holografique

Well, after seeing the new TLX, the RLX design totally makes sense now. It's plain as day that the RLX was never meant to be the "sporty" sedan that everyone has been bitching about for soo long since the release of the RLX. The TLX was obviously poised to take that role.

The same way you look at a BMW 3 series and compare it to a 7 series, or the same way you compare a Lexus IS250 to a GS450. You can see lots of similar design cues and similarities in the RLX/TLX design, and it all makes sense now. The RLX being a "softer" less aggressive larger brother of the TLX, but keeping a similar aesthetic and styling that makes it all look like part of the same line.

The problem is that Acura is in a transition phase, and like in most scenario's, consumers are impatient, have no vision and immediately hate...lol

Acura is really coming around, and the TLX is definitely going to be the turning stone.

Great job Acura.

miner

I agree with your analysis - the TLX the sporty car in the lineup. I do like what I have seen in the release photos. My wife's TSX is getting a bit long in the tooth so hopefully I can get her to warm up to the TLX (SH-AWD).

Brother Acura

Spot on H. I was thinking exactly the same thing when I saw the TLX this morning. It is positioned perfectly. It's clearly differentiated from the RLX but the design cues are there to know it's a family member. I think the TLX is closer to the ILX so you know that's it's the big brother. I think that is very similar to MB, BMW, Audi and Lexus lineup positioning.

As a long time customer, I'm very happy with how this is playing out. I just hope the automotive press will be enlightened as well. Unfortunately, the current crop have their heads so far up their asses with regard to the Acura brand that I have little hope that they can see any light at all.

holografique

I agree. I love my wife's ILX and love the body style. The new TLX takes it to the next level in the right way.

I'm excited to see how they build and refine upon this new direction.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

3 pedals, please!

a35tl

I think for once in a good while, we clearly have 3 distinctive sedans in the Acura lineup. I don't see ILX customers cross shopping the TLX, nor do I see TLX shoppers cross shopping the RLX. I don't think the models will cannibalize each other like recent Acura sedans have done to each other, most particularly the TSX and TL.

I'm very pleased with the direction Acura is headed. I know the RLX seemed to have a rather lukewarm reception at best but I am personally quite content with its design and now having seen the TLX, I'm incredibly elated. I really think Acura nailed the TLX. I think they'll sell over 50k units within the first model year.

Now that the TSX is out of the equation, I believe the ILX needs a power train improvement. Its base engine should offer no less than 180hp. The TLX has the 4 cylinder option to draw those who are more conservative and the V6 for those who value higher performance. And then of course, there's the RLX with a couple of V6 options. I do feel like the TLX V6 model should offer more than the 310hp of the RLX but slightly less than the 377hp in the RLX Hybrid Sport.........340hp sounds about right.

We'll soon see but I'm very glad for Acura and I think they have brighter days ahead of them.

George Knighton

I agree! :-)

But still so many unanswered questions.

Regarding the TLX GT, I wonder how the parts are going to be homologated. Does the certification of the 6 speed carry over from how they did it with the TSX?

If they're going to be in the World Challenge, then doesn't that mean that they have to sell at least 500 TLX GT to the public? Or at least somehow get the parts from the TLX GT into the hands of the public?

Which combinations get P-AWS, and which ones get SH-AWD? Is there a K24 P-AWS car and SH-AWD car, as well as a J35 P-AWS car and SH-AWD car?

I would have. But I know I'm the weird one around here. :-)

I was afraid the TLX would make me regret the purchase of the RLX, but it doesn't.

George Knighton

You might see that, if they have to get the 6 speed into the hands of the public in order to have it in the TLX GT.

Colin

Since the demise of Speed, it's been pretty hard to find World Challenge coverage on TV. However, if I remember correctly, there have always been loopholes or allowances to foster competition. Cunningham was allowed to use a NSX with forced induction in the past. The current TSX raced has a racing dual-clutch transmission but is issued a weight penalty.

IMO, there is no way they'll market the twin turbo V-6 in the TLX before the NSX is released as the 'first' Acura Earth Dreams Turbo V-6.

GoHawks

Nice job on the TLX! If i had stayed with Acura and had gone to the CTS-V, I would definitely have gone from my 06 RL to the TLX.

Much sportier.

Brother Acura

I feel the same way George. I think Acura will get their money maker sedan back with the TSX but my RLX has worn quite well on me. I'll be shopping for another when the time comes.

holografique

make that three of us. I think I'm converted for good. love my RLX. I'll probably check out the TLX when my lease is up. By that time it will be in it's 2nd year and the RLX will hopefully have gone through some updates.

