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2013 Acura RLX Revealed: Is This The New Honda Legend?

Honda's overseas luxury arm Acura has pulled the covers from its new RLX 'concept', previewing the successor to the brand's current RL flagship.

With a long history of re-badging and up-speccing, It is also likely that Acura's l

Mike Stevens

19:4004 April 2012

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2013 Acura RLX Revealed: Is This The New Honda Legend?

Honda's overseas luxury arm Acura has pulled the covers from its new RLX 'concept', previewing the successor to the brand's current RL flagship.

With a long history of re-badging and up-speccing, It is also likely that Acura's large sedan will share its platform and components with the next-generation Honda Legend.

Unlike previous generations, the latest Acura line-up has revealed that while the platform sharing will continue, the Acura brand will now feature its own unique styling across the board.

If the new Legend lies beneath the concept shown here, it will likely get its own look more in-line with the regular Honda range. How it will differ is unclear, with the RLX concept already draped in very Honda-esque lines.

Power for the new RLX is provided by Honda's new 3.5 litre V6 engine, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Combined with the latest version of Honda's Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive, which now features three electric motors, the RLX delivers around 280kW.

A front-wheel-drive version of the new RLX will also be offered, with the V6 engine alone delivering 231kW, bettering the 226kW of the current 3.7 litre engine.

The RLX features a wheelbase that is 50mm longer than its predecessor, with track and width unchanged. Large 20-inch forged wheels prop up each corner.