Acura RL
Encyclopedia
The Acura RL is the flagship car for North American luxury brand Acura
— marketed in Japan as the Honda Legend
and manufactured in Saitama
, Japan
. The alpha call-sign "RL" is an abbreviation for "Refined Luxury."
The first-generation Acura RL was a similarly rebadged
version of the third-generation Honda Legend
, and was first introduced into the North American market in 1996 to replace the second-generation Acura Legend
. The current second-generation Acura RL is a rebadged version of the fourth-generation Honda Legend and was introduced into the North American market in September 2004 as a 2005 model. This iteration of the RL received an extensive mid-generational facelift
for the 2009 model year.
The 3.5RL's longitudinally mounted V6 engine had its center-line mounted in-line with the car's axis, and not transversely (i.e., 90 degrees offset from the vehicle axis) like most other front-wheel drive cars. This longitudinal placement allowed for a smaller turning radius and easy in-town maneuverability, as well as 56/44 front/rear weight distribution.
In 1999, the 3.5RL received a front and rear facelift with xenon HID headlamps, integrated foglights, revised bumpers and hood, as well as driver and front passenger side airbags. The suspension and chassis were stiffened, and new alloy wheels were offered.
In 2000, a larger navigation system screen was added. Along with that larger screen came the conversion to easy-to-replace DVD map databases. In 2002, the 3.5RL received painted lower trim and mudflaps along with redesigned alloys and a newer, sportier suspension setup. Perhaps the more important change was the engine, which was upgraded to produce 225 hp and 231 lbft of torque. More insulation was added in the engine compartment, and OnStar
was added in 2002. The 2003 and 2004 RLs received clear turn signal lenses in the rear lights, another new alloy wheel design, and various interior upgrades including new color schemes. For 2004, the navigation system became standard, along with a redesigned center console and chrome door lock pulls.
The 1996–2004 3.5RL's engine was the last in the Honda and Acura lineup not to use VTEC
, Honda's variable valve timing system. This 3.5 L 90 degree V6 engine was internally designated as the C35A, and was the last of the Honda C engine
V6 engines used in Honda and Acura lineups, being replaced by the newer Honda J engine
60 degree V6 engines. The 2004 RL was also the last Acura to use the numeric designation (i.e., 3.5) for its engine displacement.
, it featured a sophisticated all-wheel drive system Acura calls "Super Handling-All Wheel Drive" (SH-AWD
). It integrates active differentials with the all-wheel drive system and traction control to improve handling, similar to the "ATTS" system featured on the 1997 Honda Prelude
SH. At the time of its introduction, the Acura RL's SH-AWD was the first all wheel drive system that vary the distribution of power not only from front to back, but also side to side in the rear using a technique called torque vectoring. The RL can direct up to 70% of available torque to the rear wheels, and up to 100% of that available rear torque can be directed to just one wheel. In combination with a specially designed planetary gear set which can over-drive the rear wheels at up to 5% greater speed than the front wheels, the torque directed to one wheel, or torque vectoring, can have a steering effect. As the car speeds around a curve, torque vectored to the outside rear wheel will push the rear end around the curve faster, just as paddling the outside oar of a row boat faster than the inside oar will cause the row boat to turn, to minimize the understeer common in front-heavy vehicles.
The first-generation RL was powered by a 225 hp (168 kW) 90° C-series
V6 non-VTEC
engine. The second-generation RL uses a newer design 60° J-series
3.5 L V6 SOHC VTEC engine delivering 300 hp (224 kW; later revised to 290 hp due to new SAE testing procedures). To give the car a more sporty feel, the car featured drive-by-wire throttle control and a five-speed sequential sport shifting automatic transmission
with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. As with the first-generation Acura RL, the second-generation Acura RL used premium unleaded fuel rated at 91 (R+M)/2 octane.
A first for the RL was the use of aluminum 4-piston front brake calipers over 12.6-inch cast-iron ventilated front rotors. These multi-piston calipers derived from racing applications, are extremely rigid. In the rear, 12.2-inch cast-iron ventilated discs attached to their hub with lightweight aluminum collets and were gripped by one-piston aluminum brake calipers. The RL was equipped with unique five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot HX MXM 4 245/50-R-17 98V all season grand touring tires. These wheels were one inch larger in diameter, and the tires 20 mm wider in section, than those found on the first-generation Acura RL.
New features on the 2005 RL included a keyless entry system
which allowed the driver to both lock and unlock the car by touching the door handle, without having to use the remote control, and a keyless start system. A new 260 watt, ten speaker Bose DVD-Audio 5.1 sound system equalized for the RL cabin featured several Bose technologies. Bose AudioPilot is a noise compensation technology which analyzes background environmental cabin noise and uses an algorithm based on cabin acoustics to boost certain portions of the musical signal so that it may be heard more clearly above environmental sound "clutter" without any apparent change in volume. Bose Centerpoint processes stereo and matrix surround sound recordings to allow play through the 5.1 sound system even though the source may only be a stereo sound track. Bose Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) rounded out the suite. Always on, whether the stereo was on or not, ANC took input from two microphones placed in the cabin to analyze drivetrain-related low-frequency sound waves entering the cabin. The ANC sent information to the sound system to create a precisely shaped and timed reverse-phased audio signal from the door speakers and the subwoofer. The result was a dramatic reduction in engine and exhaust noise.
XM Satellite Radio
, integrated Bluetooth
hands-free technology for wireless phone use, voice recognition technology with over 560 voice commands to control navigation system and displays, wireless phone, audio system, heating and ventilation controls rounded out the cabin's technological features. Heating and air conditioning systems were tied into a solar sensor and GPS positioning so that cabin temperature remained constant in a mixed sun and shade situation. Based on sun position and cabin orientation, the system could automatically send additional cooling air to the sunny side of the car to keep that occupant comfortable, while not freezing out the occupant on the shady side.
The Alpine Electronics
DVD-based navigation system was integrated with an 8 inch LCD display and a multi-use Interface Dial, which could move up, down, left and right like a mouse, turn like a knob, scroll through preset menus, and click when pushed to act as a selector button. Unlike many in-car navigation systems, the Alpine DVD-based navigation unit allowed the driver to change destinations and routes "on the fly" while driving, rather than being locked out unless the car was in Park. The tightly integrated voice recognition system worked with the navigation system and could recognize spoken city and street names. Also unique at the time was two-way communication via AcuraLink satellite communication. Using a facility of XM Radio service, the system could send a variety of messages to the car, including service appointment reminders (appointments first made via Internet) or important messages such as recall notices. The use of OnStar
was carried over from the previous generation RL. Use of digital/analog trimode (two digital bands and one analog band) technology allowed the 2005 RL OnStar technology to survive the planned 2007 phase-out of the analog OnStar to fully digital OnStar service.
Other new RL features included the Active Front Lighting System, in which the high intensity discharge headlamps swiveled in concert with the steering up to twenty degrees, for improved night cornering vision. Light emitting diodes (LED
) replaced traditional incandescent bulbs in the tail and brake lights, the turn signals integrated in the side mirror housings, and many interior cabin lights.
The 2005 RL was also the first Honda vehicle to use the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which has since proliferated throughout every newly introduced Honda and Acura vehicle design. The ACE structure features extensive use of high-tensile steel and lightweight aluminum components in a front-mounted polygonal main frame, designed to engage vehicles of differing size and weight in a frontal collision and spread the forces through multiple structural pathways, while preventing or minimizing cabin deformation. In practical terms, this means in an SUV versus ACE structure car collision, there is a greater chance that the ACE body structure will engage with the SUV's frame and dissipate collision forces around the passenger compartment. In more conventional non-ACE car structures, the SUV frame has a much greater chance of missing or over-riding the conventional car's major structural components and a greater chance of deforming the passenger compartment.
The 2005 RL car structure made extensive use of somewhat "exotic" materials for a car at this price point. These included aluminum alloy in the hood, front fenders, trunk lid and frame, front and rear subframes, suspension arms, front knuckles and bumper beams. Magnesium was used in the intake manifold, and the two-piece center drive shaft was made of a carbon reinforced composite. The new RL featured extensive aerodynamic design treatment including details such as industry-first flush side glass, plus underbody covers and diffusers to reduce lift, resulting in a very low drag coefficient
of 0.29.
For 2006, the Acura RL was also offered in a second trim level, the optional 'Technology Package' which included three new features: adaptive cruise control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System
, and Michelin PAX System run-flat tires on unique PAX 235 mm x 460 mm A ("A" for asymmetric) aluminum alloy wheels with unique 245-680R460A Michelin Pilot HX MXM 4 all-season Grand Touring type radials designed for the Michelin PAX System. The metric sized, run-flat Michelin PAX System wheels and tires are equivalent to 18" x 9" wheels and 245/45-R18 conventional tires. The previously standard color-matched mud guards were removed in 2006. All 2006 models had a slight change to the navigation system that allowed the installation of an optional rearview camera
. MSRP increased by $200 over the equivalent 2005 model.
For 2007, the Acura RL was offered in three trim levels, detailed in the table below: a "standard" or "base" package, a newly defined "Technology Package," and the highest level trim, the "Technology Package with CMBS/PAX."
Base model cars were well equipped, but deleted certain features such as the navigation system and Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), and substituted plastic simulated wood for the dashboard maple wood trim.
Technology Package cars were essentially the same as the 2005 and 2006 standard models, coming with navigation and AFS, while adding as standard equipment a rear backup camera and a 3.5mm stereo input jack for Apple iPod and other MP3-type devices.
The Technology Package plus CMBS/PAX trim level had no 2005 equivalent, though it was most similar to the 2006 Technology Package that had also included ACC/CMBS and PAX technologies. While the label "CMBS/PAX" might appear to indicate ACC was dropped as a feature, in reality, ACC was an extension of the CMBS system, and so was included.
As noted above, the MP3 audio player feature (really usable for any device with a 3.5 mm headphone jack) was added to all trim levels. An integrated rearview camera was added to the top two trim levels. An integrated rearview camera could be added to the non-navigation Base model as a dealer installed option. The Base model optional rearview camera was installed in the same manner and position as on the 2006 models, mounted dead center in the trunk trim, with the trunk release button displaced to the right of center (passenger side). The difference was subtle, but the factory rearview camera installation on the Technology Package and the Technology Package with CMBS/PAX is to the left side (driver's side) of the center-mounted trunk release.
In 2005 and 2006, all models came standard with "genuine curly maple wood dashboard trim." With the introduction of three trim levels, the genuine curly maple wood dashboard trim now only appeared on the two higher level cars: the Technology Package and the Technology Package with CMBS/PAX. OnStar was deleted as a feature from all trim levels. Colors were added and deleted. MSRP increased by $100 from the roughly equivalent 2006 trims.
