2007 Acura RL

Brian Moore

FASTLINE

Although currently sold only in North America and, since last year, China, Acura lusts to become a global player – a shining embodiment of the high-end trinity of luxury, performance and technology.

To achieve this, it knows it needs bolder styling.

It also has to put more distance between itself and the Honda brand.

So Honda's upscale division is building its very own design centre in L.A.

Acura is slated to enter the Japanese market next year.

The RL flagship sedan shows how far the brand has come since arriving in Canada in 1987 with the V6 Legend and four-cylinder Integra.

It also shows the ground still to be covered. The car is built in Saitama, Japan.

For 1996, the front-wheel-drive Legend became the 3.5RL (RL variously read as Road Luxury and Replaces Legend).

A makeover followed for '99.

Redesigned and its name shortened for 2005, the RL loaded up on tech.

It added, for example, an all-wheel-drive system called SH-AWD (SH for super handling) as standard.

The system is billed as the first AWD set-up to distribute optimum torque between the front and rear wheels and between the left and right rear wheels.

The idea is to improve traction and help avoid spinouts.

On the downside, some power-conscious shoppers regard a V8 as the minimum mark of a luxury flagship.

The RL comes only with a 290-horse, SOHC, 3.5-litre V6, attached to a five-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters.

Word is, Acura is seriously pondering V8 power for its top sedan. When the RL is redesigned around 2010, it could even get a mighty V10, sharing that engine with the next NSX sports car.

For '07, to spur sales, Acura has fielded a less opulent model for $63,900 and an all-new, full-dress Elite version for $69,500 (the price of last year's car).

The tester was a navy-blue Elite, a package that includes such wizardry as:

Collision-mitigating braking (a radar unit behind the grille monitors your distance and closing rate to the vehicle ahead and takes action if you don't).

Active headlights (the low beams swivel when you corner to throw more light where it's needed).

You also get heated and cooled front seats and maple-wood cabin trim.

THREE STARS

SH-AWD bolts the RL to the road.

Excellent fit-and-finish bestows a soothing sense of substance.

Manual sunscreens on the rear side glass for that touch of mystère.

THREE STRIKES

Subdued styling may not cut it with masters of the universe.

A 3.5 V6 isn't much of a talking point in certain circles.

The overly complex climate/audio/navigation system, with rear-view camera, means this Acura, initially anyway, may need a two-person crew – one to drive and a co-pilot to work the system, standard on all RLs.

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