The Acura RL generation 2 was launched in late 2004 for the 2005 model year. Still without the much-rumored V8 engine, it features a sophisticated all-wheel drive system Acura calls "Super Handling All-Wheel Drive" (SH-AWD). It integrates active differentials with the all-wheel drive system and traction control to improve handling, similar to the "ATTS" system featured on the 1997 Honda Prelude SH. At the time of its introduction, the Acura RL's SH-AWD was unique among all wheel drive systems because not only could it vary traction from front to back, but also side to side in rear using a technique called torque vectoring, becoming the first such system. The RL can direct up to 70% of available torque to the rear wheels, and up to 100% of that available rear torque can be directed to just one wheel. In combination with a specially designed planetary gear set which can over-drive the rear wheels up to 5% greater speed than the front wheels, the torque direction to one wheel, or torque vectoring, can have a steering effect. As the car speeds around a curve, torque vectored to the outside rear wheel will pull the rear end around the curve faster, just as paddling the outside oar of a row boat faster than the inside oar will cause the row boat to turn.
The SH-AWD all-wheel drive system was lauded by Popular Science as one of the best automotive innovations of 2004, and earned the 2005 "Tech Car of the Year" from CNET.com[9]. Subsequent moves by both Audi and BMW to design and market their own versions of torque vectoring all wheel drive systems bear out the innovative nature of the SH-AWD design.
The first-generation RL was powered by a 225 hp (168 kW) 90° C-series V6 non-VTEC engine. The second-generation RL uses a newer design 60° J-series 3.5 L V6 SOHC VTEC engine delivering 300 hp (224 kW; later revised to 290 hp (220 kW) due to new SAE testing procedures). To give the car a more sporty feel, the car features drive-by-wire throttle control and a five-speed sequential sport shifting automatic transmission with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. As with the first-generation Acura RL, the second-generation Acura RL uses premium unleaded fuel rated at 91 (R+M)/2 octane.
A first for the RL is the use of aluminum 4-piston front brake calipers over 12.6-inch cast-iron ventilated front rotors. These multi-piston calipers are extremely rigid, and are derived from racing applications. In the rear, 12.2-inch cast-iron ventilated discs attach to their hub with lightweight aluminum collets and are gripped by one-piston aluminum brake calipers[10]. The RL was equipped with a unique five spoke 17-inch alloy wheel with Michelin Pilot HX MXM 4 245/50-R-17 98V[10] all season grand touring tires. These wheels were one inch larger in diameter, and the tires 20 mm wider in section than those found on the first-generation Acura RL.
New features found on the 2005 RL include an keyless entry system which allows the driver to both lock and unlock the car by touching the door handle, without having to use the remote control, and a keyless start system. A new 260 watt ten speaker Bose DVD-Audio 5.1 sound system [11] equalized for the RL cabin features several Bose technologies. Bose AudioPilot is a noise compensation technology which analyzes background environmental cabin noise, uses an algorithm based on cabin acoustics to boost certain portions of the musical signal so that it may be heard more clearly above environmental sound "clutter" without any apparent change in volume [12]. Bose Centerpoint processes stereo and matrix surround sound recordings to allow play through the 5.1 sound system even though the source may only be a stereo sound track. Bose Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) rounds out the suite. Always on, whether the stereo is on or not, ANC takes input from two microphones placed in the cabin to analyze drivetrain related low end frequencies entering the cabin. The ANC sends information to the sound system to create precisely shaped and timed reverse phased audio signal from the door speakers and the subwoofer. The result is a dramatic reduction of engine and exhaust noise.
XM Satellite Radio, integrated Bluetooth hands-free technology for wireless phone use, voice recognition technology with over 560 voice commands to control navigation system and displays, wireless phone, audio system, heating and ventilation controls round out the cabin's technological features. Heating and air conditioning systems were also tied into a solar sensor and GPS positioning so that cabin temperature would stay constant in a mixed sun and shade situation. Based on sun position and cabin orientation, additional cooling air would be automatically added to the sunny side of the car to keep that occupant comfortable while not freezing out the occupant on the shady side.
The Alpine Electronics DVD-based navigation system is integrated with an 8 inch LCD display and a multi use Interface Dial, which can act like a mouse moving up down left right, like a knob, scrolling through preset menus, and a selector by clicking. Unlike many in-car navigation systems, the Alpine DVD based navigation unit allows the driver to change destinations and routes "on the fly" while driving, rather than being locked out unless the car is park. The deeply integrated voice recognition system works with the navigation system and can also recognize city and street names. Also unique at the time was two way communication via AcuraLink satellite communication. Using a facility of XM Radio service, the system can send a variety of messages to the car including service appointment reminders (appointments first made via Internet) or important messages such as recall notices. The use of OnStar is carried over from the previous generation RL. Use of digital/analog trimode (two digital bands and one analog band) technology allows the 2005 RL OnStar technology to survive the planned 2007 phase out of the analog OnStar to all digital OnStar service in 2007.
Other new features include the Active Front Lighting System, in which the high intensity discharge headlamps swivel with the steering up to twenty degrees, offering improved night cornering vision. Light emitting diodes (LED) replace traditional incandescent lighting is used for many rear tail and brake as well as in the side mirror housing integrated turn signals, and many interior cabin lights.
The 2005 RL was also the first Honda vehicle to use the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which is now proliferating throughout every newly-introduced Honda and Acura vehicle design. The ACE structure features extensive use of high-tensile steel and lightweight aluminum components in a front-mounted polygonal main frame, designed engage vehicles of differing size and weight in a frontal collision and spread the forces through multiple structural pathways, while preventing or minimizing cabin deformation. In practical terms, this means in an SUVversus ACE structure car collision, there is a greater chance that the ACE body structure will engage with the SUV's frame and dissipate collision forces around the passenger compartment. In more conventional non-ACE car structures, the SUV frame has a much greater chance of missing or over-riding the conventional car's major structural components and a greater chance of deforming the passenger compartment.
Engine bay of the Acura RL
The 2005 RL car structure features extensive use of somewhat "exotic" materials for a car at this price point including aluminum alloy hood, front fenders, trunk lid and frame, front and rear subframes, suspension arms, front knuckles and bumper beams. Magnesium is used in the intake manifold, and the two-piece center drive shaft is made of a carbon reinforced composite. The new RL features extensive aerodynamic design treatment including details such an industry first flush side glass, as well underbody covers and diffusers to reduce lift, resulting in a very low drag coefficient of 0.29.
The second-generation 2005 Acura RL appeared on Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 2005. The car also garnered an CNET.com "Editor's Choice" Award for Top Tech Car. While critically acclaimed, sales have not met expectations, as the price of the RL is perceived to be out of its bracket. As the new RL offered more features and performance than the base version of its luxury competition's (i.e., the base six-cylinder BMW 5 Series)[13], Honda Japan suggested that it could charge more, though Honda Canada disagreed. The RL's initial MRSP was $69,500 CAD, more than the six-cylinder BMW 525i and close to that of the V8-powered BMW 545i. At the RL's price point, most consumers expected a V8, furthermore they did not perceive Acura as being on par with its German rivals and expected more value from the Japanese marque. The damage from Honda Japan's alleged hubris was done, even though Honda Canada has since reduced the RL's price. In 2009, the new generation of theAcura TL was released and it is expected to offer tough competition to the RL, as the TL has essentially the same engine, the SH-AWD system, and many of the RL's features for only $44,900 CAD.[14]