The 2008 Acura RL continued unchanged in the U.S. market from the 2007 model, with three trim levels. Colors were added and deleted. MSRP increased $500 for each trim:
In Canada, the 2008 Acura RL was available in two different models, Base and Elite Package. The Elite Package added Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Active Front Lighting System (AFS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), heated and cooled ventilated front seats, and burled maple wood trim.
The performance part of the package included the A-Spec sport suspension and A-Spec 18 inch alloy wheels, which allowed the use of more sports-oriented lower profile tires.
The A-Spec sport suspension changed out the four spring and damper (shock absorber) strut assemblies. The A-Spec suspension featured lowering springs (approximately 0.75 inch) and revalved dampers. The ride was stiffer, but not overly so, and handling was improved with less body roll, more controlled cornering and enhanced feel. Reportedly Acura chose to make the RL's A-Spec suspension more compliant than the very stiff A-Spec sport suspension upgrade for the Acura TL, in keeping with the two different missions of the cars: luxury for the RL, luxury sport for the TL. Acura RL A-Spec retained the same suspension geometry as the stock Acura RL suspension alignment specifications.
The other A-Spec performance upgrade was A-Spec 18x8 inch alloy wheels, a 10-spoke lightweight design (about the same weight as the 5-spoke 17x8 inch OEM wheels). Recommended tires were either 245/45-18 sized Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ultra high performance summer tires or Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ultra high performance all-season tires. Alternatively, less sport-oriented Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 Grand Touring All Season tires were also available in the same size. Typical of Acura optional wheels, the 55 mm offset of the stock 17x8 inch wheels was maintained so that suspension geometry could remain untouched.
The A-Spec appearance package consisted of a front air dam, side skirts, rear bumper air diffuser and a subtle trunk decklid lip style spoiler, all designed to give the car a more aggressive "aero" look. The parts came pre-painted from the factory to match factory colors. All parts were dealer installable. If the dealer installed the A-Spec parts at the time of purchase, the original new car warranty of four years/50,000 miles would apply. If installed after purchase, the normal one year/12,000 mile parts warranty would apply.
As of the 2009 mid-model change, A-Spec options were no longer offered. There is a widely held belief that the A-Spec suspension should have been the standard suspension on the Acura RL, and that the stock suspension was too soft, hampering the very capable chassis and drivetrain. This belief seems to be supported by Acura's move for 2009 to a firmer standard suspension, plus larger and wider 18" x 8" inch standard wheels and lower-profile 245/45-18 size tires. More aggressive "aero" look body work was also standard, and a revised trunk decklid spoiler was made available as a dealer installed option.
(MMC), and made its introduction at the Chicago Auto Show
on February 6, 2008, billed as "the most extensive Acura MMC ever". The new sedan was designated KB2 in the VIN codes, differentiating it from the 2005–2008 KB1 chassis VIN code. The revised sedan was released on July 1, 2008 to dealerships. The engine is upgraded to 3.7L with 300 hp. While on paper, the engine may seem to be the same unit as shared with the Acura MDX
, it is actually a variant that introduces, for the first time ever on an SOHC Honda V6, an implementation of the Honda VTEC
variable valve train technology on the exhaust side for improved horsepower and torque. Heretofore, all previous SOHC Honda V6
engines with VTEC used the technology on the intake side only. Engine emissions were reduced to meet the stricter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) TIER 2 – BIN 5 and California Air Resources Board
ULEV-2 standards. Implementation of the SH-AWD was adjusted for earlier intervention and a greater rear-wheel bias for better handling dynamics.
The MMC RL suspension was upgraded with higher-rate coil springs, larger diameter anti-sway bars and stiffer bushings all around. The MMC RL was equipped with a new larger front anti-sway bar of hollow construction, 30 mm diameter overall with a 6.5 mm wall thickness, and a larger rear solid anti-sway bar, 19 mm in diameter. The pre-MMC models sported a solid 29 mm front and 17 mm rear sway bar.
Standard 18" x 8" seven-spoke alloy wheels with 245/45-18 tires replaced the previous years' 17" x 8" five-spoke offerings for not only the Base and Tech package models, but also for the highest trim level, the ACC/CMBS equipped model. Previous years' ACC/CMBS equipped models were equipped with [Michelin PAX System] run-flat tires on 18 inch equivalent (460 mm diameter) five-spoke wheels.
Inside, the front seats were revised for greater comfort and to allow a slight increase in rear leg room. The passenger front seat received the same full 10-way power control as the driver's seat. Both front seats featured active head restraint systems, and the existing seat-heating feature was supplemented by six levels of cooling ventilation. Controls for heating and air conditioning were simplified, and additional individual vent controls were added for the driver and passenger. The shift gear no longer had a gated sequence, but moved straight fore and aft like the ones in the Acura TSX
and Acura TL
. Simulated woodgrain trim was addded to the steering wheel and the top of the shifter, to emphasize the RL's upscale aspirations compared to its less costly TL and TSX siblings.
Additional insulation, improved acoustic isolation windshield design, and a new implementation of the Active Noise Cancellation system (ANC) combined to make the 2009 RL's interior quieter in a variety of conditions. Whereas the former ANC was set to cancel out only low frequency boominess from the engine and exhaust, the MMC system, called Active Sound Control, was expanded in its range to cancel some higher frequency road and tire noise as well. Unlike its predecessor ANC, Active Sound Control was now linked to throttle position and engine RPM to provide a quieter cockpit during normal cruising, yet allowed more of the new 3.7L engine's "muscular sound" to be heard during higher-RPM, higher-speed excursions.
An additional microphone as well as some switchable directionality was added to the HFL (Hands Free Link) and Voice Activated Navigation and Convenience controls. When the system was in "accept commands" mode, the new microphone system provided more accurate system "understanding" of the driver's voice. Extraneous sounds, such as other voices in the cabin and wind noise, were better distinguished and filtered out by the dual microphone system. Directionality was removed when an HFL voice call was established, so that all passengers could still participate in a phone call as in the pre-MMC model. The new dual microphone system used real estate in the overhead console that was previously used in the 2005 and 2006 models for OnStar control electronics. The number of voice recognition commands was increased to over 700, up from 560 previously.
The DVD-based navigation system improved on previous XM satellite-linked traffic flow reporting, adding continuously updated real-time weather reporting and the capability to reroute based on current traffic conditions. The DVD Audio-capable 10-speaker sound system remained, but integration with the audio system was improved with the addition of Bluetooth stereo and a USB port that allowed integration and operation of Apple iPod and other MP3
type devices. Also new was the ability to display iPod or other MP3 device (such as a USB flash memory device) folder and playlist information on the car's 8-inch central navigation display screen.
New shifter and center console arrangements were added, including a Sport mode. The steering wheel paddle shifters were reprogrammed for faster response, and the paddle shifters could be operated in both Drive and Sport modes. In pre-MMC models, the gear selector had to be put in manual mode for the paddle shifters to operate.
In exterior length, the 2009 RL grew slightly by 2.2 inches (55.9 mm). The height grew by a scant 0.1 inches (2.5 mm), while the width, track and wheelbase remaind the same,. The front end including the hood, and the rear including the trunkline, were revised, and the headlights and taillights redesigned. One of the most controversial features of the 2009 RL was its "Power Plenum" grille design, the first of three similar designs that was soon joined by the second-generation 2009 Acura TSX
and the fourth-generation 2009 Acura TL
.
Curb weights increased for 2009. The MMC Base weighed in at 4083 lbs, the Technology Package model 4085 lbs, and the ACC/CMBS with no PAX weighed 4110. The equivalent 2006 pre-MMC Technology Package had weighed 4012 lbs, and the pre-MMC with ACC/CMBS/PAX weighed 4074 lbs.
MSRP for the 2009 Acura RL increased by $500 over 2008 model for each of its three trim levels. For 2009, the Michelin PAX Run Flat Tire system was no longer offered in combination with the CMBS/ACC package. ACC was now featured alongside CMBS as part of the package name, after a two-year hiatus. In reality, ACC was always included as a part of the CMBS. Colors were also added and deleted.
The 2010 Acura RL continued with few changes in the U.S. from the 2009 model, as indicated on the Acura.com website for the RL. Colors were added and deleted once again, and MSRP increased $150 in each trim:
The six-speed automatic transmission, first introduced on the 2010 Acura ZDX
, finally replaced the RL's five-speed automatic, long criticized by the press as outdated. The transmission upgrade was credited for an EPA gas mileage improvement to 17/24/20 (City/Highway/Combined) an increase of 2 mpg in highway driving. In addition, 0-60 times were said to decrease by 0.5 seconds, to 6.0 seconds. There have been reports that the 2009 Acura RL Mid Model Change was originally the introduction candidate for the six-speed feature within the Acura lineup, but that the transmission was still undergoing testing and was not yet ready at that time.
Power folding mirrors had been available in markets other than North America since the 2004 introduction in Japan. Parking/backup sensors had been available in the North American market as a dealer installed option since the second generation Acura RL's introduction in late 2004. A host of other features had also been available since the car's introduction in late 2004, some of which are detailed in the Safety section below.
The RL exterior was updated for 2011 with a toned-down version of the controversial "power plenum" front grille. Inside, the RL offered a new interior color (Sea Coast), new Dark Burlwood interior trim, and thin-thread stitching on the steering wheel.
Unique new 18" x 8" diameter 15-spoke aluminum wheels included a new noise quieting technology: a polypropylene "Helmholtz resonator" that encircled the center portion of the inside of the wheel. The resonator served to suppress specific frequencies between 100 and 500 hertz, and in combination with increased floorboard insulation, decreased interior noise by 1.3 dB, or 15%. The Helmholtz resonators
in the wheels were touted as a "world's first" for a passenger vehicle. The new wheels appeared to be conventional alloy wheels modified to incorporate an internal noise reduction device. A diagram showed an elastomer-type ring with multiple hollow chambers surrounding the center line of the wheel circumference. This resonator was designed to absorb the resonances generated by rough road surfaces such as highway seams.
s Ten Best list
for 2005. The car also garnered an CNET
.com "Editor's Choice" Award for Top Tech Car.
The SH-AWD all-wheel drive system was lauded by Popular Science as one of the best automotive innovations of 2004, and earned the 2005 "Tech Car of the Year" from CNET.com. In a comparison of 2006-2007 model year midsized sedans with all-wheel drive, the RL compared favorably to a Mercedes-Benz E-Class
4MATIC
and a BMW 5 Series
with xDrive
. Subsequent moves by both Audi and BMW to design and market their own versions of torque vectoring all-wheel-drive systems bear out the innovative nature of the SH-AWD design.
While critically acclaimed, sales have not met expectations. Despite the mid-generational update in 2009, only 2,043 cars were sold in the U.S., a 55 percent drop from 2008. Among Japanese luxury flagships marketed in America during the first six months of 2010, Acura sold only 872 RLs, compared to 5,650 Lexus LS
and 6,602 Infiniti M
sedans.
