KansasCity.com's view

The new Acura RL has all-wheel drive and a V-6 engine. Its styling is sharp but not revolutionary. Under the skin, however, it is loaded with technology, but it’s technology that works quietly to improve the driving experience without drawing attention to itself.

Cracking the mid-luxury sedan class isn’t easy. The BMW 5-series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 are formidable competitors. The base models come with six-cylinder engines, while V-8s are optional. Mercedes and Audi also offer all-wheel drive.

To challenge in this segment, Acura wanted its new car to have distinctive styling, dynamic performance and great handling. In addition, it is very quiet.

The base price is $48,900 plus delivery charges of $570. There are no options.

Despite market pressures to develop a V-8 with rear-wheel drive, Acura chose to stick with a V-6 engine, but it developed an all-wheel-drive system that improves dry-road handling to the point that the RL can outrun its competitors on a track.

Acura’s Super Handling all-wheel-drive system normally sends about 70 percent of the power to the front wheels and 30 percent to the rear, but that proportion varies up to 30 percent front and 70 percent rear under acceleration and as traction and conditions require. The thing that makes this system so different, however, is the use of electromagnetic clutches in the rear differential to divide power between the rear wheels. In a fast turn, for example, up to 100 percent of the power is transferred to the outside rear wheel. Overdriving the outside rear wheel subtly steers the car through a turn.

If the car wants to skid because the turn is too sharp, the outside rear wheel gets less power and counteracts the tendency for the rear end to slide out.

In city driving, the all-wheel-drive system works so seamlessly you can hardly feel it. I drove an RL on a track last fall, and the benefit was immediately obvious at higher speeds. I could feel it pivot around turns as the outside rear wheel helped rotate the car.

The new RL’s 3.5-liter V-6 cranks out 300 horsepower, which is 75 more than the previous RL. And the engine meets Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standards. The transmission is a five-speed sportshift automatic that can be shifted manually with the gear lever or paddles on the steering wheel.

The RL is impressive in many areas. A telematic system includes real-time traffic information in the 20 largest cities. These traffic reports will be available in Kansas City in the future. The news is relayed via the XM satellite radio. The traffic information is tied into the navigation system. Drivers will receive real-time traffic alerts about accidents or slowdowns, and the backups will be displayed on the navigation system map.

The voice-activated navigation system is one of the best. For example, if you ask for the nearest French restaurant, it lists the restaurants by their Zagat ratings and prices and will give directions.

The RL’s styling has a pointed nose and rounded flanks that look athletic and energetic. The cabin is wider, and the leather-grained instrument panel is punctuated with a handsome sweep of wood accented by brushed silver trim.

The center stack is divided into specific sections for climate control, audio and navigation. Each system can be operated by hard buttons or with a knob that works like a computer mouse. The knob is intuitive and its operation is easy to understand, unlike some of the systems found in other luxury models.

In addition to XM satellite radio, the RL has an exceptional Bose surround-sound stereo system that can play DVD audio discs. The concert-level sound quality means your favorite music probably sounds better in the car than at home.

A number of blue light-emitting diodes are placed throughout the interior to cast a gentle light on various controls at night.

Price

The base price of the RL is $48,900. The destination fee of $570 brings the sticker price to $49,470.

Warranty

Four years or 50,000 miles.

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Engine: 3.5-liter, 300-hp V-6

Transmission: automatic

All-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 110.2 inches

Curb weight: 3,984 lbs.

Base price: $48,900

As driven: $49,470

Mpg rating: 18 city, 26 hwy.

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At A Glance

Point: Acura’s RL sports a high-tech V-6, clever all-wheel drive and state-of-the-art telematics to set it apart from the competition in the mid-luxury segment. Close attention to detail and bank-vault quiet make this a serious player in the segment.

Counterpoint: Some may think the styling is not bold enough.