true

I recently had my 2006 RL in for service and was fortunate enough to spend a few days in the dealer's 2009 loaner.

Since I haven't seen too many 09 pictures or comments, I wanted to post a few of my thoughts along with some back to back pictures I took.

With that being said, keep in mind if you detect any bias towards my 06.

These are simply exterior comparison pictures:

2009 RL Nose

2006 RL Nose

2009 RL 3/4 Nose

2006 RL 3/4 Nose

2006 RL Side

2009 RL Side

2009 RL 3/4 Rear

2006 RL 3/4 Rear

2009 RL Rear

2006 RL Rear


Below are a few interior differences that I noticed:

2009 RL Headrest -- is this different in the CMBS Model?

2006 RL Headrest

2009 HVAC Controls

2006 HVAC Controls

2009 Roof Controls

2006 Roof Controls

2009 Seat Heat/AC Control

2006 Seat Heat Control

2009 Center Console Shifter

2006 Center Console Shifter


I'm sure there were other differences between 05+ and 09+ that I didn't notice, but my goal was to take some pictures of some obvious things I came across.

Regarding the additional power -- strangely, I felt that my 06 was quicker off the line. While I felt the additional 09 torque was evident at higher RPM's, I felt that my 06 was certainly quicker off the line.

Other than that -- the car is basically the same, so it drove extremely tight and accurate as expected. I am partial to the 09 rear, except for its taillights. I prefer the 06 front.

One final closing thought -- after returning the 09 and getting into my 06 for the first time in a few days, I must admit the 06 'felt' to be the older/dated car.

Overall, I'm completely satisfied with my RL -- love it. I can't say enough about this vehicle, still feel it's the best value in its class by far!

Since I had a few additional pictures, I'll include a few CMBS specific high resolution photographs:

Radar Control Sheild

Steering Wheel CMBS Distance Button


--Nick

Rhlieu

09 RL loaner? I did not know there was such a thing!


Great pictures! Everything in the 06 just seem to flow better, where the 09 just looks forced? (could be bias too, 05 RL owner )

037

The headrest shown for 09 looks the same as the CMBS model.

Chas2

The headrests are the new active head restraints mandated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. They distinctly improved the safety scores in the RL for head restraints.

Chas2

I also meant to say to True, thanks for doing this! These are great illustrative photos!

Any driving impressions vs your CMBS model?

The voice recognition is supposed to be improved with the new comparative microphone set up, the handling better with stiffer suspension, bigger anti-roll bars. I have to believe the AC controls are easier to work. The engine should be more responsive, especially with the fatter and higher torque curve.

I am particularly curious as to how you feel the car is without PAX. Not from a comfort standpoint so much as the lack of unsprung weight. As I have droned on like a broken record, when I de PAXed, I lost 92 lbs in unsprung weight and the car really feels different, much more lively. Until the DBW got used to the new driving patterns, the throttle was almost described as touchy, put your foot down, and you got too much acceleration.

Thanks

LiveNupe

How does the active head restraint system work?

037

I believe in a collision the seat moves forward with you, so when you fall back you don't have as much of a distance to travel.

Islandsnowz

nice comparison pics. IMO the 09 in black does not look as lively as the other colors or even the 06.

PixelHarmony

Love the HVAC Controls on the 09, just makes more sense. Other than that I still love my 06!

CFoote

The 09's Climate Control panel is about $250. Not sure if it would work with the older cars though. I wish someone who knew their parts guy well would give it a shot I agree having the MODE and FAN buttons is nice.

Chris

getakey

Unlike others, I did not have a big problem with the nose on the 09 when it first came out. I am warming up to it the more I see it, but the RL may go away before I get a chance to buy another one.

Chas2

Acura has not, to my knowledge, released info about how the RL active restraint works, but a clue can be found in this 2005 press release about the 2006 Civic design. Here is one case where the flagship does not get everything!

http://world.honda.com/news/2005/4051205.html
The 2006 Civic marks the introduction of Honda's new Active Head Restraint front seat design that enhances the seat's ability to minimize the potential for neck injuries caused by rear end collisions. In the event of a rear collision, a person's body is pushed against the seatback. The pressure from the seatback is transmitted mechanically from the lumbar plate via links that push the head restraint upward and forward to help to equalize the forces acting on the head, neck and spine.

