Decades of research, development, and technology packed into a single machine
I'm trying to think, but I can't recall any current or recent premium flagship vehicles that have a real name. Infiniti calls theirs the "M", as does BMW, while Lexus, Mercedes, Cadillac and Audi all use abbreviations or letter-number combinations as well.
Wait a tick...off the top of my head, I can't think of any premium imported brand sold in North America that gives any of its vehicles a real name. Why the abbreviations? What is the need for these often confusing letter and number combinations? They work at a higher level then simple names, adding exclusivity to the ownership experience and communicating prestige to ones peers when discussing rides.
Acura's flagship is no different- it's simply called the RL. And if anyone knows what that means, please email me, because for the rest of this review I'm going to guess it means Reliable Luxury.
It's a flagship, meaning it's got to be luxurious. And being a Honda means it'll never ask for much more than the occasional oil change and bath. Millions in R&D and countless amounts of blood, sweat and tears go into creating a flagship: it's a chance to put everything a company has learned about making cars into one machine, which often carries that brand's presence to the global stage.
So if Honda were to, say, put everything they know about building a car into one package, what would it be like? Refined? Equipped with a powerful, free-revving and efficient engine? A ride which is quiet and composed but sporty at the same time? Check.
The RL exists in a very hot market segment--one which is fiercely competitive and where brand loyalty often takes a key role in the final decision. Everyone has a product in this segment--Lexus, Cadillac, Infiniti, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and many others. It's a no-holds-barred,
international blood-fest, this feud, but it has a benefit to you and I as the consumer. (Or I should say YOU as the consumer, because if you're reading this, you might be able to afford one of these machines, whereas since I only write about them, I cannot.) Some of the ultimate in automotive engineering gets put into the RL and competing rides, as the carmakers scrap it out hoping to develop new customers. These cars offer some of the most high-end engineering, features and drivetrains on this side of a six-digit price tag.
Though I'm not sure a correlation between reliable quality and styling exists, the RL has me curious. For everything this car offers, much of the outside is a little plain. From the side, it's simple and tidy with clean lines and chrome accents. No tricks here. From behind, it's muscle without machismo. Soft, round, gentle lines and dual-outlet exhaust just do their jobs, without screaming for your attention. In fact, the intense, LED-Illuminated taillights even look slightly similar in shape to those on the old CL from about 10 years back, which is kind of interesting because the old CL had about the most unattractive rear ever to be worn by a luxury car.
Altogether, the style of the cars exterior has a bit of nostalgic charm (you'll remember I mentioned brand loyalty--certainly owners of the older
CL will find the taillights an interesting touch) but lacks that certain gawk factor found on competing products. Until you walk around to the front that is, because that's a little bit more like being stared down by a big, angry, wild predator of some sort. Few vehicles on the highway allowed me to get within 5 car lengths of their rear bumper before hastily opting for a slower lane. I could nearly hear the conversation in vehicles I approached.
"Honey?"
"Hmmmmmm?"
"What is that coming up behind us?"
"I'm not sure, but it doesn't look pleased. Let's get out of its way."
"Good idea."
 |
| 2006 Acura RL (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
Wait a tick...off the top of my head, I can't think of any premium imported brand sold in North America that gives any of its vehicles a real name. Why the abbreviations? What is the need for these often confusing letter and number combinations? They work at a higher level then simple names, adding exclusivity to the ownership experience and communicating prestige to ones peers when discussing rides.
Acura's flagship is no different- it's simply called the RL. And if anyone knows what that means, please email me, because for the rest of this review I'm going to guess it means Reliable Luxury.
It's a flagship, meaning it's got to be luxurious. And being a Honda means it'll never ask for much more than the occasional oil change and bath. Millions in R&D and countless amounts of blood, sweat and tears go into creating a flagship: it's a chance to put everything a company has learned about making cars into one machine, which often carries that brand's presence to the global stage.
So if Honda were to, say, put everything they know about building a car into one package, what would it be like? Refined? Equipped with a powerful, free-revving and efficient engine? A ride which is quiet and composed but sporty at the same time? Check.
The RL exists in a very hot market segment--one which is fiercely competitive and where brand loyalty often takes a key role in the final decision. Everyone has a product in this segment--Lexus, Cadillac, Infiniti, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and many others. It's a no-holds-barred,
 |
| 2006 Acura RL (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
Though I'm not sure a correlation between reliable quality and styling exists, the RL has me curious. For everything this car offers, much of the outside is a little plain. From the side, it's simple and tidy with clean lines and chrome accents. No tricks here. From behind, it's muscle without machismo. Soft, round, gentle lines and dual-outlet exhaust just do their jobs, without screaming for your attention. In fact, the intense, LED-Illuminated taillights even look slightly similar in shape to those on the old CL from about 10 years back, which is kind of interesting because the old CL had about the most unattractive rear ever to be worn by a luxury car.
Altogether, the style of the cars exterior has a bit of nostalgic charm (you'll remember I mentioned brand loyalty--certainly owners of the older
 |
| 2006 Acura RL (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
"Honey?"
"Hmmmmmm?"
"What is that coming up behind us?"
"I'm not sure, but it doesn't look pleased. Let's get out of its way."
"Good idea."