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Acura RL Gains Super-Handling AWD for '05

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Khatir Soltani

Dynamic Driving Characteristics to Equal Distinctive New Design

On the path to creating a premium full-size luxury sedan, exactly where

An all-new Acura RL made its world debut in New York yesterday. (Photo: Acura Canada)
Acura's current RL got lost is anyone's guess. The end result is a car that doesn't even begin to register on the luxury buyers' collective radar screen.

Where does the current RL fit in? It's larger than midsize competitors such as Audi's A6 and BMW's 5-Series, yet is significantly less powerful. Available with a one-size-fits-all 3.5-liter V6 driven through the front wheels, it's not much of a wonder why sales aren't where they ought to be.

In order to bring the RL up to the level of its full-size competitors, the new car is equipped with Honda's new Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system. (Photo: Acura Canada)

The smaller and more popular midsize TL and compact TSX, on the other hand, are the real breadwinners for the brand. But the RL doesn't have to languish in obscurity for time immemorial, does it?

Acura doesn't think so, which is precisely why the all-new RL made its world debut at the New York International Auto Show yesterday, bearing Honda's new SH-AWD (Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive) to remedy Acura's large sedan blues.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada