Thats it for the Acura RLX
05-14-20, 04:50 PM
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Thats it for the Acura RLX
Source : https://www.autonews.com/cars-concep...020-model-year
I'm surprised its lasted this long. For those who didn't know, this is the descendent of the Acura Legend. Legend -> 3.5 RL -> RL -> RLX
Acura is dropping the aging RLX flagship sedan in North America after the 2020 model year as the luxury brand regroups around nimble sports sedans and athletic crossovers because of changing consumer tastes.
American Honda told dealers Thursday that the low-selling RLX will no longer be imported from Japan, where it's sold as the Honda Legend. The Legend will continue to be offered in Japan and other markets, American Honda said in an email to Automotive News.
"With SUVs leading the luxury market, the highly successful RDX and MDX now serve as volume leaders of the Acura brand," the company said, referring to its compact and midsize crossovers. "At the same time, we will further strengthen our sports sedans, consistent with the performance-focused direction we have been taking Acura over the past four years."
The demise of the RLX for the North American market had been expected. The sedan, a successor to the RL, was introduced for the 2014 model year and has not been significantly overhauled since then. U.S. sales in 2019 numbered just over a thousand units. Its base sticker price of $55,925 with destination charges has been subject to hefty discounts.
Acura was launched in the U.S. in 1986 with two car nameplates: the compact Integra and the midsize Legend, which was replaced by the RL.
Acura is in the middle of a multiyear process to significantly update four core models, which include the ILX compact sedan and the TLX midsize sedan. It began with the redesigned and reengineered RDX two years ago, which will be followed by the TLX and the three-row MDX this year.
"We will soon reveal an all-new 2021 Acura TLX that exemplifies this direction, assuming an elevated position in our lineup as the quickest, best-handling and most well-appointed Acura sedan yet," American Honda said.
The TLX and RLX were already relatively close in size. The TLX is expected to grow for the next generation, making up some of the size difference with the outgoing RLX. Acura has said it's focused on just four volume models — plus the NSX supercar — during the rebuilding process.
With the exit of the RLX, all 2021 Acura models sold in North America will be manufactured at American Honda's plants in central Ohio. An RLX competitor, the Lexus GS, is also being dropped after the 2020 model year because of declining sales. Lexus also has another sedan in the luxury midsize segment, the less expensive ES.
American Honda told dealers Thursday that the low-selling RLX will no longer be imported from Japan, where it's sold as the Honda Legend. The Legend will continue to be offered in Japan and other markets, American Honda said in an email to Automotive News.
"With SUVs leading the luxury market, the highly successful RDX and MDX now serve as volume leaders of the Acura brand," the company said, referring to its compact and midsize crossovers. "At the same time, we will further strengthen our sports sedans, consistent with the performance-focused direction we have been taking Acura over the past four years."
The demise of the RLX for the North American market had been expected. The sedan, a successor to the RL, was introduced for the 2014 model year and has not been significantly overhauled since then. U.S. sales in 2019 numbered just over a thousand units. Its base sticker price of $55,925 with destination charges has been subject to hefty discounts.
Acura was launched in the U.S. in 1986 with two car nameplates: the compact Integra and the midsize Legend, which was replaced by the RL.
Acura is in the middle of a multiyear process to significantly update four core models, which include the ILX compact sedan and the TLX midsize sedan. It began with the redesigned and reengineered RDX two years ago, which will be followed by the TLX and the three-row MDX this year.
"We will soon reveal an all-new 2021 Acura TLX that exemplifies this direction, assuming an elevated position in our lineup as the quickest, best-handling and most well-appointed Acura sedan yet," American Honda said.
The TLX and RLX were already relatively close in size. The TLX is expected to grow for the next generation, making up some of the size difference with the outgoing RLX. Acura has said it's focused on just four volume models — plus the NSX supercar — during the rebuilding process.
