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  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    2018 Acura RLX Debuts Before Monterey Car Week

      Wait, this is still in production?!

    Acura has pulled the curtain back on the refreshed 2018 RLX sedan. Your first thought might be along the lines of, "that's still a thing?"

    We can't blame you for this train of thought. Acura only sold 1,478 RLXs last year. To give you some perspective, 46,740 Mercedes-Benz E-Class models were sold in this same period. Despite this, Acura is still planning to soldier on the RLX. 

    The most obvious change for the RLX is the new front end. Acura's "diamond pentagon" grille is here, along with the jewel eye headlights and a new sculpted hood. The back also sees some changes with new LED taillights and a gloss black rear diffuser. The interior doesn't see many changes aside from new materials and reshaped front seats.

    Acura will offer two variants of the RLX. The RLX with Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) uses a 3.5L V6 with 310 horsepower and a new 10-speed automatic. One step above is the RLX  Sport Hybrid with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) which takes the V6 and pairs it up with three electric motors to produce a combined output of 377 horsepower. 

    For safety, the 2018 RLX comes with the AcuraWatch suite of technologies including automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Exclusive to AcuraWatch is Traffic Jam Assist which uses the adaptive cruise control and Low Speed Follow systems to keep the vehicle moving at a set distance in congested traffic, 

    “This redesign of the 2018 Acura RLX is transformational, creating road presence and styling that better reflect underlying performance capabilities of the vehicle,” said Jon Ikeda, Acura vice president & general manager in a statement.

    The 2018 RLX will make its official debut next week during Monterey Automotive Week in California.

    Source: Acura
    Press Release is on Page 2

    Acura Reveals Striking New Design for 2018 Acura RLX; Debut Set for Monterey Automotive Week

    Aug 10, 2017 - TORRANCE, Calif.

    • 2018 Acura RLX adopts new Acura design direction including signature diamond pentagon grille
    • Supercar inspired 377-horsepower RLX Sport Hybrid with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ has been further optimized based on NSX learnings
    • Standard AcuraWatch™ enhanced with Traffic Jam Assist, an Acura first

    Acura today unveiled a redesigned 2018 Acura RLX reflecting the brand’s new Precision Crafted Performance design direction to create a more substantial presence for Acura’s top-of-the-line luxury sports sedan. The 2018 Acura RLX will make its public debut during the prestigious Monterey Automotive Week, August 15-19 on the Monterey peninsula. The new RLX incorporates design cues to showcase its performance capabilities, including Acura’s signature diamond pentagon grille, a more sculpted hood, new wheel designs, bold, newly designed LED taillights, dual exhaust finishers and a gloss black rear diffuser.

    The 2018 Acura RLX is the most sophisticated and best performing Acura sedan ever, with Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD™) technology, shared with the NSX supercar, that creates a powerful and precise driving experience unmatched in the segment. Acura has simplified the RLX trim structure to make the brand’s innovative Sport Hybrid technology more desirable and accessible streamlining the offering to two well-equipped variants. The new 2018 Acura RLX will go on sale in November.

    The 377 total system horsepowersup1 RLX Sport Hybrid seamlessly integrates a direct-injected V-6 with three electric motors and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ for instant acceleration, precise handling, outstanding all-weather performance and excellent fuel economy. Based on developments from the NSX, the RLX Sport Hybrid powertrain and dynamic handling has been further optimized.  

    The 310-horsepower RLX with Precision All-Wheel Steer™ is now mated to a new 10-speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) delivering a more refined driving experience, as well as improved acceleration and passing times.

    “This redesign of the 2018 Acura RLX is transformational, creating road presence and styling that better reflect underlying performance capabilities of the vehicle,” said Jon Ikeda, Acura vice president & general manager.

    Standard features on the 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid include premium Krell Audio System, Surround View Camera, parking sensors, LED fog lights, remote engine start, ventilated and heated front seats, heated rear seats and steering wheel and more.

    The 2018 RLX features the unique AcuraWatch™ suite of technologies, as standard equipment, and has been enhanced with the addition of Traffic Jam Assist, a first for Acura. Working in conjunction with Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow, Traffic Jam Assist helps reduce driver stress in highly congested traffic situations by helping keep the vehicle in its lane and a set interval behind a car detected ahead.

    AcuraWatch™ also includes Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with automatic emergency braking, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). AcuraWatch uses a millimeter wave radar and monocular camera sensing technology to detect other vehicles as well as lane markings and can help intervene to prevent or mitigate the severity of a collision.