The new TL has a similar, more detailed description, and is probably similar to the RL system:

http://www.hondanews.com/categories/735/releases/4675
The 2009 TL is fitted with new active front head restraints designed to help minimize the risk of neck injuries in the event of a rear impact. The head restraint is mechanically linked to a lumbar plate located inside of the front seatback. In a rear impact, the passenger's body pushes against the seatback, causing the head restraint to move forward in a carefully prescribed arc. This motion helps equalize the impact forces transmitted to the head, neck and spine as the occupant's head moves backward during the collision. Effectively managing and dispersing this energy is critical to help minimize the potential for injuries. For 2009, the Active Head Restraint System is specifically tuned to further reduce forces imparted in a rear impact.

The new TSX has a less detailed description

http://www.hondanews.com/categories/742/releases/4435
The 2009 TSX features active front headrests for the first time. The new Active Headrest Restraint System has been designed to help minimize the risk of neck injuries in the event of a rear impact. In a rear impact, the driver and front passenger's bodies are pushed against the seatback, causing the head restraints to move forward in a carefully prescribed arc. This action helps equalize the forces transmitted to the head, neck and spine throughout the collision, a critical factor in helping to minimize potential injuries.

psheu

you forgot the inner door panels also.... the 09 have the grab-on handle / coin tray where the 05-08 is flat arm rest

active head retrain or not, I still prefer the softer, plush pillow that 05-08 have.... If I do have an 09, (hard pillow) that's the first to go.....

Chas2

It's not about the comfort, it's about the whiplash!

socal28

Great photo comparison!
Though my center console plate and cup holder are the same now.

psheu

i think the active head restrain is embedded in the back of the seat.... if you swap out the pillow/head rest, will that affect the system in anyway? compared to the 05-08, the 09 head rest is like a rock..... I mean, all active head restrain is, is that it move forward to catch passenger's head so it won't get throw back as much..... won't softer pillow be more ideal to catch the passenger's head?

acuda

Thanks for that nice photo comparison. Very helpful.

In regard to the active head restraints, Honda/Acura worked very hard to remedy its only mediocre score (shared by many other brands) in past collision tests by coming up with this system. It works. The crash test dummies like it. I certainly wouldn't tinker with it in any way.

As Chas's detailed info states, it is a pivot system that couples and uses the rearward motion of ones lower body being driven into the seatback during a rear collision to create a forward and upward motion of the headrest. You can demonstrate it easily by firmly pushing into the lower seatback of any recent honda car and watching the headrest move forward.

neuronbob

That's the best photo comparo of the 2005-08 to the 2009 we've seen to date. Thank you very much!

true

Sure -- a few additional thoughts that I remembered today:

1) This is unrelated to the 09, but I actually did not like the wood steering wheel, which really suprised me. I've wanted one for some time and was happy that the 09 had it. I thought that the clear coating on the wheel made it slippery and gave it a feeling of cheap material. I was expecting a nice solid, almost heavy feeling, but it almost felt like a toy to me. I did like the new shape with the better grips, but I am no longer planning on adding this to my 06.

2) On my 2006, I have to switch into Manual mode in order for the paddle shifters to do anything. On the 09 RL, once in drive, the paddle shifters ALWAYS work, and I didn't see any way to disable this behavior.

I paired my bluetooth phone to the 09 RL and did not notice any differences in call quality, volume, or voice recognition. Certainly does not mean there were not improvements.

Well, following up on my previous comments above, I feel decently confident that my car had noticeably quicker acceleration, particularly off the line. The 09 I drove did feel more torque'y in 2nd+ gear in the higher RPM range; but I have to say, the CMBS really seems to move! I do not have any recent non-CMBS or non-09 experience for comparison, and no HP graphs or track times to back this up.

I DE-PAXed the car shortly after I got it and I could immediately tell when flooring the 09 that it didn't feel any faster at all -- potentially slower. So when I got my 06 CMBS back after driving the 09 for about a week, I immediately noticed the quicker acceleration. (I didn't accelerate much past ~40 MPH, so again, not a good test case, no material evidence to back this up, may really be slower 50+, etc..)