Enthusiasts and dealers said that the RL was not competitive because it lacked the full-size dimensions, V8 engine option and rear-wheel drive of its larger rivals in the mid-luxury segment. The 2009 refresh and 2011 update did not keep the RL competitive enough in acceleration or fuel economy, considering that other marques had released new generations of their mid-size luxury sedans, and as the 2009-10 RL retained a five-speed automatic transmission while other rivals had automatics with six or seven gears. The RL's styling, while generally considered handsome, was not viewed as inspiring or passionate enough to alert buyers to its technological features or stand out in a crowded field, and the 2009 model was criticized for its "power plenum" grille, a bright horizontal pentagon of chrome that formed a shield across the upper center.
Some have suggested that the initial price of the RL is perceived to be out of its bracket. Honda Japan believed that the new RL offered more features and performance than the base version of its luxury competitors (i.e., the base six-cylinder BMW 5 Series), and suggested that it could charge more, though Honda Canada disagreed. The RL's initial MRSP was $69,500 CAD, more than the six-cylinder BMW 525i and close to that of the V8-powered BMW 545i. At the RL's price point, most consumers expected a V8. Furthermore, they did not perceive the Acura brand as being on par with its German rivals and expected more value from the Japanese marque. The damage from Honda Japan's alleged hubris was done, perhaps giving the RL an unfavorable image that could not be removed, even though Honda Canada has since reduced the RL's price. In 2009, the new generation of the Acura TL
was released with essentially the same engine, the SH-AWD system, and many of the RL's features for only $44,900 CAD., causing some to question whether it rendered the costlier RL superfluous in Acura's own showrooms.
In October 2010, the Acura RL was named by Consumer Reports
as the most reliable new car among luxury sedans, one of five Honda models so honored in their respective categories. The others were the front-wheel drive version of the Acura TL among upscale sedans, the Honda CR-V small SUV, the Acura RDX small upscale SUV, and the Honda Ridgeline compact pickup truck.
Inside Line "Future Vehicles" claimed that the next generation Acura RL (third-generation RL/fifth-generation Honda Legend) flagship model would be powered by a V8. Power was expected to be sent to the rear wheels, and the next generation of Acura's SH-AWD system to be used on the next RL would engage the front wheels only if the traction of the rears was compromised. IL’s source claimed that a 4.8L V8 producing 420 hp was being developed with cylinder deactivation technology to keep fuel economy up.
It was also rumored that the Acura brand, begun in North America only, would be launched as an upscale brand in the Japanese home market as well, and that the 2011 model year RL, with a V-8, would be part of that launch, as will the replacement for the Acura NSX. The NSX follow-on would be the so called "halo" car, with the RL heading the Acura lineup as a luxury sedan flagship. The economic disruption that began in 2008 appears to have delayed if not permanently cancelled those plans. However, given the encroachment of the less expensive TL model into the RL's market territory in size, engine and SH-AWD, any future RL that is to be positioned as Acura's flagship will have to surpass these current benchmarks.
After the 2008 worldwide economic downturn, Honda made some announcements that may reflect a change in direction for the future of Acura in general and the RL in particular. Long rumored V-8's slated for the projected 2011 Full Model Change (FMC) may be a good deal further off, as far as 2015, according to an article in Edmunds Inside Line which cited a November 26, 2008 article in Edmunds Auto Observer
Before the 2008 economic downturn, Acura was also rumored to be developing a new multi-purpose rear-wheel drive specific platform, possibly similar to the strategy used by Nissan's Infiniti line. This would equip Acura to better compete with so-called Tier One higher-end luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. In a December 17, 2008 announcement from Takeo Fukui, CEO of Honda, the introduction of the Acura brand to Japan in 2010 will be pushed back to an undetermined date, and the development of the V-10 NSX replacement will be cancelled. More recent articles, such as a February 9, 2009, Motor Trend Online article about the Honda CRZ state outright that the Acura rear-wheel drive platform has been canceled as a result of the 2008-09 financial crisis.
An October 2009 Car and Driver blog cited a dinner with Acura executives who acknowledged that the introduction of the new, larger, and in some guises, more powerful, fourth generation Acura TL
makes it extremely difficult to market the current RL. They speak of a new-generation RL in one or two year's time that will reassert itself as the Acura flagship, but not with a V-8 as the rest of the market has done in the BMW 550, Hyundai Genesis, Infiniti M, Lexus GS 460 and the Mercedes E-Class. All of these cars are available in six cylinder and V-8 variants. Acura says the actual sell rate of V-8's is quite small, and in the coming world of $4.00 per gallon gasoline, not the way of the future
In November 2009, an Autoweek article reported new Honda CEO Takanobu Ito told Automotive News that Acura is going to change course away from V-8 Tier 1 items to something different. Speaking of the worldwide economy before the collapse of investment banker Lehman Brothers, Ito said through an interpreter, "Pre-Lehman, we did have the idea to produce more multicylinder engines... I see the future of Acura as a merger of BMW and Audi -- something between high performance and high technology." As a result of this midstream change, Acura will be in a "low-growth period of developing new products," Ito said. "We were thinking that we could come up with glamorous, gorgeous products that would sell. Now, our premium products will be expressed in advanced environmental technologies, rather than glamorous things attached to the product," he said.
This leaves the future of the Acura RL somewhat clouded. The Acura ZDX
crossover, also a slow seller, debuted in 2010, and 2011 marked the introduction of the Acura TSX Sport Wagon, a wagon version of the current second-generation Acura TSX
. No clear plans have been announced for the next-generation Acura RL, but rumors abound, including the possibility of a hybrid gas/electric powered RL, as part of the new Acura concept of "Smart Luxury." Dealers have been promised an "amazing new RL" with no real details.
The RL's next Full Model Change (FMC) had previously been rumored for a late calendar year 2011 introduction. Now, the current car is slated to continue at least into the 2012 model year, despite its slippage into the ranks of America's slowest-selling cars.
Some more recent info popped up about the new RL from Japan's Mag-X magazine, stating the new RL would debut as a concept at the Detroit auto show. The car would be powered by a "420ps 3.5 V6 hybrid front-center drivetrain" or front-midship layout, combined with electric SH-AWD. The car is said to have "a very GT-like stance with a long hood-short rear, resembling the ASCC concept from 2007 with four doors and a more lifted front with an understated Acura plenum" Updates on the pricing are about $63,000 for the base model to $79,400 for the hybrid with a "Legend Package".
's "2003–2009 Vehicle risk index SCOREs". For both the 2009 and 2010 model years, the Acura RL received a five-star crash safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA). For the 2009 model year, the Acura RL received a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) earning a "Good" — the highest score possible — on frontal offset, side impact and rear crash protection tests. The "Good" scores continued for all tests conducted on the 2010 model. When a roof strength (rollover) evaluation was added to the battery of tests, the RL was rated only "Marginal" in this category, causing it to lose the Top Safety Pick award.
bumpers front and back
From the 2006 model year forward, the Acura RL features an optional precrash system
called the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), which can alert drivers of objects up to 330 feet ahead. If the driver gets dangerously close and does not take evasive action, the RL first provides visible and audible alerts. If the driver does not respond, the electronic pretensioning seatbelt system tugs on the shoulder belts. If the driver still does not react and the collision is deemed unavoidable, the RL retracts and locks seatbelts and brakes hard. Depending on the situation, all three stages may blend together as if one.
The same CMBS millimeter wave radar was also used to operate the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) feature. The driver selected a cruise speed and could set a timed following distance of 2.0, 1.5 or 1.0 seconds. When the ACC detected a target at any distance up to 330 feet ahead, the engine throttle would be modulated to keep the timed following distance. If throttle modulation did not provide enough slowing, the car would also apply the brakes to help maintain the chosen distance.
From 2006 through 2008, Michelin PAX System run-flat tires were also offered as an option. This system allowed the car to run up to 125 miles (201.2 km) at 50 mi/h with a flat.
Michelin PAX System run-flat tires require special equipment to replace them. Such equipment is available only at a limited number of specially certified tire and car dealerships. In April 2008, Michelin announced that it would discontinue its PAX run-flat tires. Unless special equipment is available, the Acura RL's optional run-flat tires are usually fixed by replacing the entire wheel/tire assembly. Unlike Honda dealers, Acura dealers were not required to become PAX certified service centers, which included expensive training and specialized machinery. Acura dealers would generally take a flat tire/wheel assembly off and put a new PAX System on the vehicle, or refer the customer to the nearest PAX certified facility.
For warranty and safety reasons, it is not recommended that owners of PAX equipped vehicles switch to another type of tire assembly. Both Acura and Michelin have not been forthcoming about how current owners of PAX equipped Acura RLs can address this impasse once the current supply of PAX tires run out. Some hope that the PAX tire supply will not run out and that they will be continued to be produced on a specialty basis, just as the ill-fated Michelin TRX
system tires are still produced today.
Reasons for discontinuing the PAX run-flat system were several, one big reason probably being the class-action suit against Honda and Michelin. Other reasons may have been the difficulty in repair and replacement of PAX tires, which are generally special order and require special mount/demount machinery and training, and the paucity of PAX certified dealers throughout the United States. While RLs have reportedly low incidence of complaints with the premium Michelin Pilot MXM4 all season tires, the opposite was true of the top-of-the-line Honda Odyssey Touring model minivan equipped with Michelin Energy LX4 PAX tires that allegedly did not live up to their promise of long tread life and easy replacement. In addition, during this time, Michelin announced that due to the low general acceptance of the PAX technology throughout the industry, new PAX development would be stopped, although tires would be provided for the foreseeable future. Other PAX equipped vehicles include the world's fastest production car, the Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4, and certain Rolls Royce and Audi vehicles.
On the safety front, it is also worth noting that the Honda Legend, the name under which the RL is marketed in most of the rest of the world where there is no Acura brand, offers some additional optional safety features. These include Lane Keeping Assistance System (LKAS)
, Intelligent Night Vision, front bumper mounted cameras to assist in parking and turning, and a standard pop-up hood for pedestrian safety.
The LKAS can, with the assistance of a front windshield mounted CMOS camera, make small steering adjustments using the car's Electric Power Steering (EPS) system to keep a car in its lane so long as the radius of the turn was more than 220 meters, which was the then-legal minimum in Japan. The LKAS would relinquish control at the slightest steering input by the driver, so the driver retained control at all times.
The night vision system used a separate heads-up type display reflected from the front lower center windshield. Far infrared technology cameras do not require an infrared light source as near infrared technology cameras do, and the software was able to detect human-like figures, surround the image with a red box and give audible caution tones.