With the exit of the RLX, all 2021 Acura models sold in North America will be manufactured at American Honda's plants in central Ohio. An RLX competitor, the Lexus GS, is also being dropped after the 2020 model year because of declining sales. Lexus also has another sedan in the luxury midsize segment, the less expensive ES.
05-14-20, 05:34 PM
#2
Not surprised at all. Q70 last year, GS last month, and now RLX. The Japanese have completely surrendered the entire midsize luxury sedan segment. If you want one that's not European, the only option you have is the Genesis G80.
05-14-20, 05:43 PM
#3
Speaks French in Russian
Early 2000's, all 3 were super strong European alternatives. 10-15 years later, all 3 cancelled. Smh.
Infiniti might be done, no one knows what is going on with Acura, and Lexus is confused. Times sure have changed quick!
Infiniti might be done, no one knows what is going on with Acura, and Lexus is confused. Times sure have changed quick!
05-14-20, 05:47 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
05-14-20, 05:55 PM
#5
05-14-20, 06:14 PM
#6
05-14-20, 06:22 PM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Anyhow, back to the RLX....sorry to see it go, but apparently few people are buying large sedans these days. The SUV market has simply overwhelmed them.
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05-14-20, 06:35 PM
#8
05-14-20, 06:55 PM
#9
Lexus Test Driver
RLX and RL before it were hideous cars.
3.5 RL was nice design.
Legend was great design!
I’m happy they put it out of its misery.
Maybe one day Legend name can come back as full size EV sedan.
The Genesis cars G80/G90 are way better than anything Acura has made in last 2 decades.
3.5 RL was nice design.
Legend was great design!
I’m happy they put it out of its misery.
Maybe one day Legend name can come back as full size EV sedan.
The Genesis cars G80/G90 are way better than anything Acura has made in last 2 decades.
05-14-20, 06:59 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
The CTS was the same length (196 inches) as a regular midsize sedan. CT5 is shorter (194 inches).
It was the CT6 that was the midsize-fullsize tweener
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_CT6
05-14-20, 08:13 PM
#11
Well, we did, at one time, with the Mazda Millenia, as it was meant to be the first product offered in what was planned to be Mazda's upscale Amati Division to compete with Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura. However, Ford, who owned Mazda at the time, axed the plans for Amati, and the Millenia was sold as a Mazda product, along with the full-size 929. I may be wrong, but I believe the Millenia was the first product in North America to offer the Miller-cycle engine as an option.
https://www.autonews.com/sales/mazda...ourney-premium
If we do see that rumored RWD Mazda 6 as a result of it, they may be on to something, but I'm not holding my breath since Mazda has been nothing but empty promises for the past decade.
I dont consider two inches very significant.
Wikipedia considered it a true full-sizer, not a tweeter.
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/expert-...lac-ct6-review
05-15-20, 01:19 AM
#13
Lexus Test Driver
The essence of Acura losing it's way is embedded in the loss of the Legend and it's transformation to the RLX. Certainly could have been played out differently, and we'd not be seeing them drop another sedan. Other brands make it happen. There is no good reason why Acura can't either. Everything else is just an excuse. Let's hope the upcoming TLX helps them turn the corner.
05-15-20, 05:59 AM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
This seems like a nice car but the dash / center stack looks so dated. 
Has anyone driven a recent version?
Has anyone driven a recent version?
05-15-20, 06:08 AM
#15
Lexus Champion
Source : https://www.autonews.com/cars-concep...020-model-year
I'm surprised its lasted this long. For those who didn't know, this is the descendent of the Acura Legend. Legend -> 3.5 RL -> RL -> RLX
I'm surprised its lasted this long. For those who didn't know, this is the descendent of the Acura Legend. Legend -> 3.5 RL -> RL -> RLX
Sorry, but the early 2000s RL was not a "strong European alternative". It wasn't even a strong alternative to the GS and the M. The mid-2000s RL was a mediocre alternative to GS and M.
Last edited by tex2670; 05-15-20 at 06:13 AM.