HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

other than every magazine and website... probably note. LoL

Glashub

As the owner of a Genesis I can tell you that the materials are top notch and that the car is rock solid and has been trouble free. The V8 and 8 speed powertrain are top notch too. BUT I'd expect the RLX to be a more engaging ride just as the TL is a more engaging ride over the Genny.

Professor

Wonder if they adopted the stupid Macpherson struts rather than the better double wishbone suspension?

christopher1

Goodbye RLX... i have been priced out of my range. i do not want a front wheel drive when i drive a super awd RL. i waited 4 years to not buy a new acura RL but not for this $60.000 RLX, i can not afford it!! go figure. well i have 203,000 miles on my 2005 RL no real issues LOVE it. what do i do NOW!? I never buy used cars.

KeithL

I actually bet the loaded AWD RLX will be $65K plus. I suspect the 2014 SH-AWD TL will be up around $50K and I bet the base RLX will start around $55K and the top FWD RLX I guess will be around $60K and the hybrid will be $65K plus, but this is just my guessing.

KeithL

I won't trash the Genesis, but I looked at the Genesis and the Equus and while the leather is nice, the plastic controls scream Hyundai. I am looking forward to the 2014 Genesis as it should, really go up another notch. I loved my Acuras, but have to say Infiniti M37 interior feels better than it is.

Treblig

Would you consider a TL(X) SH-AWD Advance?

christopher1

backwards TL but i will think about a certified 2010-RL just have to get the Beak painted over... $60.000 plus who are they target buyers??? acura what are you thinking????

Timmy18

I done a a couple my self.
Rims are from some Accord Coupe.. I think the 2008 Aspec coupe concept or something.





Edits look good.

hondamore

I have always believed that the biggest flaw in the 2G RL was the pricing. The 2G RL is a truly wonderful car, but, without any cache or snob appeal or whatever you want to call it, they will never develop line ups for people to buy them. Honda needs to price them at a level that is just too tempting for Lexus, BMW and Mercedes entry level luxury buyers and grow some demand. The current Honda strategy of making a luxury car for their Accord and Civic owners to aspire to is fine except that they screw them over on price/accessories/service when they finally are able to afford one (I could write a book on how Acura service falls short of luxury car standards, but that is a topic for another day).

Early reports suggest that this genetic defect will be passed on to the RLX. I've been a loyal Honda/Acura buyer since 1986 and depending upon the pricing of the RLX AWD up here in Canada, my current RL may be my last Honda. You have no idea how it pains me to say that.

Glashub

But the solidity, reliability and tech screams MB all for a starting price at 33k.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Did you buy your current car at MSRP from the dealer?

Glashub

I was in a hurry...I meant to write the tech and solidity of the car scream MB but with more reliability starting at 33k. I'm surprised your still with the M Keith since you swap cars frequently.

ichi d

Haha you don't go backwards, then step up you game and get into the RLX. If not your just balling on a budget. lol

Professor

The thing I always liked about Acura is basically the pricing model. You get a base or a tech or an advanced... Everytime I go to the BMW site and "build my own" 5 series, the options found on the Acura almost doubles the price of the BMW. Heck with a 3 series, I hit almost $58K with a Nav system, sunroof, heated seats, and some rims.

I agree that I won't pay $60ish for an Acura for the same engine in my $34K TSX tech. For those bucks, I'm waiting on the Caddy ATS V series.

oo7spy

Acura said in LA this week that we should expect the P-AWS version to be less than $50k. What's up with people around here reading two sentences about the RLX, misinterpreting the differences between the PAWS and SH-SH-AWD, and then bitching about it?

Oh, and what did I tell you about making RLX threads?

jjtags

The literature talks about 18's for the 2 lower trim models and 19's for the Tech trim and above... from some of the photoshops, I think that new RLX will look good with some 20's without making the ride too harsh... maybe Ronjon should start designing some 20's or 21's in preparation... Those photoshops with the bigger, more aggressive wheels make the RLX look great... almost BMW 7 series-ish. I'm looking forward to some more interesting colors than just the usual white, black, silver and gray... maybe a nice blue.

TSX69

Why Acura is Pushing Kell Audio

Acura created 1 of the best stock sound systems available, ELS Surround, with the help of Grammy-winning producer Elliot Scheiner. To create something even better for the brand’s new 2014 RLX flagship sedan, Acura is now turning to award-winning high-end audio specialist Krell.

Unless you’re an audiophile, you’ve probably never heard of Krell. But the same could be said of the Mark Levinson system that Lexus introduced more than a decade ago. Now that Mark Levinson has become synonymous with top-shelf audio, Acura is hoping the same thing will happen with the new Krell system. (The RLX is Acura's replacement for the dismal RL sedan, of which just 1,096 sold last year.)

