SEMA: Acura RL A-Spec (For you Pro Stock John)
11-02-2004, 07:08 PM
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From autoweek
SEMA Tuner Special: Acura RL A-Spec
On Spec: Acura RL gets the A-Spec treatment, but is it enough?
MARK VAUGHN
Published Date: 11/1/04
ACURA RL A-SPEC
ON SALE: Spring 2005
BASE PRICE: $54,470 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 300-hp, 260-lb-ft 3.5-liter V6; awd, four-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT: 4007.5 pounds
0 to 60 MPH: 6.5 seconds (est.)
It could be argued—and it was—that this is the most significant car introduced at SEMA this year. That’s quite an argument, considering all the cars shown at SEMA. But with the RL A-Spec, this once-pedestrian Acura can now be thrown in with the BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, Cadillac CTS-V and a few other serious heavy hitters in the luxury performance sedan segment. Right?
Depends how you define “thrown in with.” The debut of the Acura RL A-Spec is a step toward bringing this once also-ran sedan into the realm of the great performance sedans from Europe and, lately, the United States. But does the RL A-Spec really mean Acura competes in that heady realm? Not quite, but it can compete in the realm next door.
See, the serious runners in that class all have beastly strong engine modifications to add to their suspension kits and bodywork. Acura could easily be a player in that segment, what with all its engineers and with the racing heritage of its Honda sibling. All it would need is an engine boost to go with the A-Spec suspension and body kit it was given.
But Acura is proud of its emissions and mileage achievements. As such, it doesn’t want to mess up a perfect attendance record in the EPA gold star club by dropping a V10 and rear-wheel drive into its flagship four-door, even in limited numbers.
Besides, the 300 hp and all-wheel drive that now come standard in the new RL are significant improvements, and are not to be dismissed. And they aren’t. They are to be celebrated, and we do. As you’ll recall, the new RL, entering showrooms about the time you read this, took a huge leap in the “cool” department with the 2005 model.
The new RL got a 75-hp boost, from 225 hp to 300, while still maintaining ULEV emissions standards. And while the engine is still “just a V6,” it now drives the rear wheels in addition to the front; not as big a handling improvement as straight rear-wheel drive, but another step in the right direction.
To all that, Acura’s in-house tuning arm, A-Spec, adds a sport suspension that lowers the car almost an inch, Michelin Pilot Sport 245/45YR summer tires mounted on 18-inch wheels, and a well-integrated aero kit with front air dam, side skirts, rear valance and a nicely manicured rear wing. The aero stuff has even spent quality time in Honda’s wind tunnel back in Japan.
For all of this we should be, and are, happy. It’s a step beyond even the improvements of the new model; it looks good and it should probably drive well once the RL A-Specs hit showrooms in the spring.
Yet still we whine.
Drop a lumpy boat cam into those cylinder banks, stroke those cylinders, advance the spark, do some of that chip tuning that covers all the old tuner tricks. You know: A-Spec. Even an ultra-simple cat-back exhaust and muffler trick, along with some sort of A-Spec version of a K&N filter, could have produced a token power and torque improvement for this new contender.
But no.
“It follows the evolution of the car,” said Stony Furutani, manager of accessory marketing for American Honda Motor Co. “Once the RL headed in that direction, this was the next logical step.”
Okay, no more complaining. The A-Spec gear can be bought separately. Aero stuff is not required to get the wheels and tires, and vice versa. Prices are not out, but expect the whole package to cost about the same as other A-Spec kits on the TL, TSX and RSX. This one should be about $5,000 complete.
SEMA Tuner Special: Acura RL A-Spec
On Spec: Acura RL gets the A-Spec treatment, but is it enough?
MARK VAUGHN
Published Date: 11/1/04
ACURA RL A-SPEC
ON SALE: Spring 2005
BASE PRICE: $54,470 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 300-hp, 260-lb-ft 3.5-liter V6; awd, four-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT: 4007.5 pounds
0 to 60 MPH: 6.5 seconds (est.)
It could be argued—and it was—that this is the most significant car introduced at SEMA this year. That’s quite an argument, considering all the cars shown at SEMA. But with the RL A-Spec, this once-pedestrian Acura can now be thrown in with the BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, Cadillac CTS-V and a few other serious heavy hitters in the luxury performance sedan segment. Right?
Depends how you define “thrown in with.” The debut of the Acura RL A-Spec is a step toward bringing this once also-ran sedan into the realm of the great performance sedans from Europe and, lately, the United States. But does the RL A-Spec really mean Acura competes in that heady realm? Not quite, but it can compete in the realm next door.
See, the serious runners in that class all have beastly strong engine modifications to add to their suspension kits and bodywork. Acura could easily be a player in that segment, what with all its engineers and with the racing heritage of its Honda sibling. All it would need is an engine boost to go with the A-Spec suspension and body kit it was given.
But Acura is proud of its emissions and mileage achievements. As such, it doesn’t want to mess up a perfect attendance record in the EPA gold star club by dropping a V10 and rear-wheel drive into its flagship four-door, even in limited numbers.
Besides, the 300 hp and all-wheel drive that now come standard in the new RL are significant improvements, and are not to be dismissed. And they aren’t. They are to be celebrated, and we do. As you’ll recall, the new RL, entering showrooms about the time you read this, took a huge leap in the “cool” department with the 2005 model.
The new RL got a 75-hp boost, from 225 hp to 300, while still maintaining ULEV emissions standards. And while the engine is still “just a V6,” it now drives the rear wheels in addition to the front; not as big a handling improvement as straight rear-wheel drive, but another step in the right direction.
To all that, Acura’s in-house tuning arm, A-Spec, adds a sport suspension that lowers the car almost an inch, Michelin Pilot Sport 245/45YR summer tires mounted on 18-inch wheels, and a well-integrated aero kit with front air dam, side skirts, rear valance and a nicely manicured rear wing. The aero stuff has even spent quality time in Honda’s wind tunnel back in Japan.
For all of this we should be, and are, happy. It’s a step beyond even the improvements of the new model; it looks good and it should probably drive well once the RL A-Specs hit showrooms in the spring.
Yet still we whine.
Drop a lumpy boat cam into those cylinder banks, stroke those cylinders, advance the spark, do some of that chip tuning that covers all the old tuner tricks. You know: A-Spec. Even an ultra-simple cat-back exhaust and muffler trick, along with some sort of A-Spec version of a K&N filter, could have produced a token power and torque improvement for this new contender.
But no.
“It follows the evolution of the car,” said Stony Furutani, manager of accessory marketing for American Honda Motor Co. “Once the RL headed in that direction, this was the next logical step.”
Okay, no more complaining. The A-Spec gear can be bought separately. Aero stuff is not required to get the wheels and tires, and vice versa. Prices are not out, but expect the whole package to cost about the same as other A-Spec kits on the TL, TSX and RSX. This one should be about $5,000 complete.
11-03-2004, 07:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Pro Stock John
Yuck, 300hp, and 4000 vehicle weight.
My TL is 270hp, and 3400 vehicle weight.
My TL is 270hp, and 3400 vehicle weight.
BTW there is a TL A-Spec as well.... but I think it's just a $5K Dealer-installed Body and wheel kit.
-Adam
