I purchased my '05 RL new in Aug. '05. It now has 72,000 miles. Prior to purchasing it, I had been trading cars annually since 1999 due to the fact that I just couldn't find a car that I liked enough to keep. After 4+ years, I finally found my automotive soulmate in the RL. Now, a new car is on the horizon for me. I'd be happy with an '10 RL since I like the idea of upgrading to cooled seats, a rearview camera and a little more hp, but I wish the car had the 6 speed automatic transmission. I was hoping that the 2011 RL would be little changed with just an upgrade to the 6 speed which appeared this year on the TL and ZDX. If so, I'd happily wait a year from now and buy a 2011 RL, and be happy for another 5 years. However, recent posts here and on TOV have rumors swirling that the '11 will a total model change to a completely new car, perhaps with a hybrid engine. This doesn't interest me at all. Any thoughts or information on the 2011 would be appreciated so I can make an informed decision on buying an 2010 or waiting for an old model 2011 RL with a 6AT. I'd be seriously bumbed out if I bought the 2010 and the 2011 came out without any changes, other than the new transmission.

Thanks!

 

We do not know anything official about the 2011 RL. I believe that it will be the same as 2010, if they even bother with making it--supplies of the 2010 are very constrained at this time.

What you are reading about the third generation RL is pure speculation. Acura has said nothing publicly and will not until next year. If there's a major change for the 2011 MY (which I doubt), we will hear about it early enough in the year for the biggest car shows (Detroit in Jan., Chicago in early Feb., Cleveland in late Feb., NYC in April). The 2009 which was a big mid-model change, was intro'ed at the Chicago show of 2008. If no change, you may not hear until the summer, as we did with the 2010 RL.

You'll have to hang on to your RL a little longer.

 

There was a lot of talk about providing a 4.8L V-8 420HP SH-AWD or RWD for the first time for the 2011 RL. This was over 18 months ago and there were a few spy photos with an RL with a TSX Hood/Rear:

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=767141

http://www.leftlanenews.com/acura-rl-future.html

The rumors were the all new RL would be about $65,000-$70,000 with the V-8. I’m just taking a SWAG with the V-6 would cost about $55,000-$60,000. This was all before the world economy took it in the shorts.

My guess is Acura will update the 2011 RL with same features as the ZDX (6AT, updated center stack, blind spot monitoring, etc..). I think Acura will want to see how the TL, ZDX and MDX will do in sells before introducing an all new model so soon. Acura might be thinking the ZDX could be the replacement for the RL since they are in similar sales demographics. Either way, all new or refresh, supplies will be very limited.

 

I think the ZDX is closest to what you are wanting in the current line. Isn't it basically built off the RL anyway? or off the MDX. I don't see Acura offering anything as similar to the RL besides the new ZDX. I didn't know the TL has the 6speed auto. It definitely has a 6speed manual.
I think new higher end hybrids is a good thing personally, and some of them have more power and better MPG than the gas only versions.
Acura needs to shake it up IMO.

 

The TL auto is still only 5 speeds.

 

I would be cool for the new RL to have (affordable) Hybrid tech. It just doesn't make any sense to pay so much for a hybrid that it takes +10 years of ownership just to break even compared to a non-hybrid vehicle.

I think folks who can afford a +$60,000 hybrid/diesel vehicle (BMW, Lexus, M-B) are not too concerned about saving $5-$6 bucks at the pump. If they were, they would purchase the non-hybrid for $4,000-$20,000 less.

Keep the hybrid tech under $3,000 and the RL will fly off the lots.

 

We had a RX 400h and it had some awesome acceleration and was scary when making a sudden accelerating/overtaking lane change because of the top heaviness and softness of the RX platform. A hybrid RL would likely have some serious acceleration. It would be like having a V-8 or possibly more for sudden acceleration moves.

 

Honda's MO has been at least 3 years per model change. So I could see this current look stretched for another year or 2. I think the 6 AT making it in there. The blindspot detection and 3-way camera would also be an easy adjustment. We shall see.