http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/ar...spx?id=7856-en

No Hybrid listed in the just released 2015 RLX Specification Sheet. Wait we shall.

 

I guess so.

 

Only main difference I could see from these specs is that they added Heated-Steering Wheel as an option for the Advanced.

Couldn't really find much else different than the 2014 model without seeing one in person.

 

http://www.hondanews.com/channels/ac...g-and-epa-data

Looks like the 2015 MSRP prices will be the same as the 2014.

 

I don't believe that any of this information precludes Acura from releasing a new model, ie the RLX Hybrid, later this year (late August or September????) and adding to the list. That is, the exclusion of the hybrid RLX from this list doesn't mean it is not going to show up later THIS year. Of course, I'll await Colin's input/opinion to confirm my suspicion.

 

It appears they did NOT consolidate the trims. *sigh*

 

I know many of you have said they should have fewer trims, but I still don't understand how fewer trims would help them sell more cars.

The bigger issue is that they apparently did not reduce the price, despite selling only <400 per month with huge incentives in recent months.

 

It is hard to drop the price on a car that is essentially the same as the previous year without pissing off the folks that bought the 2014. Most manufacturers drop prices when they change up the models so there is not direct apples to apples comparison. Their best shot is push heavy discounts and cheap leases. At this point I think the RLX is what it is and they will need to ride it out until either MMC or next gen.

 

I am beginning to feel the RLX rollout was rushed and they just threw out a buffet of trim packaging to see where the market might bite. Perhaps they would have reacted with repackaging / pricing if the other Acura model issues did not seem to be consuming the resources. Although the MDX and RDX have made Acura a CUV company at the moment, I expect they are investing a lot of resources to make the TLX the bread and butter product. Acura is a relatively small company and many resources are shared with Honda. Team RLX has again been relegated to the back burner.

I think the market just didn't bite on the RLX and as a result of the current predicament of Acura, the RLX dropped off the priory plan and we get what we get. IMHO a poor showing to treat a flagship vehicle that should present to the market your array of products and engineering.

I feel like Acura has again orphaned the RLX as they did with the RL once sales slid post 2006MY. I feel like if Acura has again thrown the flagship under the porch with the crazy relative. I am getting to old to live through another cycle of this.

 

I feel your pain and understand it, and I've succumbed to shopping around.

LS460
E550
SL550
435i
M4
SLK55 AMG
S550

I've looked at all kinds of things across all kinds of price levels, and nothing's struck me well enough to make a move.

You end up spending tonnes more money for only an incremental improvement, even if there's an improvement at all.

And everybody's motors seem far less fuel efficient, for only a small improvement in performance.

I've got about 13,500 miles on my car now. I know its weaknesses well enough that it's caused me to shop around, but nothing's made me move yet.

:-)

Toyota's really got something in the LS460, though, I have to say. It's going to cost you something like 120 grand by the time you option it out the way you'd want it, but then on the other hand, there's nothing like under about a quarter million.

They know what they're doing with that car.

Very, very high quality.

Uses too much fuel. That's about the only bad thing I have to say about it.

Great car, but back to that idea that it's not enough of an improvement to make me move away from what was, after all, a hell of a lot of car for the money.

 

^^^
I too George have been looking around and have drawn similar conclusion.

But I am not going to drop $60K+ on the 'lesser evil'. I keep coming back to thinking there is nothing on the market that is much more car than I already have. It makes me think that aside from some new tech features, I am finding newer cars less solid (and implied less durable) and the lighter material weights for efficiency translate to less durable and substantial in my pea brain. I just cannot get excited about MB or BMW. Audi comes closest and awaiting the A6 MMC for the dash (as much as Audi is praised for interior excellence, I find it dated and think the RL is more modern looking). An A8 is my perfect car except it will not fit in my garage.

It is interesting how the 'bland' RL has me so boxed in. But if I am going to compromise for my next car I will not be paying that much or I will just get a second car and keep the RL. The SH RLX seemed to check the boxes but it looks like it will be 2016 before I would buy one, assuming the current cluster Acura is in settles. I hate my bitching and I need to find something positive to focus my energy with.

