Acura to Unveil Redesigned 2018 RLX and new ARX-05 Prototype Race Car at Monterey Automotive Week

• 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid with Acura Precision Concept-inspired styling to make world premiere
• Highly-anticipated Acura ARX-05 Daytona Prototype international (DPi) to be revealed at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, with appearances at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance concept lawn to follow

TORRANCE, Calif. – Acura will hold two global vehicle debuts during Monterey Automotive Week, August 15-20, showcasing Acura Precision Crafted Performance in both production and racing vehicles. Bringing the brand's premium, performance DNA to both the street and the racetrack with the redesigned 2018 RLX Sport Hybrid luxury sport sedan and the highly-anticipated Acura ARX-05 DPi prototype race car.

"We chose Monterey Automotive Week to launch Acura's newest vehicles because the week's events epitomize the celebration of the automobile," said Jon Ikeda, vice president & general manager for the Acura Division. "The Acura brand continues to gain momentum with a singular focus on our Precision Crafted Performance DNA, which is brought to life in captivating products like the RLX and the ARX-05 prototype."

2018 Acura RLX
The 2018 Acura RLX will make its global debut during the prestigious Monterey Automotive Week, August 15-19 on the Monterey peninsula. The new RLX incorporates design cues, such as the signature diamond pentagon grille from the Acura Precision Concept, that were reflected to other recently redesigned Acura models – the 2018 TLX sport sedan and 2017 MDX sport-utility vehicle.  In addition to the diamond pentagon grille, the 2018 RLX redesign is highlighted by a more sculpted hood, new wheel designs, newly designed LED taillights, dual exhaust finishers and gloss black rear diffusor.    

The 377-horsepower¹ Acura RLX Sport Hybrid is the most sophisticated and best performing Acura sedan ever. Sharing NSX supercar technology, RLX is available with Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All Wheel DriveÔ (Sport Hybrid SH-AWDÔ), delivering a powerful and precise driving experience unmatched in the segment. The new 2018 Acura RLX will go on sale in November.

Acura ARX-05
The ARX-05 marks Acura’s anticipated return to prototype racing. Along with legendary partner Team Penske, Acura will campaign two ARX-05 race cars in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, beginning with the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2018. 

The Acura ARX-05 [Acura Racing eXperimental, generation 5] is the latest in a successful line of endurance prototypes fielded by Acura beginning more than 25 years ago (1991). The prototype race car was styled by the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles, Calif., and the multi-year program will be administered by Honda Performance Development, the racing arm for both Acura Motorsports and Honda Racing in North America.

Carmel-By-The Sea Concours on the Avenue
Acura will kick-off the week's activities as the exclusive automotive sponsor of the Carmel-By-The Sea Concours on the Avenue on Tuesday, August 15. In its fifth year of participation in the event, Acura will showcase its lineup of performance luxury vehicles in Carmel's historic Devendorf Park, led by the public debut of the 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid. Other vehicles on display will include the 2017 NSX supercar, Road and Track magazine's 2017 Performance Car of the Year, its racing counterpart, the NSX GT3 (shown in exposed carbon for the first time in the U.S.), along with the 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid SUV, and the redesigned 2018 TLX A-Spec sport sedan.

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
Acura will once again be the premier automotive sponsor for The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, taking place on Friday, August 18 and will unveil the Acura ARX-05 prototype race car during a press conference at 11:15 a.m. featuring Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development and Roger Penske of Team Penske.

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering is one of the week's most esteemed events and in addition to the unveiling of the ARX-05 prototype, Acura will feature the 2017 NSX, NSX GT3 race car, as well as the 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid and new 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid. Guests of the event will have the opportunity to experience Acura’s Precision Crafted Performance first hand behind the wheel of the 2017 NSX via a ride-and-drive being held at The Quail Lodge & Golf Club.

