Basic Specs

Base FromTBA
Unveiling 2012 NY Auto Show
Availability Early 2013
Status In Development
Engine 370HP 3.5L V6 with AWD hybrid
Body Style Sedan
Segment Luxury High-Performance Grand Touring Hybrid
Size Large
By Andrew Ganz
Wednesday, Apr 4th, 2012 @ 2:10 pm

Intent on rebuilding its flagship line, Acura has unveiled a thinly-disguised concept version of its next-generation range-topping sedan, the RLX. Following – not too closely, Acura hopes – in the footsteps of the slow-selling RL, the RLX boasts the first mainstream production-intent application of the automaker’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system it debuted in the NSX show car earlier this year.

While the RLX concept doesn’t look dramatically different than the outgoing RL, the difference is in the detailing. The RLX is about the same length as the current car, but Acura says that its wheelbase is two inches longer, which makes for shorter overhangs and a tidier overall look. New “Jewel Eye” LED headlamps feature eight individually stacked high-intensity LED headlamps for increased visibility and a unique face.

But it’s underneath the modest exterior where the RLX really stands out. A 3.5-liter direct injected V6 – likely the same unit that powers the RDX, among other Honda products – combines with the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system to produce over 370 horsepower. A seven-speed dual clutch transmission sends power to the ground, while fuel economy is an unusual 30 mpg all around – that is, 30 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway for 30 mpg combined. Acura also says that a lower-cost, 310-horsepower front-wheel-drive version of the RLX will also make it to production.

Just what is Acura’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system? In the NSX concept car that debuted in Detroit, it uses twin electric motors to send power to the front wheels, while the rear wheels use the gas engine. In the RLX, the opposite is the case: The rear wheels will be motivated by the electric motors, while the front wheels will be powered by the gas engine.

The system provides all-wheel-drive traction and also works as a torque vectoring system by instantaneously transfering torque between the electrified wheels for improved traction. Uniquely, the motors can provide positive or negative torque automatically to create what Acura calls an “on-the-rails†feel. The setup eliminates the need for a more complex differential to achieve the same handling-improving effect.

Front-wheel-drive RLXs will feature the automaker’s new All Wheel Steer system, which independently adjusts the toe angle of the rear wheels by working with the car’s stability control and its variable gear ratio electric power steering. All Wheel Steer is designed to both make the RLX more nimble in urban situations and to make its handling faster, more stable and more direct at highway speeds.

Equipment details
Acura hasn’t revealed a photo of the RLX’s interior, but the automaker did give us a good idea about what to expect when this sedan debuts as a production model. Two LCD screens – a seven-incher and a larger eight-inch display – will show off infotainment and navigation functions with single-touch access to regularly-used functions. In addition, a new AcuraLink communication system that connects the car to an operator in the event of an emergency or for concierge services, will also debut on the RLX.

On the safety front, the RLX will feature Acura’s first application of lane keeping assist to reel the car back in if the driver begins to drift, as well as standard forward collision warning and lane departure warning. A driver’s knee airbag will also be standard.

When will the production version of the RLX debut? We anticipate it will be shown prior to the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, while the production model should arrive early next year as a 2014. Stay tuned for further details.

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