Unlike most luxury automakers, which take a uniform approach to premium audio, Acura isn’t giving ELS the boot to make room for Krell. The 2 audio brands will coexist in separate model lines.

To get the lowdown on why Acura chose Krell and why the 2 companies think that top-shelf audio is still important in the age of the MP3, we spoke with Krell President Bill McKiegan and Acura’s public relations manager, Chuck Schifsky, at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Exhaust Notes: Why did Acura chose Krell over ELS for the RLX?

Schifsky: When the development of the RLX started, we knew that the midlevel system in the RLX would be a 10-speaker ELS system in the base car and the high-end system would be Krell’s 14-speaker Studio system. We’ll have more info on the specifics of the Krell system as we get closer to launch. But we knew that we wanted a pinnacle audio system in the car. The main thing we were looking for was a very high-end audio system -- and a very high-end name.

McKiegan: Acura wanted to offer a premium audio product to their top-of-the-line customers, the RLX customer. And we fit that mode of offering performance to the ear but to also give buyers the most for their dollar. And that’s Acura’s core value and belief system. We jumped at the chance to be part of this and designed the system in conjunction with Acura to get sound that Krell is known for in the home environment in the car environment.


EN: Why not just go with a high-end ELS system?

McKiegan: ELS doesn’t make products; [Elliot Scheiner] is a tuner. It’s not his engineering. Panasonic makes the components.

Schifsky: As we looked throughout the audio industry, we knew that a lot of the good names were taken. But our audio guys certainly knew of Krell.


EN: But most car buyers won’t recognize the Krell name.

McKiegan: Clearly we’re a specialty system. But if someone was to do some investigation before buying a premium car and go to our website and check out some of the reviews, they’ll see a 30-year history of phenomenal reviews on our speakers, amplifiers, preamps, CD players and surround sound. Everything we’ve ever done we’ve been at the top of the category that we’ve participated in.

Schifsky: It’s going to take awhile to get that name recognition out. We’re certainly aware of that. But I didn’t know who Mark Levinson was at the time that Lexus launched that system. We think the same thing will happen with Krell. The story is good, the company is good. The products are going to reflect very well on the RLX.


EN: Many people now listen to low-resolution music files. How will spending more for a Krell system in the RLX make a difference?

McKiegan: The technology on our back end is as faithful as possible to the signal we’re given. If that signal is not good, we can’t make it better. But it’s going to be the best that it can be.


EN: Will we see Krell systems in other Acura vehicles?

Schifsky: There's no plan to do that. RLX will be the flagship model. So we really wanted a pinnacle system. The volume will be fairly low. It will be on the Tech Audio and Advanced option packages. The bulk of the sales will come on the midlevel car, and that will be the ELS system. We’re still very committed to ELS. That’s an important point I want to make sure I get across.

Edited from a longer interview.

TSX69

2014 Acura RLX Trumps Old RL
Takes Aim at Luxury Leaders

Acura is an enigma. It has been for some time, with car designs bordering on the bizarre and a baffling strategy that results in its own products being pitted against each other.

But the all-new RLX sedan, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is a step in the right direction. It replaces the mediocre RL sedan, which wasn’t remarkable enough to distinguish itself from the less expensive TL, so instead ended up competing with it.

The RLX is a 2014 model that’ll go on sale in the spring, with a hybrid version to follow later in 2013.

It represents a sea change for Acura: the handsome, if unexciting, styling and innovative underpinnings finally give the company a distinguished flagship to showcase the best of its new design and technology. And the change comes just in time, as competition in the luxury sedan segment heats up with new and improved models from competitors such as Cadillac and Lexus.

Some might balk at the RLX’s conservative styling. It doesn’t break new ground or offer much wow factor. But it’s clearly an improvement over the RL’s design and attractive enough to appeal to the practical, value-conscious buyer that gravitates toward Acura.

Whether it’s distinguished enough to keep the RLX from getting cross-shopped with Hondas and Toyotas, as many current Acuras are, is another issue entirely.

The headlights, each 1 with 10 LEDs stacked in 2 rows, are the most striking exterior feature. Headlights with LED technology—which use less power, but shine brighter—are in vogue and tend to be pricey options on other cars. They are standard on all RLX models, in keeping with Acura’s strategy of offering more than the competition for less money.

On the outside, the 2014 Acura RLX is a midsize sedan. On the inside, it’s almost full-size. The rear seat is considerably more spacious than the cramped one on the RL. Acura says the RLX has up to 3 inches more rear leg room than the Audi A6, BMW 535i and Lexus GS350. That’s a significant advantage.

