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Acura RLX

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Acura RLX (KC1/2)
Overview
ManufacturerHonda
Also calledHonda Legend (Japan)
ProductionDecember 2012 – June 2020
Model years2014–2020
AssemblySayama Plant, Sayama, Saitama, Japan
DesignerHideaki Uchino (2009)[1]
Body and chassis
ClassExecutive car (E)
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutFF / F4 layout (SH-AWD)
Powertrain
Engine3.5 L Earth Dreams J35Y4 V6
Electric motor3x Permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors (1x 47 hp Front + 2x 36 hp Rears: Sport Hybrid SH-AWD)
TransmissionFWD: (RLX only)
6-speed automatic (2014-17)
10-speed automatic (2018–2020)
AWD:
7-speed DCT
Hybrid AWD:
7-Speed DCT Motor-Integrated
BatteryLi-Ion
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,850 mm (112.2 in)
Length4,982 mm (196.1 in) (2014 - 2018)
5,032 mm (198.1 in)[2] (2018–2020)
Width1,890 mm (74.4 in)
Height1,465 mm (57.7 in)
1,480 mm (58.3 in)[2] (Legend)
Curb weight1,800–1,816 kg (3,968–4,004 lb)
1,956–1,977 kg (4,312–4,359 lb) (AWD)
1,990 kg (4,387 lb)[2] (Legend)
Chronology
PredecessorAcura RL
Successornone

The Acura RLX was a luxury/executive car manufactured by Honda and sold under their Acura division, released in 2013, succeeding the RL. The RLX was discontinued in 2020.

Background and Development

The Acura Legend was a very successful vehicle to launch Acura as a separate division, and combined with sales of the Integra this resulted in Acura outselling longtime luxury marques BMW and Mercedes-Benz as well as Toyota's new luxury division Lexus. However, the successor RL sold below expectations due to relatively tight interior for its size, the lack of a V8 performance engine option and better handling rear-wheel drive experience, and/or relatively expensive compared to its rivals.[original research?]

An October 2009 Car and Driver blog cited a dinner with Acura executives who acknowledged that the introduction of the new, larger, and in some guises, more powerful, fourth generation Acura TL made it difficult to market the then-current RL. In November 2009, an Autoweek article[3] reported that new Honda CEO Takanobu Ito told Automotive News that Acura is going to change course. Speaking of the worldwide economy before the collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers, Ito said through an interpreter, "Pre-Lehman, we did have the idea to produce more multicylinder engines... I see the future of Acura as a merger of BMW and Audi -- something between high performance and high technology." As a result of this midstream change, Acura will be in a "low-growth period of developing new products," Ito said. "We were thinking that we could come up with glamorous, gorgeous products that would sell. Now, our premium products will be expressed in advanced environmental technologies, rather than glamorous things attached to the product," he said.

RLX Concept

2012 Acura RLX concept

On April 4, 2012, Acura unveiled the RLX Concept, a replacement for the RL sedan, at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.[4] The production model, which changed little from the concept, was unveiled globally at the Los Angeles Auto Show later that year.

History

Pre-facelift Acura RLX (USA)

The RLX went on sale on March 15, 2013. Production of the RL ended at the Saitama facility on June 16, 2012, to begin factory changeover to the RLX. The RLX is offered as two versions, a front-wheel drive base model equipped with All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) four-wheel steering system, and a hybrid variant featuring SH-AWD as Acura's flagship.[5]

RLX Sport Hybrid

The RLX Sport Hybrid debuted at the 2013 Los Angeles International Auto Show.[6] Overall vehicle weight was up 357 lbs, with weight distribution (front:rear) improved from 61:39 in non-hybrids to 57:43 in hybrid models. It was offered as the Honda Legend in Japan. US sales began during September 2014, with 250 models produced for the 2014 model year and an additional 250 produced for the 2016 model year.

Powertrain

A direct injected 3.5-liter Earth Dreams V6 using VTEC and Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) coupled with a 6-speed automatic received an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20/30/23 mpg (city/highway/combined) and the maximum output was 310 hp (231 kW) at 6,500 rpm and 272 lb⋅ft (369 N⋅m) of torque at 4,500 rpm. The fuel saving VCM system worked in either 6 or 3 cylinder configurations; the new model used more sophisticated engine mounts which bypassed the need for a 4-cylinder mode which would result in a lower NVH.

Hybrid models featured the VCM capability as well, with an added start-stop system to boost fuel economy as well as the ability to operate entirely on electric power up to 58 miles per hour with light throttle usage. The hybrid also used a 7-speed dual clutch transmission using an integrated 35 kW (47 hp) electric motor, with each rear wheel being powered by a 27-kilowatt (36 hp) electric motor, with 2 rear electric motors total. This setup gave the hybrid a torque vectoring all-wheel drive system with rear wheels strictly electrically powered.

A 72-cell 1.3 kWh 66-pound lithium-ion battery pack was placed behind the rear seat. Total system power output on hybrid was rated at 377 hp (281 kW) at 6,500 rpm and 341 lb⋅ft (462 N⋅m) of torque at 4,700 rpm. EPA estimated fuel economy was improved to 29/30/29 mpg (city/highway/combined). It was given a CARB emissions rating of LEV III SULEV30 compared with the non-hybrid's ULEV-2 ranking.

Chassis

The front subframe was made from aluminum. Front suspension used a double wishbone layout, while the rear was a multi-link with a Precision All Wheel Steer (P-AWS, front-drive models only) system. ZF Sachs (ZF) supplied the "Amplitude Reactive Dampers" with two piston valves per damper. 18-inch wheels were standard, and 19-inch wheels with a noise reducing harmonic construction feature were optional for non-hybrids and standard on hybrids, a feature similar to that used in the previous face-lifted 2011 Acura RL. Suspension tuning was oriented towards the sportier side of comfort.

Interior

Standard perforated leather 12-way (4-way lumbar) front seats were heated and, on the "Advance" option package models, cooled, and rear seat room had been significantly improved. Rear legroom was similar to full size luxury flagship sedans (non-extended wheelbase versions). An 8-inch navigation screen along with a 7-inch touch screen display for audio, climate, and various shortcut controls with AcuraLink were also standard.

An optional flagship 14-speaker Krell audio system replaced the Bose system used on the previous model RL.[7] A mid-level 14-speaker ELS Studio Premium system using Panasonic components was also optional.[8] The base ELS Premium system used 10-speakers.

Hybrid models included an electronic transmission gear selector, heads-up display, acoustic (PVB layered glass for all doors and the windshield, and standard navigation. The 14-speaker ELS Studio Premium system was standard, and the Krell system was optional. GPS-linked climate control, voice recognition, and a keyless access system with a push-button start were also standard.

Exterior

Rear view (Pre-facelift)

The RLX was the first Acura model to offer standard Jewel-Eye LED headlamps. Each unit uses five separate LED light sources (four low beam, one high beam) with ten polished lenses (eight low beam, two high beam). The headlights no longer swivel through corners as they did on the previous generation RL. The hood, front fenders, and outer door panels are made from aluminum,[9] aluminum use in the RLX saved a total of 79.1 lbs compared with steel components.

The hybrid came standard with LED foglamps.

Safety

All models came standard with a multi-angle rear-view backup camera, Forward Collision Warning system (FCW) and lane departure warning. An automatic braking front precrash system with front seatbelt electronic pretensioners was available, as was a lane keeping assist system and adaptive cruise control. Optional Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Blind Spot Information System and automotive head-up display were available. For 2016 a Surround View camera system was made optional.

Brakes with Brake Hold Control holding the car at a stop without the use of a brake pedal, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist, an Agile Handling Assist that applies the brakes on the wheels inside a curve, and Vehicle Stability Assist were standard.

IIHS scores[10]
Moderate overlap frontal offset Good
Small overlap frontal offset Good1
Side impact Good
Roof strength Good2
1 vehicle structure also rated "Good"
2 strength-to-weight ratio: 5.18
2015 RLX NHTSA scores[11]
Overall:
Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver:
Side Passenger:
Side Pole Driver:
Rollover: / 9.7%
2018 Acura RLX

Facelift

For the 2018 model year, the RLX received a mid-cycle change; sales began in November 2017. The updated RLX incorporated Acura's new design language featuring its diamond pentagon grille, redesigned front and rear fascias, redesigned LED tail lights, LED head lights, a new wheel design, a redesigned hood, and chrome exhaust finishers. Changes to the interior had been made, including a new front seat design, steering wheel, wood trim, and an added Espresso interior color option. RLX featured AcuraWatch suite of safety features as standard, including an Acura first- Traffic Jam Assist and blind spot monitoring. The front-wheel-drive RLX received a new 10-speed automatic transmission.[12] The length grew to 5,032 mm (198.1 in), becoming the longest Honda/Acura sedan to date and the first to exceed 5 metres (16 ft 5 in).

US sales began in November 2017.

Discontinuation

2020 would be the final model year for the RLX as the marque concentrates on sports sedans and crossovers, and the market shifts towards SUV/crossovers.[13][14] The RLX is close in size to the current TLX, its lesser sibling.[13] The 2021 all-new TLX would take up an elevated position in the lineup as "the quickest, best-handling and most well-appointed Acura sedan". However, the Honda Legend will continue on in other markets including Japan, and planned for an update by no later than March 2021.[13] As a result, the TLX will become Acura's flagship sedan.

References

  1. ^ US patent 695646S1, Hideaki Uchino, "Automobile and/or replica thereof", published 2013-12-17, issued 2013-12-17, assigned to Honda Motor Co Ltd. 
  2. ^ a b c "Honda Legend specifications" (PDF).[needs translation]
  3. ^ "Acura reverses product plans". Autoweek.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  4. ^ Garrett, Jerry (2012-04-04). "Acura RLX: A Would-Be Flagship Awaits Its Berth". Wheels.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  5. ^ "Acura RLX Precision All-Wheel Steering (P-AWS), Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Prototypes". Automobile Magazine. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  6. ^ Brandon Turkus. "2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is the V8 alternative we've been waiting for [w/video]". Autoblog. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  7. ^ "First Listen: 2014 Acura RLX with Krell Audio - Sound & Vision". Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  8. ^ "New Cars, Car Reviews, Car Prices and Auto Shows – MSN Autos". Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  9. ^ "2014 Acura RLX". Motor Trend Magazine. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Vehicle details". Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  11. ^ "2015 Acura RLX 4 DR FWD". Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Acura Reveals Striking New Design for 2018 Acura RLX; Debut Set for Monterey Automotive Week - Acura News". Hondanews.com. 2017-08-10. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  13. ^ a b c "Acura to drop RLX sedan in North America after 2020 model year". Automotive News. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  14. ^ https://www.autoevolution.com/news/acura-rlx-luxury-sedan-phased-out-over-slow-sales-2020-is-the-final-model-year-143767.html
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