Read More

The Chicago Auto Show may not hold a lot in the way of exotic surprises, but it does have a good number of very solid real-world car debuts. Near the top of that list is the 2009 Acura RL - and with its new dose of technology and increased power, the RL is likely to earn some fans while on display.

Showcased by Acura as the 'very best we have to offer in terms of engineering, technology, performance, luxury and safety,' the RL is chock-full of features. Everything from XM Radio Notes, AcuraLink weather and traffic, Active Sound Control and Bluetooth to Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, electronic steering, SOHC VTEC valvetrain and Collision... The Chicago Auto Show may not hold a lot in the way of exotic surprises, but it does have a good number of very solid real-world car debuts. Near the top of that list is the 2009 Acura RL - and with its new dose of technology and increased power, the RL is likely to earn some fans while on display. Showcased by Acura as the 'very best we have to offer in terms of engineering, technology, performance, luxury and safety,' the RL is chock-full of features. Everything from XM Radio Notes, AcuraLink weather and traffic, Active Sound Control and Bluetooth to Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, electronic steering, SOHC VTEC valvetrain and Collision Mitigation Braking System can be found in the RL - and that's not even an exhaustive list. For luxury lovers with a gearhead bent, what's under the hood is a bit more interesting. The first-ever SOHC implementation of VTEC, the 3.7L V6 that powers the RL makes a stout 300hp and 271lb-ft of torque, which should be plenty to give the sedan the power and verve you'd expect. Mounted to the steering wheel are 'F1 style' paddle shifters that allow the driver to control the Sequential SportShift five-speed automatic. Emissions meet California's ULEV-2 standards, and fuel economy is not listed, but is mentioned to be 'good.' You can expect the usual complement of safety features, and the interior of the RL won't disappoint, with perforated leather seating and wood pattern panels. For the audiophiles, an Acura/Bose 10-speaker system with DVD-audio gives a great experience. On the outside, the RL gets a slightly more aggressive look, thanks to a new front grille and aluminum hood. The 2009 Acura RL will hit dealerships in Q1 of this year, starting at $46,280.Acura RL 09 Read More

Acura is planning to inject some life into the slow selling RL flagship saloon by giving the car a major overhaul in time for next year's summer sale period. Several dealers were given information about the update but no specifications or details about the car's final styling were revealed.

One dealer in Pittsburgh told Automotive News that the car will receive "a major facelift in the front and back." Dealers across the U.S. have requested several major changes as another Los Angeles salesmen explained. "Dealers have said they want three things: They don't like the styling, there is not enough rear-seat legroom and it needs a turbocharger... Acura is planning to inject some life into the slow selling RL flagship saloon by giving the car a major overhaul in time for next year's summer sale period. Several dealers were given information about the update but no specifications or details about the car's final styling were revealed. One dealer in Pittsburgh told Automotive News that the car will receive "a major facelift in the front and back." Dealers across the U.S. have requested several major changes as another Los Angeles salesmen explained. "Dealers have said they want three things: They don't like the styling, there is not enough rear-seat legroom and it needs a turbocharger or V8." American Honda exec Dan Bonawitz confirmed that changes to the car will be introduced by the middle of next year, also admitting that the car's interior could be improved. He wasn't willing to give any details about any powertrain changes, however. If any car in Acura/Honda's lineup was in need of an update it's the RL. The latest model has sold poorly since its introduction in 2004, with latest sales figures down 47.5% on the same period last year. The key problem is that luxury buyers usually look for RWD vehicles with powerful V8 engines and the AWD V6 RL meets neither of those descriptors. Read More