2005 Acura RL A-Spec Preview

Is Acura Taking on M, AMG and RS?

Acura has long suffered problems selling its flagship sedan. While well made and inoffensively styled, the previous RL was

Acura chose to spice up the already spicy 2005 RL, by showing a sport-tuned A-Spec version at this year's SEMA tradeshow. (Photo: Acura Canada)

too inconspicuous. A comfortable ride, luxurious appointments, and bullet-proof reliability were part of the RL package, but it never offered enough emotional appeal to steal sales from high-end Japanese rival Lexus.

The new RL, redesigned from the ground up for 2005, looks set to turn Acura's large car fortunes around. But why stop there? Instead, Acura has chosen to spice up the already spicy stock model, by showing a sport-tuned A-Spec version at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) tradeshow in Las Vegas.

There are a lot of reasons to offer a high-performance version of a car. The top-tier M5, for instance, sheds a positive light on all BMW 5-Series models, not to mention all

The RL A-Spec features the same 300 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine found in the stock car. (Photo: Acura Canada)

BMWs. Audi, Mercedes-Benz and other automakers have followed suit with their own top models.

Acura would certainly like its new A-Spec to draw attention to its new RLs, itself an impressive performer. Unlike the M5, or others in the super sedan field, Acura didn't pump up the engine. Like the stock car it features a 300 horsepower 3.5-liter V6, mated to a slick shifting 5-speed automatic transmission with manual-mode, and the pièce de résistance, Acura's Super Handling all-wheel drive.

While not even aiming at BMW M5, Audi RS6 or Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG territory, the RL A-Spec does target a more approachable performance realm occupied by the likes of Lexus' GS 430, BMW's 545i and Cadillac's new STS.