2016 ACURA RLX HYBRID QUICK TAKES

TESTDRIVENOW QUICK TAKES: 2016 ACURA RLX HYBRID SH-AWD OVERVIEW

2016 Acura RLX Adds AcuraWatch™ and Other Enhancements to Elevate Premium Sophistication and Value

The 2016 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD boasting new features including AcuraWatch™, now offered as standard equipment on all models, and an available 360-degree Surround View Camera system.

The only luxury sedan with a three-motor, torque-vectoring hybrid powertrain.

Producing a combined 377 horsepower and 341 lb-ft of torque2, the RLX Sport Hybrid is powered by a direct injected 3.5-liter V6 engine and three-motor hybrid system with Acura’s signature Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. This highly effective powertrain provides a unique combination of exhilarating all-weather, any-road dynamic performance, and exceptional acceleration, while also receiving an impressive 32 mpg EPA highway fuel economy rating3.

These performance attributes are matched by the RLX Sport Hybrid’s luxurious appointments and for 2016 even more comprehensive feature content including the AcuraWatch™suite of safety and driver assistive technologies and available Surround View Camera4, bi-directional starter and heated steering wheel.

All RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD models now include AcuraWatch™, which helps to improve the driver’s situational awareness and, in certain circumstances, intervene to help avoid a collision or mitigate its severity.

The AcuraWatch™ suite of available features includes:

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF)
• Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
• Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
• Blind Spot Information (BSI)
• Multi-View Rear Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
• Cross Traffic Monitor

The 2016 Acura RLX is available in two trims, RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD with Technology Package and RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD with Advance Package. The RLX with Technology Package has been enhanced with AcuraWatch™ as standard.

The RLX with Advance Package has been additionally improved with Surround View Camera4, bi-directional keyless remote engine starter and heated steering wheel.

AcuraWatch™
At the heart of AcuraWatch™ is the fusion of camera and radar technology that can sense the roadway and objects within it, including other vehicles and pedestrians.

This technology underpins the systems that help provide the driver with improved vision around the vehicle, can alert the driver of potential issues and, if necessary, intervene to help keep the RLX Sport Hybrid from departing a lane, departing the road, or help to avoid or mitigate the severity of a collision. These systems include Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Cross Traffic Monitor, both of which are new to the RLX Sport Hybrid.

Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)4
New for the 2016 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid, Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) uses a Monocular Camera (mounted on the upper portion of the windshield) to identify solid or dashed painted lane lines, Botts’ Dots and Cat Eye markers. RDM uses both steering force, via EPS, and braking force, via VSA, to help the RLX Sport Hybrid from leaving a detected lane or detected roadway.

The monocular camera can recognize lane features and identify a lane or roadway edge. If the RDM system determines that the RLX Sport Hybrid is about to leave a detected lane or roadway defined by solid lines without a turn signal in use, it will provide steering assist (primary) and, in rare occasions when steering is not sufficient, braking assist to help the driver stay on the road.

If a lane only identified by dashed lines, Bott’s Dots or Cat Eye markers and the system determines that there is an unintended departure, no braking assist will be provided. Instead, the RLX Sport Hybrid will use active steering force to help return to the detected lane. RDM is integrated with the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system to provide moderate braking, and with the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system to provide steering input.

Multiple visual and audible warnings alert the driver when the RDM system is taking corrective action. These include a lane departure warning on the driver’s Multi Information Display (MID) along with an audible warning.

RDM also has a customizable initial warning of either a steering wheel shake/vibration and/or an audible alert. This can be customized in the vehicle settings.

Cross Traffic Monitor5
Another new driver assistive technology included with AcuraWatch™, the Cross Traffic Monitor works in conjunction with the RLX’s blind spot information (BSI) radar sensors to enhance driver confidence when backing up. The system is especially useful when reversing in congested parking lots with an obstructed view from the driver’s seat.

The system utilizes a pair of radar units located in the rear quarter panels. When Reverse is selected and an approaching vehicle is detected, arrows indicating the approaching vehicle’s direction are shown on the center display’s rear camera image. An audible warning is simultaneously emitted.

Surround View Camera6
For 2016, the Acura RLX Sport Hybrid with Advance Package includes Acura’s Surround View Camera system6 that provides a 360-degree image of the area around the vehicle. The surround view camera system is designed to assist drivers during critical and precise maneuvers in snug parking situations. Using four separate cameras, views from behind, directly in front of, and both left and right sides of the vehicle can be displayed on the navigation screen.

The system can also use all four cameras to seamlessly create a composite bird’s eye image, to provide the driver with information about the surroundings. In addition, dynamic on-screen guidelines help the driver see their projected path relative to the lines demarking parking spaces or other objects, allowing them to maneuver with greater confidence.

Additional Enhancements for 2016 RLX
To improve overall ride and handling quality and reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), the chassis of the 2016 RLX has received multiple tuning refinements. Both the front and rear shock absorbers get an increase in piston rod diameter and the rear stabilizer bar’s stiffness is decreased.

The front and rear spring rates and shock absorber damping force were all decreased to provide better shock absorption and road surface tracking. Furthermore, the front upper spring/shock mounts and rear bump stops were changed for improved action.

The 2016 Acura RLX is available in three trims, RLX with Navigation, RLX with Technology Package and RLX with Advance Package.

The RLX with Navigation has been upgraded for 2016 with the same larger 19-inch wheels as standard on the other trims with a new bright finish The RLX with Technology Package has been enhanced with AcuraWatch™ as standard. The RLX with Advance Package has been improved with AcuraWatch™ including surround view camera and a bi-directional remote engine starter.

Also for 2016 a new Acura Silver Metallic color is available.

2016 ACURA RLX SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD ADV MSRP $65,950

1 MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, vehicle options and destination charge of $920.00. Dealer prices may vary.

2 Combined engine and hybrid electric motor system power and torque ratings.

3 Based on 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery-package/condition, and other factors.

4 RDM only activates when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use. RDM may not detect all lane markings or lane departures; accuracy will vary based on weather, speed and road condition. System operation affected by extreme interior heat. Driver remains responsible for safely operating vehicle and avoiding collisions.

5 The Cross-Traffic Monitor system and Rear View Camera are not a substitute for your own visual assessment before backing up; display does not provide complete information about all conditions and objects at the rear or to the sides of your vehicle. Cross-Traffic Monitor may not detect all objects behind or to the side of a vehicle and may not detect a given object; system accuracy will vary based on weather, size of object, and speed. Driver remains responsible for safely operating vehicle and avoiding collisions.

6 Visually confirm that it is safe to drive before backing up or parking. Certain conditions (such as weather, lighting and high temperatures) may also restrict the camera view. Do not rely on the camera displays as they may not give you all information about conditions, persons, objects or obstructions around your vehicle.