Edmunds First Drive: Acura RL
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Edmunds First Drive: Acura RL
Last edited by LexusLuver; Sep 9, 2004 at 08:10 AM.
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Lexus Test Driver
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Vehicle of the Week
Rejuvenated RL?
Dan Lienert
Acura is preparing its overhauled flagship sedan, the 2005 RL, to go on sale in mid-October at an estimated price of $46,000-$48,000. The outgoing RL is not a bad car, but it is an underachiever.
In the first eight months of 2004, Acura, the premium brand of Honda Motor, sold 3,391 RLs in the United States--a 30% decline versus the first eight months of 2003. When compared to 2004 sales (through the end of August) of other premium brands' flagship sedans, the RL's sales totaled only 31% of the sales of BMW's 7 Series (10,917), 26% of the sales of DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz S-Class (12,835) and a mere 16% of the sales of Toyota Motor's Lexus LS 430 (21,030).
Why does the RL get lost in the shuffle? For one thing, it competes in one of the toughest categories in the auto business--against the cars mentioned above as well as the Audi A8 and Ford Motor's (nyse: F - news - people ) Jaguar XJ. For another, it does not offer some of the components that make those cars so popular. In particular, it is the only premium sedan that does not offer a V-8 engine; instead it uses a high-performance V-6. Also, all of its competitors use rear- or all-wheel drive, or both, while Acura has, until now, strangely chosen to offer only front-drive on the RL. Fans of performance driving prefer rear- or all-wheel drive.
What the RL does offer, however, is value. The attractive price tag--the Mercedes S-Class, by comparison, starts at $76,020--is for a car that tends to come fully loaded, with few options and a bottom line that doesn't get too much higher than the base price. S-Class prices can stretch to over $125,000; of course, those models come with such heavy-hitting features as V-12 engines.
The biggest change to the new RL--and hence the greatest addition of value--is the switch to all-wheel drive, a switch which Acura made for performance credibility. The car will still use a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, but its horsepower will increase by 75 (300 versus 225) and torque by 29 lb.-ft. (260 versus 231). Borrowing a page from the Jaguar XJ, the new RL's body will feature extensive use of aluminum, which is lighter than steel but stiffer--and more expensive.
The interior will feature a significant breakthrough for automobiles. Acura, which is already known as a brand that caters to fans of sophisticated technology, will offer the first navigation system that can communicate with satellites to provide real-time traffic updates in 20 major American cities--that is to say, if a construction site or traffic jam is on your route, the navigation system will let you know. This technology is already available in Europe on General Motors' Saab 9-3, but has not been ready for American use because of an incomplete communications infrastructure.
Other high-tech interior components are available, such a DVD-Audio system that is similar to the one featured in Acura's less-expensive TL sedan, and a climate control system that is linked to a satellite-based GPS (Global Positioning System) and can respond to the position of the sun.
Rejuvenated RL?
Dan Lienert
Acura is preparing its overhauled flagship sedan, the 2005 RL, to go on sale in mid-October at an estimated price of $46,000-$48,000. The outgoing RL is not a bad car, but it is an underachiever.
In the first eight months of 2004, Acura, the premium brand of Honda Motor, sold 3,391 RLs in the United States--a 30% decline versus the first eight months of 2003. When compared to 2004 sales (through the end of August) of other premium brands' flagship sedans, the RL's sales totaled only 31% of the sales of BMW's 7 Series (10,917), 26% of the sales of DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz S-Class (12,835) and a mere 16% of the sales of Toyota Motor's Lexus LS 430 (21,030).
Why does the RL get lost in the shuffle? For one thing, it competes in one of the toughest categories in the auto business--against the cars mentioned above as well as the Audi A8 and Ford Motor's (nyse: F - news - people ) Jaguar XJ. For another, it does not offer some of the components that make those cars so popular. In particular, it is the only premium sedan that does not offer a V-8 engine; instead it uses a high-performance V-6. Also, all of its competitors use rear- or all-wheel drive, or both, while Acura has, until now, strangely chosen to offer only front-drive on the RL. Fans of performance driving prefer rear- or all-wheel drive.