Bumper-mounted cameras gave the driver a view out at each front corner to assist in parking, and also to see the amount of clearance down the road if the car were in an alley-like situation, where driver vision around the corner would require moving much of the car out into the path of possible oncoming traffic.
The pop-up hood used a series of sensors that could detect a pedestrian
-like object being thrown onto the hood. An actuator popped the hood up at the rear, close to the windshield, 10 cm (4 inches) to help minimize pedestrian injuries, especially head trauma. RL/Legend models in all markets featured energy-absorbing hood and fender supports and deformable windshield wiper pivots to minimize pedestrian injury.
In December 2007, certain 2005-2008 model Acura RLs were subject to a safety recall for the power steering hose. Prolonged high under-hood temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely and may cause the hose to crack and leak power steering oil. Oil leaking onto a hot catalytic converter will generate smoke and possibly lead to an under-hood fire. Affected vehicles were to be inspected and repaired, as applicable, at no charge. Reportedly, this recall extended to both 2005-2008 Acura RL and 2004-2008 Acura TL
models.
In December 2010, certain 2005-2007 model Acura RLs were subject to a safety recall for potential leaking of the brake master cylinder seal. A seal in the brake master cylinder may be susceptible to damage following the use of brake fluid other than the recommended Acura or (Honda) Genuine DOT3 brake fluid. If the seal is damaged, it can result in a brake fluid leak under certain conditions. If a leak should occur, the driver might see a low brake fluid indicator light or a BRAKE FLUID LOW or CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM message. If the driver continues to drive the vehicle after receiving this message without refilling the brake fluid reservoir, it could result in a brake pedal that feels soft or spongy, and may eventually affect braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash. Affected vehicles were to be inspected and repaired, as applicable, at no charge. Reportedly, this recall applied to both 2005-2007 Acura RL and 2005-2007 Honda Odyssey
models.
Acura
Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. The brand has been available in the United States and Canada since March 1986, marketing luxury, performance, and near-performance vehicles. It was introduced to Hong Kong in 1991, Mexico in 2004, and China in 2006...
— marketed in Japan as the Honda Legend
Honda Legend
The Honda Legend is a mid-size luxury car made by the Japanese automaker Honda. It was the result of Project XX, a joint agreement started in November 1981 with the Austin Rover Group of Great Britain and was mechanically related to the Rover 800 series....
and manufactured in Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The alpha call-sign "RL" is an abbreviation for "Refined Luxury."
The first-generation Acura RL was a similarly rebadged
Badge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
version of the third-generation Honda Legend
Honda Legend
The Honda Legend is a mid-size luxury car made by the Japanese automaker Honda. It was the result of Project XX, a joint agreement started in November 1981 with the Austin Rover Group of Great Britain and was mechanically related to the Rover 800 series....
, and was first introduced into the North American market in 1996 to replace the second-generation Acura Legend
Acura Legend
The Acura Legend, sold as the Honda Legend outside the U.S., Canada, and parts of China, was a luxury vehicle sold from 1986 to 1995 as both a sedan and coupe. It was the first flagship sedan sold under the Acura nameplate, until being renamed in 1996 as the Acura 3.5RL. The 3.5RL was North...
. The current second-generation Acura RL is a rebadged version of the fourth-generation Honda Legend and was introduced into the North American market in September 2004 as a 2005 model. This iteration of the RL received an extensive mid-generational facelift
Facelift (automobile)
The automotive facelift comprises changes to a car's styling during its production run — often including new sheetmetal and/or interior design) with minimal changes to its underlying mechanicals — allowing a carmaker to freshen a model without complete redesign.A facelift retains the...
for the 2009 model year.
1996 (KA9)
In 1996, Acura introduced the Acura 3.5RL, known internally as "KA9," to replace the Legend. Acura dropped the Legend name when market research showed that consumers knew Acura products by their model names, "Legend" and "Integra", and did not necessarily associate the names with the manufacturer, Acura.The 3.5RL's longitudinally mounted V6 engine had its center-line mounted in-line with the car's axis, and not transversely (i.e., 90 degrees offset from the vehicle axis) like most other front-wheel drive cars. This longitudinal placement allowed for a smaller turning radius and easy in-town maneuverability, as well as 56/44 front/rear weight distribution.
In 1999, the 3.5RL received a front and rear facelift with xenon HID headlamps, integrated foglights, revised bumpers and hood, as well as driver and front passenger side airbags. The suspension and chassis were stiffened, and new alloy wheels were offered.
In 2000, a larger navigation system screen was added. Along with that larger screen came the conversion to easy-to-replace DVD map databases. In 2002, the 3.5RL received painted lower trim and mudflaps along with redesigned alloys and a newer, sportier suspension setup. Perhaps the more important change was the engine, which was upgraded to produce 225 hp and 231 lbft of torque. More insulation was added in the engine compartment, and OnStar
OnStar
OnStar Corporation is a subsidiary of General Motors that provides subscription-based communications, in-vehicle security, hands free calling, turn-by-turn navigation, and remote diagnostics systems throughout the United States, Canada and China. A similar service is known as ChevyStar in Latin...
was added in 2002. The 2003 and 2004 RLs received clear turn signal lenses in the rear lights, another new alloy wheel design, and various interior upgrades including new color schemes. For 2004, the navigation system became standard, along with a redesigned center console and chrome door lock pulls.
The 1996–2004 3.5RL's engine was the last in the Honda and Acura lineup not to use VTEC
VTEC
VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
, Honda's variable valve timing system. This 3.5 L 90 degree V6 engine was internally designated as the C35A, and was the last of the Honda C engine
Honda C engine
Honda's first production V6 was the C series; it was produced in displacements from 2.0 liters to 3.5 liters. The C engine was produced in various forms for over 20 years...
V6 engines used in Honda and Acura lineups, being replaced by the newer Honda J engine
Honda J engine
The J-series was Honda's second V6 engine family, introduced in 1996. It is a 60° V6 – Honda's existing C-series was a 90° engine. The J-series was designed for transverse mounting. It has a shorter bore spacing , shorter connecting rods, and a special smaller crankshaft than the C-series for...
60 degree V6 engines. The 2004 RL was also the last Acura to use the numeric designation (i.e., 3.5) for its engine displacement.
2005 (KB1)
A new-generation car, known internally as "KB1," was launched in late 2004 for the 2005 model year. Still without the much-rumored V8 engineV8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, it featured a sophisticated all-wheel drive system Acura calls "Super Handling-All Wheel Drive" (SH-AWD
SH-AWD
Super Handling-All Wheel Drive or SH-AWD is a full-time, fully automatic all-wheel drive traction and handling system designed and engineered by Honda Motor Company. The system was announced in April 2004, and first introduced in the North American market in the second generation 2005 model year...
). It integrates active differentials with the all-wheel drive system and traction control to improve handling, similar to the "ATTS" system featured on the 1997 Honda Prelude
Honda Prelude
The Honda Prelude was a sports coupe produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1978 until 2001. It replaced the Honda S800, a front-engined, front wheel drive sports car...
SH. At the time of its introduction, the Acura RL's SH-AWD was the first all wheel drive system that vary the distribution of power not only from front to back, but also side to side in the rear using a technique called torque vectoring. The RL can direct up to 70% of available torque to the rear wheels, and up to 100% of that available rear torque can be directed to just one wheel. In combination with a specially designed planetary gear set which can over-drive the rear wheels at up to 5% greater speed than the front wheels, the torque directed to one wheel, or torque vectoring, can have a steering effect. As the car speeds around a curve, torque vectored to the outside rear wheel will push the rear end around the curve faster, just as paddling the outside oar of a row boat faster than the inside oar will cause the row boat to turn, to minimize the understeer common in front-heavy vehicles.
The first-generation RL was powered by a 225 hp (168 kW) 90° C-series
Honda C engine
Honda's first production V6 was the C series; it was produced in displacements from 2.0 liters to 3.5 liters. The C engine was produced in various forms for over 20 years...
V6 non-VTEC
VTEC
VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
engine. The second-generation RL uses a newer design 60° J-series
Honda J engine
The J-series was Honda's second V6 engine family, introduced in 1996. It is a 60° V6 – Honda's existing C-series was a 90° engine. The J-series was designed for transverse mounting. It has a shorter bore spacing , shorter connecting rods, and a special smaller crankshaft than the C-series for...
3.5 L V6 SOHC VTEC engine delivering 300 hp (224 kW; later revised to 290 hp due to new SAE testing procedures). To give the car a more sporty feel, the car featured drive-by-wire throttle control and a five-speed sequential sport shifting automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. As with the first-generation Acura RL, the second-generation Acura RL used premium unleaded fuel rated at 91 (R+M)/2 octane.
A first for the RL was the use of aluminum 4-piston front brake calipers over 12.6-inch cast-iron ventilated front rotors. These multi-piston calipers derived from racing applications, are extremely rigid. In the rear, 12.2-inch cast-iron ventilated discs attached to their hub with lightweight aluminum collets and were gripped by one-piston aluminum brake calipers. The RL was equipped with unique five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot HX MXM 4 245/50-R-17 98V all season grand touring tires. These wheels were one inch larger in diameter, and the tires 20 mm wider in section, than those found on the first-generation Acura RL.
New features on the 2005 RL included a keyless entry system
Advanced Key
Smart key is an electronic access and authorization system which is available as an option or standard in several cars. It was first used by Mercedes-Benz in 1998.-How it works:...
which allowed the driver to both lock and unlock the car by touching the door handle, without having to use the remote control, and a keyless start system. A new 260 watt, ten speaker Bose DVD-Audio 5.1 sound system equalized for the RL cabin featured several Bose technologies. Bose AudioPilot is a noise compensation technology which analyzes background environmental cabin noise and uses an algorithm based on cabin acoustics to boost certain portions of the musical signal so that it may be heard more clearly above environmental sound "clutter" without any apparent change in volume. Bose Centerpoint processes stereo and matrix surround sound recordings to allow play through the 5.1 sound system even though the source may only be a stereo sound track. Bose Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) rounded out the suite. Always on, whether the stereo was on or not, ANC took input from two microphones placed in the cabin to analyze drivetrain-related low-frequency sound waves entering the cabin. The ANC sent information to the sound system to create a precisely shaped and timed reverse-phased audio signal from the door speakers and the subwoofer. The result was a dramatic reduction in engine and exhaust noise.
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
, integrated Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
hands-free technology for wireless phone use, voice recognition technology with over 560 voice commands to control navigation system and displays, wireless phone, audio system, heating and ventilation controls rounded out the cabin's technological features. Heating and air conditioning systems were tied into a solar sensor and GPS positioning so that cabin temperature remained constant in a mixed sun and shade situation. Based on sun position and cabin orientation, the system could automatically send additional cooling air to the sunny side of the car to keep that occupant comfortable, while not freezing out the occupant on the shady side.
