Acura RL 2007

01/01/2007

With a reputation for going its own way, Acura has chosen to field a V-6-powered, all-wheel-drive sedan in the hotly contested sport-luxury market, where rear-drive vehicles with V-8 engines proliferate. But do not underrate this amazing car and its innovative approach to the segment. A responsive 3.5-liter V-6 with variable valve timing and lift thrusts the RL through all the benchmark tests at rates similar to its leading competitors’ with a winning combination of refinement and pleasing sounds. The 5-speed automatic can be shifted manually via the selector or with steering-wheel paddles, and Acura’s SH-AWD system shares engine power ingeniously between front and rear axles as well as between left and right rear wheels to favor the wheels with the most traction. The car fairly bristles with high-tech equipment, including adaptive cruise control, a collision mitigation system, a voice-activated navigation system with traffic updates, Bluetooth cell phone interface, available run-flat tires, and a high-end surround-sound stereo.

PRICE: $49,300
ENGINE: 3.5-liter sohc VTEC V-6
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic
POWER: 300 hp at 6,200 rpm
TORQUE: 256 ft lbs at 5,000 rpm
CURB WEIGHT: 4,012 pounds
0-60 MPH: 6.7 seconds
TOP SPEED: 130 mph
PROS: Excellent balance between luxury and practicality. All-season capabilities.
CONS: A V-6 in the land of the V-8

www­.acura.com