"The 2005 Acura RL wins CNET's first annual Tech Car of the Year award. Our judges, including the voting public in our online poll, came down unanimously for the 2005 Acura RL as the best expression of technology in a car. We chose the 2005 Acura RL partly because it led the way by offering a number of technologies before any of its competitors and partly because it did such a seamless job of implementing them.

It has live traffic information integrated with its navigation system, and it connects to Bluetooth phones. It has a Bose DVD audio system with a road-noise-canceling feature. Its power train isn't as sophisticated as a hybrid system, but it comes close with some very fine engineering. Congratulations to the 2005 Acura RL and the forward-thinking team that designed it. \"

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10846_7-6213124-1.html?tag=fs

"Award criteria
Cabin electronics (this is pretty much anything in the dashboard, including the stereo, navigation, and Bluetooth phone integration): Does the car have a full array, with no major component missing? Are the electronics easy and intuitive to operate? Do they contribute to or distract from the overall utility of the car?

Performance (where the rubber meets the road, this covers power train and road-holding technologies): Does the engine use something more advanced than simple cam-controlled valves? Is it a hybrid? ABS should be present, but does the car also have traction control or more advanced anti-wheel-slip technology? Do all these components make it pleasurable to drive?

Safety (this area covers crash prevention, such as road holding, along with postcrash protection): Does the car have a full array of air bags? Does it have a vehicle stability program, traction control, and all-wheel drive? Are there advanced systems such as lane-departure warnings?"

i guess they didnt want to give out another award to prius :-).

I hope future Lexus models get the "live traffic information" option.

I hope future Lexus models get the "live traffic information" option.
I think that was one of the options that was actually mentioned in the LS460 Press Release. I remember reading that somewhere. Not to mention XM or Sirius had a LX470 on display with a slew of new gadgets(including the realtime traffic) that they will be introducing within the year.

I think the RL is quite deserving, but technology is not the only thing that sells cars . . .

I still think it's kind of comical that CNET reviews cars.

I think that was one of the options that was actually mentioned in the LS460 Press Release. I remember reading that somewhere. Not to mention XM or Sirius had a LX470 on display with a slew of new gadgets(including the realtime traffic) that they will be introducing within the year.

Thanks for the heads-up. I was too lazy to read the entire press release :D

i can already predict next years winner... and the winner is the new s-class!

Well at least CNET reviews cars from its strength, technology....they did hope the GS gets a better NAVI screen resolution, like the IS.

Yep the new LS is getting the real-time traffic in the nav system. I bet the LS600hL, with its 3rd-gen hybrid system, is on track to win the 2007 Tech Car of The Year, if not the 2006 one.:p

I do agree that the RL deserves the award for the year though. Too bad the market doesn't seem to appreciate it nearly as much.