Team Acura Parts Blog

People tend to talk a lot about something or someone who undergoes a change. When Britney shaved her head, people started buzzing about her (they actually haven’t stopped) or when Barry Bonds slowly jacked up from a lanky ball player to a powerhouse record-breaking hitter. The bottom line is when change occur, people start talking about it. And it’s the same buzz that Acura is trying to generate by introducing their 2009 Acura RL.

The 2009 Acura RL was showcased at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show and is a predecessor of the RL model launched last 2007. Now what makes this car different from the 2007 model? Well, let’s start off with its look. At a glance, it looks pretty much like the 2007 version except for one thing: its front grille. The new RL grille is similar to the Acura MDX sport’s vehicle. Actually, if you tilt your head a little bit, it seems like the car is smiling at you.

Aside from its revamped exterior look, Acura also spiced up the engine of their new release. The 2009 Acura RL was given a 3.7-liter V-6 engine with a VTEC valve-timing system that can provide an output of 300 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. That’s a far cry from the 3.5-liter engine of the 2007 model which could only give out 290 horsepower. Along with the engine upgrade, the 2009 version’s suspension and steering was also given a boost. And to top it off, Acura installed a set of 18-inch wheels as the standard for this model. Oh, and they sure didn’t forget to add its Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive feature into this stallion giving each wheel a faster response to changing conditions while on the road.

What actually makes this baby “fly” though is the AcuraLink system that’s integrated into it. This system gives out real-time information concerning the traffic in your area. The new feature in this system is it can now automatically redirect you away from traffic and at the same time provide up-to-the-minute weather updates.

Now that’s enough noise to get the public’s attention don’t you think?

Sources: Kicking Tires, Jalopnik, Auto 123, Auto Blog, Motor Authority

Before heading to the office or taking your child to school the next day, we often watch the news to check on the weather the following day. This helps us map out our plan of action before going on the road. But we all know that the weather has a mind of its own. Even though the news forecasted it to be a sunny day, a downpour might occur in the area where you’re headed to ruining whatever game plan you may have when you get there. To alleviate this, Acura has teamed up with XM to have the XM NavWeather built-in to their new 2009 Acura RL.

The XM NavWeather, created in partnership with Baron Services, is a system that provides alerts to drivers on weather threats such as hail, floods, tornado and storm warnings that are about to occur. To do this, the system makes use of the “Threat Matrix” technology, allowing the system to provide timely weather information. The XM NavWeather is able to provide nationwide weather updates for more than 20 weather conditions, based on the driver’s routes, which are then displayed on vehicle’s screen. It’s also able to provide weather forecasts based on the information provided by the weather monitoring stations across the US.

This type of technology was developed because according to Robert O. Baron, President and CEO of Baron Services, “Drivers don’t have time to scrutinize every bit of weather data, so we’ve done all the analysis before it reaches their vehicles.”

“This streamlined, driver-centric philosophy helps drivers stay informed about perilous road and weather conditions, while being able to focus on safely reaching their destinations,” he added.

Source: CNN Money

Acura is still hopeful despite the low sales of its top-of-the-line Acura RL last 2007 which only amounted to around 6,000 units sold. But despite that, the automaker still continues to offer its 2008 Acura RL which is offered in three trim levels. There’s the base version which is already well equipped and priced at $46,280.And there’s also the Acura RL with the Technology Package which is priced a $49,000.

The Technology Package of the Acura RL is packed with a lot of great technological features which range from Acura Satellite Navigation System and AcuraLink information system to Active Front Lighting System and a luxurious wood interior.

However, the only engine option for the 2008 Acura RL is the 3.5-liter V6 VTEC engine. But even though it does not offer a V8 engine option like most of its competitors, the V6 engine is already a capable enough engine that provides 290 horsepower. Also its engine is mated to a SportShift five-speed automatic transmission, so one can be sure that the V6 can zoom eagerly and quietly from a dead stop a it sends a peak of 256 pound-feet of torque to the wheels. This transmission box can also be manipulated with the use of the shift lever or the steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters.

The 2008 Acura RL is already an all-wheel-drive vehicle and this system splits torque not only between the front and rear wheels but between the left and right rear wheels as well. When the Acura RL is under hard acceleration, about 70 percent of the torque available goes to the rear wheels just so the car can have an improved traction. And to have a better handling, the outer wheel turns at a higher speed when cornering.

The model’s independent suspension system which balances the road feel and cabin cushioning is impressive, somewhat even close to perfection, providing passengers with a comfortable and relaxing ride.

