The Acura Legend & Acura RL Forum - View Single Post

Xcaliber003 · 02-28-08, 02:11 AM

I think one problem other than advertising (finally saw an RL ad in a mag) is the image of the overall design.

The most successful mid-sized luxury sport sedans have a "stately" somewhat lengthy presence(not too long but enough to look "powerful"). One part of this "presence" is a long hoodlid. I know this is sounding left field but I'm getting to a point.

The first gen RL 'specially the 02-04 had longer more "stately" front ends. Their front ends were long and the front overhang was short, giving it a more luxurious, pricey, luxo car image. As we already know this mostly was due to the longitudinal engine layout, which helps put the motor behind the front axle and push the front wheels closer to the front corners.

But when the sec gen RL came out it had a tranversely mounted engine, which lead to the usual long "economy car" front overhang. If this wasn't enough to hurt the luxo car image they also added a cab forward windshield design. Similar to the ones on the Intrepids and things. This plus the long front overhang makes the front end look like a big Neon. No matter what they do to the design of the car if it continues to have a tranversely mounted motor and a cab forward design it will ALWAYS look like a large common bread and butter car(long NEON).

One perfect example even though it's not in the same class as the RL is Intrepid vs the 300C. Both are big ass cars, but the 300C has a different outline without cab forward design and a short hoodlid. Which car looks more "stately"?

02-28-08, 02:11 AM	#72 (permalink)
Xcaliber003 Eh...What up Doc Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,256 Car 1: 1989 Acura Legend LS 4Dr iTrader: (0)	I think one problem other than advertising (finally saw an RL ad in a mag) is the image of the overall design. The most successful mid-sized luxury sport sedans have a "stately" somewhat lengthy presence(not too long but enough to look "powerful"). One part of this "presence" is a long hoodlid. I know this is sounding left field but I'm getting to a point. The first gen RL 'specially the 02-04 had longer more "stately" front ends. Their front ends were long and the front overhang was short, giving it a more luxurious, pricey, luxo car image. As we already know this mostly was due to the longitudinal engine layout, which helps put the motor behind the front axle and push the front wheels closer to the front corners. But when the sec gen RL came out it had a tranversely mounted engine, which lead to the usual long "economy car" front overhang. If this wasn't enough to hurt the luxo car image they also added a cab forward windshield design. Similar to the ones on the Intrepids and things. This plus the long front overhang makes the front end look like a big Neon. No matter what they do to the design of the car if it continues to have a tranversely mounted motor and a cab forward design it will ALWAYS look like a large common bread and butter car(long NEON). One perfect example even though it's not in the same class as the RL is Intrepid vs the 300C. Both are big ass cars, but the 300C has a different outline without cab forward design and a short hoodlid. Which car looks more "stately"? __________________ "love em all,trust a few,and fear none". . .Mos Def "Don't look at your car as it is now, see it the way it'll be when you're done fixin it up."