If the past is any indicator, the previous generation RL received its refresh when the 3rd gen TL came out. Feature wise they both offered the same stuff, but the TL delivered it in a realy sweet modern way. If you looked at them side by side the TL was a no brainer..

Now the RL has received changes, but will that be enough to justify it above the new upcoming TL? We've read that this new TL "will do what the 3rd gen did the the 2nd gen TL" so I have big expectations..

I would have to agree with everyone else here this new TL may cannibalize new RL sales..

 

Me too. Plus the RL and TL are very different inside and appeal to a different demographic for the most part. IMO, the RL will continue to plod along until the 2010 FMC. Plus, if I were in the market for a SH-AWD car, I'm not sure I'd be lining up for it in an all-new first-year 2009 TL. For all its alleged faults, the RL is a mature platform and most of the bugs have been worked out.

 

Yeah, the "made in Japan" part was why I switched to Acura from Honda in the first place, and ventilated seats are also good, but CMBS is just another way for lazy drivers to pay even less attention to the road ahead, and while I love the idea and execution, adaptive lighting is really just a gimic, IMO.

That said, if the TL gets an SH-AWD option, I will have to consider it seriously.

 

While Acura might have pulled the RL, in some markets the corresponding Honda Legend doesn't have to compete with the TL.

I think Acura wanted to at least keep the RL name alive, and did so by tweaking the Legend (again). I agree that with the new TL, the RL's positioning in the lineup will become even shakier until it is completely redesigned.

It will be a lonely wallflower in the showroom and on the lot.

How about some reverse marketing: Maybe the RL can be the "limited edition" Acura. You know -- roped off on the showroom floor -- only available to serious buyers. Make something exclusive and people will suddenly become interested.

Rob144

 

Indeed the LEGEND is soldiering on. Sales in China and Russia have been the hot spots for LEGEND and RL.

But even the LEGEND will drift away as it will be replaced by the Acura RL upon launch of the next Gen RL and the Acura brand (already in China).

I for one, will be happy the 09-10 RL does not sell. That will be less therapy and anger management required after encounting it in opposing traffic.

 

As I said....the only way to move the RL is to get people from outside the Honda-Acura sphere to see it....that's a good idea.

It's also be a bit of auto sales honesty. It IS a "limited edition".

 

I think it will go both ways here. I highly doubt that the SH-AWD TL will drive or feel like the RL. The RL will always be a more sophisticated car than the TL (sophisticated meaning less sporty in this case).

It will come down to, do you want an AWD sport sedan or do you want an AWD luxury sedan. It may turn out that the AWD TL will gain sales for Acura that would have gone to Infiniti in years past. Some people go to the G35X over the TL because they feel AWD is a necessity and they don't like the softer ride of the RL. The 09 TL could keep some of them with Acura.

 

Has anyone else stopped by their dealer to ask about this statement that the RL was released? I haven't had a chance, but was going to try this week.

I'm really curious to see this beast in person. I know TampaRl cautions against looking directly at the grill (for fear of burning your retinas). But it's like a bad car wreck. You can't help but take a quick look.

 

^^^
I haven't stopped by, but I have been in contact with them.

As of 10:46 AM, there were none in Peabody MA.

 

I hadn't thought about that. That's an excellent point that is particularly relevant here on the frigid North Coast.

 

But the ugly grill make the thing looks like a Saturn. Just like the TSX and the RL.

 

The spyshots prove one thing to me. The styling of the 3rd Gen TL is insurmountable for Acura designers. They've peaked and are in a tailspin.

Clean house, move on, or just close up shop.

 

Agreed.

 

For those who havn't checked this out yet, on caranddriver.com they did a short road test write up on the 09 RL with pics..

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/buying_guide/acura/rl/2009_acura_rl/2009_acura_rl_sh_awd_short_take_road_test/(page)/1

 

I found some additional spyshots and the TL does indeed look strange. The grill is one thing, but take a closer look at the rear. The trunk, rear, lights and rear quarter panels all meet each other at weird angles.

Acura seems to be going through a "Bangle" phase. I remember when the new 7 series came out and how a lot of people were taken back by the strange styling (I use to own BMWs prior to buying this).

But, one thing is for sure, as ugly as that car was at first, Bangle's style has seemingly set the trend for a few auto manufacturers. Look no further than our RL; it has the "Bangle" butt. Same can be said of a lot of cars.

And actually (and quite strangly), the Bangle 7 series has grown on me . I'm actually thinking about buying a good CPO 750i.

 

From the C&D article comes this gem:

Way to go, Acura -- let's make an inefficient sedan even MORE inefficient. And I thought my RL was bad at 18 MPG.

With those mileage numbers, it should be an SUV or have a V8 under the hood. It's just inexcusable to be getting better mileage in a Mustang or an S-class than in a V6 sedan.

