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

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: 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

The Acura is clearly the design with the most class.

ZV

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: 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

The Acura is clearly the design with the most class.

ZV

It looks like what it is. A 1996 model year car. And the E-Class definitely has more design "class." In fact, the RL still looks like a '94 Vigor:

http://www.edmunds.com/used/1994/acura/vigor/18203/photos.html?tid=edmunds.u.prices.leftsidenav..9.Acura*

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
do honda even MAKE a v8 engine??

They do, but not for production uses.

Personally I'm all for Honda for sticking to their environmental guns.

They are merely providing an alternative to the luxo car segment. If you really are a brand snob and want a V8..go buy someone elses car. But if you want an environmentally friendly car, get an Acura.

That's fine..its just an alternative..so what if they don't have half the sales of Lexus.

But I do agree that Acura has to find an unified direction/theme for the entire brand. It took Infiniti 10 years to do this, I hope Acura can do it in quicker time.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: 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"

Didn't Honda say they would not build a V8 because of poorer fuel economy?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: 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"

Acura does not believe in anything larger than a V6. Honda's founder was against anything larger than a 4-cylinder. It doesn't fit their corporate culture. I honestly think that Acura doesn't care much about sales numbers.

I'm not saying that I agree with them, but there are reasons for the way they are doing things.

ZV

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: 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"

Acura does not believe in anything larger than a V6. Honda's founder was against anything larger than a 4-cylinder. It doesn't fit their corporate culture. I honestly think that Acura doesn't care much about sales numbers.

I'm not saying that I agree with them, but there are reasons for the way they are doing things.

ZV

If Acura didn't care about sales numbers, they wouldn't bring out an SUV slotted under the MDX for around $25,000. If they don't care about sales, they need to care about SOMETHING. Their product lineup just doesn't give any credence to it being a step up from Honda. It's more of an alternative than anything else.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: NFS4
It looks like what it is. A 1996 model year car. And the E-Class definitely has more design "class." In fact, the RL still looks like a '94 Vigor:

http://www.edmunds.com/used/1994/acura/vigor/18203/photos.html?tid=edmunds.u.prices.leftsidenav..9.Acura*

The only similarity I see between those two cars is the wheel style. The new car has a taller belt-line, the cowl is higher, so is the trunklid, the front and rear clips are different (rather drastically), and the rear roofline is vastly changed.

And I still think that the Acura has the most elegance of any of the cars you showed. Everything else is too flashy. Mercedes used to be beautiful, old money, understated cars and lately they have been headed more and more towards the nuveau riche end of the spectrum. Lexus' new models just scream "I've only just come into some money and I'm mortgaging everything to drive a car that is flashy so that everyone knows I'm more successful than my parents were".

ZV

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: NFS4
It looks like what it is. A 1996 model year car. And the E-Class definitely has more design "class." In fact, the RL still looks like a '94 Vigor:

http://www.edmunds.com/used/1994/acura/vigor/18203/photos.html?tid=edmunds.u.prices.leftsidenav..9.Acura*

The only similarity I see between those two cars is the wheel style. The new car has a taller belt-line, the cowl is higher, so is the trunklid, the front and rear clips are different (rather drastically), and the rear roofline is vastly changed.

And I still think that the Acura has the most elegance of any of the cars you showed. Everything else is too flashy. Mercedes used to be beautiful, old money, understated cars and lately they have been headed more and more towards the nuveau riche end of the spectrum. Lexus' new models just scream "I've only just come into some money and I'm mortgaging everything to drive a car that is flashy so that everyone knows I'm more successful than my parents were".

ZV

Maybe this would be a better comparison:

'96 TL

Regardless, the RL looks dated and old. It's time for something fresh. I'd be intrigued to see what you think of the new TL

Also, understated luxury design:

Audi A8