By Christie Schweinsberg
WardsAuto.com, Oct 22 2004
Acura has updated its flagship RL sedan, but will status-conscious luxury buyers bite?
WASHINGTON ? Debuting in 1986, it was the first to challenge the German luxury marques? U.S. dominance, yet American Honda Motor Co. Inc.?s Acura brand has never quite lived up to its intentions.
While its vehicles sell well enough, Acura?s image has yet to achieve par with the Mercedes-Benz and BMW brands, or even that of Toyota Motor Corp.?s Lexus.
There are a multitude of reasons: Acura lacks a V-8 engine; other than the NSX supercar, no other model has rear-wheel drive; and its vehicles feel, well, like really nice Hondas.
To put itself on a more even playing field, Acura has given its flagship RL a complete makeover.
The current RL, which is 8 years old, sold a paltry 3,535 units through September, a 35.2% falloff from the unspectacular 5,457 sold in like-2003.
Market share is a piddling 0.4% for the year.
However, Acura optimistically expects to sell 20,000 units of the redesigned RL. (See related story: Acura Expects 20,000 Annual Sales for RL)
Although it appears ambitious, Acura likely can achieve that goal. But the ?05 RL?s sales still will fall far short of the BMW 5-Series (43,714 units in the ?04 model year) and Mercedes E-Class (58,088).
Still, Acura says it has confidence in the ?05 RL.
Based on the same global midsize sedan platform as the Honda Accord and Acura TSX and TL, the new RL, indeed, is a marked improvement over the previous generation. Steering, ride and handling are improved notably.
The RL has grown 1.1 ins. (2.8 cm) in width, but overall length is reduced 3 ins. (7.6 cm). The wheelbase is downsized 4.4 ins. (11.2 cm).
The exterior gets a major overhaul from the ?04 RL?s dull and dated styling, and now follows the sharp, angular family resemblance the brand has established with the TL and TSX. The interior is vastly improved as well, with the impeccable fit and finish Honda is known for.
Should the driver choose not to use the ID, there are separate buttons for all three functions, or a voice-recognition system with which to make a selection.
The RL is the first recipient of Honda?s new Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system, which, like its ambitious name suggests, does provide superb handling.
The SH AWD system is the first of its kind, says Acura, delivering torque strategically not just front to rear, but also left to right.
During straight-line cruising and moderate cornering, up to 70% of torque is at the front wheels; during full-throttle acceleration that same percentage is shifted to the rear.
In cornering, up to 100% of rear torque is sent to the outer wheel to improve performance, stability and traction, Honda says.
The 3.5L VTEC V-6 engine, mated to a 5-speed automatic Sequential SportShift transmission, delivers 300 hp and 260 lb.-ft. (Nm 353) of torque, besting the outgoing RL by 75 hp and 29 lb.-ft. (Nm 39) of torque.
In a circuit track test with the 5-Series, E-Class and Audi A6, the RL?s steering and cornering is noticeably better than Audi?s and on par with the others. There is noticeable handling improvement over the outgoing RL.
Although the ?05 RL has no available options, Acura is banking on its standard in-car satellite AcuraLink navigation system to move the model.
The auto maker says the system is the first of its kind in North America, with the ability to receive real-time traffic, accident and construction information for 20 major metropolitan areas via its connection to XM Satellite Radio?s XM NavTraffic service.
AcuraLink performed admirably in a test. However, it only provides real-time information for highways, and, as experienced here driving in downtown Washington, traffic, accidents and construction backups are everywhere, not just on the interstates.
The real question is whether buyers will pay $48,900 for the new RL. Acura executives emphasize that the vehicle is less expensive than a comparably equipped A6, 5-Series or E-Class. But will status-conscience luxury owners care?
The Acura must compete with an indiscernible sense of opulence behind the wheel of a Mercedes or BMW. Although the auto maker seems to have done everything right with the new RL, it remains to be seen if this is the vehicle that can vault Acura to the level of its German competitors.