Crazy Bimmer

How you figure that?

Precision Crafted

I don't think it would be too hard. The last CL failed for many reasons. The delay in introducing the 6spd, styling that needed more updating, and weight.

The look of the car over all was fine but what was the CL's mission. Was it a GT or a BMW 3 series fighter? If it were a GT then it needed the feel of a Jag for example but if it was to compete with the 3 then it was too big length wise and needed a more sporting drive train IMO.

Crazy Bimmer

RL should be compared to the 530 and a M35.

I would pick an RL over those two.

M TYPE X

Acura still largely seems to exist as a means of pulling more money out of people after they 'outgrow' Accords. Lexus has been very successful getting people to upgrade from regular Toyotas, or GM cars when Cadillac was in its throes of lethargy.

BTW: I love your signature.

Precision Crafted

The biggest problem the RL has is the same one ALL Honda's and Acura's have and that is the tires!

With an A-Spec suspension kit and new tires and/or new 18" wheels then the RL would be a more sporting car.

The M35 and the 530 can be had with sport packages that make them handle better.

Acura's "handling" package cost what, 4k.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

Imagine if the RL came in a V8 model, it could give the M45, and th 5 series a serious run for their money.

Moog-Type-S

It seems Acura will not commit. They will not commit to high-end lux, nor will they commit to the sport side of things. They like being the "next step" for Honda buyers.

The RL as great as it is, is not in the same class as a 5 series, or LS...etc. It's in it's own class.
It is not a destinctive eye-catching design, no V8...but AWD is nice. It seems Acura does not want to beat the competition, but rather offer some sort of alternative....whatever that is.

GreenMonster

I'm trying to figure out what they meant in the "Fukui says Acura will continue as a sporty performance brand. It will not attempt to be a luxury brand like Lexus."

Does this mean Acura will try to compete with the sporty models offered by BMW and Infinti ?? Will Acura offer more RWD cars (remember the NSX and S2000 are RWD), or are they just going to stick with the FWD/SH-AWD type platforms ??

My CLS 6spd is a decent "sport/lux" car, but it's not as sporty as some of the competitions RWD cars. I bought the CLS thinking I wanted a "compromise" type vehicle. FWD, so it would be easier to drive in the winter, but with enough balls to make it fun. It does that, and does it well, and for an excellent price, but I find myself wanting a little more sportiness and a lot less compromise...

Commitment, that's a good word. Lets see if acura can commit to putting out more and more sportscars that the average joe can buy and not just a flagship like the NSX....

SPUDMTN

How is the RL not direct competition to the 5-series? And as for the RL competing with the LS...it was never intended to compete with the LS. I am curious as to why some are eager to compare the RL to the LS.

However, to say that the RL is an "alternative" would put it in the same league as the Lexus LS, which is merely a quasi prestige-luxury sedan. The LS is not direct competition for the uber-sedans from Germany's best because of a lack of interior space and style, but is too stodgy and luxury oriented to play with the midsize sport sedans.

But the RL fits the bill as a midsize-lux sedan in all areas. The exterior and interior are the same size as the midsize competition. Price is similar. Features are similar. Interior materials are similar. Technology is similar. How does the RL not compare?

03TL-S

Honestly, i dont get what their motive is for acura. Acura is supposed to be the luxury line of honda and now they are saying they are not attempting to be a luxury brand but rather a sporty brand. They are seriously doing something wrong. At least BMW and infiniti are established as luxury brands but focus on driver enjoyment and performance

Precision Crafted

Ok, I think the comment regarding Acura being a performace brand and not a luxury brand is straight forward. Yes, Acura will continue to offer luxury features but they will no longer target Lexus. Remember the first RL was ment to go against the Lexus LS and Infiniti Q. The RL lacked the size, RWD, and V8 to play with those two.

Acura will therefore ignore the "Ultra Luxury Package" approach that Lexus uses on the LS or some sort of "Journey Package" as Infiniti uses. I mention those packages because for the most part they add alot of bells and whistles.

Lexus is attempting to offer more sport but so for only the IS is delivering and still the VDIM cuts the fun off (the GS 400 suffers the same problem). So, Acura will forget the electronic dodads to "increase" handling. I would also venture to say that air suspension systems, to increase the ride comfort, are out for the near future. It is those things and other "luxury" features that Acura may ignore.

The RDX may not give us a clear picture but the next TSX and TL sure will.

F23A4

Good point.

Belzebutt

I just got my latest issue of Acura Expressions, the Canadian mag for Acura owners. In the foreword they talk about how Acura is stepping up their image with the CSX.

It concentrates on the CSX and has many photos that make the CSX look upscale.

dom

If rebadging a Civic is what they call stepping up then Acura is in deeper trouble than I thought. The CSX is great for what it is. A vehicle that makes Canadian Acura dealers happy and profitable.

