2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH

2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybr >

November 18, 2013, U.S.A.

TORRANCE, Calif., U.S.A., November 18, 2013 – The 377-horsepower Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD luxury-performance sedan will be on public display for the first time this week at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, showcasing Acura’s dynamic new three-motor hybrid system.

2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

The 2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, which launches next spring, is the first vehicle to deploy Acura’s new three-motor hybrid powertrain technology. The system combines a highly efficient, direct-injected V-6 engine with an all-new, Acura-designed, 7-speed dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor and an electrically powered variant of Acura’s highly regarded torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD).

This advanced new hybrid powertrain delivers exhilarating driving performance with incredibly responsive power delivery and precise, sure-footed handling performance like no other vehicle in its class. Supported by the instantaneous torque delivered by its high-output electric motors, the RLX Sport Hybrid runs a 0-60 mph time comparable with competitor’s V8-powered machines. This performance, however, is coupled with a 28/32/30mpg (city/highway/combined) EPA fuel economy rating1, which is in the range of 4-cylinder-powered luxury sedans.

Powertrain and Drivetrain

The RLX Sport Hybrid’s 3.5-liter, 310-horsepower, i-VTECВ® V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Managementв„ў (VCMв„ў) includes an idle-stop feature to help maximize fuel efficiency. The engine is mated to an all-new, 7-speed dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor. In automatic mode, the transmission provides highly responsive and intuitive gear selection, including matching engine revs during downshifts, in manual mode, the Sequential SportShift paddle shifters give the driver gear selection control to make virtually seamless ratio changes.

The electric SH-AWD system on the RLX Sport Hybrid eliminates the conventional drive shaft and rear differential, replacing them with two high-output 27-kilowatt electric motors. The rear motors dynamically distribute both positive (drive) and negative (regenerative braking) electric-motor torque, depending on driving conditions, and which torque vectoring assists in cornering. The system is further aided by a 35-kilowatt front electric motor that supplements engine torque to the front wheels and provides regenerative brake torque to charge the vehicle’s 260-volt lithium-ion battery pack.

Body and Chassis

With a longer wheelbase and wider greenhouse than competing mid-luxury sedans, the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD delivers full-size interior space in a nimbler, mid-size luxury sedan package. The RLX boasts the longest rear-seat legroom (38.8 inches), and best front (59.6 inches) and rear (57.0 inches) shoulder room in the mid-luxury class. The RLX advanced body design makes extensive use of high-strength steel and aluminum, further aiding its outstanding fuel efficiency, straight-line performance and superior handling agility.

In front, the RLX’s double-wishbone, lower double-joint front suspension with Amplitude Reactive Dampers significantly improves handling agility, driver confidence and security, and ride sophistication. In back, the RLX’s multi-link rear suspension is optimized for a flat ride during cornering, confident turning capability, and a smooth ride in a variety of urban, highway and open road scenarios.

Technology

Acura technology firsts on the 2014 Sport Hybrid also include the Acura electronic gear selector and Acura Head-Up Display System. The Acura electronic gear selector replaces the conventional, center console-mounted shift lever with an efficiently packaged push-button array that allows the driver to easily select the desired drive modeвЂ”Park, Drive and Reverse, as well as Sport and Normal driving modes. The Acura Head-Up Display System provides the driver with at-a-glance access to key driving information projected on the windshield. Display modes include Sport Hybrid system operation, turn-by-turn navigation, speedometer and compass, as well as alerts from various driver-assistive systems.

The RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD features Acura’s signature Jewel Eyeв„ў LED headlights, which offer outstanding light distribution and excellent down-the-road illumination performance and light characteristics. The RLX taillights utilize periphery LED illumination that is both effective and highly distinctive.

With the expanded range of standard and available technology features built into the RLX, substantial engineering effort was put into making each feature intuitive and easy-to-use. The focal point of the new instrument panel is a large, 8-inch color screen that combines audio/information and navigation functions and provides access to an array of customizable features. An additional 7-inch color On Demand Multi-Use Displayв„ў (ODMD) touchscreen is positioned within easy reach and controls the audio system and many other features.

Audio and Connectivity

Exceptional audio performance has long been an Acura hallmark, and in the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, two audio systems are offered. The Technology package includes the Acura/ELS StudioВ® Premium Audio System with an advanced 14-speaker array. In the Advance package, the 14-speaker Krell system – with speakers and amplifiers engineered by Krell, one of the most respected audio companies in world – sets a new benchmark in automotive audio performance.

The RLX is equipped with the next-generation AcuraLinkВ® cloud-based connected car system, delivering a comprehensive array of media, convenience, and security services via embedded two-way communications and web-enabled devices. AcuraLinkВ® leverages PandoraВ® interface for streaming audio and the Ahaв„ў by Harman cloud-based interface to provide users with thousands of customizable cloud-based news, information and media feeds. The next-generation AcuraLinkВ® also delivers an array of available, subscription-based, security and convenience features, such as AcuraLink Real-Time Trafficв„ў featuring freeway traffic and, for the first time, surface street traffic information.

