Timmy18

http://www.acuranews.com/channels/ac...t-la-auto-show

wstr75

Did I read the press release correctly? It sounds like a lot of optional stuff like collision avoidance, lane assist, etc., are standard equipment with the RLX Hybrid. I am guessing there is paddle shifters on the steering wheel for downshifting/upshifting the 7 speed tranny.

2011TL

So it's going to be available "next Spring", and not this December as was being reported on these forums?

jhr3uva90

They might as well call it a 2015 model.

silverTL6

iTrader: (2)

Not even different bumpers for their "Most Powerful and Technologically Advanced Vehicle", nor visible exhausts (fine, it's part of their new design language). Just more LED's, grille trim, badges, wheels (base 19's look better IMO) and call it a day.

Is this flagship really being built to a budget, or is it subtlety taken to the (teeth pulling) extreme?

KeithL

Holy Crap Batman! God have they fumbled this car. A year after introduction, this tell me they either have issues or are still making changes. And to call it a 2014 if it releases in Spring 2014 is another disaster. If they make these mistakes with TLX then they are doomed in sedans.

GoHawks

On the exhaust issue, my guess is this. It's a hybrid, Acura doesn't necessarily want to flaunt the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. It's a design theme they're going towards. I don't necessarily like it, but I get it.

Good to see the fog lights return.

TSX69

Was hoping for more cosmetic changes but I do like the new fog/turn lights. Is the grill now chrome? I would have much preferred chrome door handles as that might be a little too much bling-bling on the front; the sides could have used it more. The back looks the same but I would have liked the hybrid badge on the left just to even it out - now both badges are on the right side & nothing on the left.

The rims looked OK here:

But from the profile the spokes look a little too fat to me:

Interior looks pretty much the same other than the shifter. Altho the wood looks a little different - the pattern lines are running horizontally instead of vertically. Since there is no mention of real wood, I assume that it is still wood grain.
New:

Old:

Good to see the hwy mpg is 32 as 30 always seemed a little low and hooray for headsup display finally making it to Acura. Guess it is another 4+ month wait on pricing ....

OhioMDXer

My guess is the new RLX hybrid will be available in 2nd half of March 2014 (spring) and the TLX will be available in the 2nd half of June (summer). This is exactly the timing for the release of the current RLX and MDX this year (2013).

islandbeef

getakey

Launching next spring??

Colin

Here is the video:

TSX69

So this thing is finally on acura.com (not future vehicle section tho).

The close-up pic looks like it just might be real wood. Not sure how I feel about the green light although it probably turns red in sport mode.

deepen03

Finally Acura has done it! this thing looks awesome! Loving how the hybrid system works and that electronic gear shifter.. my goodness..

deepen03

not sure about the green light? really that's a criticism? Drive is always Green, that's a car standard.

trev0006

More pictures

2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

http://www.dpccars.com/gallery/index...X-Sport-Hybrid

Colin

IDK, I think we could/should ease up on this meme. Acura wouldn't be the first (or last) to release the performance version after the initial launch of a new car. If I'm not mistaken, you often wait for the M version at BMW and we're still waiting for the Focus ST, Mazdaspeed 3 etc as two other examples.

AS far as I know, the initial cars will be in dealerships in Dec as noted. However, the intent is probably for us to take orders off of these for Spring delivery. There are already too many trims of this car for dealers to manage, so maybe with an even more limited production vehicle, they are planning to only build what they're going to sell? (speculation on my part, not official Acura stance)

hondamore

I'm a little disappointed that the on sale date has been pushed back... I can't wait to drive and "feel" the new SHAWD system in person. We've had nearly a couple feet of snow here the past couple of days and my '05 RL (with snow tires) carved through it like it was the middle of summer, so I can't wait to see how the latest generation of SHAWD fares in similar conditions and on dry road twisties.

The one-touch gear selection and heads up display are two unexpected little "goodies" they've thrown in to an already loaded up car - definitely raises the "cool factor". I am undecided on the new wheels, I'll reserve judgement until I see them in person.

My two cents.

Colin

But is it really? They were ALWAYS only sending one car to the stores in Dec. This cannot fulfill everyone's color needs. Which means that after you saw/drove it in December, you would still have to order the color of your choice. The way these are made, that would mean a January order with February production and March delivery.

2011TL

^^^^
Colin,
With a demo at dealerships in December can we assume prices will be available at that time also?

Colin

^^^^
I would imagine so. I will be curious to see how they are going to handle leases. Normally, lease residual values are only good for two months and with the cars arriving beyond that window, they will need to honor those quotations beyond the normal end date.

yooin14

I can already imagine that there will be a lot of finger stains on the chrome part around gear box.

hondamore

You are right Colin, my disappointment is not aimed at Acura's delivery times but rather I am selfishly disappointed that I have to wait longer to try one out for myself. Given that they won't start delivering the USA models until the spring, I now fear the Canadian dealers won't be seeing stock of AWD RLX's until fall. Then again, I can cling to the hope that Canadian dealers will get their demos in the spring so I can take one for a spin.

hadokenuh

My only disappointment is they didn't make the styling significant distinctive from the regular RLX. But it looks nice nonetheless.

neuronbob

I'd be changing the wheels. Ugh on the stockers. It'd be nice if it were more different from the lesser trims, but I liked the design in the first place, so meh on my criticism.

