Acura RL Model History

Making its first appearance in 1996, RL has served as the flagship sedan for Acura for 14 years. Replacing the Legend, the RL acronym stood for “Refined Luxury”. From 1996 to 2004, the vehicle was known as the 3.5RL based on its 3.5-liter V-6 engine. For 1999, the Acura 3.5RL received a mid-cycle refresh consisting of a new front and rear end as well as a stiffer chassis setup. A DVD-based navigation system is added to the Acura RL in the 2000 model year. A navigation system became standard equipment in 2004. For 2002, the Acura RL received an improvement in horsepower elevating engine power from 210 to 225. Completely redesigned in 2005, the freshened styling of the Acura RL sedan also included Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) replacing front-wheel drive. Engine power for the 2005 Acura RL was also hiked to 290 horsepower and included the luxury sedan’s first use of VTEC technology. The powerplant of the 2005 RL was coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission. A number of technological features were found on the upgraded second-generation Acura RL. Providing ultimate comfort, the 2005 Acura RL also offered the Bose Active Noise Cancellation system that reduces engine and road sound. For a sportier sedan, some 2005 to 2008 model year RLs were equipped with a dealer-optional A-Spec Performance Package. Featuring revised styling in 2009, the Acura RL also included larger displacement 3.7-liter engine and an upgraded suspension. After the 2012 model year, the RLX sedan replaced the Acura RL.