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The 3.5 RL is the ultimate luxury
Acura. Like nearly all Honda products, the RL is light on
its feet and uses front-wheel drive. With only a 3.5-liter
V6 for power, it goes head-to-head with rear-drive, V8-powered
competitors. The RL does a lot of
things well, and nothing badly. Like so many Honda products,
its strength is its balance. There are expensive sedans that
are smoother, more powerful, or more agile. Yet the RL offers
poise and grace at a reasonable price. And it's plenty fast
enough to satisfy most luxury car buyers.
For 2002, a new exhaust silencer and other refinements have
boosted horse-power and torque by 3 and 7 percent, respectively.
Wider P225/55R16 Michelin all-season radials and a firmer
suspension enhance the RL's already impressive cornering grip.
The speed-sensitive power steering has been re-tuned for more
road feel.
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Acura has kept the RL model
lineup commendably simple: There's just one
model, the 3.5 RL, listing for $43,150, which is powered by
a 3.5-liter V6. Nearly every conceivable amenity comes with
the price of admission, including traction control, stability
control, front and side-impact airbags, automatic air conditioning
with micro air filtration, full leather upholstery, eight-way
power seats with memory and heat, a moonroof, a Bose sound
system with a six-disc CD changer, and a power assist for
everything that could be power assisted. The only option offered
is a $2,000 DVD-based satellite navigation system.
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The Acura RL is the largest car Honda-Acura sells in
the United States. It is distinguished from other sedans
that break the $40,000 barrier by its basic drivetrain layout:
While other luxury flagships use V8 engines to drive their
rear
wheels, Acura makes do with front-wheel drive and a big,
longitudinally mounted V6. This arrangement may lack credibility
in the eyes of some purists, but it doesn't seem to hurt
the RL's real-world performance.
Outside, the RL hasn't changed significantly since its
last re-styling in 1999. A sharply chiseled front end showcases
a large, formal grille, and sharp creases run the length
of the body just below window height. Chrome trim surrounds
the grille and windows, and accents the rear deck and rub
strips. The RL possesses a substantial, commanding look,
similar in spirit to the
LS430 or the current
Mercedes-Benz
E-Class.
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