Team Acura Parts Blog

Many luxury vehicles available nowadays, like the STS, A6 and BMW 5-Series, offer V8s as well as 6-cylinder power plants.  Even if this is the case, Acura chose not to equip their Acura RL with the V8. This is because according to Acura officials, although the presence of a V8 engine can help a luxury car’s image, the said engine’s presence in a luxury sedan only amounts to an addition of only 15 percent in the actual sales.

The people in Acura believe the RL’s V6 engine has more power than the 6-cylinder power plants of the 255 horsepower STS, the 255 horsepower of A6 and the 184 or 255 horsepower of the BMW 5 Series sedans. For this reason, the RL’s 2008 engine remains a 3.5-liter 60-degree V6. But it takes on a new design and has the capacity to develop 75 more horsepower than the 6-cylinder in the RL of 2004.

Aside from this, the 2008 RL engine’s torque is up. It has around 260 lb-ft at 5000 rpm and can be compared with the 231 lb-ft at 2800 rpm speed in the predecessor RL. The new RL is heavier than the old one. This is due to the addition of the all-wheel-drive as well as other new features. The RL 2008’s curb weight is now nearly 4,000 pounds.

The RL’s 2008 new engine, although it is not a V8, it moved the RL powerfully. The engine sounds good and refined. It doesn’t give off sounds that it doesn’t have enough power to move the car because it doesn’t. It can move the RL just fine. Acura never sets a compromise when it comes to vehicle performance.

The interior of the Acura RL 2008 is especially made in order to provide comfort to the passengers. Most Acura RL 2008 users have found its interior to be pampering and pretty. The seats have perforated leather on them and there are nice-looking wood trim present. As for the audio system, it features surround sound qualities that provides excellent sounds.

At night, the Acura RL 2008 features a soft bluish light that illuminates its floor mats. These lights as well as the map lights join forces in offering a welcoming vehicle interior. There is also a pale blue light that shines down on the center console, and the instrument gauges are also equipped with a blue light that seems to spring from the center of each one.

Aside from these, the Acura RL 2008 has seats and storage room that is deemed to best fit the needs of Acura RL users.
Seats

* Rear Bench Seat With Power Adjustable Headrests and Fold-Down Armrest
* Driver Power Seat Adjusts 8 Ways Total
* Front Passenger Power Seat Adjusts 4 Ways Total
* Rear Seat Pass Through
* Front Dual Power Lumbar Support
* Front Dual Heated Bucket Seats With 2-Settings, Driver Adjustable Seat Height, 2-Position Driver Power Memory and Adjustable Headrests
* Leather Seats

Storage

* Covered Lower Console Storage Located On Floor
* Cargo Area Tiedowns
* Coinholder
* 2 Front and 2 Rear; 4 Cupholders Total
* Front Dual Door Mounted Storage
* Illuminated and Lockable Glovebox
* Front Dual Seatback Storage Pockets
* Rear Locking Storage

Losing one’s car keys has always been a perennial problem for vehicle users. To help solve this problem, the Acura RL has come up with the “no-key entry” feature. This feature can be seen from all Acura RL models since its introduction in 2005. With this “no-key entry” feature from Acura, vehicle owners no longer need keys not only in opening their Acura RL but also in starting their cars.

The Acura RL has keyless access that means all a driver has to do is have the keyless fob with him or her. He or she can have it inside his or her pocket, purse or in his or her hand. With the keyless fob, the driver then just walks up to the car and with a touch of the door handle, the car door is instructed to open. This feature saves Acura RL users the hassle of taking such good care of the car keys. Aside from this, the abovementioned feature is also helpful during rainy days since the driver can have an easy entry to the vehicle. He or she no longer has to fumble with the keys and get wet in the process.

Along with this no-key entry feature, the Acura RL does not need a key to start. Unlike other vehicles, there is no usual ignition key present in the Acura RL. On the other hand, the RL has what looks like a stump of a key that’s permanently in the dashboard. This stump of a key, also known as fob, needs to be turned as one would turn a key. In the event that the fob should fail, RL users need not worry for Acura has designed a backup plan in case this happens. A mechanical key is also made available for the RL. It just serves as a backup and a good safety net in case fob failure happens.

Acura combines luxury and power in the RL, their flagship sedan. The RL receive a lot of cutting-edge performance and safety technology, Despite RL’s V6 engine, it is surely not lacking in power.

Noticeable in the vehicle’s back end is the “SH-AWD” badge, which refers to Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive technology. The said technology sends increased torque to the outside rear wheel when powering through a curve. The altered dynamics help push the car around a turn rather than through it. Critics say that the RL handles very well as a high-end sports sedan.

The RL has a 3.5 liter V6 engine that is supported by four 17-inch wheels to deliver optimum performance. Thanks to its DOHC, 24-valve VTEC design, it smoothly spins out 290 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 256 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. Critics have also said that in terms of fuel efficiency, the RL is more in line with an economical V6.

Drivetrain refinement isn’t limited to the RL’s engine. Its five-speed automatic transmission only powers up the V6 engine. When the occasion calls it, Acura’s Sequential Sportshift paddle shifters, modeled after Formula 1 technology, enable greater driver input.

RL styling is attractive, but its drivetrain is inspiring for its nicely-weighted, responsive steering. One critic views the Acura flagship as an optimal blend of ride comfort and handling ability, matching his “real world” driving preference. The critic also found the cabin comfort of the sedan outstanding with some problems on manipulating the complex electronic controls. Nonetheless, Acura RL should not be overlooked for it can go side by side with more-expensive Europeans and similarly-priced domestics in the premium sedan market.