Acura plays catch-up with upcoming awd, 300 hp RL sedan

[NFS4]

Acura plays catch-up with upcoming awd, 300 hp RL sedan

 

[GTaudiophile]

Well, hopefully this new flagship leads the way for Acura's entire lineup, resulting in AWD TSX and TL.

(Either of the latter would be top choices for me!)

Edit: Looks like we'll never see anything more than a V6 from Acura.

 

[TheAudit]

The RL has always been yawn-inducing. No one bought it even after it was freshened this year so I guess any sort of change can't hurt, it's not like they are selling a lot of them anyway.

 

[SoyBoy004]

putting AWD in a TL would be just nice. Nissan putting AWD in their G35 is a great idea since there seems to be a trend towards AWD in such vehicles.

 

[z0mb13]

are they gonna change the model??

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
are they gonna change the model??

What do you mean? They're redesigning the whole vehicle - it's being build off of the Accord platform (although in a MUCH larger form).

I'm happy they're finally introducing the cylinder deactivation technology. IMHo, all of their V6's should come standard with it - they'll have the best MPG in the industry

 

[BigSmooth]

I hope the V6 has some torque. Adding the electric motor would help a lot with that, actually.

I think they're smart to shift to AWD. Now if they could only make the car more distinctive.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I hope the V6 has some torque. Adding the electric motor would help a lot with that, actually.

I think they're smart to shift to AWD. Now if they could only make the car more distinctive.

They won't jeopardize sales by making a distinctive car. It's design will appeal to all crowds.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I hope the V6 has some torque. Adding the electric motor would help a lot with that, actually.

I think they're smart to shift to AWD. Now if they could only make the car more distinctive.

They won't jeopardize sales by making a distinctive car. It's design will appeal to all crowds.

I don't think they can jeopardize sales too much because sales are already poor.

By "distinctive", I don't mean it has to be "out there" or futuristic or anything like that. The E-Class is "distinctive" and it sells quite well. I just mean it should not be nondescript like the current RL.

 

[NFS4]

Well, the GS430 and LS430 have nothing to worry about. Large luxury sedan buyers want V8's.

The fact that they are brining it out with AWD belies that fact that even Honda knows that they ain't gonna impress anybody with a FWD luxo cruiser. And the easiest way to do that is to add some lame ass AWD system that provides 100% power to the front wheels until "slippage" occurs.

In other words, it drives like a FWD vehicle in just about every situation.

 

[tweakmm]

Could the electric/gas hybrid technology be how they are going to get 450 HP with the new NSX?

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Well, the GS430 and LS430 have nothing to worry about. Large luxury sedan buyers want V8's.

The fact that they are brining it out with AWD belies that fact that even Honda knows that they ain't gonna impress anybody with a FWD luxo cruiser. And the easiest way to do that is to add some lame ass AWD system that provides 100% power to the front wheels until "slippage" occurs.

In other words, it drives like a FWD vehicle in just about every situation.

No one who buys those cars will know the difference between real AWD and 95% front AWD.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I hope the V6 has some torque. Adding the electric motor would help a lot with that, actually.

I think they're smart to shift to AWD. Now if they could only make the car more distinctive.

They won't jeopardize sales by making a distinctive car. It's design will appeal to all crowds.

I don't think they can jeopardize sales too much because sales are already poor.

By "distinctive", I don't mean it has to be "out there" or futuristic or anything like that. The E-Class is "distinctive" and it sells quite well. I just mean it should not be nondescript like the current RL.

I actually like the RL's styling It looks the least geriatric of of all of the luxo-boats.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I hope the V6 has some torque. Adding the electric motor would help a lot with that, actually.

I think they're smart to shift to AWD. Now if they could only make the car more distinctive.

They won't jeopardize sales by making a distinctive car. It's design will appeal to all crowds.

I don't think they can jeopardize sales too much because sales are already poor.

By "distinctive", I don't mean it has to be "out there" or futuristic or anything like that. The E-Class is "distinctive" and it sells quite well. I just mean it should not be nondescript like the current RL.

I actually like the RL's styling It looks the least geriatric of of all of the luxo-boats.

