Acura to add hybrid models to its revamped 2012 lineup

Sales of the Acura, the luxury brand of American Honda Motor, have begun to recover. Acura‚Äôs sales will get a further boost with the arrival of new products in 2012, including those that feature hybrid power trains. Two of its crossovers will be revamped. In 2009, Acura scrapped plans to create a rear-drive V-8 version of the RL flagship. Acura now says however that it will be significantly re-engineered. For the next model years, Acura will have major revisions for its lineup, including redesigns. Acura is rethinking its “keen edge” design philosophy, which has largely been polarizing.

In fact, the 2012 TL midcycle change has led to a more refined appearance. A more conventional grille has taken the place of the angular front “beak.‚Äù Since the TL, a midsized sedan based on the Honda Accord, was given a major fascia change this year, a redesign can‚Äôt be expected until the fall of 2013. Since its size is too close to the RL, it‚Äôs likely to have a shorter wheelbase and less overall length. During the launch, Honda’s large-car hybrid system will be offered as an option on the base V-6.

The weight of the V-6 will be reduced and it will feature a new cylinder deactivation system and stop-start ignition. The displacement of the 3.7-liter V-6 may be reduced to 3.5 liters. On the other hand, we could expect a re-engineered all-wheel-drive RL in late 2012 as a 2013 model. Acura may just be too proud to eliminate its flagship, a costly standalone architecture, in the U.S. This is despite Honda’s plans to terminate the model in Japan, where it is regarded as the Legend. The RDX, a small crossover, will be redesigned in the summer of 2012 after a six-year cycle. It will be available in both front- and all-wheel drive. However, the twitchy turbo-four version will be removed. Its replacement is a standard 2.5-liter inline-four engine on the base model. A hybrid-four is available as an option, according to CNet. A V-6 version has been taken off the table since it can’t be accommodated on the Civic platform that underpins the RDX. Acura has indicated that it’s possible that there will be a midcycle addition of a seven-speed sequential transmission.