biker

With word that Acura will get a flagship above the RL, the departed Infiniti Q's replacement coming as an 07, the LS being all new for 07 and the new S class also arriving the same time frame it seems like it will be an intersting time to be looking at top of the range sedans.

So we have:

Lexus LS460?
Infiniti Q500?
Acura xL (probably AWD w/V8)
MB S500

BMW 7 series getting a facelift this fall for 06 so there won't be any changes there until at least 08. Audi A8 might get a facelift in 07 also.

MADCAT

I think we may see a Honda V8 or even a V10 powering this car. Its about time Honda has a flag ship sedan in that class. It'll smoke these other cars in power, value, handling too.

jts1207

Havent heard anything about the Acura above the RL?

dom

I'd expect the Acura flagship to have a V6 + IMA not a V8.

titan

I hadn't heard anything about that either, but I hope that it's true.

titan

Will it be a 4.6L in the LS? I wonder how much hp it'll product... close to 375HP, I hope. Is the Q500 a guess, or did you hear that somewhere. I've been hoping that the Q gets a boost. From what I understand, enlarging it is just about as easy as the VQ... I'm hoping the Q will be revived and that it produces around 375-400HP. With a 5.0L V8, that shouldn't be a stretch.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

This rumor was confirmed by the Oracle. He said there are plans in the works towards this but had no specifics.

I speculate that the Mugen LM is a preview at a possible Honda V8 motor that might see production in a street car detuned to around 400-450 bhp.

Speed_Racer

Won't believe it until I see it.

machination

I wouldn't call myself a Nissan or Infiniti fan, but I have to admit I'm curious to see what they have in store for the Q45. The G became a contender, the M looks to be a contender, so if the pattern keeps going, the Q should finally be able to play with the big boys.

biker

The unknown for Infiniti will be the name - Q suposedly is out. The M is the mid sized temporary filler of the flagship status. It will get folks used to the idea of spending 50K+ for an Infiniti where the current Q couldn't.

I'd venture to guess that the drivetrain bar for this class sedan will be 5L and 400HP with a 6AT - S class of course will have the 7 Gmatic drivetrains out of current models.

RWD will be the norm for most but with Audi and Acura being AWD, the others will have to have alternatives (MB already does).

The tough thing for Infiniti and Acura will be to convince folks (better than VW did with the Phateon) to plunk down 65-70K for their car.

And of course the cars will be loaded with gadgets galore - a useable voice recognition for all interfaces - Starship Enterprise here we come!!!

Stevens24

I don't think Acura will have as much of a problem as VW did. the Phaeton was 35-40k more than a Passat. If Acura Releases the Vehicle I expect a 4.0-4.2 V-8 350-370-hp 196". I also don't expect anything til the 08' MY at the earliest. 58-60k price

LessisBestmakingendsmeet

VW can't get people to buy 60-100k Phaetons.
The Audi A8 is glorious but sells badly.
Infiniti has yet to prove it can sell a top luxury car.
Jaguars XJ8 is selling slow.
Acura doesn't even have a E500/545/GS 430/M45 competitor yet. THe Rl is their flagship but low on the totem poll. ITs like having a BMW 530 as your flagship.

Only Lexus has proved that is somehow broke into the BMW/Benz stranglehold of this market.

When you spend that much money in a car, PRESTIGE is one of the top reasons to buy. Most of those companies either have none or are not seen as true luxury car makers.

Watch out for RR or Bentley's baby models too, to put a squeeze on BMW/Benz V-12s....

phile

Wrong. Audi is only selling 5000 a year, the A8 has had waiting lists since it came out. And mind you, 5000 is twice the amount that Audi used to sell for the old A8.

Crazy Bimmer

A8 > *

phile

http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news...04/313871.html

Moog-Type-S

I find it really hard to believe that Honda will make a production V8.
New flagship Acura will have a V6 and AWD.

Crazy88

if the new flagship has a V6, i wouldent call it a flagship. All other flagships have V8s and Acura will lose alot of sales because of this

Crazy Bimmer

maybe hybrid V6 ?

sauceman

Definitely a V8, probably with IMA, IMO.

Add VCM to that too.

titan

Well, I'm a Nissan/Infiniti fan... and right now they're on a roll. I look forward to seeing if Infiniti will be able to produce a car that can crack the market the same way the LS is. They've always had good product, but was hampered early with bad, bad marketing (still not where it needs to be), and identity problems (after wanting to be the Japanese BMW, followed Lexus (the Japanese Mercedes)). With the G, FX, and now M, they've only improved on the product front. And with a renewed sense of direction and identity, I'm hoping they can pull off a winner.

TSX Hokie

IMHO, Infiniti is doing a better job of being the Japanese BMW than Lexus is doing being the Japanese MB. The G35, G35x, and G35 coupe is a great lineup, comparable to what the 3-series has to offer. Lexus doesn't offer anything on the entry side except for a rebadged Camry and the ugly,old, and and impractical IS300. On the high end, their styling can't touch MB.

machination

Well said.

Minch00

I just wonder who will provide some competition to the MB SL-class.........they DOMINATE, and have no opposition. Twin turbo V12 hardtop convertible with the best styling on the road today, IMO. It's insane.

cob3683

I think that is why you dont see other companies going after it. They know that the SL continually sets the mark on how a top-of-the-line convertible should be and that they would have to spend a hell of a lot of money for R&D before the car even got into the production stages.

Minch00

True, but I'd still like to see a similar 'vert from BMW, or hell even Ferrari or Bentley. If the cabrio version of the Bentley Continental GT is a soft-top, I think there should be hell to pay! Auto makers need to tap into the retractable hardtop market. It provides the best of both worlds to the consumer. I know the Tiburon is going to have it, but why are people still so stuck on the soft-top idea? Are they just lazy?

F23A4

Nissan/Infiniti cannot be regarded the same way it was in the 90s. FWIW, it's an entirely different company with some VERY clear direction and VERY notable accomplishments (G35, FX, Altima just to name the main ones). And I agree with Titan, the marketing still isnt up to snuff.

As for Acura's flagship, I really would be surprised if a V8 motor were to make an appearance in this generation's RL. As previously posted, I DO picture the current 3.5L being upgraded with IMA and maybe an SOHC i'VTEC to push a fuel economy angle (a V8's achilles heel in a 4,000lb+ sedan). Even so there's still a question as to whether or not prospective RL buyers would go for an uber-powerful NA V6 w/IMA over similarly powerful V8s from other makes.

That said, whether the RL has a V6 or V8, it's still Acura's flagship.

phile

If the rumors turn out to be true, then that's going to change as the new IS is rumored to have a sub-30K IS250 model as well as the IS300 model.

SeCsTaC

agreed

ilitig8

FWIW, Ferrari really isn't interested in this type of car. They internally laugh at AMG and consider the chassis not worthy of the engine, which of course it isn't.

Vandy

03TL-S

Highly doubtful...look at the RL