Just posted a couple of hours ago on Winding Road.

http://news.windingroad.com/automoti...v8-powered-rl/

Best Car gives us yet another rumor of a V8, SH-AWD 3G RL. However, the rendering in the article that they call "similar to an Accord" IS an Accord. I am therefore officially calling on the whole thing.

 

That does beg a question though. Now that we have the 2009 RL, does the 2009 Legend also look the same or is it the same as the 08?

Because with the Legend and Inspire looking so alike already......and then now it seems it looks a bit more like the Inspire...it kind of leaves no room for a Legend...or is that just me?

 

I'm with you on the photos at least. That's no RL. Looks like a pumped up Accord/Inspire. Better looking than any US Accord, though.


Rob144

 

The question is whether the Legend/RL stays as the top model in the Honda/Acura lineup, or do they go upmarket with a different model to take on the Lexus LS, et al?

There probably isn't a place for both an RL and a TL, sizewise/enginewise/featurewise, for much longer. So does the RL go away, or grow up?

They need to bring back the Legend name. There is absolutely no equity in the RL moniker. An RL could be anything, so it forces you to say "Acura", which forces people to say, "what?". The top Honda/Acura should always be Legend. Bring back a car that fits the name!

Sorry for the rant.....

Rob144

 

While I fully expect the next-gen RL (or whatever it ends up being called) to have a V-8, there's no reason to believe it will have "over 400 hp". Especially in view of tightening CAFE standards.

The exception might be a limited-production IS-F fighter, although that would be very un-Honda-like, and I personally doubt it would happen.

I have no sources to support this, but I still expect the next RL to not be an RL at all, but a somewhat larger car that will debut under a different name, while the RL is allowed to die. That car would offer a V-8 - at least as an option - and would indeed take on Lexus and others in the luxury and near-luxury market. Honda would thus start with a clean slate and avoid making the mistakes with this one that it made with the RL.

In keeping with that, I expect the TL to eventually move up to fill the spot the RL now occupies, the TSX to move up into the TL's spot in the lineup, and a new, smaller car to come online in the next few years.

.
.

 

It looks like a cross between the 09 RL and an 08 Accord. Looks better than the 09 RL in any event. With a V8 and SH-AWD I'd buy it.

 

It doesn't look exactly like the Accord:









I like it. Much better than the 09 RL.

 

Photoshop, my brother, Photoshop. The grille and side profile are the same shape. It wouldn't take much for one of our forum members to 'shop the RL headlights and fogs.

I agree, though, it looks OK to me.

I'd love to have that mesh grille for my current RL. Or even for the 2009.

 

Maybe that is the 09 Honda Legend? Has some similarities to the 09 RL (the unaligned hood). The Mugen-esque grill looks much better than the gaping maw of the 09 RL.

 

Could be a photoshop - those red seats look interesting though.

 

I can't believe some of you guys think thats the next RL. That is the JDM Honda Inspire period. And photochopped. Best Cars does a lot of speculation (~car version of the National Enquirer)

 

I personally would like to see the following on the next RL:

Exterior:
2" longer wheelbase allowing a bit more rear seat legroom
1.5-2" increase in Height for addt'l headroom
Similar width/length to the existing model
18" wheels standard w/ 19" wheels optional
Euro-influenced styling (think updated, modern 2nd gen Legend)

Interior:
Evolution of the current design w/ simpler looking center stack and leather dash trim (ala CTS)
Real wood trim (no more faux wood on any model)
More rear legroom and headroom

Drivetrain:
6/7 Speed Automatic w/ paddle shifters
Turbo-charged 3.5l-3.7l V6 w/ VCM and A-VTEC rated at 340-360hp w/ EPA ratings of 18/25

Feature Content:
Next-gen Hard Drive based NAV system w/ improved graphics and quicker operation
Upgraded backup camera w/ clearer pic and parking guide lines (ala M35/45, etc.)
Upgraded Audio system with 10-20GB of music storage
Next-gen keyless access system w/ smaller transmitter, push button start and remote start
Heated rear seats
Adjustable suspension from the MDX
Auto trunk closer (ala Lexus, etc.)

and lastly, the addition of a base model utilizing an updated version of the 3.7l in the 2009 RL, but w/ better fuel economy. Price range $45-55k

Call me crazy, but with SH-AWD, I don't think Acura needs RWD to compete. Volvo & Audi seem to do okay without RWD. A V8 is something they will definitely need if they build a vehicle above the RL, but a turbo-charged V6 would be unique and just as good IMO.

