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TonyEX
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Why does HMC insist on so much metal ahead of the front wheels?
That's one hell of a front overhang.
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loveturtle
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I completely agree but they should get some credit for at least slightly trimming it up. I think my 08 TL has a larger front overhang than this new RL.
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siegen
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The important thing to ask yourself is: Do these pictures represent the normal perspective you'd see the car in? I can't tell if they're drawings or heavily edited photos. If they're drawings and do not have perspective, the overhangs may appear exaggerated. I don't have time to compare the perspective to a normal side view of a car, but that's a thought.
Also, the lack of shadows makes the ride height appear exaggerated. Probably not prudent to base your opinion of this car based on these pictures.
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NealX
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Ask Jeff about "prudence." He was there!
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Chocs
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Remember the NSX concept "patents" a while back? It had more overhang than real life pictures suggest.
Maybe it's the same in this case.
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Waldo
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TonyE wrote:
Why does HMC insist on so much metal ahead of the front wheels?
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Obviously, it's done to p*ss TOVers off. Honda designers love the phallic look.
It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the space/engineering requirements of ample front leg room, FWD, wishbone suspension, 5mph collision damage regulations, ACE bodies and the 5star rating Honda strives for, etc.
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TurkMan71
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Waldo wrote:
TonyE wrote:
Why does HMC insist on so much metal ahead of the front wheels?
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Obviously, it's done to p*ss TOVers off. Honda designers love the phallic look.
It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the space/engineering requirements of ample front leg room, FWD, wishbone suspension, 5mph collision damage regulations, ACE bodies and the 5star rating Honda strives for, etc.
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All good reasons to have a big overhang.
You wanna know a bad reason? It looks like poop.
And if it looks like poop all those other reasons won't have a reason for being...because no one will buy it.
Acura (Honda) wants to be efficient and stay with FWD. They think this is smart...but all it really looks to people in the know is cheap.
Kmart=cheap
Target=smart
Both stores pretty much have the same stuff, but one is marketed better, prettier if you will.
Go back to the longitudinal engine layout of the 2nd gen Legend, even if it makes no sense when it comes to space efficiency, even if it is still FWD based...those cars LOOKED expensive.
Better yet just give more 'prestige distance' on this design as I've heard Kia designers mention...it makes a world of difference...
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montechester
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How dare you confuse the issue with the facts! LOL
Waldo wrote:
TonyE wrote:
Why does HMC insist on so much metal ahead of the front wheels?
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Obviously, it's done to p*ss TOVers off. Honda designers love the phallic look.
It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the space/engineering requirements of ample front leg room, FWD, wishbone suspension, 5mph collision damage regulations, ACE bodies and the 5star rating Honda strives for, etc.
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sugaki
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Waldo wrote:
It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the space/engineering requirements of ample front leg room, FWD, wishbone suspension, 5mph collision damage regulations, ACE bodies and the 5star rating Honda strives for, etc.
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Sarcasm fail. I guess the A6 has leaf spring suspension, no front leg room, and fails safety tests then, amirite?
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integrator
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montechester wrote:
How dare you confuse the issue with the facts! LOL
Waldo wrote:
TonyE wrote:
Why does HMC insist on so much metal ahead of the front wheels?
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Obviously, it's done to p*ss TOVers off. Honda designers love the phallic look.
It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the space/engineering requirements of ample front leg room, FWD, wishbone suspension, 5mph collision damage regulations, ACE bodies and the 5star rating Honda strives for, etc.
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Those are all great arguments for 'why', and clearly true enough. The only problem is that designing a car is a competition - its you against the others designing cars out there for other makers. And those other cars are meeting the same goals, but doing it in more attractive ways that are garnering better sales as a result. The real issue is that a lazy approach is being taken to achieving all those things you mentioned. The folks in Torrance and Pasadena exist in a reality of their own creation and are refusing to acknowledge that the competition is kicking their asses... particularly at Acura... and that all has to do with Mendel's branding and concept for the Acura group. You know, when you go into a Kmart or Target (since someone used that analogy above) and things aren't working as they should, the first thing you say is you want to talk to who's in charge.
And dont dismiss TOV'ers, like some jug-headed Torrance marketing dolt. We constitute a lot of the faithful that buy Honda/Acuras vehicles, and influence others to do the same.
On a side note - the Cyrano comment was clever.
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Waldo
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sugaki wrote:
Sarcasm fail. I guess the A6 has leaf spring suspension, no front leg room, and fails safety tests then, amirite?
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However, because of the longitudinal engine placement, it does have 4 cu ft. less interior room and less front leg room than even the Accord. This allowed Audi to place the engine farther to the rear, but that intrudes on the cabin. Honda's goal for the new Acura RLX was to give it class leading interior room. The Audi doesn't even match the Accord.
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sugaki
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Waldo wrote:
However, because of the longitudinal engine placement, it does have 4 cu ft. less interior room and less front leg room than even the Accord. This allowed Audi to place the engine farther to the rear, but that intrudes on the cabin. Honda's goal for the new Acura RLX was to give it class leading interior room. The Audi doesn't even match the Accord.
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If that's the overarching reason why Honda didn't go with a longitudinal engine, they're stupid, simple as that.
By far the biggest reason why the RL didn't sell was because of style. It's the tragedy of Acura--amazing engineers, hopelessly bland/ugly design. Audi is where it is because of design execution. The Acura TL Type S is a much more enjoyable car to drive than the Audi A6. The A6 gently understeers at the limit (still a joy to drive) whereas the TL controls its rotation through SH-AWD. RL drives nice too, though its interior was really cheap.
If Acura took a look at the RL and thought "gee we need to make it bigger" for the RLX then that's epic /facepalm. The RLX needed style. Yes, even if that cuts into interior volume. At this rate, looks like they're eyeing the Azera and Avalon as the main competitors. Just don't see this thing succeeding.
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Waldo
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sugaki wrote:
If that's the overarching reason why Honda didn't go with a longitudinal engine, they're stupid, simple as that.
By far the biggest reason why the RL didn't sell was because of style. It's the tragedy of Acura--amazing engineers, hopelessly bland/ugly design. Audi is where it is because of design execution. The Acura TL Type S is a much more enjoyable car to drive than the Audi A6. The A6 gently understeers at the limit (still a joy to drive) whereas the TL controls its rotation through SH-AWD. RL drives nice too, though its interior was really cheap.
If Acura took a look at the RL and thought "gee we need to make it bigger" for the RLX then that's epic /facepalm. The RLX needed style. Yes, even if that cuts into interior volume. At this rate, looks like they're eyeing the Azera and Avalon as the main competitors. Just don't see this thing succeeding.
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Well, the RLX is not going to be the car you want. It will be competing as a distinctly larger luxury car. The size competition (not price or luxury) is the Avalon and Chrysler 300.
Lots of people (I'm not one of them) think the Audi style language is ugly. Their grille is just as controversial as Acura's, and the rest of the car is just pleasing with nothing particularly remarkable about the design.
There are many other people (I am one of them) who really don't see what the fuss is about front overhang. It is only an issue for people who have a certain view of what a car is supposed to be, and how they relate to being seen in one.
BTW, the Audi A6 has a 4" longer wheelbase than the RL. I've always heard that longer wheelbases have a negative effect on handling. Maybe Honda knows exactly what it is doing.
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Powered by Honda
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Same reason as the 500,000 Mid engine RWD Ferrari's
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