Otherwise, *home run* in my book. Fog lights, good. 28/32/30 is great for a big car. 28 in the city with room for your stuff!

Available in the spring? Oh well. At least they'll have a test driver available in December. I'm going to try a test drive.

islandbeef

So, when the ring turns red...it's time to bring into the shop?

weather

hondamore....Being Canadian too, I was told by a very credible source that may/june of 2014 is when the RLX SH-SH-AWD would be available for sale in Canada.....things could change but I doubt it will be a fall selling period.

and something to give us hope:

http://wot.motortrend.com/1311_how_h...otor_show.html

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

If the upcoming demand for the eSH-AWD RLX is not high enough in the US, it is not hard to imagine that Acura may cancel the Canadian version of the hybrid car.

Remember that Canada has 1/10 the US population, and therefore, can only make up 1/10 the total of US auto sales.

It doesn't make business sense to retool a production line for only a handful of Canadian specs eSH RLX sedans.

Take a look at the 2014 MDX. Canada doesn't even get the FWD version. Every 2014 Canadian MDX comes standard with SH-AWD.

neuronbob

By the way, did anyone else notice there's a Head-Up Display? More geek kewl. And yes, I know that GM cars have had it for years.

neuronbob

By the way, did anyone else notice there's a Head-Up Display? More geek kewl. And yes, I know that GM cars have had it for years.

hondamore

If they keep ALL of the features of the Canadian RLX the same as the U.S. version(s), they really only need to slap on a couple of bilingual stickers here and there and change the owners manual and the same production run can produce both vehicles. In the past they have offered different "extra features" on the Canadian market versions which necessitated a separate run - at least that was the excuse we heard for our prices being so much higher.

Also, our longer winters up here in Canada would certainly lead Acura to conclude that the AWD version would be a stronger sales draw than the FWD version, so if any version was dropped, it would likely be the FWD variant. I believe that is the reason we don't get the FWD MDX - unless it was $20,000 cheaper, it would just sit on the lots as the AWD version flew out the door in huge numbers (speaking from the Western Canadian perspective where we have snow on the roads at least 6 months of the year).

My two cents (Canadian cents that is or 1.91 cents US).

BDoggPrelude

Am I the only one that likes the lower grill on the base model RLX better than one on the Hybrid model?

Edward'TLS

As for the FWD RLX, there are some subtle differences between the US and the Canadian models :

- kmph vs. mph markings on speedometers
- standard headlight washers for Canada
- standard front splash guards for Canada.

The "long winters in Canada" excuse is kind of hard to swallow.

What happens to all the FWD-only ILX, FWD-only TSX, FWD-trim TL, and even FWD-trim RLX, Acura-Canada is selling right now ?

Don't all these FWD Acura's have to go through the same 6-month-long snowy Canadian winters as their AWD counterparts ?

If all these FWD Canadian Acura's can make it through, so can the FWD MDX too. Statistically speaking, there are many folds more FWD Acura's than AWD Acura's on the roads in Canada.

Maybe Acura-Canada can also consider dropping the FWD RLX too, when the AWD RLX finally arrives, because according to it's logic (or excuse), the AWD vehicle is better suited for the Canadian climate.

Not a good excuse. Not a good excuse at all.

It's all about greed, because Acura-Canada can charge us much more $ simply by selling only the more expensive model trims.

JonFo

Yes, very cool, especially since it can show the SH-AWD + hybrid power flow diagrams as well.

One of the frustrating things about the SH display in the current MID is one can not see it when operating. So the HUD will be both safer and useful.

TSX69

I checked and the "D" lights up white (my preference not necessarily a criticism) in my TSX & Toyota/Lexus/Scion uses the color green to light up the "N", so there are variations.

I have posted a couple of articles from people who test drove the hybrid in Japan in the reviews thread - they seem positive so far. Hopefully more will appear today. MotorTrend says that it will be out late summer/early fall but everyone else is saying spring ...

db22

I see the RLX as a curious marketing strategy, the features of the FWD RLX are probably going to be very similar to the TLX so we soon will have three cars crossing over the lines: TLX, FWD RLX and SH AWD RLX.

I only see room for two of them, a new sportier TLX with the features of the FWD RLX and the SH AWD RLX. The FWD RLX is superfluous to profits and may die when the TLX arrives.

George Knighton

Isn't that annoying?

It'll be so close to the TLX that I think some of us will wait to see what it's going to be like.

Was really looking forward to December!

Guitaryojedi

Wondering that if SH-AWD RLX has Rear Seat Pass-Through...
I believe that new Accord Hybrid doesn't have one because of battery space.

db22

It is an RLX and they have been out for months. Do you think that putting batteries in the car will make the rear seats fold flat?

350

iTrader: (4)

Any performance stats on it yet? No way I'd pay the asking price of a new one but a few years down the road I'd consider a used one.