Fibonacci

Treading dangerously close to 550 Xdrive and S6 country without some serious cash on the hood.

AZuser

Let's see how well these are going to sell.

Edward'TLS

..... if they can finally make it into the Acura dealerships.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

Hmm, I don't know. Objectively, it seems like a good deal. It is a good $10-$15k cheaper than the fully loaded ActiveHybrid 5 and E400 hybrid. It's also several thousand cheaper than a loaded GS450h and Q70 hybrid. Even though it is cheaper, it has more power, and its hybrid system is more unique and advanced. And then there's the expected cash on the hood.

OTOH, brand prestige, styling, and initial reception (the FWD model) are the main concerns.

Really? I think the S6 starts at $75k, and can reach over $90k.

The 550i xdrive has a much lower base price at $67k. Depending on how you option it, it can reach $80-$90k.

But like I said, the base price is the issue here. The most basic RLX AWD has the tech package already, that unfortunately makes the car more expensive. Then you have the other competitors where their base trims are even less well equipped than a base RLX FWD.

And on top of that, at $60k-$65k, people might instead opt for loaded C400 4 matic, 335i, base M3, S4, etc.

I don't even think Acura will make too many of these...lol.

Ken1997TL

I'd be surprised if Honda made more than 500 of the hybrids per model year.

oonowindoo

i will be surprised if they could sell 500 a year

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

i would love to pick up a used one.
after the depreciation hits.

fsttyms1

^ This

Hapa DC5

A one-two year old CPO would be a helluva bargain.

RPhilMan1

28/32/30 MPG in that large of a car would be nice indeed.

What do you think the maintenance (especially long term) would be like with the hybrid system and three electric motors?

charliemike

An A6 3.0TDI Prestige with the Cold Weather and 20" Sport Package is $65K ... So is a 535d X-Drive M-Sport with Cold Weather. I think I'd rather have a diesel than that hybrid. Unless the hybrid gets me in HOV ...

oonowindoo

You are in luck, i don't think you have to wait for long.

Hapa DC5

I don't foresee much in terms of maintenance.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

yeah, but I'm not even close to selling my current car.

Edward'TLS

For hybrid vehicles, the hybrid battery pack is the item that requires attention for long term ownership.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

I'd love to get one once it has taken a 50% depreciation in 3 years. I just love all those features, 30 combined mpg, instant torque, and the whole 3 motor setup with torque vectoring.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

it'll probably be my next vehicle.

neuronbob

It'll likely be my next vehicle. The primary question is "when"? I'm not leasing this puppy at full price. If dealers want to play the "it's rare, you have to pay MSRP or go fish", then I will go fish. Even on my uber-rare, unicorn manual CTS-V wagon I paid slightly under invoice. . I don't expect this car under invoice, but expect some decent cash on the hood, no matter how limited production is.

neuronbob

Official comment from Acura:

Acura Media Newsroom - RLX - Acura Releases RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD ? the Most Powerful and Technologically Advanced Acura Sedan Ever Created

There's a silver moon/ebony Advance calling my name in California. For me, the hard part now begins as I try to wait and see whether there is any change for 2015, whether they will build any, and if so, enough that there will be even a smidge of discount.

You guys may not like the sport hybrid, but I am really geeked by the tech in it.

ttribe

Why this as opposed to alternatives?

oonowindoo

We all know that you love that RLX.

But i personally would suggest you to lease, instead of buy. because of the questionable hybrid SHAWD drivetrain.

if you still love it after 2/3 years of lease then you can buy it at residual later.

neuronbob

My plan is to lease. All this new drivetrain tech is unproven and I sure don't want to actually own. As far as why this particular car?

Been waiting for this for over ten years. First practical use of the Honda Dualnote hybrid sports car system. Despite Honda's style failures of the last few years, they make some fricking amazing tech. Some of it works out. Some of it doesn't (IMA hybrid). Dualnote started out as IMA and the ATTS all-wheel drive system and it became the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system.

