Acura: RLX News
03-26-2008, 04:35 PM
#1961
You'll Never Walk Alone
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^ I wouldn't consider Hyundai as the luxury division of Kia/Hyundai group, at least for now. In the future, may be, but not yet.
What you said about the RL is right, the marketing is the problem.
Obviously Honda knows what's going on with the Acura brand, that's why they are announcing plans for moving the brand image up and stuff like that. You don't see Mercedes saying how they want to be tier-1, do you?
I think you meant to say NSX should've been updated 10 years ago, instead of letting it die like that.
What you said about the RL is right, the marketing is the problem.
Obviously Honda knows what's going on with the Acura brand, that's why they are announcing plans for moving the brand image up and stuff like that. You don't see Mercedes saying how they want to be tier-1, do you?
I think you meant to say NSX should've been updated 10 years ago, instead of letting it die like that.
03-26-2008, 05:21 PM
#1962
6G TLX-S
^^^^^ I meant to say that the NSX should not be axed even though the new replacement isn't here. The $90K "super" car is needed in the Acura lineup to maintain the Acura brand image. Give it more hp, lighten it further, make small improvements, refreshen the look.
A simple high horsepower V8/RWD car will do the job, as in the no frills Audi R8, nothing fancy. Why does Honda have to make the job so difficult for themselves for the new NSX which is dragging on forever ?
A simple high horsepower V8/RWD car will do the job, as in the no frills Audi R8, nothing fancy. Why does Honda have to make the job so difficult for themselves for the new NSX which is dragging on forever ?
03-26-2008, 08:50 PM
#1963
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Yea, it's very sad to see the NSX being axed like that...I think that's more of a Honda decision in general, not really an Acura decision.
I think it is indeed difficult for Honda to redesign the NSX replacement. Think about it, it was such a great car, great design that it threatened Ferrari and Porsche. It really shamed those brands. Virtually every well known car enthusiast praised the car when it came out, including Gordon Murray, the designer of Mclaren F1. In fact, Gordon Murray used the NSX as its "template" when designing the Mclaren F1 (the article was posted on Acurazine before). He looked at designs from Porsche, from Ferrari, from Lambourgini, he was not satisfied with those. But as soon as he saw the NSX, he simply fell in love with it, and even asked Honda to build the engine for its Mclaren F1 (which Honda refused).
So, if they don't do a "way beyond expectations" job on the next NSX, then people would criticize it. To achieve the same level of "surprise" as the 1st gen NSX when it first came out, the new car must stun the world to an even higher level. Anything less, does not deserve the name, NSX.
In the meantime though, I agree, it would be nice to see a another sports car for the Acura line-up, just don't call it NSX though. It doesn't really have to be V8, V6 turbo would work (that is, if they can get the turbo right) and RWD would be good enough for me. Come to think about it, I don't recall Porsche having any sports cars with 8 cylinders (Cayenne is a SUV).
I think it is indeed difficult for Honda to redesign the NSX replacement. Think about it, it was such a great car, great design that it threatened Ferrari and Porsche. It really shamed those brands. Virtually every well known car enthusiast praised the car when it came out, including Gordon Murray, the designer of Mclaren F1. In fact, Gordon Murray used the NSX as its "template" when designing the Mclaren F1 (the article was posted on Acurazine before). He looked at designs from Porsche, from Ferrari, from Lambourgini, he was not satisfied with those. But as soon as he saw the NSX, he simply fell in love with it, and even asked Honda to build the engine for its Mclaren F1 (which Honda refused).
So, if they don't do a "way beyond expectations" job on the next NSX, then people would criticize it. To achieve the same level of "surprise" as the 1st gen NSX when it first came out, the new car must stun the world to an even higher level. Anything less, does not deserve the name, NSX.
In the meantime though, I agree, it would be nice to see a another sports car for the Acura line-up, just don't call it NSX though. It doesn't really have to be V8, V6 turbo would work (that is, if they can get the turbo right) and RWD would be good enough for me. Come to think about it, I don't recall Porsche having any sports cars with 8 cylinders (Cayenne is a SUV).
