Click HERE to see a video on the Acura RL.
One pin short of a strike.
All luxury cars are status symbols. People like to buy them because of the prestige they can bring to them. These cars become a sign to the outside world stating that the person driving this car has made it. Very few of the people that buy the cream of the crop actually shop around or look for outside information on what is available. They know they want a three pointed star; they will purchase the one bearing that logo. If you have to ask how much it costs, you can not afford it.
Up until about 20 years ago, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were pretty much the only ones to choose from. In the past two decades, the Japanese manufacturers introduced their own lines of luxury cars and have matched and even surpassed the original players. Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, quickly became synonymous with wealth and opulence.
The Acura RL has been completely revamped for 2005. Unveiled in at the
2004 New York Auto Show, it sent waves of desire throughout the automobile journalism world thanks to the promise of 300 hp and AWD. The new RL has practically nothing in common with the old one except the name. The first RL came onto the market in 1996 replacing the old Legend sedan. It was never a big seller but the car was very nice, smooth and luxurious. Honda, Acura's parent company, noticed the success that Lexus and Infiniti were enjoying. Acura introduced the TSX, then the TL and now, the flagship, the RL.
There is only one model available and it retails for $69,500.
Exterior styling
The new RL has bolder, more aggressive styling. The previous 3.5RL was banal, almost
boring to look at; the Accord was more exciting. Acura corrected this by adding styling cues from the RL's good looking siblings:
the TSX and TL. The RL now sports edgier lines with more creases that give the impression that it can go fast. The old RL, although good looking itself, was more in tune with an older crowd. The 2005 RL is smaller, shorter and taller than the 2004. The overall package displays oodles more character which should help with moving the car off dealer lots faster than previously.
Interior styling
The interior of the new RL is sumptuous. The plastics and wood trim used for the dash and door panels is amongst the best I have seen. The way it is all assembled almost makes me imagine the technician carefully adjusting and fitting the pieces together. The central portion of the dash is narrow and very stylish. It incorporates all the luxuriously tactile controls for the radio and Navigation system. Unlike Audi's MMI and BMW's I-Drive, Acura's arrangement is by far more user-friendly. The only annoyance has to do with fan positioning and speed; they can only be modified by using the "joystick". The Acura/Bose sounds system, by the way, does a compelling job of playing your favourite tunes.
One pin short of a strike.
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Up until about 20 years ago, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were pretty much the only ones to choose from. In the past two decades, the Japanese manufacturers introduced their own lines of luxury cars and have matched and even surpassed the original players. Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, quickly became synonymous with wealth and opulence.
The Acura RL has been completely revamped for 2005. Unveiled in at the
 |
There is only one model available and it retails for $69,500.
Exterior styling
The new RL has bolder, more aggressive styling. The previous 3.5RL was banal, almost
boring to look at; the Accord was more exciting. Acura corrected this by adding styling cues from the RL's good looking siblings: Interior styling
The interior of the new RL is sumptuous. The plastics and wood trim used for the dash and door panels is amongst the best I have seen. The way it is all assembled almost makes me imagine the technician carefully adjusting and fitting the pieces together. The central portion of the dash is narrow and very stylish. It incorporates all the luxuriously tactile controls for the radio and Navigation system. Unlike Audi's MMI and BMW's I-Drive, Acura's arrangement is by far more user-friendly. The only annoyance has to do with fan positioning and speed; they can only be modified by using the "joystick". The Acura/Bose sounds system, by the way, does a compelling job of playing your favourite tunes.