What the RL does offer, however, is value. The attractive price tag--the Mercedes S-Class, by comparison, starts at $76,020--is for a car that tends to come fully loaded, with few options and a bottom line that doesn't get too much higher than the base price. S-Class prices can stretch to over $125,000; of course, those models come with such heavy-hitting features as V-12 engines.
The biggest change to the new RL--and hence the greatest addition of value--is the switch to all-wheel drive, a switch which Acura made for performance credibility. The car will still use a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, but its horsepower will increase by 75 (300 versus 225) and torque by 29 lb.-ft. (260 versus 231). Borrowing a page from the Jaguar XJ, the new RL's body will feature extensive use of aluminum, which is lighter than steel but stiffer--and more expensive.
The interior will feature a significant breakthrough for automobiles. Acura, which is already known as a brand that caters to fans of sophisticated technology, will offer the first navigation system that can communicate with satellites to provide real-time traffic updates in 20 major American cities--that is to say, if a construction site or traffic jam is on your route, the navigation system will let you know. This technology is already available in Europe on General Motors' Saab 9-3, but has not been ready for American use because of an incomplete communications infrastructure.
Other high-tech interior components are available, such a DVD-Audio system that is similar to the one featured in Acura's less-expensive TL sedan, and a climate control system that is linked to a satellite-based GPS (Global Positioning System) and can respond to the position of the sun.
Last edited by LexusLuver; Sep 9, 2004 at 08:09 AM.
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Not another I-Drive, Please.......
Is that big 8-position **** in the middle the dash marked "Enter" a new Acura I-Drive system?
Gosh...I HOPE not. It's bad enough Chris Bangle screwed up his own company's cars....I hope his ideas don't spread too far. Audi and Infiniti already seem to have their own versions of it.
Gosh...I HOPE not. It's bad enough Chris Bangle screwed up his own company's cars....I hope his ideas don't spread too far. Audi and Infiniti already seem to have their own versions of it.
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Yes I think some of the mist from Mr. Bangle spit landed on the auto industry so i think this I - drive type feature will now be considered a luxury convinence (?) thing since BMW did it in their flagship.
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The Edmunds reviewer explicitly praised this system for being what iDrive was SUPPOSED to be--a user-friendly, intuitive means to perform many tasks with a simple interface. It does not surprise me at all to see a Japanese company come out with something like a single-**** multifunction controller that actually works like it's supposed to--they tend to look at what others do, and then improve on the original concepts.
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From: California
Originally posted by LexusLuver
Vehicle of the Week
Rejuvenated RL?
Dan Lienert
Acura is preparing its overhauled flagship sedan, the 2005 RL, to go on sale in mid-October at an estimated price of $46,000-$48,000. The outgoing RL is not a bad car, but it is an underachiever.
In the first eight months of 2004, Acura, the premium brand of Honda Motor, sold 3,391 RLs in the United States--a 30% decline versus the first eight months of 2003. When compared to 2004 sales (through the end of August) of other premium brands' flagship sedans, the RL's sales totaled only 31% of the sales of BMW's 7 Series (10,917), 26% of the sales of DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz S-Class (12,835) and a mere 16% of the sales of Toyota Motor's Lexus LS 430 (21,030).
Why does the RL get lost in the shuffle? For one thing, it competes in one of the toughest categories in the auto business--against the cars mentioned above as well as the Audi A8 and Ford Motor's (nyse: F - news - people ) Jaguar XJ. For another, it does not offer some of the components that make those cars so popular. In particular, it is the only premium sedan that does not offer a V-8 engine; instead it uses a high-performance V-6. Also, all of its competitors use rear- or all-wheel drive, or both, while Acura has, until now, strangely chosen to offer only front-drive on the RL. Fans of performance driving prefer rear- or all-wheel drive.
What the RL does offer, however, is value. The attractive price tag--the Mercedes S-Class, by comparison, starts at $76,020--is for a car that tends to come fully loaded, with few options and a bottom line that doesn't get too much higher than the base price. S-Class prices can stretch to over $125,000; of course, those models come with such heavy-hitting features as V-12 engines.
