Ok everyone talking about saying that acura needs a V8 in this car but I started thinking about that wouldnt that be a huge rise in price? I mean a V8 would be at least a 5K upgrade I assume. Also I think if it did the V8 it would have to do something else to make it different from the V6 like maybe make navi package standard which would put the price at base of 55k.

Now the RL is already not selling well (which I think it has the potential to becuase it really is a great car) so would making a more expensive one be a good idea? I dont know an RL and I was just pondering this and was wondering what everyone elses thoughts would be on pricing if they did a V8.

 

Acura is a Japanese car company. Japanese people compete with saving gas. A V8 would totally be an american car.

 

I would like to see a V8 RL. Not that they would need to eliminate the V6 version. How about what Audi and BMW does?

An RL with a V8 engine, longer wheel base and larger wheels. The back seat shouid have twice the room.

 

yeah a v8 would be an american car, but acura is still making the v10 nsx. or "advance sport concept" to have a v10.

 

I would not say a V8 is a american thing. A V8 is a std in a fullsize sedan. What fullsize does not have a V8 nowadays.

The lexus 4.3 liter gets about 18 mpg in the city and the RL gets 18 also.

So please tell me where the saving gas is.

 

Also the Audi A8 also get 18mpg in the city. You also got to realize that a V8 is doing less work than a v6.

To answer your question how much would a V8 cost. You wont know until they make one. People who buy fullsize luxury car are lookin for V8s and will pay the premium. I love the RL but for the price I would honestly want something with a V8.

 

I disagree, because any self proclaimed luxury brand have a V8. Lexus GS430/LS430 Infiniti M45/Q45 (they are still Japanese)

 

...and they will lose money on every one they sell.

LL

 

The RL does not compete with the LS or the Q. It does compete with the M (no V8 available with AWD), GS (no V8 available with AWD), BMW 5 series (no V8 available with AWD), to a lesser degree the Cadillac STS (no AWD), and Audi A6 (V8 AWD will run $60k+ comparably equipped).

I don't think the lack of a V8 is a big issue. I do think Acura's feeble promoting of the RL is what's hurting it.

LL

 

v8 is the big issue when dealing with the subject of advertising it as well as all the other companies. infiniti, lexus, and bmw all get to advertise a v8 with all that power no matter what. consumers just want to see some power when looking at a car that expensive. rarely will you ever see those three car companies advertise the lesser version of the car except when talking about the price at the end.

If acura could get prospective buyers of the v8 category but maybe don't want to shell out the extra money, then they will be more likely to consider the v6. Many many people just dont care about AWD or think its necessary to get it in their car.

 

If they make a bolt on supercharger available, it would be a mute point. Those that want, can shell out the $5k for it, those that don't can just sit back and enjoy.

 

Having a V8 will not magically transform sales for the RL. Do people here and online truly think the V8 is the be-all, end-all for a car model? It is clear looking at sales that V8 verisons of models that offer a V6 or V8 are TINY compared to the V6 version. V8s only matter to people who post in forums like these and somehow can't comprehend they are the minority to the billions of people out there.

You could put a V10000 in the RL and it wouldn't magically become a huge seller. It has to do with the fact it is an Acura and also the fact Acura has pisspoor advertising/marketing.

Oh and to the guy who said Acura wouldn't do a V8 because they are a Japanese company...are you serious? What are Lexus & Infiniti?

 

(Raises hand)

But I do think the lack of a V8 IS part of the problem. I'm not 100% sure I'd buy one, but brand whores who don't think before they buy their cars (and sadly, they make up the majority of lux car owners ) DO consider V8 and RWD as a minimum standard for any marque that calls itself a luxury car brand.

The bigger part of the RL's problem, though is that Acura won't market it. They have effectively killed this car. My guess is now that they did this on purpose. My goodness, I'm agreeing with jhruva90, who thinks that American Acura didn't want the RL in the first place. Why else would a perfectly good car languish so without even the feeblest attempt at marketing?

 

Well, although most brands get from $5,000 to 10,000 (or more) extra for the V-8 version of a car, it doesn't really COST the mfr that much more.

It's largely marketing (if you want it bad enough you'll pay the extra), although some extra expense is of course involved for the engine itself and certain beefed-up driveline components.

I figure if you buy a crate engine you'll find the difference between a nice 3.5 liter V-6 and a 4.6 liter V-8 isn't that great.

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So true Bob! I think with my mods I'm doing a better job marketing the RL then they are. I've had so many folks ask me about this car since I got everything done, it's crazy! Maybe I should contact Acura Marketing....