04-01-2008, 11:04 PM
#1964
Honda Fanboy
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
I agree that the RL is a damn good car, but not good enough given it's price and it's competitiveness among others (at $50K they've gonna be luxury ones) within the same price range. Unfortunately it's a cruel world out there, if the car doesn't sell it ain't good enough as a package. Even if the RL has wings, if people don't buy it, there is obviously something wrong with the overall RL package. It is no use being able to compete as a car. It has got to be able to compete as a package. You can blame it on Acura, name, marketing, or even the buyers; but the end result remains the same.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
Acura's major shortcomings are the lack of V8 option and RWD for the RL, and set too expensive a price for the lackluster Acura brand image. Had the RL been offered as V6/RWD with a cheap base price, and with V8 and SH-AWD as options, it would become much more attractive to a more variaty of buyers.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
The RL's major shortcomings are the acceleration performance which is behind most V6/RWD competitors, and the lack of custom choice of options. As with all makes of AWD hardware available now, AWD is power-robbing and heavy, and is best suited to couple with high torque V8 engines to maintain an adequate level of acceleration performance. The RL's lame and heavy 290hp/256lbft V6/SH-AWD package is simply no match for other V6/RWD competitors. A high-output 350hp V6/SH-AWD would have definitely help here when V8/RWD is unavailable.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
On the other hand, a lighter and more efficient V6/RWD RL package would likely have shaved 1 sec off the time sheet. Those seeking maximum performance could opt for the even faster V8/RWD package, while those needed AWD capability could opt for either the slow V6/SH-AWD package or the fast V8/SH-AWD package. All recognized luxury makes have been doing this custom engine and driveline choices, and custom option choice for years to capture a hugh range of car buyers.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
Whether I'm in the EXTREME minority group or not doesn't make no differece to the fact that the RL doesn't sell. Why I'm saying this is because I had shopped for $50K cars, and the 2nd gen RL was on my shopping list. Mine is first-hand real life experience; not just BS talks gathered from car forums, or people's think-up opinions who have never gone through a $50K car buying experience.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
Fine, if you think I bought the A6 just for the name, so be it. But isn't MB or BMW a even better name than Audi ? If I were to buy just the Audi name, I wouldn't even have considered the RL nor the M35x in the first place. I would just stomp into the Audi dealership and write a cheque for the A6 right away. It would have made my life much simpler. But shouldn't someone who spend $50K for a luxury car concern about the brand name too. The brand name itself carries some prestige which often is not possible to put a price on.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
I bought the A6 for it's notorious Quattro AWD, and the fact that I can custom order options according to my liking. It is one of the safest mid-size luxury car in collisions, according to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. My wife had a nasty accident beforehand. It was real lucky that she was driving her dad's E320 at that time when another E320 driver fell asleep, ran a redlight, and broad-sided her dead center at the driver's door at full speed. Her car spinned many times around and finally stopped after hitting a curb, according to the withnesses. The E320's solid construction and multiple side-airbags all helped to save her life. Then I started realizing that life is more important than money, and then buy her a solid mid-size car.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
I opted for wood trim, headlight washer, heated rear seats, Xenon headlights, folding side mirrors, backup sensor, bigger wheels, etc. I didn't opt for useless stuffs like keyless start, navi, fancy stereo, S-line body trims, sport suspension, adjustable suspension, etc. The complete option list could easy add more than $10K to the base price of the car. When I'm to spend $50K for a car, I want to do it my way. I don't like being forced to cough out $$$ for stuffs that I don't want as in the full-loaded RL. In my case, my custom A6 was still $3K cheaper than the RL. Giving me loaded options, that I don't want, doesn't really add values to the car. Without custom option ordering put the RL in a very limited customer base. Note that not many Germans car buyers arm their cars to the teeth with options. This puts the fully-loaded RL is big disadvantage especially when buyers are looking for that "3/4 price" deal.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
I'm sure there are a whole lot more $50K buyers out there buying the name over the car rather than buying the car over the name, as reflected from the dismay RL sales figure. The RL may be a better car than the A6, but the overall RL package not. Mind you I bought the A6 in the 3.2L-V6-Quattro trim because it's for my wife. If it is for myself, I would either have picked the 4.2L-V8-Q trim or the 5.2L-V10 S6. The RL simply has no upgrade path for my caterogy of buyers. Available V8 and RWD options is the only solution.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