The Alpine Electronics
Alpine Electronics
is traditionally known as an aftermarket car audio and navigation systems manufacturer, famed for their high quality, premium in-car audio units commonly known as headunits. It is a subsidiary of Alps Electric Co. and its registered head office is in Tokyo, Japan. However its main offices, or the...
DVD-based navigation system was integrated with an 8 inch LCD display and a multi-use Interface Dial, which could move up, down, left and right like a mouse, turn like a knob, scroll through preset menus, and click when pushed to act as a selector button. Unlike many in-car navigation systems, the Alpine DVD-based navigation unit allowed the driver to change destinations and routes "on the fly" while driving, rather than being locked out unless the car was in Park. The tightly integrated voice recognition system worked with the navigation system and could recognize spoken city and street names. Also unique at the time was two-way communication via AcuraLink satellite communication. Using a facility of XM Radio service, the system could send a variety of messages to the car, including service appointment reminders (appointments first made via Internet) or important messages such as recall notices. The use of OnStar
OnStar
OnStar Corporation is a subsidiary of General Motors that provides subscription-based communications, in-vehicle security, hands free calling, turn-by-turn navigation, and remote diagnostics systems throughout the United States, Canada and China. A similar service is known as ChevyStar in Latin...
was carried over from the previous generation RL. Use of digital/analog trimode (two digital bands and one analog band) technology allowed the 2005 RL OnStar technology to survive the planned 2007 phase-out of the analog OnStar to fully digital OnStar service.
Other new RL features included the Active Front Lighting System, in which the high intensity discharge headlamps swiveled in concert with the steering up to twenty degrees, for improved night cornering vision. Light emitting diodes (LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
) replaced traditional incandescent bulbs in the tail and brake lights, the turn signals integrated in the side mirror housings, and many interior cabin lights.
The 2005 RL was also the first Honda vehicle to use the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which has since proliferated throughout every newly introduced Honda and Acura vehicle design. The ACE structure features extensive use of high-tensile steel and lightweight aluminum components in a front-mounted polygonal main frame, designed to engage vehicles of differing size and weight in a frontal collision and spread the forces through multiple structural pathways, while preventing or minimizing cabin deformation. In practical terms, this means in an SUV versus ACE structure car collision, there is a greater chance that the ACE body structure will engage with the SUV's frame and dissipate collision forces around the passenger compartment. In more conventional non-ACE car structures, the SUV frame has a much greater chance of missing or over-riding the conventional car's major structural components and a greater chance of deforming the passenger compartment.
The 2005 RL car structure made extensive use of somewhat "exotic" materials for a car at this price point. These included aluminum alloy in the hood, front fenders, trunk lid and frame, front and rear subframes, suspension arms, front knuckles and bumper beams. Magnesium was used in the intake manifold, and the two-piece center drive shaft was made of a carbon reinforced composite. The new RL featured extensive aerodynamic design treatment including details such as industry-first flush side glass, plus underbody covers and diffusers to reduce lift, resulting in a very low drag coefficient
Drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
of 0.29.
| 2005 RL Exterior Colors |
2005 RL Interior Colors |
| Premium White Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Opulent Blue Pearl | Ebony, Taupe |
| Redondo Red Pearl | Parchment' Ebony |
| Meteor Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Nighthawk Black Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Lakeshore Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Celestial Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Desert Mist Metallic | Parchment, Ebony |
| 2005 RL Retail Price | US $49,100 |
Precrash system
A precrash system is an automobile safety system designed to reduce the severity of an accident. Also known as forward collision warning systems they use radar and sometimes laser sensors to detect an imminent crash...
, and Michelin PAX System run-flat tires on unique PAX 235 mm x 460 mm A ("A" for asymmetric) aluminum alloy wheels with unique 245-680R460A Michelin Pilot HX MXM 4 all-season Grand Touring type radials designed for the Michelin PAX System. The metric sized, run-flat Michelin PAX System wheels and tires are equivalent to 18" x 9" wheels and 245/45-R18 conventional tires. The previously standard color-matched mud guards were removed in 2006. All 2006 models had a slight change to the navigation system that allowed the installation of an optional rearview camera
Backup camera
A backup camera is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up. Backup cameras are alternatively known as 'reversing cameras' or 'rear view cameras'....
. MSRP increased by $200 over the equivalent 2005 model.
| 2006 RL Exterior Colors |
2006 RL Interior Colors |
| Premium White Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Opulent Blue Pearl | Ebony, Taupe |
| Redondo Red Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Carbon Gray Pearl | Ebony, Taupe |
| Meteor Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Nighthawk Black Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Lakeshore Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Celestial Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Desert Mist Metallic | Parchment, Ebony |
| 2006 RL Base Package | US$ 49,300 |
| 2006 RL Technology Package (ACC/CMBS/PAX) |
US$ 53,100 |
|---|
For 2007, the Acura RL was offered in three trim levels, detailed in the table below: a "standard" or "base" package, a newly defined "Technology Package," and the highest level trim, the "Technology Package with CMBS/PAX."
Base model cars were well equipped, but deleted certain features such as the navigation system and Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), and substituted plastic simulated wood for the dashboard maple wood trim.
Technology Package cars were essentially the same as the 2005 and 2006 standard models, coming with navigation and AFS, while adding as standard equipment a rear backup camera and a 3.5mm stereo input jack for Apple iPod and other MP3-type devices.
The Technology Package plus CMBS/PAX trim level had no 2005 equivalent, though it was most similar to the 2006 Technology Package that had also included ACC/CMBS and PAX technologies. While the label "CMBS/PAX" might appear to indicate ACC was dropped as a feature, in reality, ACC was an extension of the CMBS system, and so was included.
As noted above, the MP3 audio player feature (really usable for any device with a 3.5 mm headphone jack) was added to all trim levels. An integrated rearview camera was added to the top two trim levels. An integrated rearview camera could be added to the non-navigation Base model as a dealer installed option. The Base model optional rearview camera was installed in the same manner and position as on the 2006 models, mounted dead center in the trunk trim, with the trunk release button displaced to the right of center (passenger side). The difference was subtle, but the factory rearview camera installation on the Technology Package and the Technology Package with CMBS/PAX is to the left side (driver's side) of the center-mounted trunk release.
In 2005 and 2006, all models came standard with "genuine curly maple wood dashboard trim." With the introduction of three trim levels, the genuine curly maple wood dashboard trim now only appeared on the two higher level cars: the Technology Package and the Technology Package with CMBS/PAX. OnStar was deleted as a feature from all trim levels. Colors were added and deleted. MSRP increased by $100 from the roughly equivalent 2006 trims.
| 2007 RL Exterior Colors | 2007 RL Interior Colors |
| Premium White Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Opulent Blue Pearl | Ebony, Taupe |
| Redondo Red Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Carbon Gray Pearl | Ebony, Taupe |
| Platinum Frost Metallic replaces Celestial Silver and Meteor Silver |
Ebony, Taupe |
| Nighthawk Black Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Lakeshore Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Desert Mist Metallic | Parchment, Ebony |
| 2007 RL Base Package | US$ 45,780 |
| 2007 RL Technology Package | US$ 49,400 |
| 2007 RL Technology + ACC/CMBS/PAX | US$ 53,200 |
| 2007 RL | 2007 RL with Technology Package (in addition to the base package) |
2007 RL with Technology and ACC/CMBS/PAX Packages (in addition to the Technology Package) |
|---|---|---|
| 290 hp | Acura Navigation System Automotive navigation system An automotive navigation system is a satellite navigation system designed for use in automobiles. It typically uses a GPS navigation device to acquire position data to locate the user on a road in the unit's map database. Using the road database, the unit can give directions to other locations... with Voice Recognition |
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Precrash system A precrash system is an automobile safety system designed to reduce the severity of an accident. Also known as forward collision warning systems they use radar and sometimes laser sensors to detect an imminent crash... |
| 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC VTEC VTEC VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system... V-6 aluminum-alloy engine |
Rearview camera Backup camera A backup camera is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up. Backup cameras are alternatively known as 'reversing cameras' or 'rear view cameras'.... |
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) |
| Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) | AcuraLink satellite communication system with real-time traffic | Michelin PAX Run-Flat Technology |
| Acura/Bose 10-speaker Surround Sound System | GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone, dual-mode automatic climate control system | |
| XM Satellite Radio XM Satellite Radio XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional... |
Active Front Lighting System (AFS) | |
| Keyless Access System Advanced Key Smart key is an electronic access and authorization system which is available as an option or standard in several cars. It was first used by Mercedes-Benz in 1998.-How it works:... |
Genuine curlywood maple interior trim |
The 2008 Acura RL continued unchanged in the U.S. market from the 2007 model, with three trim levels. Colors were added and deleted. MSRP increased $500 for each trim:
| 2008 RL Exterior Colors |
2008 RL Interior Colors |
| Premium White Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Opulent Blue Pearl | Taupe, (Ebony is dropped) |
| Redondo Red Pearl | Parchment, (Ebony is dropped) |
| Carbon Gray Pearl | Ebony, Taupe |
| Platinum Frost Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Nighthawk Black Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Lakeshore Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Desert Mist Metallic | Parchment, (Ebony is dropped) |
| 2008 RL Base Package | US$ 46,280 |
| 2008 RL Technology Package | US$ 49,900 |
| 2008 RL Technology + ACC/CMBS/PAX | US$ 53,700 |
In Canada, the 2008 Acura RL was available in two different models, Base and Elite Package. The Elite Package added Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Active Front Lighting System (AFS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), heated and cooled ventilated front seats, and burled maple wood trim.
2005-2008 A-Spec Performance Package
For the 2005-2008 models, Acura offered an A-Spec package for the RL. The dealer-installed package consisted of a body kit, badging, revised suspension and unique wheels. The package was first announced at a late 2004 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas. It should be noted that the A-Spec package for sale was distinctly different from the Acura RL A-Spec Concept Vehicle announced and shown as a striking dark red one-of-a-kind custom creation in early 2005 at the Detroit Auto Show.The performance part of the package included the A-Spec sport suspension and A-Spec 18 inch alloy wheels, which allowed the use of more sports-oriented lower profile tires.
The A-Spec sport suspension changed out the four spring and damper (shock absorber) strut assemblies. The A-Spec suspension featured lowering springs (approximately 0.75 inch) and revalved dampers. The ride was stiffer, but not overly so, and handling was improved with less body roll, more controlled cornering and enhanced feel. Reportedly Acura chose to make the RL's A-Spec suspension more compliant than the very stiff A-Spec sport suspension upgrade for the Acura TL, in keeping with the two different missions of the cars: luxury for the RL, luxury sport for the TL. Acura RL A-Spec retained the same suspension geometry as the stock Acura RL suspension alignment specifications.
