2010 Acura MDX model Lineup

The Acura RL is the flagship car for North America luxury brand Acura. In Japan, it is sold as the Honda Legend, a largely identical vehicle save for different badging and trim. All RLs and Legends are built in Saitama, Japan.

The first-generation Acura RL was a similarly rebadged version of the third-generation Honda Legend, and was first introduced into the North American market in 1996 to replace the second-generation Acura Legend. Previous to the 1996 introduction of the first generation Acura RL was the second-generation Acura Legend (1991–1995), equivalent to the second-generation Honda Legend, which in turn was preceded by the first-generation Acura Legend (1986–1990), equivalent to the first-generation Honda Legend.

The current second-generation Acura RL is a rebadged version of the fourth-generation Honda Legend and was introduced into the North American market in September 2004 as a 2005 model. The 2009 model year of the second-generation Acura RL is the product of an extensive mid model change (MMC), reportedly the most extensive refresh in the 20+ year history of the marque.

News and rumors from early 2008 indicated that the fourth-generation RL/Legend will be introduced in late calendar year 2010 as a 2011 model year and may receive a V8 engine and rear-wheel drive. With the 2008 economic downturn, and subsequent collapse of the automobile sales around the world, the much rumored rear-wheel drive Acura-specific platform, has been shelved. Acura will take a whole new marketing direction, leading with “Smart Luxury” [2] as announced by John Mendel, Honda North America’s Executive Vice President for Sales, during the introduction of the 2011 Acura TSX Sportwagon, during the 2010 New York Auto Show. What Smart Luxury means for the future of the Acura RL is a closely guarded secret, but rumors persist of some kind of luxury hybrid vehicle.[3]

source:carpictures.com