A five-speed automatic transmission, featuring steering wheel-mounted manual-mode shift paddles, harnesses all four of
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| A five-speed automatic transmission, featuring steering wheel-mounted manual-mode shift paddles, harnesses all of the RL's power. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
the RL's 17-inch alloys to its silken powerplant. This autobox shifts with deft precision, swapping cogs quickly when needed, or imperceptibly when not. The transmission's smooth performance is complemented by a very comfortable ride. The four-wheel independent arrangement utilizes a double wishbone setup in the front and a multi-link format out back. Front and rear stabilizer bars assist the twin-tube gas shocks in harmonizing ride quality with handling vigour. The only complaint I can muster regarding the RL's suspension works is what I consider to be, for a car of this caliber, excessive front suspension noise provoked by rough, jagged road surfaces.
Minor suspension annoyance aside, the RL inspires driver confidence with its powerful, although slightly over-sensitive,
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| For a car of this caliber, excessive front suspension noise is provoked by rough, jagged road surfaces. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
four-wheel antilock disc brake setup incorporating Brake Assist, four-wheel ventilation and Electronic Brake Distribution to ensure emergency stops are as brief and controlled as possible. But standard safety technology doesn't end with top-of-the-line binders. Should the driver bite off more asphalt than he or she can chew, the car's Vehicle Stability Assist and traction control electronics will intercede, putting it back on-course through wheel-specific braking and engine retardation.