The biggest change to the new RL--and hence the greatest addition of value--is the switch to all-wheel drive, a switch which Acura made for performance credibility. The car will still use a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, but its horsepower will increase by 75 (300 versus 225) and torque by 29 lb.-ft. (260 versus 231). Borrowing a page from the Jaguar XJ, the new RL's body will feature extensive use of aluminum, which is lighter than steel but stiffer--and more expensive.
The interior will feature a significant breakthrough for automobiles. Acura, which is already known as a brand that caters to fans of sophisticated technology, will offer the first navigation system that can communicate with satellites to provide real-time traffic updates in 20 major American cities--that is to say, if a construction site or traffic jam is on your route, the navigation system will let you know. This technology is already available in Europe on General Motors' Saab 9-3, but has not been ready for American use because of an incomplete communications infrastructure.
Other high-tech interior components are available, such a DVD-Audio system that is similar to the one featured in Acura's less-expensive TL sedan, and a climate control system that is linked to a satellite-based GPS (Global Positioning System) and can respond to the position of the sun.
Vehicle of the Week
Rejuvenated RL?
Dan Lienert
Acura is preparing its overhauled flagship sedan, the 2005 RL, to go on sale in mid-October at an estimated price of $46,000-$48,000. The outgoing RL is not a bad car, but it is an underachiever.
In the first eight months of 2004, Acura, the premium brand of Honda Motor, sold 3,391 RLs in the United States--a 30% decline versus the first eight months of 2003. When compared to 2004 sales (through the end of August) of other premium brands' flagship sedans, the RL's sales totaled only 31% of the sales of BMW's 7 Series (10,917), 26% of the sales of DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz S-Class (12,835) and a mere 16% of the sales of Toyota Motor's Lexus LS 430 (21,030).
Why does the RL get lost in the shuffle? For one thing, it competes in one of the toughest categories in the auto business--against the cars mentioned above as well as the Audi A8 and Ford Motor's (nyse: F - news - people ) Jaguar XJ. For another, it does not offer some of the components that make those cars so popular. In particular, it is the only premium sedan that does not offer a V-8 engine; instead it uses a high-performance V-6. Also, all of its competitors use rear- or all-wheel drive, or both, while Acura has, until now, strangely chosen to offer only front-drive on the RL. Fans of performance driving prefer rear- or all-wheel drive.
What the RL does offer, however, is value. The attractive price tag--the Mercedes S-Class, by comparison, starts at $76,020--is for a car that tends to come fully loaded, with few options and a bottom line that doesn't get too much higher than the base price. S-Class prices can stretch to over $125,000; of course, those models come with such heavy-hitting features as V-12 engines.
The biggest change to the new RL--and hence the greatest addition of value--is the switch to all-wheel drive, a switch which Acura made for performance credibility. The car will still use a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, but its horsepower will increase by 75 (300 versus 225) and torque by 29 lb.-ft. (260 versus 231). Borrowing a page from the Jaguar XJ, the new RL's body will feature extensive use of aluminum, which is lighter than steel but stiffer--and more expensive.
The interior will feature a significant breakthrough for automobiles. Acura, which is already known as a brand that caters to fans of sophisticated technology, will offer the first navigation system that can communicate with satellites to provide real-time traffic updates in 20 major American cities--that is to say, if a construction site or traffic jam is on your route, the navigation system will let you know. This technology is already available in Europe on General Motors' Saab 9-3, but has not been ready for American use because of an incomplete communications infrastructure.
Other high-tech interior components are available, such a DVD-Audio system that is similar to the one featured in Acura's less-expensive TL sedan, and a climate control system that is linked to a satellite-based GPS (Global Positioning System) and can respond to the position of the sun.
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From: SF
Re: Not another I-Drive, Please.......
Originally posted by mmarshall
Is that big 8-position **** in the middle the dash marked "Enter" a new Acura I-Drive system?
Gosh...I HOPE not. It's bad enough Chris Bangle screwed up his own company's cars....I hope his ideas don't spread too far. Audi and Infiniti already seem to have their own versions of it.
Is that big 8-position **** in the middle the dash marked "Enter" a new Acura I-Drive system?
Gosh...I HOPE not. It's bad enough Chris Bangle screwed up his own company's cars....I hope his ideas don't spread too far. Audi and Infiniti already seem to have their own versions of it.
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