Safety and Driver-Assistive Technologies

The new RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD offers an extensive array of advanced safety, visibility and driver-assistive technologies that put the RLX on the leading edge of collision avoidance and assisted driving capability. Standard and features include a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), along with Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Blind Spot Information (BSI) system.

Utilizing Acura’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineeringв„ў (ACEв„ў) body structure, along with seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is anticipated to earn top-level safety ratings, including a 5-star NCAP Overall Vehicle Score and an IIHS “TOP SAFETY PICK+” rating, plus a GOOD rating in the IIHS small overlap front collision test.

2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

The 377-horsepower Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD luxury-performance sedan will be on public display for the first time this week at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, showcasing Acura’s dynamic new three-motor hybrid system.

Powertrain and Drivetrain

The RLX Sport Hybrid’s 3.5-liter, 310-horsepower, i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) includes an idle-stop feature to help maximize fuel efficiency. The engine is mated to an all-new, 7-speed dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor. In automatic mode, the transmission provides highly responsive and intuitive gear selection, including matching engine revs during downshifts, in manual mode, the Sequential SportShift paddle shifters give the driver gear selection control to make virtually seamless ratio changes.

Body and Chassis

Technology

Acura technology firsts on the 2014 Sport Hybrid also include the Acura electronic gear selector and Acura Head-Up Display System. The Acura electronic gear selector replaces the conventional, center console-mounted shift lever with an efficiently packaged push-button array that allows the driver to easily select the desired drive mode—Park, Drive and Reverse, as well as Sport and Normal driving modes. The Acura Head-Up Display System provides the driver with at-a-glance access to key driving information projected on the windshield. Display modes include Sport Hybrid system operation, turn-by-turn navigation, speedometer and compass, as well as alerts from various driver-assistive systems.

The RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD features Acura’s signature Jewel Eye™ LED headlights, which offer outstanding light distribution and excellent down-the-road illumination performance and light characteristics. The RLX taillights utilize periphery LED illumination that is both effective and highly distinctive.

With the expanded range of standard and available technology features built into the RLX, substantial engineering effort was put into making each feature intuitive and easy-to-use. The focal point of the new instrument panel is a large, 8-inch color screen that combines audio/information and navigation functions and provides access to an array of customizable features. An additional 7-inch color On Demand Multi-Use Display™ (ODMD) touchscreen is positioned within easy reach and controls the audio system and many other features.

Audio and Connectivity

Exceptional audio performance has long been an Acura hallmark, and in the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, two audio systems are offered. The Technology package includes the Acura/ELS Studio® Premium Audio System with an advanced 14-speaker array. In the Advance package, the 14-speaker Krell system — with speakers and amplifiers engineered by Krell, one of the most respected audio companies in world — sets a new benchmark in automotive audio performance.

Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

The RLX is equipped with the next-generation AcuraLink® cloud-based connected car system, delivering a comprehensive array of media, convenience, and security services via embedded two-way communications and web-enabled devices. AcuraLink® leverages Pandora® interface for streaming audio and the Aha™ by Harman cloud-based interface to provide users with thousands of customizable cloud-based news, information and media feeds. The next-generation AcuraLink® also delivers an array of available, subscription-based, security and convenience features, such as AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™ featuring freeway traffic and, for the first time, surface street traffic information.

Safety and Driver-Assistive Technologies

Utilizing Acura’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, along with seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is anticipated to earn top-level safety ratings, including a 5-star NCAP Overall Vehicle Score and an IIHS “TOP SAFETY PICK+” rating, plus a GOOD rating in the IIHS small overlap front collision test.

Acura RLX Sport Hybrid (2014, Седан)

Обзор Acura RLX Sport Hybr >

Премиальный бренд японской компании Хонда анонсирует выпуск самого мощного седана в модельном ряду Акура RLX с фирменным полным приводом SH-AWD и гибридной силовой установкой Sport Hybrid. Дебютирует автомобиль на североамериканской выставке автомобилей в Лос-Анджелесе.

По представленным производителем изображениям отличить внешне 377-сильную новинку от RLX 2014 сложно — обращают на себя внимание все те же 8-пучковые головные фары и хромированная решетка радиатора формы перевернутого треугольника, но боковые воздухозаборники бампера гибридной модификации получают измененные ходовые огни и сигналы поворота на светодиодах, подчеркнутые двумя сверкающими металлом линиями.

Вырабатывают лидирующие в линейке RLX 377 лошадиных сил сразу 4 двигателя, три из которых питаются исключительно электрической энергией. Лидером в квартете является 3,5-литровый ДВС с шестью V-образно расположенными цилиндрами, передающий крутящий момент на колеса при помощи быстрой коробки с семью передачами и двойным сцеплением.

Показатели расхода топлива мощного седана заявлены на уровне 7,8 литра на 100 км в среднем, а в городском и загородном режиме автомобиль потребует от владельца 8,4 и 7,4 л/100 км соответственно, что для 377-сильного авто весьма достойный показатель.