Interestingly, non CMBS owners might rightfully so think we are losing it, but I felt compelled to research a little further. According to Acura OEM parts, just about all of the part numbers between the CMBS/PAX and non-CMBS/PAX electrical components are the same, EXCEPT for the Engine Control Module! I'm sure it has additional logic to work the radar and other things, but I have to wonder if maybe Acura tweaked the ECU have more aggressive engine timing to make up for the unsprung weight gain. Sounds possible, but also very likely that the weight savings alone could be the reason. In the Honda/Acura world, we all recognize weight loss is often one of the best modifications. (I have a fully built turbo CRX too...) Since we don't have spare tire kits and the wheel weights of the PAX system is so heavy, this may warrant the increased feeling of pep.

--Nick

db22

Any changes, by the manufacturer, to the ECU involve a re-certification by the EPA so I seriously doubt that Acura changed anything associated with their engine certification. This certification takes months and costs in excess of $100K per engine type.
If CMBS makes a perceived difference to your performance then you could really add some horsepower by removing the trunk tray!

Chas2

true,

Thanks for the comparison! Great work!



The 2006 RL, even with PAX is slightly lighter than the 2009 RL.

2006 (equiv to 2007+ Tech Pkg trim) is 4012
2006 with CMBS/PAX is 4074

2009 without Tech. Package is 4083
2009 with Tech. Package is 4085
2009 with Tech. & CMBS/ACC Packages is 4110

The transmission ratios are unchanged between 2005-2009. So if you DePAX and lose 92 lbs (in my case, not sure on your weights, but it should be close) in unsprung weight...that might make the difference you feel.

Even if you add back 40 + lbs with the spare, that would be sprung weight, and you are still riding and estimated 50 or 60 lbs less than the 2009 Tech Pkg

But you are right, without instrumentation, it is all just speculation...is 50 lbs less weight that significant? Probably not....but 90 lbs of unsprung weight loss may be, especially when overcoming inertia from stopped...

but it is entertaining to speculate!

I know, must be the 2006 Cd of 0.29 vs the 2009 Cd of 0.30!

psheu

LOL.... are you suggesting that humongous nose grill have something to do with the speed and caused the Cd to increase..... hahahahaa

TampaRLX-SH

In fact....yes.

The nose of the 09 RL is higher and more blunt. The hood has less slope, being shortened and the fenders are slightly higher, all increasing the drag. Honda is an industry leader with pedestrian impact design. Acura needs to better style it, IMHO.

The primary pupose was to make the RL comply with pedestrian impact regulations. As a result you see more blunt front ends on new vehicles as not to slice a pedestrain in half, but instead have the front of the vehicle absorb the impact and lessening the physical trauma.

Further, Acura made claims that this more blunt front end gives the car more visual presence, which I guess the schnoz alone was not enough.

TampaRLX-SH

A few other differences, if not subtle....

The rear seat bottom is slight different to aid ingress and egress.

I believe the metallic look trim of the center stack is more bronze colored than the previous silver finish.

And mostly I would be curious if the SHAWD logic tweeks are noticeable? It may be difficult to isolate along with the wheel size changes, engine change and suspension tuning.

triniexr

The 09 interior looks more like our 05 - 09 Canadian versions now with the Onstar missing and the cooled seats :-)

This should pretty up the front of the 09's though.

http://www.automotiveconcepts.net/st...duct_863.html#

037

I personally thought it wasn't that great looking. No spot to shove my CMBS either...next.

triniexr

I like it better than the Acura one but my personal favourite is the European front.

Mr. Incredible

what exactly is this and what does it do? I've seen it on the AMG E and S Class MBZ as well:

DandyG23

It's the front radar for the CMBS on the RL. Any other questions?

037

radar cruise control as well as radar collision mitigating braking system

Mr. Incredible

well yeah I asked what does it do..

so I gather from 037's post it is part of the self adjusting cruise control system and collision avoidance system..


nicer looking than the bullet holes they use on the Chrysler's (they use the same style radar for the self adjusting cruise control that they use for the back up sensors)..

though it probably makes aftermarket grille choices minimal..

DandyG23

It senses that you are too close to the vehicle in front of you and applies light brake pressure and gives you a warning in the MID. Also, if somebody cuts in front or sudden brakes it will apply full pressure which should get your attention by that time.

