2013 Acura RLX

[Thai]

Hey all,

Well, this Acura RLX has gotten my interest!

Here is the official link: 2013 Acura | Future Vehicles - RLX | Acura.com

There is a video that shows the car driving around. Looks good IMO...very BMW-ish in the rear. Not sure about the rims, but i kinda like it at first glance.

This is a good preview article on it: First Look: 2013 Acura RLX Concept - Automobile Magazine

Quotes:

The so-called Jewel Eye lamps use eight separate LED lighting elements, and will appear on the production RLX.

Acura pledges the RLX's cabin will offer space on par with a 7 Series, despite the fact its footprint is on par with a 5 Series. In fact, while the RLX's wheelbase increased by two inches over the 2012 RL, its front overhang decreased by an equal amount.

...the 2013 RLX should weigh "well under 4000 pounds."

...the 2013 RLX will be the first Acura to employ the company's new hybrid SH-AWD system....

In this application, a direct-injection 3.5-liter V-6 will be mated with an electric motor, and power the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The rear wheels will be propelled by way of two independent electric motors, which allows for the outer wheel to be overdriven in corners much like the present mechanical SH-AWD system. Acura says the system's net output should be close to 370 hp, and return a combined EPA rating of 30 mpg -- a far cry from the RL's present 20-mpg combined rating.

(NOTE: it has 3 electric motors!)

 

[Net4n6]

Acura need to replace the wheels. They are ugly. I am feeling the interior. Overall, the car looks nice.

 

[Atlanta_man]

If you want a hybrid - sounds pretty good.
But you have to wait a while for that one.

The non-hybrids are FWD. Boo.
Get a 2012 or earlier RL for the real SH-AWD.

 

[Thai]

From C&D preview: 2014 Acura RLX Concept Photos and Info – News – Car and Driver

Quotes:

The skinny on the new system: Rather than a more complicated mechanical differential and driveshaft, the RLX uses electricity to spin the rear wheels and provide torque-vectoring capabilities.

The electric motor housed within the transmission is good for 40 hp, while the two electric motors at the rear each produce 27 hp.

The result is a claim of 370-plus combined horsepower and 30 mpg in both the city and on the highway.

Dimensionally, the RLX is about the same overall length as the outgoing RL, with two inches added to the wheelbase; the front overhang is reduced by the same amount. Both the track and width increase by about two inches. Despite the similar size, the RLX looks much more substantial than its predecessor.

Collision-mitigating braking, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning all will be standard.

Acura claims the RLX has interior volume on par with that of the Lexus LS....

 

[Thai]

Get a 2012 or earlier RL for the real SH-AWD.

The problem with that is that the 2012 and earlier RLs infamously suck gas like my old Mercedes G500!! On the Acura forums, people are getting like 12-14 mpg in city and 18-20 mpg on highway!!

Oh yeah, i agree...i have no intention on getting the FWD RLX if i were in the market when it comes out.

Is my midlife crisis coming next year??

 

[Thai]

Here is an explanation of the SH-SHAWD system in the RLX (and NSX): Acura’s Next SH-AWD System Will Power the Rear Wheels with Electric Motors

 

[Atlanta_man]

Yes, mine gets between 12 and 13 mpg when used only for short trips. But does 26 (26.9 once) on long runs with the cruise control on 75.

The RL's are terrible at red light, stop and go trips.

As we all know, a V6 has to work it's little heart out when it is hauling around a heavy car.

 

[Thai]

Yes, mine gets between 12 and 13 mpg when used only for short trips. But does 26 (26.9 once) on long runs with the cruise control on 75.

The RL's are terrible at red light, stop and go trips.

As we all know, a V6 has to work it's little heart out when it is hauling around a heavy car.

Well, there is also that parasitic mechanical full time AWD with overdrive vectoring!! I like SHAWD, but the drain on the fuel economy is too much in this day and age of volatile fuel prices.

 

[Thai]

More info on RLX:

Sampling the 2014 Acura RLX's Goodies ? News ? Car and Driver

Quick Drives: Acura RLX Precision All-Wheel Steering, Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Prototypes - Rumor Central

Quote:

The torque vectoring still works if the main hybrid battery is depleted because power from “dragging” the inner wheel powers the outer wheel. The function works at all vehicle speeds, even at parking lot speeds.

 

[Atlanta_man]

I've still not figured out the math that lets hybrids get so much better mileage.
Seems elimination of the diff and trans and (light weight carbon fiber?) driveshaft would be save lots of weight which is offset by the same or more weight in the battery.

