2009 Acura RL

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What is it?
2009 Acura RL

What's special about it?
Well, if you consider a giant new piece of chrome on the grille something special, then the 2009 Acura RL is your kind of luxury sedan. Of course, there's more than just chrome up front. The grille has been updated with Acura's "power plenum" design and the aluminum hood is now "blow-formed" to assure its almost perfectly flat shape. There are five new exterior colors as well.

Behind the grille lies a slightly larger version of the current V6. It's a modest bump in displacement — 3.5 to 3.7 liters — so the power increases are minimal, just 10 more horsepower for a total of 300 hp and an additional 15 pound-feet of torque, which puts the total at 271 lb-ft. It retains the same five-speed automatic transmission as before, although revised shift paddles and the console-mounted shift lever are said to offer improved manual shift control.

In addition to the increased displacement, the new V6 also features a higher compression ratio, revised VTEC variable valve control system and a magnesium dual-stage intake manifold. Acura says the new V6 also burns clean enough to earn a ULEV-2 emissions rating. It also delivers good fuel economy, according to Acura. We're not sure what "good" works out to under the new EPA rules.

Relatively spongy cornering dynamics have been one of the all-wheel-drive RL's weak spots since its introduction. To sharpen things up a little, Acura's engineers added higher-rate springs, stiffer front and rear antiroll bars and stiffer mounts for the front subframe. Larger 18-inch wheels with summer performance tires have also been fitted as standard in place of the current 17-inch wheels and all-season tires. Revisions to the steering system and the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive are also part of the upgrades for 2009, but Acura hasn't offered us anything more specific.

Nearly all of the interior upgrades fall into the category of enhancements. We're talking features like softer armrests, easier-to-use seatbelts and redesigned air vents. The driver seat now has six levels of heating and cooling control, while the passenger seat gets upgraded to 10-way power adjustability. The list continues with stuff like a revised steering wheel with new wood grain and an even more effective acoustic glass windshield to reduce cabin noise.

There are a couple features that are actually worth a mention. The 2009 Acura RL will be the first production vehicle fitted with Acura Link real-time weather information, which complements the satellite-linked traffic data system that's already available. The 10-speaker audio system has also been upgraded with Bluetooth connectivity along with XM Note and a USB port. Finally, the front seats have been upgraded with a new Active Head Restraint System to improve neck and head protection in rear-end collisions.

What's Edmunds' take?
Given that the RL's biggest drawback has been its forgettable styling, this midcycle model update isn't going to help its cause much. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line