The other A-Spec performance upgrade was A-Spec 18x8 inch alloy wheels, a 10-spoke lightweight design (about the same weight as the 5-spoke 17x8 inch OEM wheels). Recommended tires were either 245/45-18 sized Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ultra high performance summer tires or Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ultra high performance all-season tires. Alternatively, less sport-oriented Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 Grand Touring All Season tires were also available in the same size. Typical of Acura optional wheels, the 55 mm offset of the stock 17x8 inch wheels was maintained so that suspension geometry could remain untouched.
The A-Spec appearance package consisted of a front air dam, side skirts, rear bumper air diffuser and a subtle trunk decklid lip style spoiler, all designed to give the car a more aggressive "aero" look. The parts came pre-painted from the factory to match factory colors. All parts were dealer installable. If the dealer installed the A-Spec parts at the time of purchase, the original new car warranty of four years/50,000 miles would apply. If installed after purchase, the normal one year/12,000 mile parts warranty would apply.
As of the 2009 mid-model change, A-Spec options were no longer offered. There is a widely held belief that the A-Spec suspension should have been the standard suspension on the Acura RL, and that the stock suspension was too soft, hampering the very capable chassis and drivetrain. This belief seems to be supported by Acura's move for 2009 to a firmer standard suspension, plus larger and wider 18" x 8" inch standard wheels and lower-profile 245/45-18 size tires. More aggressive "aero" look body work was also standard, and a revised trunk decklid spoiler was made available as a dealer installed option.
2009 mid-model change (KB2)
For the 2009 model year, the RL received an extensive mid-model changeFacelift (automobile)
The automotive facelift comprises changes to a car's styling during its production run — often including new sheetmetal and/or interior design) with minimal changes to its underlying mechanicals — allowing a carmaker to freshen a model without complete redesign.A facelift retains the...
(MMC), and made its introduction at the Chicago Auto Show
Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Placeconvention complex. It is among the largest auto shows in North America....
on February 6, 2008, billed as "the most extensive Acura MMC ever". The new sedan was designated KB2 in the VIN codes, differentiating it from the 2005–2008 KB1 chassis VIN code. The revised sedan was released on July 1, 2008 to dealerships. The engine is upgraded to 3.7L with 300 hp. While on paper, the engine may seem to be the same unit as shared with the Acura MDX
Acura MDX
The Acura MDX, or Honda MDX as known in Japan and Australia , is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Acura since the 2001 model year. The MDX was the first crossover SUV to have third-row seating. It is related to the Honda Pilot. The alphanumeric moniker stands for...
, it is actually a variant that introduces, for the first time ever on an SOHC Honda V6, an implementation of the Honda VTEC
VTEC
VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
variable valve train technology on the exhaust side for improved horsepower and torque. Heretofore, all previous SOHC Honda V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
engines with VTEC used the technology on the intake side only. Engine emissions were reduced to meet the stricter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) TIER 2 – BIN 5 and California Air Resources Board
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB or ARB, is the "clean air agency" in the government of California. Established in 1967 in the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, CARB is a department within the...
ULEV-2 standards. Implementation of the SH-AWD was adjusted for earlier intervention and a greater rear-wheel bias for better handling dynamics.
The MMC RL suspension was upgraded with higher-rate coil springs, larger diameter anti-sway bars and stiffer bushings all around. The MMC RL was equipped with a new larger front anti-sway bar of hollow construction, 30 mm diameter overall with a 6.5 mm wall thickness, and a larger rear solid anti-sway bar, 19 mm in diameter. The pre-MMC models sported a solid 29 mm front and 17 mm rear sway bar.
Standard 18" x 8" seven-spoke alloy wheels with 245/45-18 tires replaced the previous years' 17" x 8" five-spoke offerings for not only the Base and Tech package models, but also for the highest trim level, the ACC/CMBS equipped model. Previous years' ACC/CMBS equipped models were equipped with [Michelin PAX System] run-flat tires on 18 inch equivalent (460 mm diameter) five-spoke wheels.
Inside, the front seats were revised for greater comfort and to allow a slight increase in rear leg room. The passenger front seat received the same full 10-way power control as the driver's seat. Both front seats featured active head restraint systems, and the existing seat-heating feature was supplemented by six levels of cooling ventilation. Controls for heating and air conditioning were simplified, and additional individual vent controls were added for the driver and passenger. The shift gear no longer had a gated sequence, but moved straight fore and aft like the ones in the Acura TSX
Acura TSX
-Overview:Named as Touring Sportscar eXperimental. The 2004 model year TSX's powertrain consisted of a 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission , and a front wheel drive layout. A five-speed automatic transmission was a no-cost option in the U.S...
and Acura TL
Acura TL
The TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
. Simulated woodgrain trim was addded to the steering wheel and the top of the shifter, to emphasize the RL's upscale aspirations compared to its less costly TL and TSX siblings.
Additional insulation, improved acoustic isolation windshield design, and a new implementation of the Active Noise Cancellation system (ANC) combined to make the 2009 RL's interior quieter in a variety of conditions. Whereas the former ANC was set to cancel out only low frequency boominess from the engine and exhaust, the MMC system, called Active Sound Control, was expanded in its range to cancel some higher frequency road and tire noise as well. Unlike its predecessor ANC, Active Sound Control was now linked to throttle position and engine RPM to provide a quieter cockpit during normal cruising, yet allowed more of the new 3.7L engine's "muscular sound" to be heard during higher-RPM, higher-speed excursions.
An additional microphone as well as some switchable directionality was added to the HFL (Hands Free Link) and Voice Activated Navigation and Convenience controls. When the system was in "accept commands" mode, the new microphone system provided more accurate system "understanding" of the driver's voice. Extraneous sounds, such as other voices in the cabin and wind noise, were better distinguished and filtered out by the dual microphone system. Directionality was removed when an HFL voice call was established, so that all passengers could still participate in a phone call as in the pre-MMC model. The new dual microphone system used real estate in the overhead console that was previously used in the 2005 and 2006 models for OnStar control electronics. The number of voice recognition commands was increased to over 700, up from 560 previously.
The DVD-based navigation system improved on previous XM satellite-linked traffic flow reporting, adding continuously updated real-time weather reporting and the capability to reroute based on current traffic conditions. The DVD Audio-capable 10-speaker sound system remained, but integration with the audio system was improved with the addition of Bluetooth stereo and a USB port that allowed integration and operation of Apple iPod and other MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
type devices. Also new was the ability to display iPod or other MP3 device (such as a USB flash memory device) folder and playlist information on the car's 8-inch central navigation display screen.
New shifter and center console arrangements were added, including a Sport mode. The steering wheel paddle shifters were reprogrammed for faster response, and the paddle shifters could be operated in both Drive and Sport modes. In pre-MMC models, the gear selector had to be put in manual mode for the paddle shifters to operate.
In exterior length, the 2009 RL grew slightly by 2.2 inches (55.9 mm). The height grew by a scant 0.1 inches (2.5 mm), while the width, track and wheelbase remaind the same,. The front end including the hood, and the rear including the trunkline, were revised, and the headlights and taillights redesigned. One of the most controversial features of the 2009 RL was its "Power Plenum" grille design, the first of three similar designs that was soon joined by the second-generation 2009 Acura TSX
Acura TSX
-Overview:Named as Touring Sportscar eXperimental. The 2004 model year TSX's powertrain consisted of a 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission , and a front wheel drive layout. A five-speed automatic transmission was a no-cost option in the U.S...
and the fourth-generation 2009 Acura TL
Acura TL
The TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
.
Curb weights increased for 2009. The MMC Base weighed in at 4083 lbs, the Technology Package model 4085 lbs, and the ACC/CMBS with no PAX weighed 4110. The equivalent 2006 pre-MMC Technology Package had weighed 4012 lbs, and the pre-MMC with ACC/CMBS/PAX weighed 4074 lbs.
MSRP for the 2009 Acura RL increased by $500 over 2008 model for each of its three trim levels. For 2009, the Michelin PAX Run Flat Tire system was no longer offered in combination with the CMBS/ACC package. ACC was now featured alongside CMBS as part of the package name, after a two-year hiatus. In reality, ACC was always included as a part of the CMBS. Colors were also added and deleted.
| 2009 RL Exterior Colors< |
2009 RL Interior Colors |
| Alberta White Pearl replaces Premium White Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Crystal Black Pearl replaces Nighthawk Black Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Opulent Blue Pearl | Ebony, Taupe |
| Redondo Red Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Grigio Metallic replaces Carbon Gray Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Platinum Frost Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Silver Jade Metallic replaces Lakeshore Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Tuscan Beige Metallic replaces Desert Mist Metallic | Parchment |
| 2009 RL Base Package | US$ 46,680 |
| 2009 RL Technology Package | US$ 50,300 |
| 2009 RL Technology + ACC/CMBS | US$ 54,100 |
The 2010 Acura RL continued with few changes in the U.S. from the 2009 model, as indicated on the Acura.com website for the RL. Colors were added and deleted once again, and MSRP increased $150 in each trim:
| 2010 RL Exterior Colors |
2010 RL Interior Colors |
| Alberta White Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Crystal Black Pearl | Parchment, Ebony |
| Opulent Blue Pearl | Taupe, (Ebony is dropped) |
| Redondo Red Pearl is dropped | |
| Grigio Metallic | Parchment, Ebony |
| Platinum Frost Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Silver Jade Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Tuscan Beige Metallic is dropped | |
| 2010 RL Base Package | US$ 46,830 |
| 2010 RL Technology Package | US$ 50,450 |
| 2010 RL Technology + ACC/CMBS | US$ 54,250 |
2011 update
The 2011 Acura RL added new color combinations and new features: six-speed automatic transmission, power folding mirrors, and rear backup/parking sensors.The six-speed automatic transmission, first introduced on the 2010 Acura ZDX
Acura ZDX
The Acura ZDX is a mid-size luxury crossover developed by Honda for its upmarket brand Acura. The car was originally scheduled to be called the Acura MSX. The ZDX debuted at the 2009 New York International Auto Show on April 8, 2009...
, finally replaced the RL's five-speed automatic, long criticized by the press as outdated. The transmission upgrade was credited for an EPA gas mileage improvement to 17/24/20 (City/Highway/Combined) an increase of 2 mpg in highway driving. In addition, 0-60 times were said to decrease by 0.5 seconds, to 6.0 seconds. There have been reports that the 2009 Acura RL Mid Model Change was originally the introduction candidate for the six-speed feature within the Acura lineup, but that the transmission was still undergoing testing and was not yet ready at that time.
Power folding mirrors had been available in markets other than North America since the 2004 introduction in Japan. Parking/backup sensors had been available in the North American market as a dealer installed option since the second generation Acura RL's introduction in late 2004. A host of other features had also been available since the car's introduction in late 2004, some of which are detailed in the Safety section below.
