I took a close look at the new Hyundai Equus @ Pelican Hill GC in Laguna last week. Those Hyundai folks are really stepping up to the plate with this one. If Acura can do something like that, but with AWD/more features (hard to do...)(maybe better use features...) they will have a winner.

 

a $60k Acura will be a big fail. VW tried that with the Phaeton...

Acura needs to #1 - put a motor into the RL that is BIGGER and more POWERFUL than the other ones...

bmw doesn't have a 350i... they have a 335i.. it's fast..but you can ultimately get a bigger/ more powerufl motor if you bump up to the 5 series.

porsche does not let you get as much HP in the boxster as you do int he cayman. they have intentionally tuned the boxster to be the slowest. the cayman is the next fastest and the 911 is THE fastest. they could have easily made a caymna as fast or FASTER than a 911, but they won't do it...

Acura needs to differentiate their lineup more.. they have too much overlap...

you have a V6 TSX, TL, and RL - all with basically identical motors, and the only real difference being slight diffeernces in size/layout and then the big difference being features and quality of materials..

if the RL is going to sell - it needs to be differenet from the TL.... how they are going to do that is a tough one. The new TL is pretty big.. unless they plan to make the RL 7 series / LS Lexus in size...then it's just going to be another really nice / fully loaded TL aimed more toward luxury...

had Acura gone to a V8 powered or hell, even turbo charge the V6...and put hp in the mid to high 300s.. they woudl have a seriosu luxo sedan.. but they woon't do that...

whatever they do they need to market it. make it good and then show the world how good it is...

 

Acura's current line up and situation is the result of an attempt to move the entire line up upscale. The RSX dropped. The TSX pushed up to TL territory and the TL pushed up to RL territory. The RL was to be larger, V8 and RWD configuration. But before Acura could make this upturn shift in the line up, the market / economy & consumer demand crashed. The V8 RWD RL was cancelled (Along with the NSX halo car) leaving a very overlapping line up. That cancelled RL was to be north of 60K (and A challenge for Acura's brand image and marketing) but that was the plan. The result is a very awkward overlap between the new 4th Gen TL and the soldiering 2nd Gen RL.

What Acura's 'Smart Luxury' will turn out to be remains to be seen. I still anticipate it being launched in 2012 as a 2013 model. I still expect the 2011 & 2012 RL to be a revision of the current car and platform.

There is another option however. The current RL soldiers on another year and an all new flagship is launched under a new name....such as LEGEND. It is all timed with Honda's retirement of the LEGEND name and the introduction of a new Acura platform and flagship. It would allow both models to live simultaneously as the current car is phased out in platform and name. Just a guess, but a possibility.

***Greetings from 324 NM East of Ft Lauderdale.....almost home!***

 

^^^^
I am hoping that Acura eventually changes its mind about V8s once the economy turns around. I doubt it, though. Honda had its "best fleet mileage" moniker stolen from it by Hyundai and will be chasing that again. I can hardly wait to see what Honda dreams up. Will it be Dual-note 2? Biturbo V6? DI? Only the Honda brass know (or don't given the sudden sea changes we've noted of late).

BTW, I hope you made it home safely, TampaRL.

 

Not sure if it is going to be the same but we already have the cheap/small Acura in Canada: http://acura.ca/csx
This is the loaner I get every time I leave my RL for service...

 

the csx is basically the Japanese version of the civic.

http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources...pe_r_japan.jpg

 

I like the CSX. But what more can Acura add to it that's not in out Civic EX-L minus the engine change? Honda has been told to stop making k20 blocks as the next SI will get a K24 making more power than TSX. I predict the SI to get 225hp and tsx K24 t6o make an easily attainable 240hp. The new csx will get this 4cyl with other goodies. Maybe the Prelude SH's smart atts diff giving it near rwd handling.

 

Acura is really lost in the market. It's roots were japanese reliability with innovative design and engineering. All of its competitors have leapt over Acura, and have established their nitch. Infiniti=BMW, Lexus=Mercedes etc. Now Hyundai is challenging them on all fronts. Acura's engines are old, no DI, DOHC, or forced induction. While SH-AWD is awesome, their design is polarizing. Even MT said that the MDX dash is awashed in buttons. I hope the 2012 RL comes out as a A7, CLS competitor with SH-AWD, and some style. I enjoy my 06 RL but do not see anything in Acura's future that makes me want to buy a new product because I want to have one, not because I need one.

 

off topic, but Tampa - were you on the ship where the passenger managed to drop the stern anchor? I heard it was a ship headed back to Tampa

 

how about Acura source these engines from Ford

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/...src=Nextscreen

 

Same fleet, different ship. The Anchor Incident was aboard the m/s Ryndam which is based in Tampa during the winter for 7 day Caribbean sailings.

I was aboard the m/s Prinsendam, which was finishing the European season and repositioning to the Americas for winter ending in Ft Lauderdale. She is a globe trotter and most sailings are 3 weeks or longer and the grand voyages usually 10 weeks. No 'home port', just touch and go around the world. She is on her way to the Amazon now and I will rejoin her for the Antarctic tour in January.

And yes, Neuron Bob...I made it home safely. I too think there is a possibility of a V8 offering as Honda already had the engine developed and an assembly plant nearly completed before the plug was pulled. Perhaps a special package offering, where the mainstream model will remain V6 or V6 hybrid....or all three? I am waiting to see and the new plants in Japan have very little information released as to exactly what they will be building.

I did miss my RL and I feel like I am in a new car today. I highly recommend taking a vacation from your car and you will again fall in love with this vehicle.

And, FYI,,,,,the buzz on the street in Europe is the anticipation of the Acura brand being launched in Europe. Oddly, many KNEW what the Acura RL was (and it also being the Honda LEGEND). I felt more people knew what the RL was in Europe than here in the USA. Problem for Honda is, in Europe, the car is fine in size, tranny is fine (less highway cruising or rapid acceleration opportunities there) but they really want diesels. Other than the European diesel Accord (our TSX), they have no diesel technology above 4 bangers (which is a wonderful ride...powerful, no diesel noise, very low emissions and 50+ mpg).

 

Glad you made it back without dragging the anchor. My first thought when I heard about it was that you might be the one. The guy said the anchor controls were just like his 50 footer!

In terms of the new RL, I would think they have to make it bigger given the current size of the TL. Understood about V8 plant, but I just don't see it happening given their statements on the future. I'd welcome hybrid V6.

Where do you fnd info about the plants in Japan?

 

Try this....

http://www.rothteien.com/topics/plants.htm

 

plants..ha....funny....

I think turbo for the RL would make more sense than either hybrid or V8. More power, less gas...less weight. Do it.

 

Saw plenty of those - lived in Okinawa for a while. Back in the day when Bob's Honda car was chain driven! Two choices 600cc and 800cc.

 

I totally agree. I had surgury which left me on bed rest as well. After a total of 4 weeks nof not driving my car, it felt like na rocket. I could barely handle the TQ steer of my non Type-S...lol. Makes you appreciate you Acura.