 

Anyone get the official 09 RL brochure yet? I got one in the mail yesterday. I found it strange that on the front cover, they have a 3/4 view of the car from the rear. You don't get to see the face of the car until you are a couple pages in.

 

I got the brochure on saturday. I must say that the car looks nice in "jade platinum pearl" it's like a lighter "grigio metallic". btw from the pics at Car and Driver, it seems that now they put the radar behind the grille's opening!..looks like a black tooth!

 

Why don't you ask? After all, you work for a dealer, right?

 

I started a post on this last week, all dealers have them.


The 09 RL will be the same car to the basic consumer, so do NOT expect sales to go up, IMO.

 

What am I asking and to whom?

I have one of the brochures and was pointing out that the cover shows the car from behind. I think everyone here understands why they aren't showing us the grill on the cover.

So really the only question I asked was whether any Azine members have the brochure or have looked at one.


Don't get me started Lumpy

 

I got the "Style" magazine in the mail today... the "semi-regular" Acura owners magazine and they have a whole spread about the photo shoot, including the primary photo that starts the article, which shows the front of the car. Looks a lot better than I thought it was going to, and it's nice to see pictures of the car actually on the street, instead of in a studio.

 

Well unfortunately that's what happens when you add more power, high drag with the taller front end and bigger tires to an already heavy, AWD vehicle. A 6 speed auto might have helped, but there isn't one available....

 

I think they are acknowledging that the front isn't so attractive.

 

I was looking at the latest Style magazine with the '09 story and decided I will try painting the "Tuufy" and surround to match the body color. The chrome is just too much for the drastic sheet metal/plastic design

The front shot photo in the magazine makes it easier to conceptualize what single color might look like. I think that it will remove much of the sunk in look that now glares at you when you see it. Maybe "soften" is a better description. A few hundred bucks to a body shop should (I repeat should) clean up the look. For that kind of money. what could it hurt???

I also liked the weather screen (p. 05). Much like what I get on my phone.

I wouldn't mind if most of the rest of the world despises the looks of the car. Maybe Acura will discount the '09 by 5 grand in May. Selfish? yes, but it will help ease the frustration of even lower gas mileage

Quick side note - I am looking at the new Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid and since it uses regular gas, my probable fuel costs for the '09 RL and the "09 Tahoe is only $125 difference for the entire year.

 

I stopped by the dealer and picked one up. Yea, not many shots of the front. Wonder why?

By the way, this dealer hadn't received any either, however, they seemed to think they were being sent to some dealers already. Anyone see one yet?

 

Answer the question...you work for a dealer, right? Sales, right?

I'm sure you know exactly when they will arrive.

So tell us, we're all ears.

 

They are coming early July per my dealer.
What does it matter, slightly improved but there will be no more sales than the 08 model, the consumer will not even notice the changes other than the grill. Does anyone really think any changes on the 09 RL made will do much for sales????? The mileage numbers may even hurt sales.
I am anxious to drive it because I am a car enthusiast and have tons of free time.

 

No need for this here, please. Thanks.

 

With 10k off the 08's...i would have gone for an 08 if i could have, easy.


I'm sure the 09's will have that intial burst of sales....wait what's a lesser word for "burst"? But they'll sell some.

Again, if people can get past the grille, i'm sure the extra goodies are worth it. But you just pay it a different way now. Instead of paying for the extra stuff earlier, you end up paying it later since gas mileage is down.

 

A lesser work for burst would be spurt, I think.

 

With the 1 ad I have seen for the 09 in Car & Driver I do not see that making people run out & buy. It is a pretty bad ad. Emphasis on Nav weather which from what I have seen is a terrible interface, to me the cool nav weather would overlay the radar feed over the map not symbols.

 

Hmm, I think a spurt may be overstating it also. Maybe an extra "dribble" for a few months. Anything less than a dribble?

 

Interesting that the new NSX seems to be based on the current RLs aluminum components. Likey very little, but still the RL is proving to be very integral in Honda & Acura products.

"One source told us the 2+2 will wear a ‘hybrid’ aluminium and steel body to reduce weight, and sit on a modified version of the US Acura RL saloon platform. "


http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...s_stripes.html

PS. If this is the true rendering of the NSX, I am glad I sold the S2000 already. THIS car would make a nice stablemate to my RL!

 

hey tampa - a bit off topic, but how's your diesel prices at the dock? I paid 5.15 over the weekend. Thought it was going to be a lot more based on street prices (5.20) in SF, CA.

 

The 2009 RL might ooze sales upon its debut.

Or its sales might actually seep. Which is somewhere between ooze and dribble.

 

I paid $4.92 a week ago. $2,755.00 to top off the tanks, which where not even empty.

THAT will LAST the remainder of the summer. Marina party anyone?

 

This is the "Official" Acura Definition (and expectation?)

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus
Main Entry: crawl
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: To advance slowly.
Synonyms: drag, inch