V8-Powered Acura RL Is on the Way Options

[boost]

i thought it was nice change until i saw the estimated price tag, lol. even with the price of the current RL... i dont see how people would spend that much money for one.

TOKYO — Remember that oh-so-ugly Acura Advanced Sedan Concept we saw at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show?

No prizes for guessing that it was indeed a design study for the next-generation Acura RL. Fortunately, Honda has listened to the criticism and has completely restyled the flagship sedan's exterior and distanced the face from the Accord's.

Actually, Honda has been listening to the word on the street very carefully, because it has finally decided to give the luxury sedan a V8, to help it compete with strong rivals in the U.S., including Audi, BMW and Lexus.

One source tells us that Honda is currently working on a 420-horsepower 4.8-liter V8, and will employ the same cylinder deactivation technology we see on the current Japan-spec Inspire V6, thus generating class-leading fuel economy figures.

But unlike the current RL, which sits on a front-wheel-drive platform and features Honda's SH-AWD four-wheel-drive system, the all-new RL will instead incorporate a rear-drive platform, one necessity that Honda planners have clearly identified in this segment, and a reconfigured SH-AWD system that engages the front wheels when rear traction is compromised.

Slated for a mid-2010 debut, the new RL is expected to land in showrooms wearing a higher price tag of over $70,000.

What this means to you: If you didn't like the Acura Advanced Sedan Concept, don't give up hope yet. — Peter Lyon, Correspondent

[supersloth]

i think its about time we start thinking about taking it easy on all the horsepower wars. this is really getting ridiculous especially in this time of $100+ barrels of oil.

im not advocating barring the making of high hp cars, just try to slow it down a bit. kinda like what japanese manufacturers did in the 90s with their sports cars when hp numbers coming out of factory were going off the charts. i dont know about the rest of the country but in cali it just seems that everyone and their mom drives a 3500lb v8 grocery getter. i mean we even have hyundai making a +300hp car for goodness sakes!!!

[slvrdrgn123]

I like it. Now gotta find the $70,000....=\

[WarEngineer]

RL=perfection