Not really, I know its well built but it doesn't move me at all.

 

put the 2006 headlights on this, and we're good.

 

Hopefully this indicates a newly designed acura front grill for the US is on the way as well

 

Not unless there is a huge change in management. Acura is hell bent on using the new beak grill here in the USA, its the new Acura face.

The Legend grill falls in line with other Hondas worldwide for its family resemblence, here is the new Honda City grill for instance.

Or Euro Accord

 

The 290hp RL has done 0-60 in 6.3-6.4 seconds. The refresh power boost and improved power curve should improve on that. Not all statistics are taken the same way with the same equipment. The equipment could have been off or they did not get a proper launch, temperature/elevation/road surface variables can lead to different times.

The IS350 has been clocked anywhere from 4.8-6.5 seconds from 0-60. There are many different variables that will give you different times.

The refresh does look pretty good when seen in person but I still prefer the pre refresh. The interior does look a little nicer with the extra wood and revised center console which was excellent to begin with. It seems in Japan you can get rear heated seats as well as some other options not available in the US. I don't know why they would not give America the rear heated seats and other options. In Japan and some other places you could get AC seats and some other options when the RL first came out but they were not available on the American versions until later which is dissapointing. I don't know why the decontent the American version, I have noticed this on other cars too.

 

Also have to keep in mind that the RL is AWD=weight.

Also for the newbies stuck on 0-60, keep in mind that 0-60 means little in a race. Time to distance is a better gauge.

 

An all new 5 speed gearbox? Why not develop at least a 6 speed?

 

that's about where i'm at too ... especially the rear ... i was thinking *so, looks like an accord but maybe a little taller (?)*

 

This car looks so much better without the nasty new Acura grille. But, you won't see many of them in Europe. The Legend is a legend in Europe. Everyone's heard of it, but nobody has seen it.

 

We sooooo need that grill on our RL and TL!!!

 

My car is AWD and only weighs 3100 lbs. If that.

I'm not really interested in how the RL will do in a race. I'm interested in 0-60, 5-60 times as thats how we compare the performance of vehicles.

 

+1 for liking the Honda grille better than the Acura one.

Even so I'm a big fan of this car as I think it offers a great combination of AWD, sportiness, nice interior and decent reliability.

 

No arguments there. The newest Acura grilles look like a clown-mask in a circus.

 

Haha... I was watching Motorweek and they featured the new TL (not a full test) - it looked bigger on the show than what I've seen in photos.

They called it a gladiator shield.

 

Weight is not the issue, the engine is. It has the largest engine in class, a 3.7 but its performance is closer to a 2.7. The GS 350/M35x/535xi/E 4matic are all significantly quicker 0-60 and in the 1/4 and all weigh around 4000 lbs with all being AWD.. The RL is a high 6 second/ low 7 second car.

As for looks, Lee's RL is IMO the best looking version, though the pre facelift LEgend looked pretty good too. Nearly seems they swapped the RL slants and put them on the Legend. I always felt HEAD ON, the 2005-2008 RL had a good looking face.

I wish Lexus would offer the color combos and special editions the Japanese get, like the "Passionate black" interior in the GS.