• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2009 Acura RL Preview

Did Darwin mess up? Was the often quoted phrase, “survival of the fittest”

Angular headlamps and a new grille give the revised RL a sharper look. (Photo: Acura)

wrong? When it was launched, the RL was one of the most advanced cars on the planet, full stop, and even now, several years later, it's still considered advanced. During its development process, all the stops were pulled out for features, content and engineering. Here was a premium sedan that not only had more power than the halo NSX mid-engined supercar, but also the amazing Super-Handling all wheel drive system to anchor it to the ground, plus a class-defining DVD-Audio surround sound system, and radar-based cruise control with collision mitigation. In certain markets, the car even came with a pedestrian-protecting hood pop up mechanism designed to earn top marks in pedestrian crash tests. Acura thought of and included just about everything in the RL. It met all criterion of a luxury sedan with flying colors, but it didn't sell like hotcakes as many people expected it to. It had the right ingredients, or so it seemed, plus the refinement and comfort, so why didn't it succeed?

Popularized by the MDX, this is a look that will be seen on many upcoming Acura products. (Photo: Acura)

Blame it on styling. Personally, I didn't mind the RL, but it was criticized by a lot of people for looking derivative, bulbous and bland. Such naysayers won't be able to say the same thing about the new car. It's been transformed into a very high-tech looking machine by the angular reworking of the nose and tail. Acura has been after a defining look for ages, and this appears to be the one they've selected; it'll appear later this year on the new TSX and the revised TL. Like the MDX, the grille features a large metallic plinth, something picked up from the odd-looking Advanced Sedan Concept introduced two years back. Acura also took a scalpel to the RL's back side, carving out a great deal of mass from the rear fenders, tucking it down at the same time, building the structure of the trunk lid. From certain angles, it has a similar backside effect as the BMW 7-Series or the Lexus LS. The car is finished off with a set of larger 18-inch wheels that replace the older 17-inch units.

Bigger 3.7-liter engine delivers more power and torque than before. (Photo: Acura)

When the RL was launched it had a full 300 horsepower from its 3.5-liter V6 engine. Along the way, its official output dropped by 10 hp due to changes in the SAE rating system. But now, that number's been completely restored due to the fitment of the 3.7-liter V6 engine from the MDX. The engine itself is still a single overhead cam design, but everything about it is modern and up to date. It features the latest VTEC variable valve timing system, active on intake and exhaust valves (the first time it's been featured on an engine with single overhead cam design), plus a variable length magnesium intake. The new engine improves the emissions rating to ULEV-II and enhances fuel economy, but the most important part is the change in torque. One of the problems with the 3.5 is that its peak torque was produced at relatively high rpm, meaning lots of revs were necessary before feeling the pull of the engine. Although it still needs to be revved to 5,000 rpm for peak torque, the figure is more impressive at 271 lb-ft, an improvement of 15 lb-ft.

18-inch wheels are the final touches to a number of suspension upgrades. (Photo: Acura)

From there, Acura tweaked the rest of the car's drivetrain to enhance its drivability and to resolve initial complaints. The SH-AWD system receives new programming, enabling it to react more quickly to the driver's needs, while the five-speed automatic offers paddle shifters and a straight gate, a change that buyers have been asking for. The multi-link front and rear suspension receives springs with new coil rates and different dampers to smoothen the ride out, different bushings and mounts to increase response and new components in the steering rack to deliver a more direct feel.

Very little in the way of changes have been made to the RL's interior. From '09 and onwards, you'll be able to get a wood-rimmed steering wheel and shift knob, while the seatbelt design has been changed to make them easier to use although I don't see why – they weren't hard to use in the first place. The RL also features acoustically-tuned glass, new gauges with metal trim, USB integration for its stereo, plus different interior color

Sit in the lap of luxury with the RL; enjoy its new wood and leather steering wheel and Acura Link-enhanced navigation system. (Photo: Acura)

schemes and wood trims.

As impressive as the silky-smooth engine and the SH-AWD system are, by far the star of the RL is its technology. New for '09, Acura is bumping up the RL's navigation system with Acura Link. Using systems developed by XM Satellite radio, the RL is capable of spotting traffic problems and automatically rerouting you around them when the navigation is in use. The RL features live weather updates through its XM service too. As before, Acura's flagship can be had with radar-based cruise control featuring collision mitigation plus braking. Much like the system featured on Volvo products, it will provide an audible warning to alert the driver of a pending impact and tug at the driver' s seatbelt. If ignored, it will retract the seatbelt further and apply the brakes to slow the vehicle should a collision be unavoidable.

From the very beginning, the RL should've been a success in its premium luxury sedan market, but for whatever reason it was passed over for rivals from Europe and Japan. With more power, more refinement and most importantly a distinctive new look, yet, with realistic prices that undercut its European competitors by thousands, the new RL deserves to succeed more than ever.

Page:  1

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo