2014 Acura RLX Pictures Revealed: 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Whether you love or hate Acura, there’s no denying that they stick to their guns.

The RLX, as previously discussed, will come standard with front-wheel drive and a V6 engine, in keeping with Honda’s legendary stubborness tradition. The base RLX will put out 310 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque, while returning 20 mpg in town and 31 mpg on the highway. A four-wheel steering system, not seen on a Honda product since the now departed Prelude, will apparently help with the car’s driving dynamics.

The big news with the RLX is an all-wheel drive system with a 3.7L V6 and two electric motors in the rear wheels, good for 370 horsepower. The hybrid version is said to be good for 30 mpg city and 30 mpg on the highway as well. The transverse layout will also pay divendeds with respect to interior packaging. Despite being the same size as a BMW 5-Series, the RLX apparently offers as much as 3 inches more rear seat legroom than its RWD competitors. Length remains unchanged, but the car rides on a two-inch longer wheelbase.

A whole host of electronic nannies are standard, as well as an interior loaded with all the necessary gadgets. The RLX may be a technical tour de force, but it’s tough to imagine that such an image-conscious segment would be drawn to such a nondescript looking car.


Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Conslaw Conslaw on Nov 29, 2012

    I'd like to see MK do a TrueDelta(tm) comparison of the RLX vs. the Avalon.

  • Sckid213 Sckid213 on Nov 29, 2012

    Acura reminds me of Oldsmobile circa 1994. Flailing, and outed to the public as not "real" luxury. They were once considered in the same realm as Lexus thanks to the Japanese's superior materials and build quality. But now that the quality playing field has been leveled, they've been exposed. Acura needs an Aurora-esque Hail Mary...that doesn't fail. The RLX is more like the Ninety-Eight LSS -- nice, but not enough.

  • MaintenanceCosts I wish more vehicles in our market would be at or under 70" wide. Narrowness makes everything easier in the city.
  • El scotto They should be supping with a very, very long spoon.
  • El scotto [list=1][*]Please make an EV that's not butt-ugly. Not Jaguar gorgeous but Buick handsome will do.[/*][*] For all the golf cart dudes: A Tesla S in Plaid mode will be the fastest ride you'll ever take.[/*][*]We have actual EV owners posting on here. Just calmly stated facts and real world experience. This always seems to bring out those who would argue math.[/*][/list=1]For some people an EV will never do, too far out in the country, taking trips where an EV will need recharged, etc. If you own a home and can charge overnight an EV makes perfect sense. You're refueling while you're sleeping.My condo association is allowing owners to install chargers. You have to pay all of the owners of the parking spaces the new electric service will cross. Suggested fee is 100$ and the one getting a charger pays all the legal and filing fees. I held out for a bottle of 30 year old single malt.Perhaps high end apartments will feature reserved parking spaces with chargers in the future. Until then non home owners are relying on public charge and one of my neighbors is in IT and he charges at work. It's call a perk.I don't see company owned delivery vehicles that are EV's. The USPS and the smiley boxes should be the 1st to do this. Nor are any of our mega car dealerships doing this and but of course advertising this fact.I think a great many of the EV haters haven't came to the self-actualization that no one really cares what you drive. I can respect and appreciate what you drive but if I was pushed to answer, no I really don't care what you drive. Before everyone goes into umbrage over my last sentence, I still like cars. Especially yours.I have heated tiles in my bathroom and my kitchen. The two places you're most likely to be barefoot. An EV may fall into to the one less thing to mess with for many people.Macallan for those who were wondering.
  • EBFlex The way things look in the next 5-10 years no. There are no breakthroughs in battery technology coming, the charging infrastructure is essentially nonexistent, and the price of entry is still way too high.As soon as an EV can meet the bar set by ICE in range, refueling times, and price it will take off.
  • Jalop1991 Way to bury the lead. "Toyota to offer two EVs in the states"!
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