Электрические помощники 6-цилиндрового ДВС способны работать как в режиме двигателей, так и как генераторы, пополняя во время торможения 260-вольтовую литий-ионную батарею запасом электроэнергии.

Премиальный автомобиль наделили соответствующим оборудованием, включая удобный и безопасный Head-Up дисплей для вывода информации на лобовом стекле, два больших экрана на центральной консоли (7 и 8 дюймов) и отсутствие привычного рычага переключения передач, который заменил скромный по размеру блок с кнопками выбора режима управления и движения.

Безопасность обеспечивают такие функции и системы, как слежение за движением в своей полосе, предупреждение об опасности столкновения, а также круиз-контроль с автоматическим торможением и возобновлением движения до заданной скорости и комплект из 7 подушек безопасности.

Стоит напомнить, что совсем недавно автомобили премиум класса Акура официально появились в России, где с начала 2014-го года отечественным покупателям доступны для приобретения легкий 5-местный кроссовер RDX и отличающийся возможностью единовременного путешествия до семи человек MDX третьего поколения.

Luxury Interior

Exceptional Performance

Refined Style

PERFORMANCE

Perfectly Placed Power

The 3-Motor Sport Hybr >SH-AWD ® system shares supercar DNA with the NSX to deliver instant torque and a luxuriously smooth r >All-Wheel Drive™ sends and regenerates power from the rear wheels like no other vehicle in its class. It all adds up to an intuitive, powerful driving experience.

RLX GALLERY of 3

RLX GALLERY 1 of 3

For its expansive, well-appointed interior, the 2020 RLX is remarkably nimble.

RLX GALLERY 2 of 3

Two screens are better than one. Dual-display instrument panel provides up-to-the-minute performance data that brings car and driver closer together.

RLX GALLERY 3 of 3

Available Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ ( SH-AWD ® ) provides advanced torque-vectoring that makes for an unrelentingly smooth driving experience.

SPORT HYBR >

Ratings & reviews

“The Acura is a dream to drive and is super quiet, extremely fun to drive and the acceleration is amazing.” FISHER ED., EDMUNDS.COM VISITOR, 2018 ACURA RLX SPORT HYBRID, NOVEMBER 2018

“. Feels like driving an NSX supercar.” HOBART, EDMUNDS.COM VISITOR, 2018 ACURA RLX, MARCH 2018

“Love, love, love this car. It has a smooth ride and awesome acceleration. I receive compliments from everyone who rides in it.” KBB.COM VISITOR, 2019 ACURA RLX, AUGUST 2018

“Three years of reliability and comfort. Has all features you would want with surround view camera, blind spot monitor, lane keeping, adaptive cruise, etc.” KBB.COM VISITOR, 2019 ACURA RLX, FEBRUARY 2019

Luxury & Driver Assist

Includes Technology Package features

Get ultimate upgrades in luxury, technology and convenience. Immerse yourself in a premium audio experience. Enhance your driving awareness with smart, intuitive tech. And relax into class-leading comfort and luxury, all with the Advance Package.

Sport Hybrid SH-AWD

ADVANCE PACKAGE HIGHLIGHTS

Heated & Ventilated Seats

Krell ® Audio System

Surround-View Camera

Smart & Well-Connected

Innovative features give you a well-connected driving experience. Engineered to put you in full command, the Technology Package offers the latest in driver assistive systems, and the cutting-edge comfort of GPS-Linked Climate Control –> 10 –>.

TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE HIGHLIGHTS

Intuitive Navigation

Acoustic Glass

ELS ® Premium Audio

AcuraWatch™

ACCESSORIES

Personalized Details

Put the finishing touches on your RLX with warranty-backed Acura Genuine Accessories. Endless combinations let you customize the look and feel of your sedan, protect and perfect the interior and exterior, and design the perfect atmosphere for everyone on board.

Current Offers

Special APR

2020 RLX Special APR

1.9% APR for 24-36 months
or 2.9% for 37-60 months

For well qualified buyers

Special APR offer valid on new and unregistered 2020 RLX Models from September 4, 2019 through October 31, 2019, to well qualified buyers on approved credit by Acura Financial Services through participating dealers. Must take new retail delivery on vehicle from dealer stock by October 31, 2019. Not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Example for 2020 RLX: 10% down payment. 2.9% for 60 months financing at $17.92 a month for every $1,000.00 financed. Dealers set actual prices. See your Acura dealer for details.

Acura Graduate Offer

Acura College Graduate Program

Acura Military Appreciation Offer

Acura Military Program

Search Inventory

Enter your ZIP Code to view inventory at an Acura dealer near you.

Acura RLX 2014

Компания Acura является дочерним предприятием японского концерна Honda. Расположено отделение в штате Калифорния, который находится в северной части Америки. Основная специализация компании — производство автомобилей спортивного типа, а также престижных представительских моделей.

