The 09 is so close to the 05 - 08 RL's that I would hardly call it 3rd gen. Looking at the interior, a different shift gate and cooled seats does not increment the gen by one. The 10 sounds like a different car which would make it the 3rd gen. Am I correct on this or is Acurazine going to add a 3 Gen thread?

 

The 2009 is still a 2G. The 2009 is a MMC, albeit a significant one.

MMC: Minor Model Change - Mid-cycle freshening of an existing model. Often limited to subtle cosmetic changes but sometimes new trim levels and/or drivetrain options are introduced.

I expect that there will be a little changed 2010 model and the new 3G RL will be 2011 model introduced in late calendar year 2010. It is also possible that they will skip a year based on 09 sales and the positioning of the new TL.

That is my two cents.

 

it's not a 3rd gen it's just a mid cycle refresh. Honda/Acura is just pushing the RL cycle one year longer to 6 years instead of the usual 5.

 

Still a 2 Gen, extensively revised though.
The current model was pushed one more year so that the new 3 Gen 2011 RL will coincide with Acura's Japan launch. No more rebadged Legend.

 

Can we call 2009 generation 2.5?

 

I call it ugly

 

I've read in a couple places that the RL Generations are as follows:

1st Generation 1996 - 1998

2nd Generation 1999 - 2004

3rd Generation 2005 - Present

http://wikicars.org/en/Acura_RL


From another article:
The RL is Acura’s flagship 4-door sedan that replaced the Legend in 1996. With an extensive update for the 1999 model year that included new styling, a refined interior, improved suspension and HID headlights. The third-generation RL debuted for the 2005 model year with new high-tech features and Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive System (SH-AWD).

 

That's not correct. Wikipedia FTL! 1999 was the first year for the 1G RL's MMC and 2004 was the last. Our beloved 2005+ is the 2G RL.