2005 Acura RL

Nearly three inches shorter but an inch wider than the '04, the new RL offers only slightly more passenger volume. It's the first Acura with Active Front Lighting: entering a curve, the inboard low-beam swivels up to 20 degrees (based on input from steering and vehicle speed sensors) to illuminate a larger area of road through the corner.


With its aluminum subframe, suspension, hood, front fenders and decklid (the latter two formed using an innovative new blow-molding process), the RL's new unibody is both rigid and light. And it's the first Acura with Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure to enhance passenger safety by dispersing collision forces over a larger frontal area and reducing impact on other vehicles in frontal collisions.


The suspension is double-wishbone front, multi-link rear, while the steering is speed-sensitive electronically controlled variable assist for optimum feel and feedback. The 17x8-inch alloy wheels wear P245/50R17 V-rated Michelin all-season high-performance tires that nicely fill the wheel wells, contributing to the car's visually aggressive stance. Large 4-wheel discs with 4-piston front calipers, ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist provide impressive stopping power.

Upper center in the comfy, quiet wood- and leather-lined cabin is the standard navigation system's 8-inch screen.

Upper center in the comfy, quiet wood- and leather-lined cabin is the standard navigation system's 8-inch screen, which offers real-time traffic information via XM Satellite Radio's NavTraffic service, another first in North America. Where available, it displays construction and continuously updated flow (traffic speed) and accident information on freeways in 20 major metro areas to help you choose the least-congested routes.


The integrated AcuraLink satellite communications system provides vehicle-specific messages and diagnostic information and, because it works with the car's HandsFreeLink wireless telephone interface (which now incorporates "Bluetooth" wireless technology), drivers can wirelessly respond to messages or one-touch-dial dealers and Acura Roadside Assistance (TLC) using a Bluetooth-equipped cell phone.The nav system also features Voice Recognition with a menu of 560 voice commands and a comprehensive destination guide with over 7 million points of interest, 3-D graphics and turn-by-turn voice guidance. Acura says it will recognize all (1.7 million) U.S. cities and street names. This system can be accessed through steering wheel-mounted voice recognition buttons or an Interface Dial on the instrument panel.