На сегодняшний день компания Acura создаёт автомобили класса люкс, которые известны на мировом рынке роскошным дизайном и технологическими новшествами. Модернизация выпускаемых моделей направлена как на улучшение качества езды, так и на удобство и комфорт водителя.

И вот новый шедевр — Acura RLX 2014. Модель обладает 310 лошадиными силами под капотом и двигателем V-6 с прямым впрыском горючего. Производители с уверенностью заявляют, что автомобиль будет самым мощным, просторным и технологически инновационным среди седанов, которые сходят с конвейера компании. Американцы уже могут купить в 2013 году, а нам придётся подождать до следующего.

Видео – презентация 2012 в LA Auto Show

Кузов и размеры авто

Дизайн кузова облегчённый, благодаря чему улучшились аэродинамические качества, что в свою очередь повлияло на скоростные параметры седана. Совместная работа новой системы I-VTEC и технологии Variable Cylinder экономит расход топлива. Американское рейтинговое агентство ЕРА высоко оценило это достижение.

Капот автомобиля, его передние крылья, двери, балка бампера, днище и рулевая колонка изготовлены из алюминия. Остальные ключевые узлы, которые составляют 55 % площади тела всего автомобиля, сделаны из стали высочайшего качества. Динамическая, боковая и статическая жёсткость кузова отвечает необходимым требованиям, возможность деформации при столкновении сведена к минимуму, соответственно и безопасность машины выше.

Базовая длина «Акура» RLX 2014 равна 2850 мм, в результате чего повышается комфортность езды и управляемость автомобилем. Пассажиры, находящиеся на заднем сидении, также чувствуют себя более уютно. Длина авто общая — 4981 мм. Вес — 1783 кг. Ширина — 1897 мм.

Очень красивый дизайн фар освещения. LED светильники в тандеме с фарами Jewel Eye™ великолепно освещают дорогу, пучок света распределяется с поразительной точностью и делает более качественным видение в ночное время. Задние фары оснащены светодиодной подсветкой с периферийным устройством.

Салон седана автомобиля

Интерьер салона полностью соответствует предназначению автомобиля — модель бизнес-класса. Панель приборов обтянута шикарной натуральной кожей, вставки из дорогого дерева дополняют общий богатый вид панели. Панель кнопок заменил современный навигационный дисплей, размер которого достигает 8 дюймов. Располагается он на передней консоли. Вся отделка салона выполнена из натуральной кожи цвета шампань.

Следует отметить супер удобные передние сидения. Здесь много пространства не только для ног и головы, комфортно чувствует себя все тело — локти, колени, спина, бедра и др. Аналогичными качествами обладают и задние сидения. Есть достаточно места для расположения ног пассажиров, сидящих сзади, благодаря чему во время длительных поездок чувство дискомфорта отсутствует.

Все сидения авто имеют подогрев и электропривод, оснащённый 8 положениями регулирования спинки и 4 положениями для поясничной зоны.

Максимальной комфортностью отличается место водителя. Компьютер с 7-дюймовым цветным сенсорным монитором позволяет управлять аудио и видео файлами, навигацией, осуществить проверку состояния авто, а также войти в интернет-систему AcuraLink, где есть много развлечений и полезная информация. Также с помощью данной системы можно сделать экстренный вызов, развернуть подушки безопасности, отследить попытку угона и др.

Технические характеристики Acura RLX 2014

Acura RLX 2014 оснащена бензиновым двигателем с 6 цилиндрами и объёмом 3,5 л с непосредственным впрыском топлива, а также 6-ступенчатой автоматической коробкой передач. Мощность измеряется 310 лошадиными силами.

Несмотря на шикарные формы бизнес-седан достаточно экономичен в потреблении топлива. Расход топлива при данном двигателе на 100 км пути будет равняться 11,8 л в условиях города, 7,6 л на трассе и 9,8 л в комбинированном варианте. Максимальная скорость, которую может развить машина, составляет чуть больше 200 км в час.

Шасси имеет систему управления All-Wheel Steer, которая обеспечивает постоянный контроль за сцеплением с дорожным покрытием каждого колеса и для более качественной управляемости равномерно распределяет мощность между ними.

Топовая модель седана Acura RLX 2014 будет оснащена системой Sport Hybrid SH-AWD. Это значит, что будут работать три электродвигателя и один бензиновый мотор V-8 с 6 цилиндрами, объёмом 3,5 литра с прямым впрыскиванием топлива. Коробка передач предполагается 7-ступенчатая, а общая мощность будет равна 370 лошадиным силам.

Безопасность

Новая модель автомобиля характеризуется высоким уровнем безопасности. Эти параметры обеспечивают качественные подушки безопасности и предупреждающая об опасности столкновения система. Последняя автоматически включает тормозное устройство, если водитель не услышал или не увидел предупреждение.

Европейский комитет по проведению краш-тестов NCAP предполагает поставить седану 5-звёздочную оценку в топовом рейтинге безопасности.

