Future
The future of the Legend-RL is uncertain (dealers have been promised an "amazing flagship" without intricate details, and a prospective RWD V8 model was scrapped in 2008) although it is possible that it could become an Acura only model like the MDX which would allow more freedom in the development process. The international Legend variant will cease production in late 2012 and 2013-2014 production will take place in Japan but will be built alongside the 2015 NSX in Ohio from 2015 on. One of these freedoms is the addition of a hybrid drivetrain. It has been common knowledge that Honda is working on a hybrid system optimal for V6 applications, albeit tuned for performance in Acura models in the same vein as the Lexus LS600h and the Infiniti M35h. The official specs are not yet available, but from what is currently known about the electric SH-AWD system is that it uses a 315 horsepower direct injection SOHC VTEC V6 with a 40 horsepower electric motor housed in the 7-speed iSHIFT II dual clutch automatic in the front, while the rear is powered by two 30-hp electric motors that use a "negative torque" feature in which when going into a turn the inside motor sails and the regenerated energy is fed to the already-vectored outside motor; the combined output is 385 horsepower and 455 lb. ft(62.5kgm) of torque. The styling is said to resemble a muscular, and up-sized version of the current car. The wheelbase will also stretch quite considerably to accommodate a BMW 7 Series size cabin while the length will also grow but to a lesser degree, giving the car less overhangs and more presence. Acura has stated the car will debut at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.
On April 4, 2012, Acura unveiled the Acura RLX Concept, a replacement for the RL sedan, at the New York International Auto Show. Production of the fourth generation Legend ended on June 16, 2012 at the Japanese facility to change over to the new Legend to be introduced as a 2013 model.
Read more about this topic: Honda Legend
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