George Knighton

RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD promotional video, shows how the whole system works together.

The 7 speed DCT is very interesting but I am not sure we will ever see it on non-hybrid vehicles because the electric motor is an integral part of the design, and one of the things the electric motor does in addition to providing torque to the front wheels is manipulating what is really a 6 speed transmission to make it a 7 speed.

The DCT can't be separated from the electric motor. The electric motor is even used to manipulate the clutches. If we ever see a DCT on a non-hybrid Honda, it won't be this particular one.

The hybrid car is also not quite as quick as you would suppose. :-(

If somebody has reviewed the RLX Advance and got a 0-60 of 5.7, he is generally going to report a 0-60 of 5.3 with the RLX SH-AWD. Our dreams of a 4.0s Acura super sedan will not be realized in this design.

Here's the thing: There is no way to put the J35's power to the rear wheels. That tunnel through the middle of the car does not have a prop shaft in it. All of the power to the rear wheels is coming from two inboard electric motors, let's say maybe 45 HP altogether.

Conventional SH-AWD like we had in the 4G TL 6-6 SH-AWD would put something like 215 HP to the rear wheels.

So although the hybrid system is a very interesting huge step forward, it doesn't pin you to the seat quite the way you might have anticipated, and it does not vector as violently as the 4G TL 6-6 does.

Of the 70% power that the 4G TL shifts to the rear, it can put 100% of that power onto a single wheel if the driver's asking for it on a tight course.

The RLX isn't quite a violent, not quite as fast through a tight course.

For a huge sedan with three-zone climate control and heated rear seats, viewed in those terms, the RLX Sport Hybrid is awesome.

:-)

Especially with 30 mpg average EPA estimate.

George Knighton

Did you see how small was the battery pack, compared relatively to other hybrid cars?

This is all about a "logical" and "progressive" improvement to performance and economy. It's not radically improving fuel economy, and it's not radically improving performance.

It's just logically, progressively moving forward.

George Knighton

Here is our long winded friend's review of the Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD.

As we get closer to seeing these in showroom, we've learned that there are two levels available: Tech Package and Advance Package.

Because of the decline in value of the yen (all RLX are built in Sayama), the MSRP will look better than anticipated a year ago.

George Knighton

From what Alex said, he seems to believe that AHA [A]gile [H]andling [A]ssist is peculiar to the RLX Hybrid.

It's not.

The regular RLX Advance also has AHA. It will assist the P-AWS system by dragging one or several wheels (using the brakes) to help swing the car around a tight apex when it appears that is what you're asking it to do.

xracer6

How cool would it have been if the hybrid SH-AWD system used on this car was the NSX version converting engine power to the rear with the hybrid drive at the front? Either way it is fascinating and comfortable luxury machine.

George Knighton

After the economic collapse in 2008, Honda changed their minds about a lot of programmes that were already on the boards. One of those projects was a V8 powered Legend, a front-engine, rear-bias SH-AWD car that they felt the world economy could no longer support.

They rededicated themselves to V6, front-bias designs for their biggest sedans, whether it was SH-AWD or not.

It was just the economic reality that they had to face. Since they never intended to sell that many 3G Legend (RLX), it was the logical thing to do.

xracer6

It makes sense after all. To be honest some of the RLX's competition is so tempered with driving aids and fluffiness that the cars don't really handle much better than a front biased AWD sometimes which kindve breaks the typical conception. From what you have been posting about the 2WD model I can imagine the AWD will probably surprise most people in the handling department... It really seems like that car does not show it's size at all.

What you said above is totally true. It's ok anyways Honda can save the rear biased for the NSX. Which it will.

PS: How about the TLX? Sexy aye?

George Knighton

I'm looking forward to the TLX. An American car designed in America and built for Americans, something that the RLX very often is obviously not. :-)

They are already producing them in small numbers, like two dozen/week to send out for dealer orientations and pre-production tests by big name reviewers.

I think we'll see them in dealers by the end of the summer, generally available by the end of August, I think, unless something turns up in testing that they didn't realize.

I think we'll start seeing the pre-production reviews in April or May.

If somebody wants a non-hybrid SH-AWD, then the TLX J Motor with 9 speed is an obvious choice.

George Knighton

Somebody turned this up the other day, a 5G Legend (RLX Sport Hybrid) on a Japanese track.

Interesting, but you can still tell it's a 4400# car. :-)

George Knighton

35,000 miles now, and lifetime average fuel economy is a little higher than I reported last:

31.3 mpg

George Knighton

The 5G Legend and RLX Sport Hybrid are beginning to come out of the shadows, and are being mentioned in lists of the "world's best" sedans of this or that ilk, depending on the survey.

The biggest handicap is that there aren't that many Sport Hybrid being made.

Just hundreds per model year, and in the USDM you didn't even have any for 2015.

It makes you wonder, though, why people forget about the regular FWD RLX in the USA, because after discounts it is an extraordinary value.

If you don't need the performance, and mind you it has 310 HP in its FWD form anyway, why don't people like the USDM RLX more?