Acura will also participate in The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering Rally event, August 14-16, with two 2017 Acura NSX supercars in an exclusive charity benefit featuring 30 of the world's top car collectors.

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
At this year's Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 17-20, Acura will showcase the brand's racing heritage with a display of historic race cars in the Acura garage; as well as the new Acura ARX-05 prototype race car on Saturday August 19.

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Finally, at the pinnacle Monterey Automotive Week event, the Acura ARX-05 prototype race car will be featured on the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance concept lawn. In addition, Dave Marek, Acura global creative director, will serve as a guest judge at this year's program.


Monterey Car Week

cidflekken - 8/15/2017 2:32:36 AM

+1 Boost

Well, the RLX does look better....for an RLX. Def looks better w/o the beak and the interior from other media pics has better wood and color choices. It might sell more than 200 in a month now. Sorry, Acura needs to ditch this and come up with a whole new flagship and quickly.

MDarringer - 8/15/2017 8:59:35 AM

-7 Boost

The RLX in person is so obviously a last-generation Accord with a bit more wheelbase, a new nose, and mildly reworked tail. You can see where the lengthening was added. It's almost like you're driving a prototype it's so badly done.

bw5011 - 8/15/2017 1:37:19 PM

+1 Boost

I had an 94 Integra GS-R.. Loved that car.. I had the 04, 05 and 06 TL.. Loved that car too (expect the transmission which sucked 2 failed).. I was waiting for the redesign of the RL and TL for 09 and that is when I decided that I would start looking somewhere else. Although I like the MDX and the latest RDX, I wouldn't buy one. The RLX looks better than the previous RLX but now it looks like a rebadged Kia. And not to take anything away from Kia, because they have descent looking cars for their price point. I am just not interested in buying now. Acura made a big change when they went from the Legend, Vigor and Integra.. They need to make another change and go back to their roots and also bring back a coupe. They can start with firing the entire design team.

Hawk - 8/15/2017 3:25:59 PM

-3 Boost

Did they rip off the Infiniti front end?

freeagent - 8/15/2017 6:17:30 PM

+2 Boost

why is it that Honda/Acura is so lost with its flagship sedan. They've all been losers since the 2nd gen Legend. This one, again, looks neither to be neither fish nor fowl. At least fix the reliability issues...

freeagent - 8/15/2017 6:18:53 PM

+2 Boost

nice grammer in that last one

TomM - 8/15/2017 6:24:31 PM

+2 Boost

The original Acura Legend was essentially the 6 cylinder Accord that Honda did not offer in the Accord at the time. The Legend also had upgraded interior appointments - and at the time Honda driving dynamics were top notch.

Honda later came out with other Acura Models that had performance engines not offered in their Honda equivalent (Like the Civic/Integra)

However - the lack of a V6 in he ACCORD - when virtually all other competition had one available- meant that the Legend really competed with high end version of several run of the mill mid-size sedans - like the Camry and Maxima. (At the time - Nissan had a sweat 3.0 liter V6 that was smooth and powerful too)THis cost the ACCORD sales - and reduced the value of the Up-market brand. WHen Honda finally had to allow the V6 in the real Accord - they never really took the time to add value to their Acura brand - and it fell by the wayside when Lexus entered the market.

Since then -with maybe the exception of the NSX - and the Big CUV - Acura has largely foisted a bunch of lackluster cars of no apparent extra value. I believe the Acura brand is lost to bad reputation - and it MIGHT be better for Honda to discontinue it - and start a new TOP Brand.

cidflekken - 8/15/2017 7:32:48 PM

+3 Boost

Sorry, but you are incorrect. The RL/Legend never competed with Camrys and Maximas. That is where the Vigor and original TL would have come into play. The Legend/RL was always viewed as an alternative to the lower-end 5 Series or E Class and the like. I do agree that Acura never bothered to try to increase the prestige level of its line and that has negatively affected it today. But rarely if ever did anyone cross-shop a Camry/Maxima with a Legend/RL.