Will be interesting to see where things are at in 2016.

neuronbob

I'm a convert myself. I still can't believe Acura design actually pulled it off--a nice-looking sedan. We'll see.

George Knighton

I'm gonna take one more look at the Hybrid SH-AWD. Just one more look.

:-)

But I think I'm sticking with the RLX Advance I have.

GoHawks

Video of the introduction.

http://www.freep.com/VideoNetwork/30...|img||umbrella

Mike_TX

Not sure I understand this thread. The TL has always been the sport sedan of the group, and the RL (and now RLX) has always been the luxury sedan component. Yes, there was the TSX, but that car was in ways a holdover, and it assumed the position of the sporty entry-level Acura.

(I'm not going back in history to the Integra, Legend, CL and the other earlier Acuras, nor the NSX.)

That said, ALL Acuras have been touted as sporty cars, or to be more precise, as sport-luxury cars. But the RLX wasn't ever intended to replace the TL or TLX as the sporty member of the family.

.
.

neuronbob

Acura has always been known as a brand in which you could get luxury with some sport. Even the 2G RL was fairly sporty with the Acura-produced A-Spec suspension, wheels, and proper sticky tires, which was the way I drove it.

The RLX has clearly gone toward the luxury end of the equation this time around and in that, it's quite competent. I can't see Acura (or HPD) making an A-Spec kit for the RLX.

db22

The RLX is doomed. The people that buy Acura's will love the TLX and will not think that the RLX offers enough additional to warrant the cost and the RLX will not compete in the luxury market.
It's the same story as before, RL and TL and the same ratio of sales will prevail with the 2014's.

George Knighton

You know where some of us got stuck?

In 2005, Ichishima became a huge advocate of the KB1 generation Legend (RL).

Reporters and race drivers would go around in his car and get out saying, "I don't get it."

But then they'd ride around with him or one of his drivers, and they'd get out with an "Oh my god!" bug-eyed look on their faces.

The KB1 was a full generation ahead of anything else, maybe two generations ahead with some things, and provided you were willing to trust the car and put your foot down, you could get around a track a lot faster than you would suppose for a car weighing that much, or for a car considered a sort of sporty flagship luxury car.

I think that the KB1 set the expectation for a lot of us, what a Legend/RL is supposed to be. We were waiting for Honda to step up and give us a groundbreaking performance car again.

The way that the KC1 is a groundbreaker has less to do with all out performance, and we can start the argument about whether P-AWS is a groundbreaker. To me the KC1 is not a groundbreaker.

It does everything well, but no single thing in any outstanding way.

Anyway....I think that's why some people look to the Legend/RL to be a groundbreaking performance car and speak of it in those terms. And that is why you'll see people like Jeff Palmer talking about how well the car handles and drives, and people like Brian Cooley talking about how wonderful the motor and transmission handle everyday sporty driving.

But now that we've heard more about what the TLX is supposed to be, you're right that it's clear that although some of us hearken back to the KB1 and looking for that kind of relative performance, it's clear that Honda intends for the TLX to be the performance sedan in the lineup.

:-)

neuronbob

^^^
Great post! It kinda makes me miss my RL....one of the best cars I've ever driven/owned. To me it was almost a super-secret performance car (since after the first two years no one bought it) with the superb handling offered by SH-AWD. I am a sports-car guy and driving enthusiast, and the 2G RL was just the sort of luxury sport I needed at the time. Not to mention that it was beautiful (IMHO).

Mike_TX

I see your point, George. I had a 2006 RL after having a 2006 TL (which unfortunately got really bashed up in a hailstorm). I might have been an outlier, but I viewed the RL as the "E class" of the Acura line, and not in any way a TL competitor. Maybe that's what Acura wanted me to think.

But there it was, decked out with all kinds of luxury amenities and carrying a sticker price in the 50's. To me, it seemed distinctly different from the somewhat raucous sports sedan my TL was. The TL was a youth-oriented car, while the RL was for us "grown ups" who wanted a dynamic car, but one more oriented toward cushiness and luxury. It seemed like a direct stepping stone to Mercedes.

I admit I lack the history of the earlier Acuras, and perhaps that's why I saw (and still see) the lineup the way I think Acura wants me to.

holografique

the thread is actually agreeing with you Mike