Acura rolled out the 2009 RL at the Chicago Auto Show, so the appearance of the Honda version of the car, badged Legend, isn’t the most searingly-hot news. What is frightfully obvious when you set eyes on the Legend is that the Honda version looks about a billion times better without the shield-style grille that afflicts the Acura in the most tacked-on fashion. Equally puzzling – and not a recent development – is why Honda trashed the established and respected Legend name for the anonymous and innocuous RL for Acura’s top-tier sedan.

Competition in the RL’s segment is brutal, and the same criticisms of the current model apply to its replacement. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with the RL, mind you, it’s nicely styled, and well appointed – although when faced with the preponderance of rear-driving V8 competitors, the RL can’t claim superiority by chassis layout alone. Packing the 3.5-liter V6 that yanks the Accord around with authority, there’s no need for a V8, nor is RWD a necessity with Acura’s chassis wizards on the job, but buyers might remain unmoved.

[Source: Car Fanatic via World Car Fans]

Other Honda Cars In www Auto Com:
+   First Drive: 2009 Honda Pilot
+   2009 Honda Accord Euro spec in 2008 Geneva Motor Show
+   2008 Geneva Auto Show Preview: Honda unmasks the Euro Accord
+   First Drive: AutoblogGreen drives the 2009 Honda FCX Clarity
+   LA Auto Show 2007: Honda unwraps the 2009 FCX Clarity!
+   Honda S2000 CR campaigning in 25 Hours of Thunderhill
+   Honda S2000 Type S at 2007 Tokyo Motor Show
+   Honda confirms production FCX and car based on CR-Z Concept
+   2007 Tokyo Motor Show: 2008 Honda Fit gets Civic-minded makeover
+   LA Motor Show 2007: Honda Civic GX quick test drive
+   Tokyo Motor Show 2007 Preview:Honda CR-X is back
+   Tokyo Auto Show 2007 Preview: Honda CR-Z Concept Car
+   Tokyo Motor Show 2007 Preview: Honda DN-01 motorcycle features automatic transmission
+   A brand new version of Honda’s small car is set to hit the road
+   Tokyo Motor Show-2009 Honda Fit: Now With More Embargo-Breaking Interior Shots! - Jalopnik
+   Bigger, better Jazz ready to call the tune

Other Acura Cars In www Auto Com:
+   New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Acura TSX revealed… again… but LIVE
+   2008 Geneva Auto Show Preview: Honda unmasks the Euro Accord
+   New York Auto Show 2008 Preview: 2009 Acura TSX heads for the Big Apple
+   First Drive: AutoblogGreen drives the 2009 Honda FCX Clarity
+   LA Auto Show 2007: Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive on display
+   2007 LA Auto Show: Acura shows drawings of a future fuel cell Le Mans racer

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