New Car: 2009 Acura RL

For the most positive change in the refresh of the 2009 Acura RL, the flagging flagship of Honda's luxury division that's making its production debut at the 2008 Chicago show, you'll need to look beyond its odd chrome snout and under the blow-formed aluminum hood. New for 2009 is the 3.7-liter, 300-horsepower VTEC V-6 that also powers the MDX, with 275 lb-ft of torque (up from 256 lb-ft on the 2008 RL) on tap.
In the "if it ain't broke, let's just make minor improvements" category, the engine is mated to an upgraded version of the Acura's Sequential SportShift five-speed automatic transmission that you can shift two ways: via F1-style steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters or the new straight-gate console-mounted gear selector. While adequate, we hope Acura is developing a six- or seven-speed transmission to better keep it inline with today's luxury competition. The RL's fuel-economy ratings check in a bit lower for 2009 at 15 city/22 highway.

Also updated for the 2009 RL is the automaker's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which is now "quicker-responding and better-performing," according to the automaker. The SH-AWD system employs torque vectoring to increase the rotation speed of the outside rear wheel during aggressive cornering maneuvers, enabling the car to turn more effectively under power, while reducing understeer and improving overall handling and cornering grip. While SH-AWD is by all accounts a solid system, most of the RL's main competition is rear drive. The system is rumored to be more rear-biased than before in an effort to play up more of a rear-drive angle.
A number of other changes also have been made to the car's fully independent suspension in an effort to improve the RL's handling, including the use of larger-diameter stabilizer bars, stiffer subframe mount bushings, higher-rate coil springs, and improved steering-rack components.

Eight colors are now offered for the RL, which has been restyled both front and rear. Acura says the sheetmetal changes lend the car a more athletic stance -- we're not so sure yet based on the photo we've seen so far (we'll have more shortly). Seven-spoke 18-inch rims shod with more aggressive Michelin Pilot HX P245/45R18 rubber are now standard equipment. Five of the colors are new and feature a pearl pigment process that Acura says improves luster and shine.
In the cabin, some much-needed room has been added for the rear-seat passengers, but Acura has not yet said how much. The front passenger seat has 10-way power adjustability and is ventilated, as is the driver's seat. Both driver and passenger are treated to softer armrests, redesigned air vents, and what Acura says is a more intuitive climate-control system. The steering wheel is fitted with a better quality wood and "metal-like" accents, with the latter also used on the new gauge cluster.