On this year’s Los Angeles show guest list is the Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD – the Japanese luxury carmaker says its “most powerful and technologically advanced” sedan to date will join the regular RLX in the line-up next year.
The full-size flagship marries a 3.5 litre direct-injected SOHC i-VTEC V6 to a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox and three high-output electric motors for a total system output of 377 hp and a combined EPA fuel economy of 7.8 litres per 100 km.
Although SH-AWD, or Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, first appeared in the second-gen Acura RL (or fourth-gen Honda Legend in Japan) as early as 2005, the car you see here is the first Acura to receive the 2012 evolution of the tech that’s known as Sport Hybrid SH-AWD.
You’ve heard about it on the upcoming NSX – there’s an electric motor at each rear wheel, independent of each other, which govern the distribution of torque between the rear left and right wheels to improve traction. The third electric motor assists the petrol engine independently, unlike the IMA system.
Positive and negative torque can be applied to each wheel; during cornering, the system can recover energy from the inside wheel and feed it to the motor on the outside wheel for more torque there, to push the vehicle into the turn.
Learn in more depth about the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, plus other future Honda drive technologies, from Anthony and Danny.
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Not really interested int he Acura as it will NEVER come to Malaysia. Lets talk about our Camry Hybrid.
When is our Camry Hybrid coming to Malaysia. In the US$ the super high specced Camry Hybrid is only US$26,000. If Malaysia say got no tax and excise duty on Hybrid cars, how can out Camry Hybrid be predicted to cost about RM200,000?
The non hybrid Camry in the US$ is only USD$22,000 for the 2.4 and this car not only is PURE CBU from Japan, it is highly specced. Our CKD Camry is so low specced and 80% Made in Malaysia. Nearly every part is Made in Malaysia. And we all know, Made in Japan quality is far far superior than Made in Malaysia quality. We have to face facts and admit it. No matter how much QC there is, Made in Malaysia is much lower in quality because our people in Malaysia try to cut cost to reap more profits. Even the paint job and welding of joints and bolts are so different than when the Japanese do it.
Anyway, our Camry is CKD, it should be lower in price than a CBU Camry that cost about RM60,000. The price of USD 22,000 is when the US Toyota makes profit and when Toyota US already have paid taxes to the US government. So UMW Malaysia probably gets the car (or CKD parts) far cheaper than the global price from its principal direct from Toyota Japan. Most likely UMW gets a Camry for US$15,000 USD. To make matters worse, the car is CKD ie 80% Made in Malaysia. So, the real figure of a Camry is most likely less than USD15,000. Our taxes and excise duty max out at 130%. If one to apply 130% tax strictly on this car, the Camry cannot be sold for RM180,000 in Malaysia.
Lets wait and see how much the Hybrid Camry will cost since there is no tax on this car. How from USD$26,000 can jump to RM200,000
UMW is ripping us off of our money and safety.
UMW is giving T a bad name.
what can we do about that huh?
‘kalau kita tarik semua car tax, mana nak dapat duit utk. pembangunan rakyat’ says our shitty politician..
This is Malaysia. We all know import cars is expensive especially Gomen policies. Nothing to say when mention pricing. Well, we all alrdy live with this hefty tax, nothing could be change.
Im sorry Acura, but their products are nothing more than slightly souped/lux’ed up Hondas (sharing same FWD chasis as Honda), which dont offer anything new or special to the luxury car market. At least Lexus knows how to completely differentiate themselves from Toyota (RWD vs FWD).
Acura died when the original NSX was discontinued. The new RLX is horribly unimaginative to look at. Lets just hope that new SHAWD works as advertised. And hoping that new NSX comes out soon to revive the brand. And Acura, please come out with a proper RWD configuration. Although the R&D required is a lot, but it can be used on different models, as the RLX, MDX, and TL are about similar in size.
even though recon car 1 or 2 yr outdated but reliability are much better than CKD new car
Recon car have to take risk, no factory warranty…
Wow! Like the tech! Hope this works well in reality… This engine + 4WD system will give indication how well the new NSX will be!