Weck

...now that the Civic Si will be stealing all the RSX buyers. I wonder how the 'Merican Acura dealers feel about this.

Hey, where's the CSX forums anyways?

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

Acutally from what I've heard, The RSX is being discontinued. This year is the last year it will be in the US from what some people I know told me at Cerritos Acura.

GreenMonster

acurazine.ca might be tough to read, 'cause there's alot of french speaking members

MSZ

Like RSX and NSX, there is a huge EL forum out there already, no reason for us to compete with them.

GreenMonster

http://www.vtec.net/modelmatrix/ has 2006 as the final year...

If that's the case, acura needs a coupe even more since the CL coupe, NSX 2 seater coupe and RSX hatchback will be missing from the lineup.

It's gonna be kinda tough to support the "sporty performance" company philosophy without a single coupe in the whole lineup

dom

Instead of devoting all that money and R&D to building a plane Honda should have put it towards developing a RWD platform. Makes me sick when I think about it.

GreenMonster

I like Asimo and the solar cell stuff tho'

They already have RWD platforms (s2000 and NSX), I just don't know why they can't squeeze in a couple more

TSX69

I had to lookup some info on the Honda Prelude & came across this article where the RSX won a comparison test. The 1st paragraph is rather interesting - does it still hold true today?

Inside Line Comparison

dom

I was thinking a flexible platform like the G/350Z/M etc platform from Nissan. In fact I think the S2000/NSX platform is totally unflexible.

goldmemberer

Primarily FWD drivetrains, but I'm really only comparing the similarly priced & sized counterparts from Acura & Audi... A4 vs. TSX/TL. A6 vs. RL, etc. Both companies make nicely styled cars with gorgeous interiors but their cars aren't particularly sporty without modification. Not as much as the entries by BMW and Infiniti to the respective segments, anyhow.

"Similarly priced" excluded, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the S and RS models. The RS4 has me, a coupe man, diggin it.

M TYPE X

NSX is going out of production, S2000's future isn't secure. Honda should be working on new RWD cars NOW if they want to roll them out later this decade.

GreenMonster

Yeah, that's the way most car makers are set up (i.e. Lexus GS and IS). I'm not sure why H/A went the route they did with their rwd platforms, but hopefully they have noted the errors in their ways...

Chief F1 Fan

I must be dyslexic, I thought the thread name said "autopsies" Doh!

Belzebutt

By the way, you gotta love how Acura Expressions manages to write a couple of articles about the CSX without once mentioning the word "Civic".

heyitsme

I thought the Acura Legend(now RL) that went against the Lexus and Infiniti sedans back in the day was very popular. The Q45 was also on point. But both Acura and Infiniti lost it by not coming up with new products, Lexus moved ahead at a steady pace.

Not offering the safety devices Lexus offers now on the Is350 goes against the Honda/Acura brand philosophies, so no, that idea doesn't work.

Motohip

I must be dyslexic because I kept readiing what you wrote as autospies.

Guy Legend

Rebadging the company's econo car with their luxury car badges = disgrace.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of greater consistency amongst cars/names worldwide. The company will produce V10 and V8 engines for the NSX replacement and luxury cars/trucks respectively.

Dropping lower priced cars like the RSX is necessary for brand equity.

Everything about their shift in strategy is appealing and long overdue. It would have been nice to see seperate design studios (let the folks who designed the TSX and TL do Acura), but I think we will see styling improvements now that the brands will be seperate everywhere.

swift22

Just a quick question: Does you last name represent the car you own


Anyways they have to bring back the 95 legend coupe 6spd with a 3.5 with 300hp....before the turbo setup in an ASpec version. If that doesnt sell ....

dozorca

I hope they introduce a coupe version of the TSX... I think I saw a photoshop of such car...

This is a crappy chop, the one I'm talking about was better, but at least it's something:

Guy Legend

I had a 91 Legend sedan (orignal owners) , but we sold it last year. I'm driving a G35 coupe now.

M TYPE X

Very aggressive!!!

phile

Somebody posted on TOV from Acura's Style magazine that the upcoming RDX is going to be turbo charged.

Belzebutt

OMG this is like the Homer Simpson car...

phile

I didn't want to sour the mood, but I thought it was a hideous chop as well.

vincentliwf

yes...that was my thinking too!!!!!!!!!!!

Lexus --> Mercedes-Benz
reason: Luxury and comfort

Acura --> BMW
reason: Handling and performance

Infiniti --> Audi
reason: Both Almost being closed down before (Nissan (1999), Audi (1994?))
From what I 've heard is that the 1st gen A4 had saved Audi's live.


Also, what I 've read before is that Acura will be launched by 08 in Japan...
finally... we will see ACURAs in Japan and those USDM Hondas will not be longer to compare with Acuras and saying that Acura = Honda
esp. those Accord Coupe-ers saying Accord Coupe is a JDM Inspire

gavriil

This is no new news. Look for the RDX thread in this forum for more info.