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Acura RL Slated for Extreme Makeover Next Year

Acura's flagship sedan, the RL is a true technological tour de force. Introduced

An Acura RL, with its SH-AWD system sorting out understeer. (Photo: Acura)

in 2005, it featured the world's most advanced all-wheel drive system, dubbed Super-Handling All Wheel Drive. What makes the system so wonderful is its ability to torque vector, the process of individually controlling the power distribution to the rear wheels, not only sending power left and right, but taking it away and adding more if necessary to cure understeer and improve handling. Going on three years now, many of the RL's competitors offer all wheel drive. It's still considered by many to be the top dog, although rivals reportedly are developing similar systems for their own vehicles.

SH-AWD isn't the only impressive thing about the RL, however, as it's by far the most advanced road car that Honda has ever made. It offered more power than the mid-engine NSX supercar, featured collision mitigation technology and in certain markets where applicable, a pyrotechnic-loaded hood that pops up to minimize pedestrian injuries. Yes, it all sounds very

Acura promises new styling for the RL. Will it look like the Advanced Sedan Concept? (Photo: Acura)

cool and very advanced, but there's a problem with the RL. It just isn't selling as well as it ought to.

For all of its technology and performance, the RL should have been the car to eat away at the 5-Series and the A6. While its sales vastly improve on the old RL, dubbed the Japanese Buick, the new model seems incapable of gaining the interest of the public despite having the features and the technology that buyers want.

Automotive News is reporting that Honda is in the process of formulating a rescue mission for the RL in the form of a huge makeover. Styling is the first issue to be addressed, as the current vehicle, while

Cabin design will be refreshed; the quality of materials is already high. (Photo: Acura)

inoffensive to most, other than those offended by derivative design, is more or less bland. A new nose and tail will be fitted to the updated car, presumably inspired by some of the wild Acura concept vehicles the brand has been showing on the North American auto show circuit. If dealer and customer complaints on the car are to provide any hints, we will also see Acura increasing the rear legroom of the car as well as its trunk space.

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