V8 Acura in the works
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CL Community Team
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From: Canada
V8 Acura in the works
V8 Acura in the works
Posted Dec 11th 2006 8:09AM
It's been speculated for some time that sales of Acura's luxo-barge offerings may be hindered by the automaker's lack of offering V8 power. According to Automotive News, this problem may be remedied soon.
In an interview with Honda's president of R&D in the States, Hirohide Ikeno, he hinted that a new direction for Acura powerplants would debut at the upcoming Detroit auto show in January.
"I'm pushing for it," he said. "That is our direction." Acura is often criticized for not offering V8 engines with any of its cars. Ikeno said V8s are only being considered for Acura, and none would appear in the Honda lineup.
It's already been confirmed that the new NSX, due in 2009, will likely get a mid-ship V10, drawing credibility from Honda's 8- and 12-cyclinder racing mills. That kind of power is necessary in the supercar market and a V8 option is a necessity if an automaker hopes to compete with other luxury sedans.
[Source: Automotive News -- Sub. Req.]
Posted Dec 11th 2006 8:09AM
It's been speculated for some time that sales of Acura's luxo-barge offerings may be hindered by the automaker's lack of offering V8 power. According to Automotive News, this problem may be remedied soon.
In an interview with Honda's president of R&D in the States, Hirohide Ikeno, he hinted that a new direction for Acura powerplants would debut at the upcoming Detroit auto show in January.
"I'm pushing for it," he said. "That is our direction." Acura is often criticized for not offering V8 engines with any of its cars. Ikeno said V8s are only being considered for Acura, and none would appear in the Honda lineup.
It's already been confirmed that the new NSX, due in 2009, will likely get a mid-ship V10, drawing credibility from Honda's 8- and 12-cyclinder racing mills. That kind of power is necessary in the supercar market and a V8 option is a necessity if an automaker hopes to compete with other luxury sedans.
[Source: Automotive News -- Sub. Req.]
Last edited by Gojirra99; Dec 11, 2006 at 08:13 AM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
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From: FL
The Ridgeline... I don't see any point in making it V8 if they don't make it a proper RWD layout. In its current form, it doesn't appeal to anyone that buys trucks for utility. It's really little more than an (ugly) fashion statement, and so a FWD V6 is just fine.
CL Community Team
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From: Miami, Florida
To me it is just nuts that Honda took so long to come up with this for Acura.
I went with a couple of friends to a Honda dealership on Sunday and they wanted to see the Ridgeline and they couldn't believe it when the dealer (I told them beforehand, but they wanted to hear it for themselves) that the Honda RL had no V8.
I went with a couple of friends to a Honda dealership on Sunday and they wanted to see the Ridgeline and they couldn't believe it when the dealer (I told them beforehand, but they wanted to hear it for themselves) that the Honda RL had no V8.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Tennessee
To me it is just nuts that Honda took so long to come up with this for Acura.
I went with a couple of friends to a Honda dealership on Sunday and they wanted to see the Ridgeline and they couldn't believe it when the dealer (I told them beforehand, but they wanted to hear it for themselves) that the Honda RL had no V8.
I went with a couple of friends to a Honda dealership on Sunday and they wanted to see the Ridgeline and they couldn't believe it when the dealer (I told them beforehand, but they wanted to hear it for themselves) that the Honda RL had no V8.
And the Tacoma is much more of a truck anyway - true RWD, fully body on frame design.
The Ridgeline is built on a hybrid BOF/UB chassis and has a FWD/AWD drivetrain layout. It's basically a minivan with a truck bed, some tframe rails added and AWD made available.
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Lexus Fanatic
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
And why go to RWD when Acura has already taken the time and expense to engineer one of the best AWD systems in the world for the RL?
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Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Canada
They need MORE than a V8 RL, which is really a mid-sized sedan. They need a larger LS-sized V8 flagship for image I think. They have the ability to make a formidable car in this segment, whether it can sell well is another question . . .
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Tennessee
Yeah, the RL competes with the GS, M, 5, E, A6, and STS.
Notice one key factor with all those other cars? They all offer a V8, and they all have higher end cars in their respective lineups - they're not flagships for their brand.
That right there is reason enough to explain why Acura needs to step it up and not just by adding a V8 to the Acura RL, but by going upmarket with an even higher end lux sedan.
Notice one key factor with all those other cars? They all offer a V8, and they all have higher end cars in their respective lineups - they're not flagships for their brand.
That right there is reason enough to explain why Acura needs to step it up and not just by adding a V8 to the Acura RL, but by going upmarket with an even higher end lux sedan.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
OK, your opinion noted.....if they want to do a larger V8-equipped car, fine....but I can't see trading the superb SH-AWD system for RWD. That would, IMO, be like trading an Olympic Gold medal for a Bronze one.
yup, totally, that too. for all i care acura do NOT really have a "flagship" to go with other people. the RL is a nice car, v8 would be even better, but using that to go head to head with the LS, S, 7, etc... nah, not good
Lexus Champion
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