As for the name problem, the RL is in even bad shape. People buy car just for the name will always buy the cheapest base model, and the fully-loaded RL becomes way too expensive to compete. However, Acura noticed this mistake and released the cheaper reduced-content RL trim last year. But it is too little, too late.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
So the Acura name is bad enough. Why the hell does Honda have to release Tier 1 products after the new NSX which has constantly drifting release date ? Don't worry about the NSX. Start releasing Tier 1 products ASAP to rescue the withering Acura brand image. That's the only way to help sell cars priced in the luxury car price range.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
I don't know when the luxury market starts having Tier-1 brands and non-Tier-1 brands. If you go back to the "Honda introduces the Acura brand" news releases some 20 years ago, it would always say Acura was the luxury division from Honda. No Tier-1 non-Tier-1 shit. The problem was that the Acura flagship sedan was released with the V6 FWD layout and remains the same up to this date, where Lexus and Infiniti flagship sedans were introduced with the V8 RWD layout. This put the Acura brand squarely into the near-luxury (or luxury-wanna-be) segment, whereas the Lexus and Infiniti are enjoying their presence among the true-luxury brands with V8/RWD option a must. Seeing this, Honda had been constantly talking about elevating the Acura brand for the past 5 or so years, but still refusing to develop proper V8 and RWD hardware.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
So this year Honda invents this Tier-1 non-Tier-1 talk to repeat their intent, one more time again, of elevating the Acura brand. It is basically same shit, different skin.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
Remember how Lexus started off with the V8 RWD LS400 with a bargain price tag of $40K, 19 years ago. It was a bargain, it was well built, it was well received. It started to gain fame, it became famous. The car gradully became recoginized, and the brand also gradually became recognized. Over the stretch of years, Lexus gradually improved the LS even more, accompanied with subtle price increases. The LS continues to be highly praised, and the Lexus brand establishes firmly as a true luxury brand. Now the LS starts at $62K and tops out at $104K. It takes 19 years for Lexus to achieve what it is tody, no less.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
Similarly, since the RL has never been well received in terms of sales, a $50K price tag will sure scare off many would-be buyers. A $40K price tag will sure lurk more buyers to sample how good the RL package is. Eventually it will gain fame, and be well received in terms of sales. This won't happen in a month nor a year. This is a long process. Remember the word "gradully". It takes Lexus 19 years to do it, and Lexus had started off with the right foot (V8 and RWD).
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
The reason that I bought my TL-S 7 years ago was that it had 260hp and was adequately equipped for it's price. In fact it had no peers at 260hp at it's price range at that time. That generation TL was praised as best value everywhere and was also the best selling car in it's class continuously for years. However, 2 years later all other competitors had catch up with the TL-S. There hasn't been any no-peers-featured, bargain-priced car from Acura ever since, especially in the hp department.
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
I have been looking for a new Acura to replace the TL-S. The 2nd gen RL would be a very good choice given 300hp/RWD or V8/SH-AWD, and a $40K base price with custom options. I'm still waiting but my patience is starting to wear thin. One good news is that the 2010 V8 RWD-platform does look appealing.
05-02-2008, 06:14 PM
#1965
Senior Moderator
Hey guys. One of our posters took pix from an auto show in Korea showing the new Legend. The grille seems an improvement over the "Power Phlegm" grille we've got for the RL. I am hoping that they adopt this in the US if they're not going to change the grille to something we've suggested.
It's in our RL forum...
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5550
It's in our RL forum...
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5550
05-02-2008, 06:28 PM
#1967
Senior Moderator
Well, being that that grille is very much like the one on the Euro Accord, I'd say it has zero chance of being on an Acura as standard equipment. Acuras are stuck with the power plenum grille, so as much as we don't like it, we better get used to it. Although now I suppose one can mod your RL grille with this one. 
05-02-2008, 06:31 PM
#1968
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by LuvMyTSX
Although now I suppose one can mod your RL grille with this one.
"Power Phlegm" FTL!
05-03-2008, 10:22 PM
#1969
That grille is incredibly boring, it's the same crap that was pawned off on Acuras before their designers got serious.
05-03-2008, 10:27 PM
#1970
What Would Don Draper Do?
looks better.
but the car as a whole still looks boring, and it just makes it look even more like an accord.
when is the refreshed RL supposed to hit dealers anyways? i'm anxious to see what the sales numbers will be.
