Shalooby

Now this is what I was talking about earlier when I wash bashing Acura about what they are promoting as "new". Nothing - except for the weather info - in the new RL is new. And speaking of which, has anyone seen what this new weather functionality looks like? It might simply be a feed from XM and displayed via traffic info interface that it currently has.

Now this. . . this is new. And advanced technology kind of thing that I was hoping to see from Acura. Guess not.


All Around View

kappa821

i know off topic but does those stupid led light under the head lights belong on a civic, it looks kind of ricey,

yea if acura screws this new lineup of cars up they are going to be in trouble, there are so many nice cars out there right now for the 30k-40k mark,

caddy cts, g35, bmw, audi, accord coupe, all of those cars are going to have options regarding awd, coupe or sedan, and power

the new caddy cts coupe looks pretty sweet, wish acura would make a coupe

enigmaos

iTrader: (4)

healing paint!?

nice all round view feature. is it activated only when you are in reverse and then drive?

kappa821

i would like to hear about this healing paint

ed99

After looking at the NEW GEN RL, I think I need to wash my eyes. It was painful seeing those pics. What an ugly car that is. I hope Honda is checking this thread on a daily basis. With the RL sales figures decreasing, this new GEN won't help at all. I just hope the new TL won't look anything close to that.

timmahh

I believe they are nano capsules filled with the paint color, when disrupted/broken they "bleed" the paint color into the scratched surface... ?

kappa821

that sounds pretty crazy, i wonder if that works well, now that is soome cutting tech

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

healing paint? let me hit it with a louisville slugger, I will see if it heals lol

madddog32

Not toooo shabyy in blackk! But still dont like that darn grille.

kappa821

black is def an upgrade, but whats up with the rims why cant they keep the 5 spoke look so much nicer, why would they show the red color at the car show anyway its not a sports car, its suppose to be a classy car, show white or black

and can they please white out the front from the factory, and stick the yellow on the corner like the bimmers

krio

I think the front grill looks odd in the RL, but will look good in the next TL.
In fact, the sharp edges of the grill are far more fitted for the sporty design of the TL that the sleepy one of the RL.
If we look at the old spyshots of the summer 2007 for the the next GN TL, the shape of the grill looks very similar to the RL one restiled.
And everithing is derived from the ugly Acura Concept Sedan end 2006...
From this forgotten concept we got many hints of the future of Acura sedans...
Mamma mia. Let's hope for better.

redman042

THAT'S the RL??? 'Scuse me, I think I just puked in my mouth.

Seriously, I don't like it one bit. Ok, I'll qualify that. Most of the car is fine. I think the back end looks decent, maybe even better than the current model (I always thought the rear end of the current RL was too subdued). However, the FRONT end is an abomination. Seriously. It's trying way too hard to be edgy and different and have its own identity. Kind of like the Pontiac Aztec...remember that thing?

Acura better seriously think about where they are going with their new design philosophy. I hate to be so cruel (comparing this RL to the Aztec), but Acura has recently stood out for me because they think different - they have clean, efficient designs. I really like my 06 TL. Adding the Acura spoilers was just the right amount of edginess for me. Any more would have been too much. Even the '08 model with the fog lamps and white tail light lenses is a bit much for me.

PLEASE, Acura, keep the next TL clean and sleek.

TL1999

the nice and big grill

LOL

Manach

Put all the camo and tape back on!!!!!!It looked better that way!!!!!
Seriously there is no sculpting on the hood or side, its so plain it looks like an introductory model not a flagship. The old RL was better.
hyundai is stepin up there game and Acura's falling off..Sad, sad, sad.

JAB00

Well to be technical this is not a new generation RL. It's just a refresh. Similar to what the TL had in 2007. The redesign is for 2010. This refresh was more dramatic because RL sales were in the doldrums.

redman042

Why do many model refreshes seem to consist of tacking some ugliness on?

Ibn Rushd

On Vtec.net there is someone who photoshopped the grill, it looks MUCH better, he brought the hood lines down to match the top of the headlamps. Also if they make the that large sheild bar,a bit thinner (so not so large) and then brough it down to the center, it'll look good.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

link???

King of Pain

Here's the Link:

http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-messa...item_id=738523

Here's my 2 cents.

They need to change the grill up front and dump that chrome strip across the trunk. It's ugly at both ends. I showed it to my wife, she thought it was an Accord. I think the general public is going to have the same reaction.

They also need to fire whoever convinced top management that this was the design to use.

Does Honda Acura realize the whole automotive world is laughing at them? I don't think the negative comments are contained just to this forum.

I have been a loyal Honda/ Acura owner for over 25 years. Sad to say but this may be my last Honda/ Acura car if this is what's instore for the TL.

King of Pain

Here's a link to some TSX pics. The grill looks better on this car. Still not great but better. The new TL still has a chance to be a good looking car.