 

^^^^ To add positivity to the thread: Acura's OBP is beautiful on your RL.

I've contacted my dealer about leasing a TLX SH-AWD Advance. That's pretty much where I'm headed right now. I require something with AWD for my weather here, though I could find myself in a PAWS RLX with the right lease deal.

That allows me to scratch my new car itch, get something with the latest tech including all the nannies, preserve my rare CTS-V wagon (long story but there was premature rust that required a body panel be repaired under warranty last month ...not driving it in winter storms for a third winter), get a business tax deduction since I'd be leasing it for/through my practice, and allow me to follow the RLX hybrid's progress until 2016.

The TLX has everything I need except for a commodious back seat.

 

Looks like wood trim is now standard too?

Wasn't surprised on the heated wheel, Acura had it listed in the 2014 manual I think?

 

I think the worst part of the RLX rollout was teasing us by telling us that "an even better model will be coming out soon". They could have had four models, PAWS base, PAWS Advance, Hybrid SHAWD tech and hybrid SHAWD advance - something for everyone - and it would have sold a lot better.

Unfortunately, the technology for the SH-SHAWD has been taking a bit longer to perfect and, as TampaRL mentioned, they have once again given the RL(X) the reputation of being the best car nobody buys and swept it under the rug.

 

Perfect what, exactly? 0_o

They've built 2400 of them and then just left them in storage near Saitama, waiting to be shipped.

There's no sign of any hardware changes since they have been built.

There are rumors of firmware changes to alter the way the valves time their opening in order to improve acceleration when compared to the regular RLX, and there are rumors of firmware changes affecting how the electric motors vector the torque, allegedly reducing the aggressiveness of the transition to oversteer.

Just rumors, though.

They might have delayed shipping just to save the cost of shipping a car that they thought faced a hopeless sales forecast!

By the time we get the RLX SH-AWD, everybody will be aware of the changes to 2015 AcuraLink, and it'll be even harder to sell them.

 

I've been driving some kind of Honda since 1989, and the oddities associated with recent Honda/Acura activities has caused even this die-hard owner to shop around.

 

I'm right there with you guys and my list is looking pretty similar.

With the recent news clip giving clues to future product plans, there is nothing in sight for the RLX. And while I love most of what the TLX is going to offer, it is missing options for key luxury features that keep it from really being an option for me compared to what the market is offering. Lack of HUD, auto-steering wheel, are a few of those missing items that they should have offered as "options" for the Advanced SH-AWD for those of us who want the extra premium features.

I'm at the point where I want a smaller, sportier vehicle, but without losing the really nice luxury I get with the RLX and stay close to the same price ($55-$65k range). So far the two main contending vehicles for me are turning out to be the 435i, E350 Coupe, or GS350. At the moment leaning more and more towards the E350...that is one sharp looking vehicle.

I guess we'll see what happens come 2016....

 

You can now build 1 on the Acura site. I am not seeing anything different except the addition of a spare tire kit & 19" chrome-look allow wheels accessories:

I do like that they added the heated steering wheel to the advance package ($500 value). The extra button gives the steering wheel more balance & symmetry that is missing from the 2014 (pic from the MDX):

 

I wonder if the heated steering wheel option can be added (for a price) to existing 2014 models...?

 

It all depends if the wiring is there... You might need a different clockspring if it isn't.

Check out the parts catalog online for a 2015 Advanced and a 2014 and see if the steering column parts are the same.

Chris

 

I asked my dealer a few weeks ago if it could be done (since CA RLX's have it as an option, the MDX has it and it appears to be the same wheel)...

They said they could do it, but it would cost close to a grand installed and from what they told me only "10 and 2 are heated not the whole wheel"--If thats the case its not really worth it for me, I generally hold 9 and 3 or lower (New drivers manuals say 8 and 4 so this would be kind of a bummer)