Цена и комплектация новой «Акуры РЛХ»

Стартовая цена Acura RLX 2014 в США составляет 48 450 $ — 60 450 $, всё зависит от комплектации:

RLX — $48,450;
RLX с Навигацией — $50,950;
RLX с Technology Package — $54,450;
RLX с Krell Audio Package — $56,950;
RLX с Advance Package — $60,450.

В наших странах машина будет стоить существенно дороже, — можно смело добавлять тысяч 25$.

Базовая комплектация:

кнопка для запуска двигателя (Start);
руль с телескопическим устройством;
встроенный люк на крыше;
3-зонный климат-контроль;
Bluetooth;
HandsFreeLink;
аудио с наличием 10 динамиками;
HD Radio;
спутниковое радио Pandora.

Видео тест-драйв Acura RLX 2014:

Photo Gallery

The 2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD made its Canadian debut January 16 at the Montreal Auto Show. The vehicle was originally unveiled at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.

Acura said the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is the most powerful and technologically advanced vehicle in the company’s history.

“The Sport Hybrid RLX sets a new bar in luxury performance sedans, but it does it the Acura way,” said Jerry Chenkin, president and CEO, Honda Canada Inc. “The Sport Hybrid RLX has some of the most advanced technology on the planet, but this sedan is more than the sum of its parts. With the Sport Hybrid RLX everything comes together to create true synergy between man and machine.”

The 377-horsepower Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD luxury-performance sedan is the first vehicle to deploy Acura’s new three-motor hybrid powertrain technology. This technology is a world first which will also power the Acura NSX supercar when it comes to market in 2015.

The three-motor hybrid system combines a direct-injected V-6 engine with an all-new, Acura-designed, 7-speed dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor and an electrically powered variant of Acura’s highly regarded torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD).

Acura added the RLX Sport Hybrid runs a 0-60 mph time comparable with competitor’s V8-powered machines, but has a 28/32/30mpg (city/highway/combined) EPA fuel economy rating, which is in the range of 4-cylinder-powered luxury sedans.

Acura explained the electric SH-AWD system on the RLX Sport Hybrid eliminates the conventional drive shaft and rear differential, replacing them with two high-output 27-kilowatt electric motors. The rear motors dynamically distribute both positive (drive) and negative (regenerative braking) electric-motor torque, depending on driving conditions, and which torque vectoring assists in cornering. The system is further aided by a 35-kilowatt front electric motor that supplements engine torque to the front wheels and provides regenerative brake torque to charge the vehicle’s 260-volt lithium-ion battery pack.

2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybr >

Strong points	Unique technology (Hybrid SH-AWD) As quiet as a library Very sophisticated all-wheel drive Great comfort Among the best for rear legroom
Weak points	Trunk space has been halved 163 kg heavier than the regular version The console takes time to get used to Could be even more powerful

Full report

The 2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is like the old story of the glass that’s half-full or half-empty. If you consider its complexity alone (even its name is complex), then it’s half-empty. If you consider the fact that it is one of the most evolved cars at Acura and in the whole industry, then it’s half-full.

“It’s a tad complicated,” said Hayato Mori, manager of product planning for Acura Canada, as he began his explanation of the new all-wheel drive vehicle. In fact, not only is the concept brilliant, it’s also unique.

In a nutshell, you take a luxury sedan (in this case the Acura RLX with its direct-injection 3.5-litre V6 with cylinder deactivation) and essentially make it more powerful (from 310 to 377 horsepower and 272 to 341 lbs.-ft. of torque). But of course, you want it to be more fuel efficient, too. Thus, the first logical step is to equip it with an electric motor, with the requisite hybrid logo on the sides, smoked chrome front grille and exclusive rims for the 19-inch tires that support the vehicle. This first 35 kW (47 horsepower) motor is integrated, in front, to the seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. Note that this is one more speed than on the “regular” Acura RLX. Also note that they dodged the catastrophic CVT. Phew!

As with any good hybrid car, this electric motor kicks in to support the gas-powered engine during more assertive acceleration. The rest of the time, it converts braking energy into electric power. It also helps power the Stop-Start device included in any self-respecting hybrid to cut the engine when the car is at a standstill.

Electric and independent!

So far, this vehicle is nothing to write home about. But where it really starts to get interesting is that two other electric motors, each making 27 kW (36 horsepower) and linked by a planetary gear system, are added to the equation.

Placed back to back over the rear axle (included in lieu of a differential so it doesn’t require a drive shaft) they contribute not only to the rear-wheel drive—which is possible in electric mode only provided you take it easy on the accelerator—but they play the role of an all-wheel drive system too. And not just any all-wheel drive, thank you very much! Because each motor operates independently, they help to vary the torque as needed from one wheel to the other on the rear axle.

In other words, the motors act like the Super Handling system that was introduced in the first Acura RL (2005) and which has since been used throughout the line-up and elsewhere. The difference, however, is that there’s no mechanical link. Even better, the fact that these motors are independent from one another and from the V6 (thanks to the lithium-ion batteries) means that one motor can actuate its rear wheel while the other applies the brake to its rear wheel and then recovers braking energy.