Honda Dualnote - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Honda Worldwide | Tokyo 2001
Honda Worldwide | Tokyo 2001

Basically, this car fixes the only two things I didn't like about my RL: smallish rear seat and lack of low-end torque. Do I wish for more exciting style? Yeah. It's not that bad in that it looks like a big 9G Accord....which is not bad for me since I LIKE the looks of the 9G Accord.

Don't like the styling of the Q70 hybrid, and no AWD. It is cheaper, though.
The BMW Active Hybrid 5 is much more expensive when optioned like the RLX, not AWD, and less powerful.
I love the Tesla Model S and it may be an option whn the Supercharger network is complete. Not now, however.

I'm not opposed to looking at a diesel 5-series or an A6 TDI.

ttribe

This one.

oonowindoo

You know none of us has any problem with the RLX itself. it is just at the current State of Acura, they needed more. I am sure you know that.

If you like the RLX Hybrid, then that is all it matters.

Also the Activehybrid 5 series is really not all that. It is not really faster and it does not really have great MPG in the real world. Any benefits from the battery is offset by the added weight.
But don't let the Activehyrbrid 5's MSRP fool you, it is leased at pretty much the same rate as a well equipped 535i.

neuronbob

Sorry guys, I don't mean to come off like a fanboi. but yeah, I guess I'm transparent in my sport hybrid love.

I have the same concern about Acura in general the rest of you have. Marketing sucks and they don't know what they want to be. Design team is simply abysmal. Imagine the RLX with evocative styling and with more competitive pricing. Or the TLX with the edgier style of the concept (and, if we are all honest, less 2g IS). Imagine people thinking "SH-AWD" in the same breath as "Quattro". They've had ten years to get that marketing right. Acura is an unmitigated disaster right now because of terrible, Old GM-like, decisions.

And because of that, yet another RL class car is going to die despite class beating tech. Dammit.

I preach to the converted here.

kurtatx

I don't think anyone here can really blame you. This is easily the first truly exciting thing from the calipers in a long time. If it works, it lives up to Acura's previous reputation as a technological brand.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

I'd love to have the RLX Sport Hybrid too. As a kid, Dualnote was one of my favorite cars when it first came out....I was always driving it in GT4.

I always thought this torque vectoring electric setup is very interesting and it's great to see that it's in production now. It's really one of a kind system. It's a great idea on paper - AWD, better handling, better fuel economy, more power. I'd really like to see how it does in the real world.

Belzebutt

So I've FINALLY seen one on the road, after all these months it's been out. I wasn't sure if it was a TLX or RLX, I thought it was a TLX at first because of the size, it's smaller than I expected. The jewel lights look nice, the rear lights are semi-agressive but the profile view is kind of anonymous. Unfortunately the overall shape of this car says "Japanese sedan of some kind", I wish Acura had a design language that can actually be seen from all angles instead of only in the beak/headlights.

oonowindoo

you could not tell if it was a RLX or TLX?

other than both look like Accord, they are nothing alike.

ttribe

Both have an ugly beak.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

They need to hijack Peter Schreyer from Kia or something.

Belzebutt

Not having seen either on the road before (other than the RLX at a car show last year) and having seen pictures of both, yep, I couldn't really tell for sure that the RLX was the RLX. And yeah I can usually tell cars apart.

Edward'TLS

Having seen both the RLX and the TLX on the road a couple days ago, I realize that the vehicle width will give away their identities.

Even though both the RLX and the TLX have the almost lookalike Jewel Headlights, the RLX is much wider in vehicle width, but the TLX is much narrower like the smallish ILX.

neuronbob

I did it. Holy shit, the drive is fabulous. All it needs is A7-type sheet metal and good marketing, to take off. I can hardly wait to see the NSX in the flesh based on how good the drivetrain is.



https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...-drive-920533/

https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...ecking-920785/

oonowindoo

Congrats.

Now you can tell what you REALLY think about that car here in car talk =)

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

Congrats!

Edward'TLS

Congrats on getting the most advanced production Acura on earth.

Enjoy and have fun.

Legend2TL

Congrats!

fsttyms1

Im going to start to rank you right up there as a Fanboy...




Congrats on the new ride

neuronbob

I deserve that.