With regard to comfort features, the 2008 Acura RL has a few to be proud of. It has an eight-way adjustable seat for the driver and the front passenger gets a four-way power seat. Rear passengers also get comfort from the center armrest and they have their own setoff ventilation system controls. And for entertainment, this Acura model is equipped with the Acura/Bose sound system which is laudably audible because of its 10 speakers. For music variety, this sound system also has a six-disc changer and AM/FM/XM satellite radio.

Acura’s United States base did the right thing. On the third week of December, the company immediately recalled a total of 43, 200 US-distributed Acura RL vehicles, which were manufactured in Japan, as these were found equipped with defective power steering hoses.

The Acura RL sedan models from the years 2005 to 2008 were part of the December recall. According to engineers, such substandard power steering hose could cause the unfortunate accident of fire.

“On certain passenger vehicles, prolonged high underhood temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, causing the hose to crack and leak power steering fluid,” said the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration in its recall summary of the Acura RL. “Power steering fluid leaking onto a hot catalytic converter will generate smoke and possibly lead to an underhood fire.”

As of post time, there have been no reports of any injuries and or fires because of the said defective auto part. The company assured that Honda dealers across the United States are going to aid owners regarding the hose. Each of the recalled Acura RL sedans is going to be equipped with a brand new heat-resistant power steering hose without any charges or fees. Affected owners must only contact Honda through (800) 382-2238.

Source: Edmunds.

The 2008 Acura RL is geared with new features. It has grilles and headlights that blend smoothly into the hood as well as on the fenders. Unlike previous models, the 2008 Acura RL has these components with no bulging light clusters. This also rings true for the new model of Accord as well as with other new models. The chassis of the 2008 RL is free from already passé designs such as clear lens for taillights, having fender vents as well as “Bangelized” flame surfacing. It has roof-line that curves neatly from the front fenders up to the rear. As it has neatly-cut curves, there are no peculiar and out of line cuts even on the trunk lid. Its elegant design makes it timeless and one can seriously consider using it for decades so long as proper maintenance is done.

As for the interior of the RL, it is upholstered in remarkably soft animal hides that are cream-colored. This gives the vehicle a relatively relaxed feel to it. It has leather details and makes use of leather that looks new but has the texture of aged leather, the one that has a story on it. Similar with the Accord, the latest version of the RL has front seats protects its occupants. As the occupants take a seat on it, it seems to coddle the occupant providing ample comfort as well as support. What’s unique about the RL is that it has seats that do not confine the movements of its occupants. It allows for movement and because it does not hinder the occupant from acting the one he or she is being able to freely move, it is able to provide comfort that is simply beyond what other cars were able to give.

The luxury sedan Acura RL ranks first in the list of 21 safest cars of 2007, according to the data culled by Forbes.com.

The Acura RL is among the three car models that got the highest ratings for safety from the Consumer Reports, the Department of Transportation, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

The Acura car got Consumer Report’s thumbs-up for crash-avoidance capabilities. Apart from that, the Acura RL got perfect scores in crash test conducted by the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is the government agency responsible for reducing vehicular accidents. The RL also has a considerably lower-than-average rate of insurance injury-claim filings, according to the HLDI. The RL is priced at the minimum $45,780.

The 2008 Acura RL is an all-wheel drive with a 3.5-liter, V6 engine that generates 290 horsepower. Among the features of Acura’s flagship sedan are the navigation system, active headlamps, and real wood trim. These are available as an optional package called the Technology Package.

To land a spot in the Forbes.com list, a vehicle must satisfy at least two of the following criteria: Consumer Report’s highest-possible rating for accident-avoidance capabilities; perfect NHTSA crash-test scores across the board; perfect IIHS crash-test scores across the board, and a substantially better-than-average frequency of insurance injury-claim filings from the HLDI.

Consumer Reports is a publication of the Consumer Union, an organization that advocates consumer rights. The IIHS is a nonprofit and educational organization seeking to lessen fatalities caused by vehicular crashes. An affiliate organization of the IIHS, the Highway Loss Data Institute make studies on the ways in which insurance losses differ among different kinds of cars.

On the other hand, the Acura RDX is also picked as one of the 13 safest cars by the IIHS for 2007. The key safety feature of the Acura RDX is the electronic stability control (ESC). The ESC, which is a standard on the RDX model, keeps the Acura car from flipping over or going out of control during sudden maneuvers.

The excellent rating in the latest Side Impact Collision Evaluation (SICE) adds to the existing respectable rating for IIHS’ frontal offset crash test for the Acura RL.  As additional proof of the RL’s safety performance is the 5-Star rating—the highest rating possible—in all three of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) governmental ratings tests that include frontal and side impact crash tests, as well as a rollover rating.

