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Acura begins 18-month product binge, says adding rear-wheel drive not critical to success
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Date: February 10, 2003 16:40
Submitted by:
JeffX
Source:
autoweek.com
Credibility Rating:
N/A
By MARK RECHTIN | Automotive
While Acura Division redesigns its product line and enters new segments, it will not need rear-wheel drive to be a true luxury brand, dealers were told at the make meeting
Acura sedans and coupes can have as much as 270 hp and still have a luxurious feel with front-wheel drive, said Ramsay Gillman, a multifranchise dealer from Houston.
Anything more powerful than that would require all-wheel drive, which hints at the direction of the replacement for the 3.5 RL.
cat_code=carnewsloc_code=indexcontent_code=07799113" >Read The Rest At Autoweek.com...
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Commentary: From my perspective, I sure hope this AWD setup is a dandy. In other words I hope it doesn't mean a 2+ton hulk of an RL. I also hope the system (likely VTM-based) is designed to improve the overall driving experience, including handling and roadholding rather than simply to improve traction on snowy roads. This means that for the most part the system should be virtually transparent, yet when push comes to shove, exhibit a slight bias towards delivering power to the rear wheels. I'm sure my hopes for a sub-4000lb RL are probably in vain, though, especially considering that even the mid-size German cars are exceeding 4000lbs in some of their iterations. As far as the FF situation goes, I think more power (more than the current 260hp level, at least) through the front wheels is possible, but getting it down is a matter of continuing to reduce vehicle weight and improving weight transfer characteristics.
Thanks to Greg Mirchevsky for the link to this news item
Last edited by JeffX on
February 10, 2003 16:41
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