*heads off to RL forum to see if anyone's gonna buy it*
but the car as a whole still looks boring, and it just makes it look even more like an accord.
when is the refreshed RL supposed to hit dealers anyways? i'm anxious to see what the sales numbers will be.
*heads off to RL forum to see if anyone's gonna buy it*
05-04-2008, 08:51 AM
#1971
Senior Moderator
meh
05-04-2008, 11:00 AM
#1972
Go Big Blue!
Originally Posted by JediMindTricks
looks better.
but the car as a whole still looks boring, and it just makes it look even more like an accord.
when is the refreshed RL supposed to hit dealers anyways? i'm anxious to see what the sales numbers will be.
*heads off to RL forum to see if anyone's gonna buy it*
but the car as a whole still looks boring, and it just makes it look even more like an accord.
when is the refreshed RL supposed to hit dealers anyways? i'm anxious to see what the sales numbers will be.
*heads off to RL forum to see if anyone's gonna buy it*
I agree with most. It looks better but still not good. Like I said in the RL forum, I think the entire grill is just too big and out of allignment with the top of the headlights. Not much will fix that.
05-05-2008, 01:03 AM
#1974
The sizzle in the Steak
@ the "new" grille
05-05-2008, 03:22 PM
#1975
6G TLX-S
This Honda Legend grille looks much nicer than the North American Acura RL grille.
05-05-2008, 05:31 PM
#1977
Team Owner
is that a RL or Genesis?
05-07-2008, 06:26 PM
#1980
I can't wait to see the sales number for this mmc RL.
05-07-2008, 06:38 PM
#1982
I'm really liking that backend. 
05-07-2008, 06:46 PM
#1983
Originally Posted by yohan81718
hahahah
05-08-2008, 02:50 PM
#1992
Suzuka Master
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Originally Posted by JediMindTricks
2005-2008 RL: front end looks really good. rear is boring.
2009 RL: rear looks really good. front end looks boring.
2009 RL: rear looks really good. front end looks boring.
05-08-2008, 02:54 PM
#1993
What Would Don Draper Do?
Originally Posted by mrdeeno
i actually knew a girl like that back in high school. her face looked good but her body needed some work. I saw her again a couple years after college and her body now looked smokin, but she aged poorly.
06-11-2008, 09:49 AM
#1994
Senior Moderator
http://www.leftlanenews.com/acura-rl-future.html
The Acura RL received a facelift a few months ago in preparation for the 2009 model year, but that hasn't stopped Acura engineers from proceeding full speed ahead with a complete redesign for the 2011 model year. The all-new RL will be the first ever Acura to use a rear-wheel-drive platform as its basis. Our newest spy photos show a test mule for the new chassis, with body components donated from the new TSX.
Recent rumors also indicate the car will come equipped with Acura's first ever V8 — a 420 horsepower 4.8-liter range-topping unit. Other more economical engines are also expected to be offered. An optional RWD-based version of Honda's SH-AWD system is expected to be offered.
The RWD nature of this car is plain to see. Take note of the large space between the front door and the front wheel, for example. While the test mule pictured looks like a Frankenstein TSX, the final RL will have completely new styling unique to it. Since the Advanced Sedan Concept was unpopular to say the least, designers are believed to have hone back to the drawing board.
Recent rumors also indicate the car will come equipped with Acura's first ever V8 — a 420 horsepower 4.8-liter range-topping unit. Other more economical engines are also expected to be offered. An optional RWD-based version of Honda's SH-AWD system is expected to be offered.
The RWD nature of this car is plain to see. Take note of the large space between the front door and the front wheel, for example. While the test mule pictured looks like a Frankenstein TSX, the final RL will have completely new styling unique to it. Since the Advanced Sedan Concept was unpopular to say the least, designers are believed to have hone back to the drawing board.
06-11-2008, 10:43 AM
#1999
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The rear tires seem to be wider than the front...or is it just the camera angle? I thought the body roll isn't that bad, have you seen the Best Motoring video of the TL-S at Willow Springs? That has even more body roll, yet it achieved a very respectable lap time.
06-11-2008, 10:45 AM
#2000
The sizzle in the Steak
Call me in 2010 :wink: