Stay ahead of the curve, and the competition, with the 2009 Acura RL.
The Acura RL takes both luxury and performance to new levels. And with Acura's well deserved reputation for attention to detail and quality, plus its high performance heritage (remember the phenomenal NSX?) other luxury carmakers are hard pressed to be able to compete.
According to Acura, the RL is described as a "sumptuous luxury sedan [that] is so well appointed, you’ll be lavishly equipped for every excursion. With its 300-hp 3.7-liter VTEC® V-6 engine, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™(SH-AWD®) and the optional Acura Navigation System with AcuraLink® Real-Time Traffic, power and precision are simply par for the course."
The 300 hp is noteworthy. It is not a stretch to observe that, worldwide, auto manufacturers are building more powerful vehicles than at any time in the past, including the legendary musclecar era. The RL is proof. It's 300 HP beats the aforementioned first generation NSX's 270 hp. At the time of it's launch, that NSX was considered to be a Ferrari-level supercar, and rightfully so. So, what does that make cars like the RL? How about supercars for the rest of us.
For 2009, the RL comes in three trim levels. The base price RL starts at $46,680. Also available for a few thousand more is the the RL with Technology Package. For just over $50k, that gets you goodies like keyless entry and GPS linked solar sensing climate control. For a few thousand more, you get to add a collision mitigation braking system, curly maple wood trim, and adaptive cruise control.
The only problem, if there is one, in the RL is its distinctiveness, or lack thereof. It looks a bit too much like it's corporate cousin, the Honda Accord. For the kind of money the RL commands, it would be nice if it carried its own distinctive styling. That's not to say that the RL looks bad -- it doesn't. Just know when purchasing an RL, you're getting substance over style, and maybe that's how it should be.