 

One thing I forgot to mention:

Acura must also improve the marketing of the next-gen RL if it hopes to sell more copies. Too many people think it's just an AWD Accord with a bit more feature content, which is a gross misinterpretation (oversimplification?) of the facts.

Aside from Acura fans and RL owners, very few people know much if anything about the differences between the RL and it's less siblings (e.g. higher grade leather, carbon fiber driveshaft, flush side window glass, triple door seals, special multi-step paint process, etc.). These things aren't even included on the TL, let alone the Accord.

 

That Accord reminds me of the Inspire Modulo Concept:



It's a sweet package... wish they'd offer it here. Interestingly the taillights seem to preview the '09 RL.

 

After looking at it for a minute I realized that picture is just a photochop of the Modulo concept. Duh.

Check out the rest of the pics. I love the orange seats.

 

It is my understanding that the next Gen LEGEND/RL will be produced in the new assembly plant under contruction near Sayama in Yorii, which will start auto production in 2010 (for a 2011 MY?). meanwhile the current Sayama plant will be shut for a complete modernization and retooling.

By 2010/2011, it is expected the Acura brand will be launched in several markets and the car will be sold under the Acura badge. Perhaps that allows the for the LEGEND badge to return to Acura as well. Honda has admitted the LEGEND is to much car to be sold under the Honda brand.

That picture shows the front & rear wheel camber typical of a FWD platform. as in the 1st word of the tite...pure SPECULATION.

 

It seems to be leaked around a few other sources....

http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/02/26...imed-at-lexus/


http://www.autospies.com/news/Acura-...t-Lexus-26942/

 

Those aren't other sources any more than this thread is. They're just quoting Best Car. Move along folks, nothing but uninformed speculation by a car rag to see here.

 

They are in fact quoting the same information, which I do feel is speculation. They are in fact SOURCES as they are publishing the information.

As with API, LPI, the information is shared and are a SOURCE.

You confuse verified / valid information with SOURCE.

 

That photoshop looks like the front grille of a Lexus LS but mesh grille.

Regarding this "new" car, lets hope for some style on the outside, get rid of the current infection found on the 2009 RL (aka beak) and 2009 TSX.

This statement has been rehashed a few thousand times. Acura interiors, SH-AWD and the electronics are on par or exceed most manufacturers. Throw in excellent build quality, some value and the only thing you are missing? NSX, V8, RWD and some really nice exteriors.

 

Now THAT is what I'm talking about! Love it!!!

 

Lol....photoshop indeed. Look at the reflection on the doors:

 

Good eye! Now that you mentioned it, look at the headrests too. They have the same exact shading, except inverted...and everything else too. Yup, photoshopped indeed.

But man, that modulo Inspire looks down right aggressive, in a good way.

 

I would buy that car...I like the looks, aggressive, but not over the top.

 

Any photoshop wizards out there want to put the Modulo grille and headlights on the '09 RL?

 

That's a good idea. The shape of the grille is roughly the same, with the edge of the hood slightly retracted (presumably for pedestrian protection). Any takers?

 

Just checked in after a couple days off line and immediately heard about this 400hp RWD v8 RL. Came right over here to see what you guys were saying.

I'm with Bob's initial feelings on this one. Sounds like . Although, I know Mike_TX and a few others would love for it to be true! Hope it is true in some form or another. Maybe Honda is finally going to break the RL away from the global Legend and make it a unique full sized NA sedan (Lexus LS competitor). In that instance the powertrain story MAY be capable of holding water.