037

full pressure is only in un-avoidable collisions.

Chas2

Here is the press release in 2005 introducing the new capability for 2006
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/757/releases/2718

COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM™ (CMBS™)The 2006 RL is the first Acura vehicle to offer an optional Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™). This revolutionary safety technology monitors potential rear-end collisions, uses audio, visual and tactile signals to alert drivers to the risk of collision, assists brake operation and tensions the front seatbelts to help reduce impact on occupants and vehicle damage should a collision become unavoidable. Unlike pre-collision systems on competitive vehicles, CMBS automatically applies the brakes to mitigate the severity of a collision.

Using a millimeter-wave radar unit located inside the front grille, the CMBS system monitors the distance between the RL and the car directly in front of it up to a distance of 300 feet and the rate of closure between the two vehicles. When that closing rate increases to a point where a collision is likely to occur (based on relative vehicle speeds and following distance) the system uses visual, and audible warnings to prompt the driver to take preventative action. If, based on the driver's response, the system determines that the likelihood of a collision has decreased to an acceptable level, the CMBS system will disengage. If, however, the driver's response does not sufficiently reduce the risk of a collision, the system will issue a secondary warning, consisting of audible, visual and tactile elements as well as light braking, to alert the driver to take action. If the closing rate increases so much that a collision becomes unavoidable, CMBS can initiate hard braking to reduce the vehicle's speed, and tension the driver's and front passenger's seatbelts to help reduce the severity of the crash.

Stage one: When there is a risk of a collision with the vehicle ahead or if the distance between the vehicles has dropped below the pre-set level, a buzzer sounds and the message "BRAKE" appears on the Multi-information display.

Stage two: If the distance between the two vehicles continues to diminish, CMBS applies light braking, and an electric motor activates the driver's seat belt E-pretensioner, retracting the seatbelt gently two or three times, providing the driver with a tactile warning. The buzzer sounds again and the word "BRAKE" appears again on the Multi-information display.

Stage three: If, after issuing the primary and secondary warnings, the system determines that a collision is unavoidable, the E-pretensioner retracts the driver's and front passenger's seatbelts with enough force to compensate for seatbelt slack or baggy clothing and activates the brakes forcefully to reduce the speed of impact and mitigate the effects of the collision on the RL and its occupants.

The CMBS system functions only when the RL is traveling at over 10 miles per hour and when the speed differential between the RL and the car directly in front it is 10 mile per hour or more. It can be turned off by depressing a switch located on the left hand side of the instrument panel.

Mr. Incredible

sounds interesting... not sure I like the idea of K.I.T.T. (or would that be HAL) having that much control, but you have to admire the technology..

dwboston

There's nothing "gently" about the Stage 2 seatbelt retraction. It's scared the crap out of me a couple of times.

Chas2

I agree that when Stage 1 kicks in, it gets your attention, and when Stage 2 kicks in you are automatically standing on the brakes and your heart rate goes way up...it grabs your attention for sure. The retraction is firm, but when Stage 3 kicks in, it is like the ground crewman using his foot to push your shoulder into the ejection seat while he is pulling the straps tighter. You become very firmly attached to your seat.

Stage 1, 2 and 3 can blend into an almost continuous escalating event. I believe this system has saved me from an accident because not only does it start to brake for you, you automatically stand on the brakes when you are beeped, flashed and tugged at, before you may be able to fully take in the whole situation (when you are not paying attention). It gives you that half second or more "head start" on the braking which can be the 2 or 3 feet between empty space and a crash.

037

Chas...I don't want to drive with you.

I've never got hit with stage 3 and I don't see how one can manage it without crashing.

I have done stage 2 when switching lanes with a car less than 10 feet away, but all that is controlled, light tap on the brake disingages the system.

dwboston

I've gotten stage 2 a couple of times due to metal plates in the road (which is noted in the owners manual as a possible occurrence) - it's scary when you aren't expecting it. It has saved me a couple of time whe the car in front stops or slows unexpectedly - more so in city traffic than on the highway surprisingly.

037

never had an issue with any road plates.

I did get an ACC check light after installing the springs once, but it hasn't repeated after turn off, turn on..