Acoustic glass and wheels designed to lower tire noise by 7 decibels should make for a quieter ride. Many of the buttons and knobs that overwhelmed the center console of the discontinued RL have been replaced with a touchscreen, which sits below the main display screen. Having 2 screens in the dashboard seems odd, but if it improves ergonomics, the change is worth it.

The RLX is lighter than the car it replaces. The use of high-strength steel and aluminum in the body helps trim 275 pounds compared with the RL, and the improvement in fuel efficiency is an impressive 20%.

A new 310-horsepower V6 that drives the front wheels and gets an estimated 24 miles per gallon overall will be the only engine available when the car goes on sale in spring.

The discontinued RL did not offer a hybrid version, but the RLX will. A new hybrid system that uses a gas engine to power the front wheels and electric motors to power the rear wheels will be introduced sometime in 2013. Combined output will be 370 hp with estimated fuel economy of 30 mpg overall.

The RLX is going to be Acura’s 2nd hybrid. The company recently launched the 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, a compact premium sedan.

1 feature debuting on the RLX that Acura touts as unique to the brand is Precision All-Wheel Steer, which uses the rear wheels to better steer the car through turns and keep it more stable when changing lanes.

“It will represent a distinct competitive advantage over conventional rear-wheel-drive cars,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura, at the car’s unveiling in L.A. His statement takes aim at BMW and Mercedes-Benz, whose rear-wheel-drive sedans are among the best sellers in the luxury category and have traditionally been viewed as having superior driving dynamics.

All-wheel steering is not new, though. Honda offered it on the Prelude starting in 1990. Various other automakers, including BMW and Mitsubishi, have offered it over the years as well.

As with all the new premium sedans, the Acura RLX will be overflowing with high-tech and luxury features: fancy leather, rear window shades, parking sensors, multi-angle back-up camera, cruise control that acts like an autopilot, accident avoidance technology and so on.

Still, Acura promises a driving experience that connects the driver to the car and to the road—which Conrad referred to as “man-machine synergy.” Exactly how well the new RLX delivers on this promise could be the key to conquering buyers that might otherwise favor European luxury brands.

pimpin-tl

Really? We did and do not regret it at all. The TL is a nicer car over our 06 RL. I expect the new TL to even be nicer and you should look into one, it is not moving backwards because you are upgrading to a newer car. The Tl actually is as pricey as our RL was new,

GoHawks

I decided to come back and check things out here on the RL forums having been gone for a while.

As a refresher, I had owned Acuras for 19 years and last March I traded in my '06 Acura RL after having bought it new for a 2012 Cadillac CTS (Premium) Coupe.

My RL had 96k miles and I was still happy with it, but I just loved the coupe, and I didn't see anything in Acura's pipeline that would have had me be a repeat buyer, especially after seeing the RLX. Sure it was nice, and I am sure the tech would have been amazing, but it just didn't move me like the 2nd gen RLs did.

I remember when I first saw the renderings of the 2nd gen RL I was in love, and when I first sat in one I knew I had to have one, and I got one. Same was true with the CTS Coupe. I am in a point in my life where the coupe was possible. If the coupe hadn't worked out, I probably would have kept the RL a bit longer.

Now that I see the pricing, I know I wouldn't have gone the RL route. At $60K, assuming I could swing it, there are too many other cars to consider. Merc E-Class, BMW 5 series, Audi, and the Lexus GS.

Yes, cost of ownership is always a concern with the Germans although BMW does cover all of your maintenance (even brakes) for the frst 50K miles. The Lexus GS on the other hand is... well... a Lexus and I would look long and hard at that car. When i was shopping for my '06 RL I looked hard at the GS, and i did again when i was shopping my CTS and the new GS came out, but it was more than I could spend, and again, I was really in love with the CTS coupe. I also think the GS is a much more distinctive car. I know that is personal opinion and subjective, but that's how I feel.

Another option to consider is the new redesigned CTS to be introduced in January. Now that the ATS has come in to rave reviews, the CTS will be moved upmarket to compete with the 5 Series and E-Class.

We'll see how that goes. While the second gen CTS brought respectability back to the brand, I don't know if they have enough street cred yet to seriously sway die hard BMW owners. The car mags have said that the ATS is right there with the 3 series, with many independent people saying the ATS has surpassed the 3series (which has become soft), but the fan boys won't admit it.

Now I'm not bashing BMW, I own one. last September we traded our beloved 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser with 160K miles that we owned since new for a CPO 2011 BMW X5 Premium. I like it a lot BTW, doesn't feel like an SUV at all, but a tall wagon. Oh BTW, don't call it an SUV on the Beemer forums. It's a Sports Activity Vehicle.



