- Acura is readying a successor to its range-topping RL sedan, with a choice of gasoline and hybrid powertrains.
- The new flagship sedan is said to have the cabin space of a BMW 7 Series with the agility of a 5 Series.
- The big Acura sedan is expected to go on sale before the end of 2012.
LAS VEGAS — Honda's premium Acura brand is readying a 2013 successor to its range-topping RL sedan that will make its public debut next spring at the 2012 New York Auto Show and is expected to go on sale by the end of next year.
Acura has not decided whether to carry over the RL designation or come up with new nomenclature on the car, which is larger than the current RL and will have best-in-class legroom. Acura officials describe the new model as having the cabin space of a BMW 7 Series sedan with the agility of a 5 Series.
The 2013 sedan will get more distinctive styling, including a roof line and greenhouse that bear some resemblance to the new Lexus GS.
The car will offer a choice of a new V6 gasoline engine or a V6 hybrid system with all-wheel drive. The new SH-AWD hybrid system will be offered on both the RL replacement and the next-generation Acura NSX.
Honda last week said the hybrid system "was developed for large-sized vehicles." The system bundles a 3.5-liter V6 engine with an electric four-wheel-drive system, a 20kW motor on each of the rear wheels and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The SH-AWD hybrid system also gets a high-performance lithium-ion battery and will provide "acceleration equivalent to V8 engines, as well as fuel efficiency equal or superior to inline four-cylinder engines," the company said.
The new Acura flagship has been developed as part of a broader sedan strategy for Honda's upscale brand that is intended to provide more differentiation for its four-door models, which include the TSX, the TL and the RL.
Acura officials say the three sedans are "too close in size." Base prices range from $30,695 on the 2012 Acura TSX to $48,585 on the 2012 Acura RL.
An Acura product planning executive told Inside Line: "We will ultimately have three sizes of sedan — entry luxury, mid luxury and high luxury."
Inside Line says: It's a decent strategy — provided Acura delivers the goods.
Add A Comment »
drhoffman says:
09:42 PM, 04/15/2012
I was a long time and loyal Acura driver. I loved the Legend sedan. Great size vs the LS400/Q45, but with a V6 and priced better. For some reason, Acura chose to get rid of the larger sized sedan and replace it with the cloned Honda Accord and put tons of tech toys inside. I gave up on Acura because their "large" sedan became smaller. The original MDX was an Izuzu. Not sure why Honda/Acura chose to go down that path, but lost many loyal customers. I went to the Lexus LS400 and now the LS460. This new RL or larger sedan may bring me back. Hopefully, Acura understands what a large luxury sedan owner wants. I always thought RL stood for "real looser".
pman666 says:
12:13 AM, 03/28/2012
just bring the nsx at an affordable price. It doesn't have to beat the gtr or the lfa.
and make sure the RL replacement has nice proportions that rival the germans.
don't borrow any design cues from the ugly new ilx and rdx
zeniff says:
08:06 AM, 03/27/2012
I'm with acuraadmir on this one. Honda & Acura stopped listening to their customers a long time ago and their products just aren't what people are looking for. Quote all the specs you want, but I think the sales reflect that they've got a problem on their hands.
bigcjm says:
06:28 AM, 03/27/2012
@vantageman
you comment it laughable. Quoting magazines more importantly you didn't even name the publications you're referring to when making your statement. It's clear you haven't jumped into an acura at all and RL for sure. Giving a review based upon what u read is pure crap. Get in the car and then post a informed opinion.
vantageman says:
05:46 AM, 03/27/2012
you bought an RL because of its interior quality vs a BMW most mags knock the RLs cheap interior horrible. Its hard plastic dash, and door panels, cheap vinyl door padding, enough cheap fake wood grain to build a log set for a child....its an embarrassment. The RL is completely noncompetitive in any regard, its cheap substandard interior, its abysmal gas mileage, its laughable resale value, it handles like what it is a big honda accord and looks like one, and its 300hp engine puts it back of the pack in any performance test in this class which is a shame because 300hp should be plenty for this car. Frankly the RL is a joke, if Acura doesnt fix it this time it will continue to be nothing more than a big Acura. Based on their focus on interior space and agility and no mention of anything else and how cheap looking the latest acura's interiors are this new RL will continue to be a noncompetitive car but I guess well see. As of now it really is an overpriced toyota avalon competitor ones a stretched camry the other a stretched accord........
urbansophistic says:
08:22 AM, 03/01/2012
I own a 2008 Acura RL with the technology package. Initially, I was shopping for a BMW 3 or 5 after owning the last generation 6-speed manual Acura CL. I test drove a 528i and a 328i, but ultimately, I ended up buying the RL directly from the BMW dealer!