BUAHAHAHA...it has looked basically the same since '96 (which is DATED!!!). Let's see...which would you rather have:

PIC1
PIC2
PIC3
PIC4

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I actually like the RL's styling It looks the least geriatric of of all of the luxo-boats.

The least geriatric? That's a nice way of putting it. About all the cars in this segment look subdued - they have to given their target demographic. In my opinion, the Audi A8 is the best looking vehicle in this segment.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I actually like the RL's styling It looks the least geriatric of of all of the luxo-boats.

The least geriatric? That's a nice way of putting it. About all the cars in this segment look subdued - they have to given their target demographic. In my opinion, the Audi A8 is the best looking vehicle in this segment.

Plus, even if they're subdued, most of the cars in this segment have brand-specific styling cues that give them a classy look without going over the top, like the E-Class, S80, A6, S-Type, etc.

The RL doesn't look "bad", but it does not catch your eye in any way.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I actually like the RL's styling It looks the least geriatric of of all of the luxo-boats.

The least geriatric? That's a nice way of putting it. About all the cars in this segment look subdued - they have to given their target demographic. In my opinion, the Audi A8 is the best looking vehicle in this segment.

Heh, I don't think that Acura can compete on the Audi/Lexus/Mercedes/BMW level...at least not yet. NONE of their models scream luxury. Most of them just scream (hey, I'm a little better than your average Honda).

The MDX still has fake plastic "wood" inside and comes nowhere close to being as luxurious as an RX330. The current RL is old as dirt and based on the platform of the 1994 Accord. The NSX is even older. The TL is probably their best effort to date. The RSX is a little sports coupe. Nothing luxurious about that.

And NOW Acura wants to make a bastardized version of the next-gen CRV. Doesn't really give the idea of luxury to me.

Honda needs to stop f*&king around and decide what it wants to do with its "luxury" brand.

 

[ElFenix]

my old roommate tried to argue with me one day that luxo buyers didn't care about the fact that the RL doesn't have a V8, that no one compared acceleration. doh!

the hybrid system and displacement on demand might bring in a lot of the gadgetry buyers, but the traditional buyers probably won't come in without a V8.

 

[krunchykrome]

The RL needs better wheels.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
my old roommate tried to argue with me one day that luxo buyers didn't care about the fact that the RL doesn't have a V8, that no one compared acceleration. doh!

the hybrid system and displacement on demand might bring in a lot of the gadgetry buyers, but the traditional buyers probably won't come in without a V8.

Agreed. It's been hard enough getting luxury buyers to consider Lexus, but Lexus has succeeded and is enjoying their number 1 position in luxury car sales and their brand is stronger than ever. Acura is just lost IMHO. And no "luxury car" buyer would ever consider an Acura...afterall, all they have to offer is a stale, old RL.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: ElFenix
my old roommate tried to argue with me one day that luxo buyers didn't care about the fact that the RL doesn't have a V8, that no one compared acceleration. doh!

the hybrid system and displacement on demand might bring in a lot of the gadgetry buyers, but the traditional buyers probably won't come in without a V8.

Agreed. It's been hard enough getting luxury buyers to consider Lexus, but Lexus has succeeded and is enjoying their number 1 position in luxury car sales and their brand is stronger than ever. Acura is just lost IMHO. And no l"uxury car" buyer would ever consider an Acura...afterall, all they have to offer is a stale, old RL.

Agreed, as much as I love my Legend, if I was going to be spending 40k+ on a car I would get something else besides an Acura.

 

[thomsbrain]

i wouldn't mind the 400 HP hybrid version. i mean, if someone were to force it on me, i wouldn't say no. might be a small step up in performance from my 4-banger accord...

 

[konichiwa]

They say the hybrid wouldn't necessarily be geared towards fuel economy, but what does that actually mean? The economy won't be improved at all?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: konichiwa
They say the hybrid wouldn't necessarily be geared towards fuel economy, but what does that actually mean? The economy won't be improved at all?

It means that:

"We'll do whatever we have to make HP numbers similar to the TRUE PLAYERS in the market without doing what we should do in the first place: make a V8 and do a true RWD flagship sedan and not some transverse mounted V6 FWD sedan with AWD thrown in for good measure"

 

[z0mb13]

do honda even MAKE a v8 engine??