Now let's turn from a luxury utility to a luxury sedan, and Acura's freshened flagship, the 2009 RL.
With a blunt new face hosting Acura's shield grill, the 2009 RL also packs more performance under its edgy skin.
Power comes from a 3.7-liter V6 shared with the MDX, rated at 300 horsepower, channeled through a new Sequential Sportshift 5-speed automatic, with manual steering wheel paddle shifters.
Acura has also refined the RL's Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system for quicker power transfer between the rear wheels and even more responsive cornering.
A radar braking system is an option. If you close too rapidly on a vehicle ahead, after warnings, the system hits the brakes and tightens the seatbelts.
The ever more luxurious cabin boasts new premium wood trim. Redesigned heated/cooled front seats, a Traffic Rerouting feature in the navigation system, and recontoured rear seats. Plus a more sophisticated Active Sound Control to reduce high frequency cabin noise.
It all adds a new level of refinement for the 2009 Acura RL, and starting at $47,000, it's available now.