The RL exterior was updated for 2011 with a toned-down version of the controversial "power plenum" front grille. Inside, the RL offered a new interior color (Sea Coast), new Dark Burlwood interior trim, and thin-thread stitching on the steering wheel.
Unique new 18" x 8" diameter 15-spoke aluminum wheels included a new noise quieting technology: a polypropylene "Helmholtz resonator" that encircled the center portion of the inside of the wheel. The resonator served to suppress specific frequencies between 100 and 500 hertz, and in combination with increased floorboard insulation, decreased interior noise by 1.3 dB, or 15%. The Helmholtz resonators
Helmholtz resonance
Helmholtz resonance is the phenomenon of air resonance in a cavity, such as when one blows across the top of an empty bottle. The name comes from a device created in the 1850s by Hermann von Helmholtz, the "Helmholtz resonator", which he, the author of the classic study of acoustic science, used to...
in the wheels were touted as a "world's first" for a passenger vehicle. The new wheels appeared to be conventional alloy wheels modified to incorporate an internal noise reduction device. A diagram showed an elastomer-type ring with multiple hollow chambers surrounding the center line of the wheel circumference. This resonator was designed to absorb the resonances generated by rough road surfaces such as highway seams.
| 2011 RL Exterior Colors | 2011 RL Interior Colors |
| Alberta White Pearl | Ebony, Seacoast (Seacoast is added; Parchment is dropped) |
| Crystal Black Pearl | Ebony, Taupe (Taupe is added, Parchment is dropped) |
| Graphite Luster Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Forged Silver Metallic | Ebony, Taupe |
| Pomegranate Pearl | Seacoast |
| Opulent Blue Pearl is dropped | |
| Grigio Metallic is dropped | |
| Platinum Frost Metallic is dropped | |
| Silver Jade Metallic is dropped | |
| 2011 RL Base Package | US$ 47,200 |
| 2011 RL Technology Package | US$ 51,350 |
| 2011 RL Technology + Advance Package | US$ 55,150 |
Reception
The second-generation 2005 Acura RL appeared on Car and DriverCar and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
s Ten Best list
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
for 2005. The car also garnered an CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
.com "Editor's Choice" Award for Top Tech Car.
The SH-AWD all-wheel drive system was lauded by Popular Science as one of the best automotive innovations of 2004, and earned the 2005 "Tech Car of the Year" from CNET.com. In a comparison of 2006-2007 model year midsized sedans with all-wheel drive, the RL compared favorably to a Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive-size cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor, ; a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the...
4MATIC
4MATIC
4Matic is the name of an AWD four-wheel drive system developed and used by Mercedes-Benz. It is designed to increase traction in slippery conditions....
and a BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
with xDrive
BMW xDrive
BMW xDrive is BMW's four-wheel drive system that powers the X1, X3, X5, X6 and 2006 and later xd and xi 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series models. BMW confirmed it has ....
. Subsequent moves by both Audi and BMW to design and market their own versions of torque vectoring all-wheel-drive systems bear out the innovative nature of the SH-AWD design.
While critically acclaimed, sales have not met expectations. Despite the mid-generational update in 2009, only 2,043 cars were sold in the U.S., a 55 percent drop from 2008. Among Japanese luxury flagships marketed in America during the first six months of 2010, Acura sold only 872 RLs, compared to 5,650 Lexus LS
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive, although since 2006 all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants have also...
and 6,602 Infiniti M
Infiniti M
The "M" nameplate has been used on various mid-luxury cars from the Infiniti luxury division of Nissan.The first iteration was the M30 Coupe/Convertible, which were rebadged JDM Nissan Leopard....
sedans.
Enthusiasts and dealers said that the RL was not competitive because it lacked the full-size dimensions, V8 engine option and rear-wheel drive of its larger rivals in the mid-luxury segment. The 2009 refresh and 2011 update did not keep the RL competitive enough in acceleration or fuel economy, considering that other marques had released new generations of their mid-size luxury sedans, and as the 2009-10 RL retained a five-speed automatic transmission while other rivals had automatics with six or seven gears. The RL's styling, while generally considered handsome, was not viewed as inspiring or passionate enough to alert buyers to its technological features or stand out in a crowded field, and the 2009 model was criticized for its "power plenum" grille, a bright horizontal pentagon of chrome that formed a shield across the upper center.
Some have suggested that the initial price of the RL is perceived to be out of its bracket. Honda Japan believed that the new RL offered more features and performance than the base version of its luxury competitors (i.e., the base six-cylinder BMW 5 Series), and suggested that it could charge more, though Honda Canada disagreed. The RL's initial MRSP was $69,500 CAD, more than the six-cylinder BMW 525i and close to that of the V8-powered BMW 545i. At the RL's price point, most consumers expected a V8. Furthermore, they did not perceive the Acura brand as being on par with its German rivals and expected more value from the Japanese marque. The damage from Honda Japan's alleged hubris was done, perhaps giving the RL an unfavorable image that could not be removed, even though Honda Canada has since reduced the RL's price. In 2009, the new generation of the Acura TL
Acura TL
The TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
was released with essentially the same engine, the SH-AWD system, and many of the RL's features for only $44,900 CAD., causing some to question whether it rendered the costlier RL superfluous in Acura's own showrooms.
In October 2010, the Acura RL was named by Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
as the most reliable new car among luxury sedans, one of five Honda models so honored in their respective categories. The others were the front-wheel drive version of the Acura TL among upscale sedans, the Honda CR-V small SUV, the Acura RDX small upscale SUV, and the Honda Ridgeline compact pickup truck.
Production future
In 2008, Edmunds.comEdmunds.com
Edmunds.com is a provider of automotive information via Web sites, books, and other media. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and maintains an office outside of Detroit, Michigan...
Inside Line "Future Vehicles" claimed that the next generation Acura RL (third-generation RL/fifth-generation Honda Legend) flagship model would be powered by a V8. Power was expected to be sent to the rear wheels, and the next generation of Acura's SH-AWD system to be used on the next RL would engage the front wheels only if the traction of the rears was compromised. IL’s source claimed that a 4.8L V8 producing 420 hp was being developed with cylinder deactivation technology to keep fuel economy up.
It was also rumored that the Acura brand, begun in North America only, would be launched as an upscale brand in the Japanese home market as well, and that the 2011 model year RL, with a V-8, would be part of that launch, as will the replacement for the Acura NSX. The NSX follow-on would be the so called "halo" car, with the RL heading the Acura lineup as a luxury sedan flagship. The economic disruption that began in 2008 appears to have delayed if not permanently cancelled those plans. However, given the encroachment of the less expensive TL model into the RL's market territory in size, engine and SH-AWD, any future RL that is to be positioned as Acura's flagship will have to surpass these current benchmarks.
After the 2008 worldwide economic downturn, Honda made some announcements that may reflect a change in direction for the future of Acura in general and the RL in particular. Long rumored V-8's slated for the projected 2011 Full Model Change (FMC) may be a good deal further off, as far as 2015, according to an article in Edmunds Inside Line which cited a November 26, 2008 article in Edmunds Auto Observer
Before the 2008 economic downturn, Acura was also rumored to be developing a new multi-purpose rear-wheel drive specific platform, possibly similar to the strategy used by Nissan's Infiniti line. This would equip Acura to better compete with so-called Tier One higher-end luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. In a December 17, 2008 announcement from Takeo Fukui, CEO of Honda, the introduction of the Acura brand to Japan in 2010 will be pushed back to an undetermined date, and the development of the V-10 NSX replacement will be cancelled. More recent articles, such as a February 9, 2009, Motor Trend Online article about the Honda CRZ state outright that the Acura rear-wheel drive platform has been canceled as a result of the 2008-09 financial crisis.
An October 2009 Car and Driver blog cited a dinner with Acura executives who acknowledged that the introduction of the new, larger, and in some guises, more powerful, fourth generation Acura TL
Acura TL
The TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
makes it extremely difficult to market the current RL. They speak of a new-generation RL in one or two year's time that will reassert itself as the Acura flagship, but not with a V-8 as the rest of the market has done in the BMW 550, Hyundai Genesis, Infiniti M, Lexus GS 460 and the Mercedes E-Class. All of these cars are available in six cylinder and V-8 variants. Acura says the actual sell rate of V-8's is quite small, and in the coming world of $4.00 per gallon gasoline, not the way of the future
In November 2009, an Autoweek article reported new Honda CEO Takanobu Ito told Automotive News that Acura is going to change course away from V-8 Tier 1 items to something different. Speaking of the worldwide economy before the collapse of investment banker Lehman Brothers, Ito said through an interpreter, "Pre-Lehman, we did have the idea to produce more multicylinder engines... I see the future of Acura as a merger of BMW and Audi -- something between high performance and high technology." As a result of this midstream change, Acura will be in a "low-growth period of developing new products," Ito said. "We were thinking that we could come up with glamorous, gorgeous products that would sell. Now, our premium products will be expressed in advanced environmental technologies, rather than glamorous things attached to the product," he said.
This leaves the future of the Acura RL somewhat clouded. The Acura ZDX
Acura ZDX
The Acura ZDX is a mid-size luxury crossover developed by Honda for its upmarket brand Acura. The car was originally scheduled to be called the Acura MSX. The ZDX debuted at the 2009 New York International Auto Show on April 8, 2009...
crossover, also a slow seller, debuted in 2010, and 2011 marked the introduction of the Acura TSX Sport Wagon, a wagon version of the current second-generation Acura TSX
Acura TSX
-Overview:Named as Touring Sportscar eXperimental. The 2004 model year TSX's powertrain consisted of a 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission , and a front wheel drive layout. A five-speed automatic transmission was a no-cost option in the U.S...
. No clear plans have been announced for the next-generation Acura RL, but rumors abound, including the possibility of a hybrid gas/electric powered RL, as part of the new Acura concept of "Smart Luxury." Dealers have been promised an "amazing new RL" with no real details.
The RL's next Full Model Change (FMC) had previously been rumored for a late calendar year 2011 introduction. Now, the current car is slated to continue at least into the 2012 model year, despite its slippage into the ranks of America's slowest-selling cars.
Some more recent info popped up about the new RL from Japan's Mag-X magazine, stating the new RL would debut as a concept at the Detroit auto show. The car would be powered by a "420ps 3.5 V6 hybrid front-center drivetrain" or front-midship layout, combined with electric SH-AWD. The car is said to have "a very GT-like stance with a long hood-short rear, resembling the ASCC concept from 2007 with four doors and a more lifted front with an understated Acura plenum" Updates on the pricing are about $63,000 for the base model to $79,400 for the hybrid with a "Legend Package".
Safety
From 2005 to 2008, Acura RL has been ranked #1 and has achieved the best car safety score (46.4) in Informed for LIFEInformed for LIFE
Informed for LIFE is a Connecticut non-profit organization that provides "a free, public service to guide consumers on the use of vehicle crash test and fatality data"....