Basically, none of the motors sit idle, and yet they only spring into action when needed. They work with the precision of an orchestra conductor and with a great deal more torque latitude between the rear wheels than a traditional system.

Positive torque on one side and negative torque on the other? That’s unheard of according to Acura. The result is a very sophisticated all-wheel drive effect with a V6 engine that uses as little fuel as a four-cylinder sedan with front-wheel drive. Now that’s impressive!

Taking it easy on the accelerator

It all works like a well-oiled machine and is imperceptible to boot. When you check out the head-up display (new for Acura), you’ll see that at cruising speed only the rear wheels (and sometimes only one) are powered by electrical energy—provided you don’t go crazy with the accelerator.

Acura contends that the objective of this new setup is not to save fuel (even though the fuel consumption in town is 8 litres per 100 km, which is a third less than the regular RLX, while the combined fuel consumption is a quarter more frugal). Instead, they claim it was to boost power without forcing drivers to spend more at the pump.

We got caught up in trying to keep the vehicle’s fuel consumption as low as possible and travelled 60 odd kilometres on mountainous roads in Quebec recording less than 6.0 L/100 km. At one point, we even hit an average of about 5.0 L/100 km.

We managed to do more than half the trip in 100% electric mode, but we had to be fairly gentle with the accelerator. While we didn’t go at a snail’s pace, our vigilance was not unfounded. After all, the testers before us recorded an average of 19 L/100 km!

Despite its superb all-wheel drive system (which the base trim doesn’t have), the Acura RLX SH-AWD wasn’t designed to be driven recklessly. For starters, 377 horsepower isn’t all that much when you consider that the car gained 163 kg when it was transformed into a hybrid. Furthermore, everything about it seems to favour calm and serenity, from its Cottonelle-smooth handling to the beautifully-assembled, nicer-to-the-touch materials in the passenger compartment. The soundproofing has also been upgraded versus the ordinary Acura RLX. It helps mitigate all the road noises that aren’t masked by engine noise.

At $69,990, some $20,000 more than the basic version, it is Acura’s the top of the line vehicle, at least until the Acura NSX comes out (which promises to be equipped with the same hybrid sport system, but with a fourth electric motor and a twin-turbo V6). As the top of the line model, the RLX SH-AWD features a whole host of equipment that some of the competition can only dream about: collision alert, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, heated and ventilated front seats, heated bench, tri-zone climate control, navigation, premium audio system (Krell), heated steering wheel and Surround View Camera System.

It has a brand new electronic gear selector that, although it isn’t as intuitive as a traditional stick shift, is much more intuitive than some others that are trying to reinvent the shifter. What could make this Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD even better? Maybe a bit more cargo capacity, since the batteries eat up a quarter of the trunk space. But that’s the price you pay to make sure that the 985-mm rear legroom, among the best in class, remains unchanged.

This RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD definitely impressed us.

Photo Gallery

The 2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD made its Canadian debut January 16 at the Montreal Auto Show. The vehicle was originally unveiled at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.

Acura said the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is the most powerful and technologically advanced vehicle in the company’s history.

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Acura delivers a flagship sedan bursting with firsts

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Launched earlier this year, Acura’s new flagship sedan debuted with an innovative rear steering system that transformed its large front-drive platform into a surprisingly dynamic machine. Unfortunately, that’s not very sexy unless you’re an engineer.

FAST FACTS

1. A 3.5L V6 and three electric motors make 377 hp and 377 lb-ft of torque.

2. The RLX is the first Acura to use a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

3. The new Sport Hybrid replaces the mechanical rear differential in Acura’s conventional SH-AWD system.

4. Fuel economy is rated at 28 MPG city, 32 MPG highway and 30 MPG combined, an improvement of 25 percent over the FWD model.

Combined with rather subdued styling, the RLX not only failed to scare the Germans, it made the notoriously conservative Lexus look like the wild child of the Japanese luxury trio.

To up the excitement, Acura has now launched a new version of the RLX complete with more power, better efficiency, a long list of brand-first technologies and a revolutionary all-wheel drive system.

Called the RLX Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), in many ways this car foreshadows the upcoming NSX with its powertrain a mirror image of what Acura’s supercar will use – minus a turbo or two.

Supercar Engineering, Subdued Style

With that fancy new name, unfortunately, the RLX Sport Hybrid doesn’t get the looks to match.

Apart from its jewel eye LED headlights, there’s little drama to its design with only minor changes that include a modified front bumper with LED foglights and a dark chrome grille. Thankfully it does come standard with 19-inch wheels that are optional on the conventional model.

One wonders if the brand’s beak fiasco backfired so significantly that there’s now a level of fear in Acura’s design department with no one willing to take a risk. As a result, the RLX blends in rather than standing out, a dangerous place to be in the luxury segment.

It’s still handsome, but it’s not exactly what you dream about parking in your driveway.

Quality of Materials, Simplicity of Design

Move to the inside of the RLX and there’s a similar level of puritanical influence in its design. It lacks the sumptuous warmth of a Lexus or the adventurous curves of an Infiniti and is in fact rather BMW-esque in its simplicity of design.

