Acura turns to hybrid drivetrain for new RLX flagship sedan (pictures)
Acura develops a complex and unique hybrid drivetrain for its RLX sedan in an attempt to compete in the luxury market.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Acura adds the Sport Hybrid to its RLX lineup, a car featuring a unique hybrid system and all-wheel drive.
As in the standard RLX, the RLX Sport Hybrid comes standard with LED headlights, which boast a 10,000-hour operating life.
The grille, with its trapezoidal shape, shows the signature Acura look.
Although not overly large, the RLX Sport Hybrid features a very roomy cabin.
Acura hides the exhaust tips behind the rear fascia.
The RLX Sport Hybrid marks Acura's second hybrid model, after the smaller ILX Hybrid.
Under the hood sits a 3.5-liter transverse-mounted V-6 engine, using direct injection to generate 310 horsepower.
Almost visible here between the rear wheels sits the twin-motor unit, a casing with two 27 kilowatt motors powering each rear wheel independently.
A 1.3 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery sits behind the rear seats, and intrudes into the trunk space.
With comfortable leather seating and wood trim, the RLX Sport Hybrid makes a bid for the luxury segment.
The architecture of the car allows plenty of legroom in back.
Infotainment, including a navigation system, come standard in the RLX Sport Hybrid.
The center stack holds two displays and a dial controller, an over-complicated cabin tech interface.
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