 

I am for those who think that not having a V8 is the problem with the RL not selling that well. Just think about the Camry being one of the most popular car in the whole of the United States, and the Accord. I may be wrong here big time, but i don't know if these two models have a V8 version as well.

 

I agree that Acura does a very poor job of marketing the RL. Having a V8 as an option would not have influenced me in the purchase of an RL(which I pick up this Saturday!!!!).
I compared it to the M35 AWD and GS350 AWD and the RL was just the best bang for the buck.

If Acura did offer a V8, then all the magazines would complain that the RL is too expensive.

 

of course marketing is a big role in whether or not something will sell or not.

ex. infiniti q45. you barely ever see those from any of the years because infiniti does an even worse job of promoting that car than acura does the RL.

but i think comparing the class of camry and accord to what the RL has to compete with is not valid. instead it would be like saying, what if the camry, altima, and passat all came with v6s and the accord was I-4 only. How do you think the sales would go? some would sell, but there would be many many more camry and altimas sold instead of an accord. the RL is not trying to become the most sold car in America. It is going up against the big luxury companies.

the RL needs publicity, much more of it, but it also needs something that will appeal to everyone. the RL is a great car, esp for someone up north who deals with snow and ice repeatedly. but for people on southern california, florida, texas, georgia, the majority (not everyone because AWD helps a ton when on dry pavement as well) of consumers are going to want a v8 instead. alot of people who are looking at the M or 5 have a couple more grand to shell out for the v8. (of course im not saying everyone)

but in the end to the average person cylinders = power = prestige. theres a reason why they stopped selling the Mercedes S320 here.

but dont think im flaming saying the RL is a lame car cuz its only got a v6. i think its an excellent car, i just want to see more out of it because i know there can be.

 

I guess I have to ask that if everyone who was shopping for an "RL class" car wanted a V8 and RWD, why did you buy the RL? It's not like you got it home and discovered ti had a 6 and AWD. Personally, I bought it because it fit what I was looking for (I had two requirements - AWD and a Nav system) and I have a good relationship with my Acura dealer. I didn't care that it didnt have a V8 (geez...my previous Volvo only had 5 cylinders) especially considering the direct competition are 6's as well.

I just think tha Acura has no desire to or clue on how to promote the car. Sad because just about everyone who sees it or rides in it, likes it.

LL

 

To be fair to Acura, I don't see too many V-8 powered cars with AWD. The only brand that comes to mind is Audi and those models are quite pricey vs the RL. So I think they decided they'd rather focus on the handling of the car with sh-awd rather than ultimate power. Which in the end I think makes the RL a more fun to drive car than it's rivals.

 

I was specifically looking for AWD, but didn't care about the V8 vs. V6, I just wanted something with good power and luxury...

 

It would not be prudent to have a V8 or V10 in just one car model. It needs to be in multiple models to spread the cost. Look at the RL's V8 competition, they usually share that engine with full-size cars and/or trucks. Honda basically needs to give Acura a separate platform that can accommodate a V8 or V10.

 

I would be much more happy with 3.5 L & 110 HP/per liter then 4.6L V8.

 

Camry and Accord aren't luxury sedans- it's an apples to oranges comparison. And no, there isn't a model that comes with a V8 engine.

 

I don't think a V8 engine is the reason Acura is not selling well. It's just the nonexistent marketing. Look at the TSX. It's a 4-banger competing in the upscale market and still doing very well. One would think that a V6 would be a must in that segment but because of marketing, good price point, and word of mouth it bucks the conventional wisdom.

 

You guys all bring up good points my theory is just if the RL isnt selling good already is increasing the price for a V8 really going to help that much? I just dont think it would help that dramaticlly unless they added a V8 without a big increase in price.

 

It estimated that roughly 10% of the cars in this segment have V8 engines. The RL sells about 700 or so units per month. Therefore, is it worth it to develop and manufacture a V8 engine to sell an extra 70 RL's per month?

 

The answer to that question - as posed - is "no". But I wouldn't expect Honda to develop and manufacture a V-8 solely for use in the RL. There are other products in its line where a V-8 could be used to good advantage.

Just as one example, everyone is going V-8 in their pickups, and a V-8 Ridgeline would sell well. Then there's the MDX. I'm sure there are other JDM and/or European/Asian markets for it, as well.

After all, Honda/Acura is about the only major mfr. without a V-8 ... even Hyundai is introducing one next year!

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Yeah that is kind of weird I would like to think of honda above Hyundai.