TSX69

New Acura RL to Bow at New York Auto Show with Sport Hybrid SH-AWD

Acura has confirmed that the next-generation RL flagship luxury sedan will make its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in April. The car will continue to use a V6 engine, but will gain a hybrid component and use direct-injection as well as an innovative new all-wheel drive system referred to as Sport Hybrid SH-AWD – similar to that showcased on the NSX Concept.

Using a V6 hybrid engine up front to power the front wheels, the system will also make use of two electric motors in the rear, individually powering each wheel. The new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system takes the RL’s current all-wheel setup and transforms it into an electronic system, removing the mechanical components and replacing them with an electronic version. Mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission the result will be an engine that delivers V8 power with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder we are told by Acura Canada senior product planner Emile Korkor.

We were treated to a few renderings of the RL at Honda Canada headquarters and while we can’t share any images with you we can say it certainly has some similarity to the current car, but with a more rear-drive design and large rear fenders – similar to styling cues shown in the new ILX. As for the size of the vehicle, Acura says it will be essentially share dimensions with the current RL, but will gain substantially on the interior. “Think of it as the interior of a 7 Series with the outside space of a 5 Series” said Korkor, stating that the RL will add roominess but not remove the soul of Acura. In addition Acura feels that the size of the RL, not to mention the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, will help deliver mid-size agility.

No details on engine power or output were provided, but Acura did confirm the RL’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will not be standard.

getakey

Thanks for the info
Sign me up!

But if Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is not standard, what will std be?

TSX69

My guess would be regular SH-AWD. Doubtful, but they may go w/ the lighter/simpler AWD like the RDX is getting. Hopefully, they will not have a 280hp FWD base version ...

getakey

Exactly. Was thinking the same thing that Std should not be FWD!

Blazing GT

I think this is the first time in years I will be attending the car show

037

yea...last year I went with one of the aziners and this year you can buy me lunch. Works for me.

I am curious about this V8 power with V4 fuel economy...sounds like a V10 price tag to me.

Litt

exciting news! yes i hope simple awd is standard. fwd would not be becoming.

baboya96

Wonder if there are changes with interior layout. or keep it same since 05...

dwboston

"Regular" SH-AWD has to be standard. There's no way they could get away with a FWD setup on the RL and sell any.

BDoggPrelude

I hate to break it to you guys but the standard RL will likely be FWD. By using electric motors to power the rear wheels the car will do without a rear drive shaft and differential. That means that to make the base model AWD they would be adding in more mechanical parts and increasing the cost of development and production. Notice they include the "Hybrid" lingo in with the SH-AWD. It is most likely that the base model will be a FWD non-hybrid model priced about the same as the outgoing RL. This allows them to keep the entry level RL price lower and leaves room to increase the price of a fully loaded RL by making the AWD drivetrain an option. Yes, it is possible they would bring it out in a standard hybrid AWD across the board but unlikely. Once they put all the effort and money into putting the electric motors and all into the rear end of the base model the costs associated with the simple computer programs that would turn that setup into this "Sport Hybrid SH-AWD" are negligible. At that point they would just make the "Sport" part of the equation standard on all models.

BDoggPrelude

Also, now that Acura has been selling the TL in both a FWD and AWD option they have to be watching the trends on how many of those cars actually leave the dealership with AWD. Yes, it's nice for the enthusiasts like us that appreciate the added handling prowess that comes with the torque vectoring rear end...but to the average consumer AWD just means better traction in adverse weather conditions. Most people in warm weather states could care less and would rather save a few bucks on the FWD model or at least use the extra cash to upgrade to the tech package.

jhr3uva90

I like having an RL for nearly 7 years. However, here's how I feel about the SH-AWD: if I'm going to have a car with the turning radius of an SUV and the milage of an SUV, I might as well get the SUV. At least the new system will address the milage issue.

Professor

I think I'm an 8, but my wife swears by a four.


GD Honda... make an 8. If I want butter, then I want butter and not some "tasty" spread.

After my TSX is paid, I'm done with Honda/Acura.

Professor

And when one of those motors locks up, which all motors will eventually do, I bet the cost of a replacement transmission would be a joke.

thephantom

I agree! I've always disliked Honda's turning radius and gas mileage. Even in my 02 TL-S. Another issue to consider is since some RL owners are having issues with the battery powering the technology, I hope the hybrid system's battery is going to be better.

TSX69

Wild thought but does this seem plausible?

The ~180hp FWD ILX replaces the 201/280hp FWD TSX. This leaves room for the new smaller FWD TL to go down to ~230hp. Thus making room for a FWD RL to be ~280hp (the limit Honda/Acura seems to give FWD).

This would be great for overall MPG but not going to help the luxury image for its intended class.

On a side note, do I have this right?

2013: New ILX, RDX & RL (MDX?); ZDX refresh
2014: New TL (NSX?)

That is a lot going on in the next 2 model years.

TSX69

Next Acura RL Will not Have Electric SH-AWD as Standard

Today, TTAC was treated to what might be the first look at Acura’s newest flagship. While we saw renderings of the new car, we weren’t allowed to take photographs – but none of the information released was embargoed.

The look of the next RL can best be described as a current TL mated with a Hyundai Genesis. The overall design is still distinctly Acura, though the rear of the car has a very strong Hoffmeister kink and an overall profile similar to the Genesis or Equus, including a very short rear deck. The taillights echo the Buick Lacrosse – while it sounds unappealing on paper, the design as a whole is not unattractive, just extremely conservative.