 

Not really for me, Mikey. As I've already noted, 400 hp is more than the car needs, and that puts it in the category of CTS-V's and IS-F's and other over-pumped cars.

Frankly, the 380hp my (heavier) LS has is more than I will probably use, so an RL with maybe a 350hp V-8 would be right in my sweet spot.

And again, I just don't see Honda doing something like that, unless there's been a coup inside headquarters and the kids have taken over control of the company.

.
.

 

If the NSX is true...then in theory the rest can be true as well. Including a Lexus LS competitor.

 

In theory anything can be true because we don't know anything yet. In theory the 3G RL could be powered by a potato battery. Who knows? Electric cars and biofuels are very hot right now.

 

Oh., Lord, if potato batteries catch on, I won't be able to afford tater tots anymore. I've already had to cut back on my likker because ethanol has driven up the cost of corn.

.
.

 

looks hot i'd buy 1

 

ZING


Haha, okay okay, but i mean if the NSX is actually true, that means a V10, although we might not get the RWD set up, the new Shawd system might take care of it...so to detune a V10 by 2 cylinders shouldn't be that bad, unless Honda goes crazy and just drops a V10 in the LS competitor

But my point was, that i think the NSX really has to be put to use before the engine and anything can trickle down.

 

Difficult for me to match the contours, but you get the idea

 

Uh, no thanks.

 

lol@the beginning of this thread....

One thing you should ALWAYS remember. Unless it came from honda, don't believe anything you hear about what they're doing.

When the Acura Legend Coupe (the G2) was being tested, there was talk of V10s and V8s. RWD, this that and the other....

no, it came with the powerful for its time 3.2 with manual transmission standard.

SPeculation is nothing more than Speculation, and that issue of Best Car is pretty much the equivalent of a Super Market Tabloid of the car industry.

 

V8 Powered Acura on the Way
TOKYO — Remember that oh-so-ugly Acura Advanced Sedan Concept we saw at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show?

No prizes for guessing that it was indeed a design study for the next-generation Acura RL. Fortunately, Honda has listened to the criticism and has completely restyled the flagship sedan's exterior and distanced the face from the Accord's.

Actually, Honda has been listening to the word on the street very carefully, because it has finally decided to give the luxury sedan a V8, to help it compete with strong rivals in the U.S., including Audi, BMW and Lexus.

One source tells us that Honda is currently working on a 420-horsepower 4.8-liter V8, and will employ the same cylinder deactivation technology we see on the current Japan-spec Inspire V6, thus generating class-leading fuel economy figures.

But unlike the current RL, which sits on a front-wheel-drive platform and features Honda's SH-AWD four-wheel-drive system, the all-new RL will instead incorporate a rear-drive platform, one necessity that Honda planners have clearly identified in this segment, and a reconfigured SH-AWD system that engages the front wheels when rear traction is compromised.

Slated for a mid-2010 debut, the new RL is expected to land in showrooms wearing a higher price tag of over $70,000.

 

Oh please, please, please let it be true! I am opening a savings account NOW.

Please not let this be a cruel dream - I don't want to awake! It's not April 1st yet....please sweet Jesus be true!

My meds....someone get my MEDS!

 

I think that's gonna be the TL.

 

You know ... I can handle the "shield"-type top plate of the grille on this concept, since they've thinned the surround, making the grille appear to be part of the design rather than something grafted on later.

This is obviously a concept drawing, though, and we all know Honda doesn't leak pictures of its cars ahead of time. And it's not realistic, either, with that stubbed-off rearend that looks like something off an Audi TT.

But if it's a design direction, I think it's a good one. Maybe lower the nose a little, build out the rearend so there'll be a decent trunk, lose the pimpy wheels and give the body enough stretch to handle full-size adults, and we have a winner.

So, TSX69 - what's the source of this story and picture?

.
.