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we were all right on the aztec.
If you take TL for example, it goes head to head with 5 year old 330 and 3 year old G35. TL also had a big stake in near luxury and has nice design.
Time will show.
- Bret
An LSD is designed to prevent more than a bare minimum of slippage. During a hard turn, it ensures that the outside wheel gets a fair share of the torque being routed through the rear diffy. But the amount of torque split between the rear wheels is pretty much 50/50.
SH-AWD takes it a step further. This system makes sure that the outside wheel get even more than it's fair share of power. It can send as much as 100% to one side or the other. With more torque going to the outside wheel, it pushes the car around the turn.
Are you familiar with the ATTS system that Honda offered on the Prelude SH? It's like that, only for the rear wheels.
Furthermore, SH-AWD uses electronic sensors hooked up to the steering, engine, a yaw gyro-thingy, and brakes to manage torque distribution. If you stomp on the gas, it sends power to the rear for better traction and acceleration. If you yank the wheel to the right, it sends power to the outside left wheel as you turn (not after).
MT just put the CTS ahead of it, and C&D didn't exactly say "Amen" either!
It's a nice car, but let's settle down, or we'll have to enforce a two drink minimum, k?
DrFill
M
M
To me this car should be compared with the M45 and the GS300. Agains those - its a winner in my book. After the M45 (or M35) is revamped by the end of the year it might be a toss up ( I really thing Infiniti will mess up again on the styling and interior).
I respect CR, and it serves an essential consumer perspective. But we all know it will pick practicality over excitement almost every single time.
CR picks TL, the enthusiast mags pick G35, that says it all.
I expect the same with RL/M. CR will pick RL and GS over M, that's a virtual given, but I don't think Infiniti minds. Neither do Infiniti fans!
Flagships are hardly about wow factor (stylingwise). Look at LS430. In case of Mercedes, the C-class, E-class and the S-class are virtually identical, and so it the case with Audi. BMW is heading in the same direction although the company tried to break the mold and move from a conservative styling (last generation 7-series) to the new aggressive look that everybody seems to hate.
Sometimes I wonder what people want.
And cars within the same family (same automaker) are bound to have common cues. It is virtually unavoidable. Better to use one's own cues than copy it (like many do).
I see this style as inoffensive, while retaining familiar cues that I have come to expect from Honda/Acura. The tail lamp rear is reminiscent of Acura CL (first generation), the overall rear profile resembles the direction that Acura adopted in the late 90s (first generation TL and RL and carried into last CL), as well as in Honda Accord coupe (in its current form, which I always thought took the cues from 1996+ TL and 2001 CL).
The front is a smoother version of the current RL’s (which I happen to like). Updated nicely, without deviating much.
THIS VIEW is a better representative of the frontal style, and it has “Acura” written all over it.
And while Im at it... a close up shot of the REAR .
To think that the current '04 RL actually competes with any sports sedans is stupid, don't you think?
All the Acura sales people I've talked to says that the RL is aimed at competing with the Lexus LS.
By the way, excuse me for that fatal "L" I accidentally attached to the "i" for the BMW 540i.
Ever heard of mistypes?
Perhaps you spell everything correct 100% of the time, but most of us don't.
Nothing about those pics makes me want to even test drive it. Looks like a souped-up Accord.
Tragic and pathetic excuse for a top-of-the-line luxury vehicle.
I don't know. Maybe the new RL will be the middle of the line like the BMW 5-Series or GS and a new Acura top-of-the-line will appear as a 2006 model to compete with the LS430 and BMW740.
To me, flagship needs to be pure luxury. Mid models like the GS, 5-series, etc. can go for more styles and sporty.
But if the RL now competes with the GS300 and 530, etc., I guess it better have style and sport.
Different strokes for different folks.
2005 RL is different, at least on paper. This RL may be comparable to the LS430 in some ways…
- cabin size
- both are flagships for their respective brands
The RL may actually have more standard features than the base LS430, even though it would cost thousands less. It would be ridiculous to expect direct competition at 25% discount.
You appear to be a big fan of LS430. Not sure what moves you about its styling. That car does nothing for me.
Oh, and the next GS looks like eggplant on wheels to me. :-) Okay, that was a little harsh, but it is too bloated to my tastes.
The RL, is tighter. Nothing outstanding about the styling, but that is how flagships are styled. Just think the new BMW 7-series versus the old. What do you think? Understated styling is the key.
I was too, but I think I've figured it out. His logic goes like this. If the '04 RL was not targeted at the LS430, then it must have been aimed at the GS300 (a sport sedan). It's an either/or fallacy, but an understandlable one.
FWIW, I think the '04 RL had no true competition. It was in a niche by itself. I expect many of the customers who bought them compared it with fully loaded ES300 sedans. The RL had similar equipment, a similar price tag, but was bigger on the inside.
So far, in this thread alone, we've learned that the new RL look like the TL, Accord coupe, Corolla, S-Class, 7 Series, CL-S, old 2.3CL, I35, and the Pontiac GTO.
In other forums, I've seen comparisons with most of the above, plus the following: Catera, several Hyundais, Millenia, Accord sedan, Legend, Mazda6, old Camry, Phaeton, Q45, and IS300.
It's a bloomin' chameleon!
BTW, for all of you trying to describe the taillights, look at the last Aurora. (There's another one!) =)