Clearly the high stall torque characteristic of the elect motor/s is an efficiency boost but in the case of the RLX there's a big old V6 standing by.

No doubt the devil is in the details of finding the sweet spot in all the trade-offs.

The next few years should be interesting to see how it all plays out (t.c.o., reliability, performance decrease before battery refresh)

Biggest surprise is that the Volt wants premium gas. Wonder when they will outlaw that stuff?

 

[Thai]

Good points, Atlanta. The same applies to Lexus GS450h, Highlander Hybrid, etc. My guess is that the efficiency comes in when you cruise where the engine may shutdown partly (as in cylinder deactivation) or the engine just throttles down letting the electric jump in to assist the cruise (combined effort). Obviously, at slow speed, the rear electric motors take over completely without firing up the engine (e.g. parking lot for example).

As for Volt, since the engine is barely used most of the time, the premium gas requirement is not felt.

I must admit that i don't understand everything about hybrid system, but after living with it for close to 3 years, i will tell you one thing...IT WORKS AS ADVERTISED. It simply does, at least the Toyota system. Honda hybrid system has been traditionally been inferior to Toyota (by a lot)...so, i am hoping that Honda does it right this time. Otherwise, there is still that Toyota Avalon Hybrid....

My Prius gets EPA rated city and highway mileage. If you drive like a sane person or mildly aggressive (like my wife), then it still gets advertised mileage!

 

[Mark86]

We had a 2007 MDX in the family and they definitely don't hold up as well as a Toyota/Lexus. After the odometer rolled past 70,000, sensors were failing and the creaks started to popup. The overall interior quality is also not great. Leather shows sign of wear and materials scratch easily. Probably wouldn't buy another Honda or Acura in the near future.

 

[Thai]

We had a 2007 MDX in the family and they definitely don't hold up as well as a Toyota/Lexus. After the odometer rolled past 70,000, sensors were failing and the creaks started to popup. The overall interior quality is also not great. Leather shows sign of wear and materials scratch easily. Probably wouldn't buy another Honda or Acura in the near future.

Hmm, that is interesting to hear. I hope that Acura pull all the stops with this new top-of-the-line model...because RLX is competing against some very heavy hitters (Lexus GS, Mercedes E, BMW 5, Hyundai Genesis/Equus, etc.).

 

[Mark86]

I agree, not sure if I am a big fan of the new Acura design though. The new ILX and RDX are kind of plain IMO. The RLX has nice headlights and rims. The interior also looks very technologically advanced.

 

[Thai]

I am starting to like it a lot...but, the new info shows a very average fuel economy! But, i think that the AWD model will have better???

 

[Thai]

More info: 2014 Acura RLX - Edmunds.com

"A 370-horsepower version of the RLX featuring Acura's new Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive or Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is set for a debut later in 2013. Fuel economy ratings of 30 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway are expected on that version, Honda said. The EPA has not announced official fuel economy numbers on the 2014 RLX."

 

[Thai]

RLX and Krell: First Listen: 2014 Acura RLX with Krell Audio | Sound and Vision Magazine

"The new system, included in the top-of-the-line version of the RLX, incorporates six main speakers, each comprising a 6.5-inch Zylon midwoofer and a 1-inch magnesium dome tweeter. There are two in the front positions, two in the rear doors, and two on the back deck. A 3-inch Kevlar midrange works as the center speaker, and an 8-inch carbon-fiber subwoofer on the back deck provides the bass. Each has a metal grille, which allowed Krell to use larger perforations and reduce the internal reflections than can make plastic-grilled speakers sound so nasty."

To counterbalance the above, here is an opinion:

"We are all for better sound, especially when it comes to car audio, an area where stock solutions are typically quite poor. However, we have a number of reservations about this system. First, there is no information about the size or placement of any of the speakers. But that isn’t too bothersome. The part that really sticks out to me is that Krell doesn’t actually make drivers for speakers. They utilize ScanSpeak drivers in the three speakers they make. Additionally, the driver materials used in the Acura are not the same materials used in any Krell speakers. Sourcing drivers from a 3rd party is a very common practice in the industry, but in this case we don't know who the drivers actually come from (likely not Krell). It's also interesting to note that this new sound system has a very similar driver compliment to the older ELS/Panasonic DVD-A Acura systems that have populated their cars since the introduction of the 4th generation TL. We are curious as to why Krell chose to stick with a 3" center channel and 8" powered subwoofer. Gene Dellasala personally owns an 07 TL type S and has found the center channel and sub to be the weakest link in the system but he digs having the ability of playing DTS and DVD-A discs. The new Krell system appears to offer the same high resolution multi-channel support."