's "2003–2009 Vehicle risk index SCOREs". For both the 2009 and 2010 model years, the Acura RL received a five-star crash safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
(NHTSA). For the 2009 model year, the Acura RL received a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) earning a "Good" — the highest score possible — on frontal offset, side impact and rear crash protection tests. The "Good" scores continued for all tests conducted on the 2010 model. When a roof strength (rollover) evaluation was added to the battery of tests, the RL was rated only "Marginal" in this category, causing it to lose the Top Safety Pick award.
- The Acura RL consistently garnered National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Five Star (the highest rating) ratings for Frontal, Side and Rollover crash testing. The injury measures on the driver in the front test were some of the lowest ever recorded in a NHTSA test at the time, and were still considered top notch as of 2010.
- The Acura RL consistently earned a green G for "Good" (the highest rating) in Frontal Offset and Side Impact tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
- The facelifted 2009 Acura RL has revised head restraints, thus improving the rear crash protection rating for the 2005–2008 models from Marginal to Good for the 2009, and earning it recognition as an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
- The Acura RL incorporated most modern, and some unique, safety features including:
- Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure - ACE features extensive use of high-tensile steel and lightweight aluminum components in a front-mounted polygonal main frame, designed to engage vehicles of differing size and weight in a frontal collision and spread the forces through multiple structural pathways, while preventing or minimizing cabin deformation. The Acura RL was the launch vehicle for the ACE body structure. In 2009, all production Acura vehicles featured the ACE body structure. The ACE body structure is one factor in Acura achieving an all time first in US automotive history, winning simultaneous top marks in both Government National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
(NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway SafetyInsurance Institute for Highway SafetyThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) crash test ratings
- Super Handling-All Wheel Drive (SH-AWDSH-AWDSuper Handling-All Wheel Drive or SH-AWD is a full-time, fully automatic all-wheel drive traction and handling system designed and engineered by Honda Motor Company. The system was announced in April 2004, and first introduced in the North American market in the second generation 2005 model year...
) - In addition to its performance benefits, the front to rear and side to side torque distribution of SH-AWD works actively to keep the car on the desired line
- Anti-lock Braking SystemAnti-lock braking systemAn anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
- 3-channel ABS
- Vehicle Stability Assist (Honda Acura version of Vehicle Stability Control) - 4 channel VSA integrated with SH-AWD, ABS, yaw, lateral G, speed and steering angle sensors
- Electronic Traction ControlTraction controlA traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
(uses individual wheel ABS sensor and engine modulation)
- Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBDElectronic brakeforce distributionElectronic brakeforce distribution ', Electronic brakeforce limitation ' is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc...
) (redistributes front and rear brake pressures as the situation dictates)
- Brake AssistBrake assistBrake Assist is a generic term for an automobile braking technology that increases braking pressure in an emergency situation. The first application was developed jointly by Daimler-Benz and TRW/LucasVarity...
- "learns" the driver's braking habits, rate of pressure and total pressure applied, then quickly activates full ABS in a perceived panic stop
- Front Air Bags (2 ea) - including two-stage activation which minimizes injury due to deployment geometry (deploying upward rather than forward into the occupant) and speed
- Front Side Air Bags (2 ea) - including Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)
- Side Curtain Air Bags (2 ea) - for front and rear passengers
- Occupant Position Detection Sensor (OPDS) system - detects weight and positioning of passenger in the front seat and disables the passenger front side air bag deployment if the system calculates that deployment could cause injury to the occupant, such as a child or small-statured adult
- LATCHLatchLatch may refer to:* Latch , a type of door or window fastener* Latch , a circuit used to store information** A latching relay* Latch , lock on a system data-structure like an index...
child seat anchors
- Tire Pressure Monitoring SystemTire pressure monitoring system-General:A Tire Pressure Monitoring System is a system designed to monitor the air pressure inside the pneumatic tires on various types of vehicles...
(TPMS]) - provides individual pressure readings for each tire and tire position in a graphical display, and alerts the driver in the event of low or no pressure
bumpers front and back
- Optional Collision Mitigation Braking SystemPrecrash systemA precrash system is an automobile safety system designed to reduce the severity of an accident. Also known as forward collision warning systems they use radar and sometimes laser sensors to detect an imminent crash...
(CMBS) (2006-forward)
- Optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) (2006-forward)
- Optional Michelin PAX System run-flat tires (2006–2008)
From the 2006 model year forward, the Acura RL features an optional precrash system
Precrash system
A precrash system is an automobile safety system designed to reduce the severity of an accident. Also known as forward collision warning systems they use radar and sometimes laser sensors to detect an imminent crash...
called the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), which can alert drivers of objects up to 330 feet ahead. If the driver gets dangerously close and does not take evasive action, the RL first provides visible and audible alerts. If the driver does not respond, the electronic pretensioning seatbelt system tugs on the shoulder belts. If the driver still does not react and the collision is deemed unavoidable, the RL retracts and locks seatbelts and brakes hard. Depending on the situation, all three stages may blend together as if one.
The same CMBS millimeter wave radar was also used to operate the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) feature. The driver selected a cruise speed and could set a timed following distance of 2.0, 1.5 or 1.0 seconds. When the ACC detected a target at any distance up to 330 feet ahead, the engine throttle would be modulated to keep the timed following distance. If throttle modulation did not provide enough slowing, the car would also apply the brakes to help maintain the chosen distance.
From 2006 through 2008, Michelin PAX System run-flat tires were also offered as an option. This system allowed the car to run up to 125 miles (201.2 km) at 50 mi/h with a flat.
Michelin PAX System run-flat tires require special equipment to replace them. Such equipment is available only at a limited number of specially certified tire and car dealerships. In April 2008, Michelin announced that it would discontinue its PAX run-flat tires. Unless special equipment is available, the Acura RL's optional run-flat tires are usually fixed by replacing the entire wheel/tire assembly. Unlike Honda dealers, Acura dealers were not required to become PAX certified service centers, which included expensive training and specialized machinery. Acura dealers would generally take a flat tire/wheel assembly off and put a new PAX System on the vehicle, or refer the customer to the nearest PAX certified facility.
For warranty and safety reasons, it is not recommended that owners of PAX equipped vehicles switch to another type of tire assembly. Both Acura and Michelin have not been forthcoming about how current owners of PAX equipped Acura RLs can address this impasse once the current supply of PAX tires run out. Some hope that the PAX tire supply will not run out and that they will be continued to be produced on a specialty basis, just as the ill-fated Michelin TRX
Michelin TRX
The Michelin TRX is a radial tire introduced by the Michelin Group in 1975. Its introduction as the first "low profile" tire marked an advance in tire technology....
system tires are still produced today.
Reasons for discontinuing the PAX run-flat system were several, one big reason probably being the class-action suit against Honda and Michelin. Other reasons may have been the difficulty in repair and replacement of PAX tires, which are generally special order and require special mount/demount machinery and training, and the paucity of PAX certified dealers throughout the United States. While RLs have reportedly low incidence of complaints with the premium Michelin Pilot MXM4 all season tires, the opposite was true of the top-of-the-line Honda Odyssey Touring model minivan equipped with Michelin Energy LX4 PAX tires that allegedly did not live up to their promise of long tread life and easy replacement. In addition, during this time, Michelin announced that due to the low general acceptance of the PAX technology throughout the industry, new PAX development would be stopped, although tires would be provided for the foreseeable future. Other PAX equipped vehicles include the world's fastest production car, the Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4, and certain Rolls Royce and Audi vehicles.
On the safety front, it is also worth noting that the Honda Legend, the name under which the RL is marketed in most of the rest of the world where there is no Acura brand, offers some additional optional safety features. These include Lane Keeping Assistance System (LKAS)
Lane departure warning system
In road-transport terminology, a lane departure warning system is a mechanism designed to warn a driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane on freeways and arterial roads. These systems are designed to minimize accidents by addressing the main causes of collisions: driver error,...
, Intelligent Night Vision, front bumper mounted cameras to assist in parking and turning, and a standard pop-up hood for pedestrian safety.
The LKAS can, with the assistance of a front windshield mounted CMOS camera, make small steering adjustments using the car's Electric Power Steering (EPS) system to keep a car in its lane so long as the radius of the turn was more than 220 meters, which was the then-legal minimum in Japan. The LKAS would relinquish control at the slightest steering input by the driver, so the driver retained control at all times.
The night vision system used a separate heads-up type display reflected from the front lower center windshield. Far infrared technology cameras do not require an infrared light source as near infrared technology cameras do, and the software was able to detect human-like figures, surround the image with a red box and give audible caution tones.
Bumper-mounted cameras gave the driver a view out at each front corner to assist in parking, and also to see the amount of clearance down the road if the car were in an alley-like situation, where driver vision around the corner would require moving much of the car out into the path of possible oncoming traffic.
The pop-up hood used a series of sensors that could detect a pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
-like object being thrown onto the hood. An actuator popped the hood up at the rear, close to the windshield, 10 cm (4 inches) to help minimize pedestrian injuries, especially head trauma. RL/Legend models in all markets featured energy-absorbing hood and fender supports and deformable windshield wiper pivots to minimize pedestrian injury.
Recalls
There have been two recalls on the Acura RL, based on defects in parts used in both Acura and Honda vehicles.In December 2007, certain 2005-2008 model Acura RLs were subject to a safety recall for the power steering hose. Prolonged high under-hood temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely and may cause the hose to crack and leak power steering oil. Oil leaking onto a hot catalytic converter will generate smoke and possibly lead to an under-hood fire. Affected vehicles were to be inspected and repaired, as applicable, at no charge. Reportedly, this recall extended to both 2005-2008 Acura RL and 2004-2008 Acura TL
Acura TL
The TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
models.
In December 2010, certain 2005-2007 model Acura RLs were subject to a safety recall for potential leaking of the brake master cylinder seal. A seal in the brake master cylinder may be susceptible to damage following the use of brake fluid other than the recommended Acura or (Honda) Genuine DOT3 brake fluid. If the seal is damaged, it can result in a brake fluid leak under certain conditions. If a leak should occur, the driver might see a low brake fluid indicator light or a BRAKE FLUID LOW or CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM message. If the driver continues to drive the vehicle after receiving this message without refilling the brake fluid reservoir, it could result in a brake pedal that feels soft or spongy, and may eventually affect braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash. Affected vehicles were to be inspected and repaired, as applicable, at no charge. Reportedly, this recall applied to both 2005-2007 Acura RL and 2005-2007 Honda Odyssey
Honda Odyssey
Honda Odyssey can refer to three motor vehicles manufactured by Honda:* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold in Japan and other parts of the world* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold primarily in the United States and Canada...
models.