My point is that even people who have had a ton of issues with previous models, blindly trade them in and get another one. Then again most of those people are leasing, not buying.

I was/am one of Acuras biggest fans, but I think they have lost their way. They used to be known for performance oriented luxury and a bit better price than the traditional brands, but now what? I think that now they want to become more of an environmentally conscious luxury brand, and that is commendable, but the customers who buy $60k cars are usually looking at the emblem, luxury and performance (not necessarily in that order). If it happens to be environmentally responsible, great.

BTW, BMW includes Start/Stop on their newer models. It is defeatable and most people are turning that feature off as they say it is annoying.

That should tell you something.

Anyway, I'll post an update on one of my last threads, but for anyone interested, my CTS Coupe now has 10,500 miles and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the car. Solid, no squeaks or rattles. The interior rivals my RL and I have never owned a car that gets so many admiring glances, thumbs up on the road or people stopping to ask me about it at the gas station. I still have fond thoughts when I see the occasional RL on the road. It was a great car that was never truly supported by Acura.

There are a few things that I think Acura does better (like navigation systems), but surprisingly there are a few things the CTS does better.

I had one minor issue at 4k miles. The seatbelt light would flash even though I was buckled. It was a bad buckle and should have been a painless event, but the dealer experience left much to be desired, but that's a topic for another time. Since then the car has been rock solid.

oo7spy

What part of 370 HP and 400+ ft*lb doesn't say performance? That $60k E-class or 5 series will have less power, worse handling, worse gas mileage, less tech and more expensive maintenance. Is image really a more important feature of a car than the actual features of a car?

GoHawks

Let me be clear that I didn't say the Germans were better cars. I'll also remind you that I said that those customers are looking at the emblem, luxury and performance. The priority will depend on the customer.

Just like I said that the Cadillac CTS may not have the street cred to sway BMW owners (whether it is or isn't a "better" car is irrelevant), I will contend that Acura isn't a top of mind alternative for the BMW fanboys.

Also, putting a FWD model out initially at this price point is a mistake. Putting aside whether people really need or drive their cars in such a manner that it matters, it's perception.

Cadillac is taking a LOT of heat for introducing the FWD XTS as a competitor to the 5 series, then again they also double bogeyed by putting a detuned version of the 3.6L V6 in it. It only has 304hp while the Version in the CTS has 318, the ATS has 321, and the Camaro has 326. The XTS is also a much larger car than those other ones that share the 3.6l engine.

dwboston

I think it the $60k+ price tag on the SH-SH-AWD RLX is a mistake on Acura's part. Outside of a low-volume niche car like the NSX, Acura has never successfully sold a car with a sticker that high. The ACC/CMBS RL's had stickers just over $53k (and had to be discounted significantly to move them). You can option out an MDX that high as well with the Advance package, but I'm not sure how much discounting Acura does on MDX's these days.

I think it's a big challenge to try to move a brand upmarket by introducing a car with a lot of new technology and trying to sell it for $10k+ more than any car you've ever really sold before. VW didn't have any success trying to do it with the Phaeton, though Acura has a much better quality reputation than does VW. I'm really interested to see the ultimate production volumes of the SH-SH-AWD RLX. I'm betting they will be really low, so there won't be many around on dealer lots and dealers won't have to discount heavily to sell them. This is all conjecture, so we'll see what happens. Maybe buyers will be drawn in by the hybrid, MPG, HP, perceived reliability vs. the Germans, and the fact that even at $60k, the car will still be cheaper than similarly spec'd 5-series and A6's.

dwboston

People seem to be confused over the pricing:

- RLX FWD with PAWS - looks to be priced in the mid $40k range
- RLX with SH-SH-AWD - looks to be priced around $60K

I agree that the big mistake is introducing the cheaper one first. They should have come with the SH-SH-AWD version first. I imagine the reaction from the car mags and blogs to a 370HP hybrid AWD RLX would have been pretty good, and that's the first impression you want in the market.

phlfly

I guess you have never own BMW. BMW 535 is about 5.7 second 0-60 and you can get around 60K even AWD version, which I'm not big fan. BMW is rear wheel drive and it should be driven as rear wheel drive only.
I'm trying to switch to RL since my 550 is around 100K and I don't money for new BMW. of course at this mileage BMW is less reliable then any Acura.

dwboston

It's interesting to see the comments about the styling of the car from non-RL owners and more recent RL forum joiners. I'm not sure why people are surprised. Acura feels the RLX is its flagship, and as such the car is aimed at a different demographic. The styling of this car was guaranteed to be conservative and understated (with impressive performance and technology). It's not really targeted at those in their 20's (or even 30's) who are expecting flashy exterior styling and rims.