What closed the deal for me was INTERIOR QUALITY and PREMIUM FEATURES! Even after owning an Acura for the five years prior to purchasing the RL, I was very with the design and fit/finish of the Acura RL in comparison to the BMWs. My dash features a waterfall of real wood accent, soft leather padding on door where you rest your arms, real leather on the center armrests, and even leather padding on the sides of the center console. Every surface the body touches is soft. The added bonus is when the doors close, they have this perfectly balanced thump that sounds vacuum-sealed.
Then there are the features... the navigation system, standard bluetooth (which even lets me use Siri to speak my text messages on the iPhone), power tilt/telescope steering wheel, adaptive HID headlights, DVD 5.1 surround audio (best factory unit ever), adaptive cruise control, and the AWD! The car's exterior isn't styled to ruffle feathers, but it is attractive and has aged well -- and the interior deisgn is lightyears beyond BMW's utilitarian setup. I have had had ZERO issues with the mechanical and electronic components of the car. My only complaint is gas mileage in the city or when driving in traffic. Luckily, the manual shift paddles let me control hold gears as long as I want, whenever I want.
I almost bought simpy for prestige, but I realized that I didn't want to know my BMW service advisor by name if I didn't have to. I've never once had second thoughts about foregoing my BMW purchase and going with Acura.
michael0137 says:
07:04 PM, 02/05/2012
acuraadmir- THe RL is SH - AWD, You do not know what you are talking about - touted as the best AWD system in the industry. I had have had FWD Legend Type II '94 Coupe - awesome car but massive torque steer. I have a 2008 RL - WHAT A CAR - and with the proposed changes??? It will be unbeatable in the luxury field. BRAVO Acura - great move!!!!
clementz says:
06:24 PM, 01/11/2012
@Acuraadmir:
RWD? V8?
Why?
Why are you pushing Acura to conform to what everyone else is doing?
What good has sticking to, and refusing to challenge the paradigm ever helped anyone?
Audi succeeded without RWD.
Why can't Acura?
acuraadmir says:
08:19 PM, 01/09/2012
Acura should cease with their efforts to engender a tiered luxury structure and focus on providing the consumer with a pure luxury brand to be competitive with BMW, MB, Lexus, Audi and Infiniti. Their concept of providing affordable luxury is asinine. Consumers that are in the market for luxury automobiles DO NOT want a luxury vehicle with mediocre parts and features, they want a luxury automobile with acute performance and resilient parts.
Given the likes of the Hyundai Genesis, Equus, etc. and other manufactures; Acura really needs to step it up and deliver on a real wheel drive V6 and optional V8 flagship and stop with the madness of cheap front-wheel drive, Accord and Civic based vehicles.
I love Honda/Acura, that's all I've ever owned, but if they don't get it right this time around, this year, then I'm changing to Lexus or Infiniti on my next automobile purchase. Many of my friends have already changed because Acura has not been listening to the consumer; consequently, they have not delivered what the consumer wants.
michael0137 says:
09:43 AM, 01/09/2012
Oh - and by the way sports fans - how about a twin turbo 4 cylinder as the base engine in the 528ix???? Luxury??? Yeah - 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine starting at $49,200, $1500-2500 for leather, $2400 for luxury seating package that includes power rear sunshade to bring it up to the Acura,Premium sound lacage $950, Tech Package ( back up camera and Navi) - $61,000+ 240HP 4 cylinder car - the Acura RL similarly equipped - 300 HP V6 $52,700. Slam dunk.