What makes the car’s cabin is the quality of materials. On Acura’s top-tier products Milano leather is offered as an upgrade over the standard cow hide. Here it’s standard.

A flagship model needs unique flagship features and Acura delivers. There’s more that’s new here than just a high-tech all-wheel drive system.

Change Gears With the Push of a Button

Gone is the conventional gear shifter, replaced with a new electronic gear selector with buttons for Drive, Park and Neutral and a pull trigger for Reverse. It looks like the sort of modern signature piece that will trickle down into all future Acura products and we hope it does. Far simpler than it looks, it’s intuitive and the buttons fall to hand perfectly – the second time you drive the RLX, you’ll be operating the gear selector without looking at it.

Look out the front of the car and you can’t miss another new feature, the head-up display. We’ve griped about Acura’s implementation of electronics in past cars, with the graphics appearing dated. Here, they’re modern and crystal clear. In addition to displaying vehicle speed, there are screens for the tachometer, navigation instructions and the real time hybrid drivetrain display. During two days of testing in and around San Francisco, we never looked at the speedometer in the gauge cluster. Why don’t more automakers offer this?

The list of standard equipment is solid and includes two driver memory buttons, 12-way power seats with lumbar, an electric tilt and telescopic steering wheel, navigation, blind spot warning, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and keyless access with a push button ignition – something the Germans just love to charge extra for.

Only one upgrade is offered, the Advance package with a 14-speaker premium audio system, power rear sunshade, vented seats, heated rear seats, adaptive cruise control with low speed follow and lane keeping assist and an auto-brake feature.

There is, however, something missing from this cabin: an eco mode. This hybrid may deliver a claimed 30 mpg combined – we achieved just 22 during admittedly spirited driving – but Acura is focusing on the sport in Sport Hybrid.

Putting the Sport in Hybrid

A car of firsts for Acura, it’s the brand’s first true hybrid and it takes the technology to a new level. Under the hood is a 3.5-liter gasoline V6 mated to another Acura first: a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That unit also uses a 47-hp electric motor. Two more electric motors join the powertrain package at the rear axle adding 36 hp per wheel for a combined 377 hp and 377 lb-ft of torque.

The evolution of Acura’s SH-AWD system, it does away with a mechanical rear axle to deliver amazing results. SH-AWD was the first system to distribute power left to right in the rear to improve cornering. With this new system, the speed of the wheels is fully independent of the engine so a greater difference in wheel speed side-to-side in the rear can be achieved.

Exploiting the technology fully, it’s also possible for the RLX to control the speed of the left and right rear wheels using regenerative braking, meaning the car can control rotation in a corner even when you’re not on the throttle.

Who’s Really Driving This Thing?

That sounds like the RLX is driving itself, but it’s only in the rarest of circumstances and the limits of grip that you ever get a hint that some complex algorhythm is helping out.

Considering the complexity of the system, it’s incredible how natural it feels from immediate throttle response to natural braking feel (never an easy feat in a regenerative system).

The sensation of one rear wheel pushing you through a corner isn’t as pronounced as with the old mechanical unit. In that sense it’s a little less dramatic to drive, though it also feels more controlled.

It’s rare that you need to worry about excessive throttle inputs, and there’s a reason for it. Another RLX novelty is what is called a “Reactive Force Pedal” that varies the throttle pressure required based on tire slip. In some ways a trick by Acura engineers, your ability to put down more power is hampered by a stiffer pedal as soon as the tires start to lose grip.

Fast and Smooth

In performance driving situations, it is sharp and intuitive and yet it can also coddle the driver with a smooth ride quality, excellent sound deadening and even a start-stop system that won’t startle you. That’s something Deutschland’s cars do all too often.

The RLX feels much smaller than it is and handles even better than you’d expect. The dual-clutch transmission is smooth shifting (even at low speeds) and in Sport mode gears down the second you touch the brakes. And when the rpms rise there’s a satisfying growl from the V6 engine.

Acura never provided a 0-60 time and that’s likely because you wouldn’t be impressed. Unfortunately it doesn’t feel as fast as 377 hp should.

Issues and Gripes

The car is not without its flaws, particularly issues tied to the transmission. We noticed a prolonged delay after hitting the reverse button to when the car would respond to throttle input. Also, on a few occasions hitting the Drive button was met with the sort of resounding clunk you might get shifting a pickup truck into reverse on a hill. We were told by Acura PR that these were pre-production models and that some small issues may not yet be sorted out. We certainly hope these are among them.

If there are any other issues with the car they’re related to the space required by the hybrid components. One of the presumed advantages of this hybrid system is the lack of a driveshaft connecting the front and rear axles. However, that space is simply replaced by what Acura calls a “Power Drive Unit.”

