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| 2006 Acura RL (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
The pretty female voice is not all that does just what you ask it to do either. When it comes to the ride and handling area, the RL delivers poise and tact befitting of a much smaller machine, not one that weighs as much as a church and can take a four-person party and their stuff to that weekend office retreat with ease. The all-wheel drive system is at least somewhat responsible for this performance and is worth investigation. The vastly clever system is actuated by electromagnetic clutch packs which vary power delivery to each axle by way of the amount of current flowing through a circuit. When engineers use electricity to control power assignment to each wheel, instead of things like fluid viscosity or mechanical devices, that system is able to do a number of very impressive things. These include the ability to adjust power delivery so quickly that wheelspin is completely eliminated, and even the ability to accelerate the outer rear wheel during hard cornering to allow the car to find its line more easily. It can engage and disengage with an uncanny level of accuracy and precision. The all-wheel drive system is in fact so good, that Acura has called it "SUPER HANDLING" all-wheel drive. They're absolutely right, if not modest.
With the stability control engaged (Acura calls theirs "VSM" or Vehicle Stability Management), power gets sent about underneath the car without the driver ever knowing that there was so much as a hint of wheelspin being dealt with. I launched the RL out of a few stop lights on wet surfaces without so much as a shudder from underneath as power was transferred around, planting my head to the seat and pulling the car straight down the road with authority. The system is totally invisible. Turn
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| 2006 Acura RL (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
off the VSM (and you'll be pleased to know it actually DOES turn off completely) and you can experience more hands-on driving while the SH-AWD system maintains its firm grip on the road for you.
Some cars are fitted with a control unit, allowing driver-selected bias between front and rear power delivery. This is a feature missing from the RL, but one which I believe would be easily available if the need were present. People who drive cars like this couldn't care less about such kid-stuff, though personally, I'm a great big kid and think a Redneck Drift Button would be just the ticket. It could even be disguised as just another abbreviated button somewhere on the dashboard (RDB), though pressing it would deliver power solely to the rear wheels, disengage the stability control and blast Cotton Eye Joe on the stereo.
Just Kidding. But in all honesty, the handling is phenomenal. The steering is direct, tight and loads up nicely when pushed. The ratio and feedback are very good. This is steering the way it should be. Just one minor gripe--the turning circle is fairly wide, and you'll look silly renegotiating parking spaces at the mall more than twice, so practice at home first.
The last time I drove a car that handled this well, it didn't have a backseat or roof.
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| 2006 Acura RL (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
Most of the RL's rivals are available with V8 engines. Honda currently has no such powerplant, though a request for one is included nightly in my bedtime prayers. The sole engine powering this Luxo-rocket is a 3.5-liter VTEC V6 which quietly serves up 290 healthy ponies. It's not going to pull on any 300C's at a set of traffic lights because like any VTEC engine, the power delivery at lower RPMs is a bit meager, but high RPM romps leave a grin on the driver's face for hours. With the quick shifting autobox in Drive, the engine can be made to shift at low RPMS, making next to no sound and achieving a respectable 12 liters per 100 kilometers or so in city driving.