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=739420

NLYTN

What the F**K is wrong with Honda/Acura these days? Correct me if I'm wrong but when you design something Hot/nice/pleasing to the eye people buy it right? Then why not do it! Stop making these cars look like the next car and get focused. If this is the new direction they are headed in then R.I.P They shouldnt even use ADVANCE.... Try "BACKSLIDE" because that RL is a sin against the orignal Legend. If they have the same frame of mind with the 09 TL then I will provide the bullets for them to shoot themselves When are they going to realize they need a TRUE flagship? So if this is the new design direction then RL= Really Lazy TL= Totally Lazy TSX= Totally Sux Design something people will Lust after and then talk about the Advance bs......

ultimate_ed

ed99

Looks more like a major face lift and adding the new GEN Accord to the rear. Refresh should be a minor change to maybe the front/rear bumper and lights. But looks like they did more than that??

kappa821

they did a lot of changes to this rl, probably b/c the sales suck so bad

at least they increased the engine to 300

EL19

iTrader: (4)

the photoshop on the RL looks WAYYY better but the RL still should not look like that...it doesnt yell, "HEY IM A $55K FLAGSHIP MODEL!!!!" hopefully 2010 will bring something better for the new gen for the RL and hopefully they wont murder the TL

kappa821

http://www.forbes.com/vehicles/2008/...hisSpeed=15000

best luxury cars under 50k, i was starting to think these people were crazy but then the tl showed up at the end, to bad they have the price of it incorrectly at 46 instead of 36,

anyone know if acura is showing anything else new at the new york car show

jazz_123

I do not understand why everyone is flammin on acura's new design direction. I think it looks great. Everyone is going crazy after they see images from the RL! Its not a new design people! The new TL will become their flagship car. Expect a 3.5 328 HP larger and roomier! I cant imagine what the TLS is going to be like! The new TSX looks like a baby fatter Lexus GS.

Converted

There's NO WAY they're going to make the new TL 328hp... especially if the RL is only 300.

ttribe

It may be possible that the 2009 TL's HP will exceed the 2009 RL's; but, that conjecture is based primarily on the ongoing rumor (as "confirmed" by various dealers) that the 2010 RL will have a V8 (at least as an option).

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

^ following the honda history that is unlikely since the model refresh wont occur for 5 years, so it aint gonna happen, even if they threw the 3.7 in the rl, figure the 09 tl-p will only be a 3.5 similar if not the same motor as the 8th gen av6, oh well, looks like everyone who is waiting for it to come out better pick up the current type s, since in all likely hood will be quicker since sh-awd will rob some hp

darksom1

I think the new TL is just going to have a little more HP than the current TL-s with the 3.5 and SH-AWD. Maybe like 290+.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

i thnk the TL will have more power than the 09RL and the current Type S...for Honda to just up and throw a 3.5 in teh accord like they did means they mean business when it comes to power. Seems as though they realize the HP race and they need to step it up. But thats just my opinion and we all just have to wait until the NY auto show and find out

darksom1

I don't think the regular TL will, but I do think the Type-S will!

At least that is what I am hoping will happen so that when it hits the street...I can go straight to NY and crush Al's Type-S! Hahahahahaha!

EL19

iTrader: (4)

Type s should b nuthing less than a beast!

redman042

The TL doesn't need as much HP as the RL, because it's much lighter. I drove both 06's and the TL felt much quicker.

Converted

When has Honda EVER realized the HP race... lol

These aren't race-cars... and there's much more to the car than HP numbers, and I think that's why they've never really been in a hurry to be "the leader in HP" in any segment, including ATV's, Street-Bikes, etc... They just run better overall, and in many cases are the most reliable and well balanced of their kind...

EL19

iTrader: (4)

yea u got a point there...i doubt they will ever be AHEAD in the HP race and yes there is alot more to a car than HP but the fact of the matter is ppl wanna go faster...all cars are faster...Altimas are faster and Camry's are faster...so what did Honda do? They put a 268HP 3.5 in an Accord. So the bottom line is you have to compete and if Acura wants to ever compete as a luxury car company there are gonna need to at least keep up with Infinit, Lexus, BMW, Mercedes...All of those cars have very nice HP numbers and they arent race cars. The are swift luxury cars. I wouldnt classify anything as a race car unless it had 425+HP

EL19

iTrader: (4)

i do love my Acura though...i couldnt imagine driving any other car and being 100% content

XxAfG786xX

Honda is a well balanced car, they balance speed and comfert, unlike nissan which mostly focuses on speed and less comfert, and toyota which focuses more on comfert then speed

Converted

I love my TL... but I'm not 100% content.

I really really really despise the front-wheel drive. I came from a 420HP STI, so it's a bit of a change, but I really liked the car the first year or so. Now, the FWD is getting to me a lot, ESPECIALLY in anything but dry roads. In the rain, forget it.

I have been eyeing the 2008 STI, because of the speed, new added features, and AWD... but it lacks the overall refinement obviously, that the Acura has.