As a result, there’s still a large hump in the center of the rear floor. Combined with a large bump in the center seat, this large luxury sedan (the largest in its class) is really only comfortable for four. Plus, packing luggage for that many won’t be easy as the lithium-ion battery pack in the rear of the car encroaches on trunk space, leaving just 12 cubic feet; less than what you’ll find in any compact car these days.

The Verdict

The best Acura in quite some time, it’s a flagship model packed with exclusive technologies for the brand and for the industry. Acura lacks the cachet of traditional German luxury names but with the RLX Sport Hybrid, it offers real driving enjoyment and the “gotta-have-it” factor of ground-breaking technology the Germans are usually known for. If it only had a more compelling design, the RLX might have more of a chance at shaking up a segment that’s as established in the automotive world as Warren Buffett is in venture capitalism.

Pricing has yet to be released but with Acura hinting that a fully-loaded model could cost around $65,000. If that proves true, the biggest trick up Acura’s sleeve might not be its Sport Hybrid SH-AWD or the feel behind the wheel, the impressive efficiency or even the high-tech features but delivering all of these in a value package.

2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybr >Honda is finally bridging the hybrid-technology gap.

When the first Honda Insight beat the first Toyota Prius to market a decade and a half ago, Big H created a new vehicle segment in the U.S. and catapulted gas-electric vehicles into the mainstream. We probably don’t need to tell you that sales of such fuel sippers subsequently exploded or that the Prius became the darling of the segment, likely because it offered buyers the double bonus of having a back seat and not looking like a bionic tadpole.

But, technology aficionados that we are, we can’t help wondering if the cars’ guts had something to do with the Prius’s dominance. Honda’s hybrid system, dubbed Integrated Motor Assist, was very simple, whereas Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive was more complex. It didn’t help that, in the intervening years, Honda pretty much stood pat with IMA while the rest of the industry released ever more intricate and efficient designs similar to Toyota’s, with the Chevrolet Volt plug-in coming in as the hybrid-tech high-water mark. Well, until now.

Honda is back at the bleeding edge of hybrid technology, introducing a flurry of innovative systems across its product lineup. For starters, the new Honda Accord plug-in and regular hybrids share a groundbreaking and Honda-exclusive powertrain design that lacks a transmission. The system is anything but simple, yet it’s seamless and works very well in day-to-day operation. Further, the reborn 2015 Acura NSX will debut with its own hybrid powertrain with two electric motors driving the front wheels and a twin-turbo V-6 and another electric motor spinning the rears.

TMU Ain’t Just an Airport in Costa Rica

When the subject of this story, the Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD—or “SH SH-AWD” for short—was announced, many thought that it would share its hybrid guts with the NSX, only in reverse. That isn’t the case, except perhaps philosophically. The only common bit between the two cars is what Acura calls the twin motor unit (TMU). In the RLX SH SH-AWD, the TMU is fixed to a rubber-isolated subframe at the rear axle and is what enables the RLX hybrid to offer four-wheel drive via two identical 36-hp electric motors that are coupled together by a planetary gearset and produce 54 lb-ft of torque.

Below 78 mph, each motor can supply torque to its assigned wheel independently via yaw-inducing torque vectoring, or the two can work in concert to contribute thrust or braking. Above 78 mph, the TMU can still perform the torque-vectoring trick, but it ditches its acceleration and deceleration duties. Controlled via electronics and connected to the rest of the powertrain only via wires, the TMU means there’s no driveshaft. It’s unique among torque-vectoring differentials in that it can deliver torque to one tire while the other pulls torque (or, put another way, produces negative torque) and feeds the energy into the regenerative braking system.

As you dive for an apex, you feel the SH SH-AWD’s TMU fend off understeer and revector the car just as well as the mechanically based SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system did in the old RL, which was replaced by the RLX. The TMU is doing the lifting at every step away from a stop; the RLX hybrid can operate as a pure electric, rear-wheel-drive car up to about 50 mph provided you’re gentle on the throttle. (So, no, you can’t do lurid drifts.) Another caveat to RWD awesomeness: Range in this mode is limited to a mile or two from the 1.3-kWh lithium-ion battery. If it doesn’t deliver fun or long, silent cruises in the moonlight, the EV mode does allow the 4350-pound Acura to score highly on the EPA’s city mileage test, where it notched 28 mpg. That’s an improvement of 40 percent over the front-drive, nonhybrid RLX. The hybrid’s 32-mpg EPA highway rating is 1 mpg better than that of its conventionally powered sibling, which is to be expected, given that a hybrid is most beneficial in urban driving where it can recapture and use electrical energy more often.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $60,000

ENGINE TYPE: SOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6, 310 hp, 273 lb-ft; 2 permanent-magnet AC synchronous electric motors, 72 hp, 108 lb-ft; permanent-magnet AC synchronous electric motor, 47 hp, 109 lb-ft; combined system, 377 hp, 377 lb-ft; 1.3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack

TRANSMISSION: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 112.2 in
Length: 196.1 in
Width: 74.4 in Height: 57.7 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 4350 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
Zero to 60 mph: 5.3 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.9 sec
Top speed: 130 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 28/32 mpg