The new car is said to be about the size of a 5-Series but with the interior space of a 7-Series. Powertrain details didn’t go much further beyond a V6 of undisclosed displacement, a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox and Acura’s SH-AWD system (previewed on the Accord prototype seen in the above photograph) that uses 2 electric motors in the rear rather than a mechanical linkage to deliver power to the rear wheels and vector torque amongst the left and right rear sides. Acura officials said that the system would not be standard on the new flagship, even though the new technology will be a showpiece for Acura’s new direction as a brand.

Unless Acura has some new super-secret RWD architecture that nobody knows about, the new flagship will have to have an FWD variant. Acura officials wouldn’t comment on the matter, so we’ll have to wait until April’s New York Auto Show for the definitive answer.

oo7spy

I just want to make sure I am understanding the complaints here correctly.

You people want a long wheel base car that gives great rear leg room, but you also want a tight turning radius?

That don't make no sense.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

Dont forget they want 30+mpg too Although that request isnt as unreasonable as the truning radius one. I actually make some pretty tight turns in my RL. Its better than my TLS was

dwboston

I'm just not interested in a FWD RL. I live in New England, and AWD is a must. It just doesn't make sense that Acura would stick with regular SH-AWD in its other cars (RDX, MDX, TL) and offer only a completely different AWD setup in the RL. Maybe they offer 3 trim levels - FWD, regular SH-AWD, and new SH-AWD - but that doesn't seem cost-effective either. I said this before in another post, but after my experience with the 2005 RL I won't be lining up for the first model year with the new SH-AWD system. Too much new technology and too many unforeseen bugs. I'll give them a year to shake it out and look for a 2014 model, unless they totally screw up the styling.

neuronbob

Thanks TSX69.

So I expect pics from you New York guys who attend the Auto Show this spring. Post or ban!

I keep bouncing back and forth between buying a TSX wagon or the next RL. Whatever my next car is, it will have better mileage than my CTS-V.

FWD RL will bring some buyers back to the RL, who live in dry areas and never saw the appeal in SH-AWD. I don't think that's such a bad idea, though I'd prefer a standard RL to have SH-AWD (as opposed to Sport-Hybrid AWD).

Pan0k

So now we have SH-SH-AWD or SH^2-AWD or SH˛-AWD - Sport Hybrid Super Handling All Wheel Drive. Interesting that Acura is going to put 7 series stuff into a 5 series size and along with it the 7 series price. Well the engine/transmission sounds good. I hope the MPG is higher. Right now my 2006 RL is getting around 19MPG. In terms of technology, I also hope they throw in MirrorLink which Honda is a Charter Member.

If the price is in the 40s that then maybe I will consider replacing my current RL.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

Dont hold your breath. I see the Sports Hybrid one being in the high $50Ks-$60K

dwboston

I agree. The CMBS/PAX RL had a $54k sticker. I can easily see the Sports Hybrid AWD RL with a sticker north of $60K.

EL_PIC

That will be some kinda trick !

BDoggPrelude

You guys do understand that FWD based vehicles have an inherently larger turning radius just due to the mechanics behind a front driven car with a transversally mounted engine, right? If you want a tight turning radius buy a RWD car.

037

Bob, I'll see what I can do about the photos, especially cause it's got some Genesis genes

sorry, I couldn't hold off on that one.

Professor

Just curious... for this supposed RL, what would be the price difference of a RWD format v. FWD? And what would be the difference in estimated miles per gallon?

oo7spy

It's all speculation now.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

LoL

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

I'll bite, but only cause I still picture you calling your dog with a .45.

FWD would cost the company less than RWD which should in turn make the retail price less.

MPG should be a few gallons more with the FWD thanks to less hardware between the tranny and the wheels.

SSjTrunks112O

Yep, my ticket to the NY Autoshow is all but punched & I will also share my findings if I go before 037 does.. Are any other Aziners going to the show as well??

vybzkartel

Might go...on a weekday tho. Too crowded on the weekend!

Then again, seeing that pics and info will be available on the interwebs before the show is open to the public, I most likely won't see the need to go.
'06 was the last time I went!

037

or we can all go at the same time so we can talk about it as we see it...it's always different in person vs the magazines. Plus we'll know what to look for once we see what they have to say.

oo7spy

:gheyhug:

:gheywave:

037

oo7spy

Type-S RPh

So they are going with "RL" as the name? What happend to bringing back the "Legend" name plate? Also, are they gonna build this one here like the next gen NSX? If so, that may keep costs down a bit. While I'm not a fan of having FWD as the base setup for a "flagship", it makes some sense. It follows the Honda/Acura tradition of building almost exclusively FWD based vehicles. Except for the NSX and S2000 all of their products have been FWD based. Its no different than Lincoln, Volvo, Saab (RIP), or other non Tier-1 luxury car makers.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

I think he was calling you a lady part... and not or

oo7spy

The Legend name is gone. Think, Lexus, Infiniti, Audi, MB, and BMW all run combinations of letters and numbers that have no meaning. While I agree that "Legend" is better, I just don't ever see it happening.

Since Fall 1985, Legends have been built and assembled in Saitama, Saitama, Japan. How would it be cost effective to change an entire factory to host a new vehicle? The Legend sells around the world with the steering wheel on the right side, and there are a lot of buyers who buy the RL because 95+% of its build comes from/happens in Japan. I am one of them.

I am what I eat...

I see nothing wrong.