    The 2018 Acura RLX is complimented by three new exterior colors including two premium paint offerings – Brilliant Red Metallic and Majestic Black Pearl. Inside, the 2018 Acura RLX receives upgraded materials and touchpoints including a completely redesigned seat featuring high-contrast piping and stitching, as well as a new Espresso interior option, which adds sophistication to an interior with class-leading space and comfort.  

    The 2018 Acura RLX will be featured at multiple events throughout Monterey Automotive Week including the Carmel-By-The Sea Concours on the Avenue on Tuesday, August 15 and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, on Friday, August 18.

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    G. David Felt

    Not a bad looking car, much better than what Honda has.

    Pretty much a warmed up left over left over from the frig that they are trying to keep relevant without spending a ton of money.

    Makes one wonder if they will recover the costs spent on this car. :duh:

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    G. David Felt

    Spending some time looking at the pictures, this is to me one of the best looking current Asian cars out there. While the interior looks tight to me, I do like the fighter cockpit dash. Some of the controls especially on the steering wheel look a bit dated to me, but over all nice job that has been done. Should sell well.

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    cp-the-nerd

    The interior is a jumbled mess with fake-looking glossy wood, buttons everywhere, and a dual screen infotainment system that by definition is over-complicating the driving experience and completely unnecessary.

    Exterior is the latest in Honda's totally lost approach to design.

    Not a fan. I can't believe the abysmal sales justified a refresh, but this is certainly not going to turn the model around. In 2015 it only sold double the volume of the Cadillac ELR, and the 2016 sales plummeted another 30%.

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    smk4565

    I can't believe they are still continuing on with this car that sells like 250 units a month and dropping, it might be under 200 by now.  I also can't believe the 200 people a month that buy one, didn't buy a German car instead, or even a CTS or MKZ which are  about the size of a RLX and probably cheaper.

    It is just sad that the "most powerful, fastest Acura sedan ever" has 377 hp.  My 08 E-class has 5 more hp than that, and was the middle engine option back then.  If they wanted to sell that 377 hp RLX for like $44,995 then they could get sales, but no doubt it will cost like $60,000 and be way overpriced.

    46,000 E-class sold last year and they did that with an under-powered 4-banger, no wagon, and a last generation coupe/convertible.  And they have a new 329 hp E400 sedan this year, the AMG 63, coupe and wagon are out now, and the convertible is should be here soon, it is on sale in Europe already.

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    balthazar
    On 8/10/2017 at 7:10 PM, smk4565 said:

    I can't believe they are still continuing on with this car that sells like 250 units a month and dropping, it might be under 200 by now.  I also can't believe the 200 people a month that buy one, didn't buy a German car instead...

    HALF of Audi's lineup sells in this volume range monthly.

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    smk4565
    6 hours ago, balthazar said:

    HALF of Audi's lineup sells in this volume range monthly.

    The RLX has sold 619 cars this year so far.  The only Audi lower than that is the R8 at 554.   Even last year January-July the RLX sold 833 cars.  The 2nd worst selling Audi is the TT at 1,318 YTD.   The A7, A8 and Allroad are slow sellers, but they can all easily beat the RLX, and at least the A8 and A7 have some profit margin on them.

    The RLX sold 64 cars in July, I was shocked to read that, I thought at least they were in the hundreds.

    Edited by smk4565
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    smk4565
    4 hours ago, balthazar said:

    You brought up monthly sales numbers at 250/mn, then answered my post with yearly numbers.
    Audi in July ~
    A-3 E-tron : 218
    A7 : 266
    A8 : 270
    Allroad : 271
    R8 : 73
    TT : 181

    Yeah but 3 of those are over 250.  They are all  lousy sellers, but, the RLX sells under 100 per month, even Audi's crappy sellers beat that.  And I don't really count the R8's volume against them, that is a really high end car. 

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    smk4565
    On 8/12/2017 at 10:09 PM, balthazar said:

    But can you believe Audi is still even selling these when they are selling

     

     

    ??

    I mean- why even turn on the factory lights?

    The A7 is dead in the water, the 4 door coupe phase is over, I know there is a new CLS coming, but I don't even know if they need it with 4 body styles on the E-class and 4 engine choices.  The A8 will probably see an uptick with the new model, but then there is a V6 S-class coming to get down in the A8's price range, so maybe not.

    Audi has ridiculous volume in China though, so the A8 has enough globally to make it viable.  A3 E-tron they can chalk up to a compliance car, plus they have a gas A3 that sells ok.  I think the TT could be gone after this generation, that is dying segment.  

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    smk4565
    18 hours ago, regfootball said:

    'transformational'

    LMAO

    Indeed.  Transitional is a better word, as in the RLX is transiting out of the market.

    They should just make an MDX-L SH-AWD hybrid.  Or an Acura Ridgeline, that would sell better than the RLX does.

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