I think the car looks pretty good, even great from a few angles, and will probably look better in person than it does in photos.

Timmy18

Made some more with recolors and 2013 Honda CR-Z Concept rims plus a refaced version.






















Original..


The Refaced version..




ENJOY!! lol. I think it looks good.

GoHawks

That's the point I was trying to make, but I don't think value will help the RLX. Look at the 2nd gen RL. If you tried to spec a BMW 5 series with the features in the RL you would be in $60K territory. So what happened? People still bought Beemers and the RL was deeply discounted.

That was great for people like us who appreciated the car for what it was, but it did nothing for the brand.

As for which model to introduce, I agree and again I look to what Cadillac is doing which is a bit inconsistent.

While there has been some criticism of the XTS (Platinum trim) being FWD, underpowered and priced in 5 series territory, they took a more intelligent approach with the ATS.

That car is offered with three power plants:

2.5L direct injected I4 202hp. 190 ft/lbs torque
2.0 direct injected I4 turbo 272 hp 260 ft/lbs torque
3.6L direct injected V6 321 hp 275 ft/lbs torque

All engines have been introduced around the same time. For the few reviews the 2.5L has had, it's been universally panned with the general consensus being that it has no business being under the hood of a Cadillac. It's merely for those who want the flash, but nothing to back it up.

The turbo is expected to be the volume leader and it has gotten most of the positive press, along with the 3.6L V6 which has already established itself.

I highly doubt the ATS would be getting the accolades it is getting if they came out with the anemic 2.5L first. Especially since they are trying to position the ATs as a BMW killer.

jhr3uva90

I understand everyone's concerns. However, I think the RLX is growing on me. I look forward to test driving one next spring when the car is released.

dwboston

I agree that luxury buyers have traditionally focused on brand cachet. I think we may be seeing some small shifts in that due to the advent of electric and hybrid technology in the luxury space. I'm not predicting huge sales numbers for the SH-SH-AWD RLX, but it may draw some buyers who traditionally opted for the German brands due to the hybrid technology.

AnyaBoo

That's a huge jump in price! Wow! Especially for the 2014 TL. When my lease it up, I was thinking of buying the 2012 TL but was looking at the RDX and those are really nice for the price of the sooped up one. I never considered an SUV because of the fuel economy ratings but my TL guzzles gas like it is water. When I accelerate and I feel my back slam up against the seat, I watch the gas needle tick down a notch LOL!

stagefoursurvivor

As relative newcomer to Acura the past couple years, I'd be curious to hear your assessment of Acura service

Glashub

Just came back from the LA Auto Show. Their display was next to the Audi...meaning Audi was over flowing with people and there but a few checking out Acuras....with a caveat....Audi had a lot more models on the floor.

The A-4 was a huge dissappointment to me...the interior seemed really cheap.

They had the new NSX(?) on display...what a gorgous drop dead stunning car. Wow! Why can't Acura apply those design chops to their other cars?

The RLX looks as much like an Avalon in person as it does in pictures. The interior looks really high quality....especially when compared to the 61k A4

The Audi, MB's and Bimmer interiors in the 60k range cars all look like they're of less quality than the RLX. The MB E series had great seats but the nav is tiny and not placed in a way to protect the screen from the sun thereby creating a situation where you can't see it.

The classiest display was by Volvo. A lounge with coffee, bottles of water, cookies, etc. And huge iMacs for learning about their cars. Maxed out S60 R-Spec about 52k by the way.

GoHawks

I have been fortunate with great dealer service with my Acuras. Most recently Suburban Acura in Farmington Hills Michigan. Before move to Michigan Acura of Libertyville in Illinois was outstanding. Never have I had an issue. Given my one experience with Cadillac, they could learn a thing or two from the Acura service departments.

phlfly

You may already saw this video:

neuronbob

I disagree with this and feel it may be a dealer-specific issue. My Acura dealer was, and is what I would expect of a luxury car dealer. I had no issues with the service department.

And see dw's reply below for solid reasoning on the confusion about powertrain and pricing....

SH-SH-AWD should have been introduced first. Bad move on Acura's part.

getakey

^ that is exactly what my thoughts were all along

jhr3uva90

I agree. I guess Acura based it on which version of the RLX would be available first. I guess they didn't want to wait several months until both PAWS and SH-AWD were ready.

Robert4

The front is double wishbone. I can't wait to find out more about that "new" 3.5 DI engine.