The thorough SICE test conducted by the IIHS is expressed with performance ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor. These ratings are based on a crash test in which a barrier designed to represent the front end of a typical SUV or pickup truck strikes the tested vehicle in the side at 31 mph.

The key factors that greatly contributed to the RL’s outstanding NHTSA and IIHS crash test ratings are its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. This unique body structure of the Acura RL serves for added protection and improved compatibility in frontal crashes. Aside from this, the most recent generation of dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags for the driver and front passenger, side airbags also for the driver and front passenger, plus side curtain airbags for all outboard occupants also contributed a lot for the RL to have a five star rating.

The 2008 lineup of Acura presents five distinctive models including the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sports sedan, the turbocharged RDX luxury crossover SUV and the award-winning MDX luxury sport utility vehicle.

When the year 2006 came, the RL made history by being the first Acura vehicle to be able to offer an optional Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).  This feature is considered to be a revolutionary safety technology, which monitors the potential rear-end collisions. It makes use of audio, visual and tactile signals in order to alert drivers of the risk of collision. It assists in brake operation as well as the tension in front seatbelts. In so doing, it helps reduce impact on occupants and vehicle damage, in such circumstances where the collision become unavoidable. Unlike other pre-collision systems, the CMBS automatically applies the brakes to mitigate the severity of a collision.

The CMBS system monitors the distance between the RL and the car directly in front of it up to a distance of 300 feet and the rate of closure between the two vehicles with the use of a millimeter-wave radar unit located inside the front grille. In case the closing rate increases to a point where a collision is likely to occur, the system uses visual, and olfactory warnings to set off the driver to take preventative action. Basing on the driver’s response, the system will then determine if the possibility of a collision has decreased to an acceptable level. If so, the CMBS system will disengage. However, if response of the driver does not sufficiently reduce the risk of a collision, the system will issue a secondary warning. This consists of audible, visual and tactile elements as well as light braking, to alert the driver to take action.

And when the closing rate increases so much that a collision already becomes unavoidable, the CMBS can initiate hard braking to reduce the vehicle’s speed. This also strengthens the tension on the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelts, which help reduce the gravity of the crash.

Side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a U.S. insurance industry, showed the Acura RL, along with the Kia Amanti and Volvo S80 had the highest safety rating.

The tests conducted were designed to reveal what would happen if a truck or sport utility vehicle (SUV) struck the side of the sedan at 31 mph, the estimated speed of a serious crash. According to the statistics, side-impact crashes killed around 9,000 people on U.S. roads in 2005 and are the most common type of fatal crash next to a frontal crash.

“Growing sales of SUVs and pickups have exacerbated height mismatches among passenger vehicles, thereby increasing the risks to occupants of many vehicles struck in the side,” Insurance Institute President Adrian Lund said in a news release.

The Acura RL is geared with a comprehensive array of the latest technologies to enhance active safety (accident avoidance) and passive safety (crash safety performance). It has features like Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control, heightened handling agility, SH-AWD and ABS enhance accident avoidance capability in the RL. In case of collisions, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure of the RL is designed to provide a protective cocoon for its passengers if it occurs with a different sized vehicle (a truck, SUV, etc.). The inside, side, side curtain and dual-stage front air bag systems work together with sophisticated restraint systems to minimize injury to passengers especially in considerable impacts.

From a brand that is keen on safety, the new technology that is featured in the 2007 RL makes it one of the most comprehensively equipped vehicles in North America.

The RL can be tagged as “Acura’s flagship 4-door sedan.”  It was redesigned for the 2005 model year and incorporated an array of high-tech features such as the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive System (SH-AWD).  This feature, as all-wheel-drive systems are, enhances the grip of the wheel on slippery surfaces. This features comes in extra handy on rainy days and when the Christmas season approaches and one has to drive even if snow is all over the place. It works this way: if the front wheels start to spin on snow, for instance, the AWD transfers some power to the rear wheels. Acura’s SH-AWD is the first that also transfers power preferentially to the left- or right-side rear wheels during slipping and cornering, reducing the slow-to-follow back end’s understeer.

On the other hand, when accelerating through a right turn, Acura’s system will redirect up to 70 percent of the total torque to the left rear wheel. This will help the vehicle do that corner whip around the turn. The Acura SH-AWD is the only AWD system that saves vehicle users from bad conditions while enhancing the vehicle’s driving ability as well.

The Acura RL of 2007, aside from also having the SH-AWD feature adds two new optional Technology Packages. One package includes features such as the Acura Satellite Navigation and AcuraLink with Real Time Traffic, Active Front Lighting and an upgraded wood interior. As for the other package, it includes Acura’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) that uses a radar unit to detect vehicles ahead and monitor potential rear-end collisions and Michelin PAX System run-flat tires.