OVERVIEW
The 3.5RL is not just the most luxurious and impressive Acura sedan
ever built; it also represents the ultimate in state-of-the-art
safety engineering for automobiles in its class. Advances in strength
and rigidity of the unit-body structure, as well as innovations in
side-impact protection and airbag technology make the 3.5RL as safe
and secure as it is comfortable and gratifying to drive. And, for
increased driver control, standard equipment includes an Antilock
Braking System (ABS) and a Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system that
incorporates traction control functions.
DUAL AIR BAGS AND AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS
Three-point lap-and-shoulder primary belts are provided at all
seating positions. A dual front airbag Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) helps to protect the driver and front passenger in a moderate
to severe frontal impact, and automatic seat belt pretensioners help
keep front passengers firmly in position in order to take advantage
of the protection afforded by the air bag system.
DUAL-STAGE PASSENGER AIR BAG
To enhance the protection of the front seat passenger during a
variety of frontal impact collisions, varying air bag deployment
power is used in the RL. The Honda R&D designed system, which
uses a dual-stage inflator, is the first such design ever to be used
on an automobile and automatically adjusts the deployment of the
front passenger SRS airbag based on the severity of the crash. During
a slower speed collision, the dual-stage inflator system for the
dash-mounted air bag is triggered in sequence, resulting in slower
overall air bag deployment with less initial force. During a higher
speed collision, both inflators operate simultaneously for full
immediate inflation, to correspond with the greater impact force.
The airbag system logic also controls the operation of the seatbelt pretensioners which automatically tighten the seatbelts during a collision to help hold occupants in place. An additional new feature designed into the system also detects whether the passenger's seat belt is fastened. If the passenger seatbelt is not fastened, the air bag deploys in dual stage but very close to a full force single deployment speed to offer more protection to the unbelted occupant.
SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM
The RL features seat-mounted side air bags for the driver and front
seat passenger. The front passenger seat is equipped with an
innovative occupant position detection system designed to disable
side air bag deployment and prevent injury to a small child if they
lean their head into the side air bag deployment path. A series of
seven sensors in the passenger seatback determine the size and
position of the occupant to assist the system in determining if it is
safe to deploy the side air bag. If the child is in the deployment
path of the side air bag, the system will disable the side air bag
from inflating. If the child returns to an upright seating position,
the side airbag will reactivate so it can deploy and protect the
child in a side impact.
SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION
Dual anti-intrusion beams in the front doors, as well as expanded
polypropylene hip and shoulder pads, built into the door structure,
help protect front- and rear-seat passengers in a possible lateral
collision. Anti-intrusion door beams are also used in the rear doors.
And innovative, expanded polystyrene liners, installed above the
front doors and inside the A-pillars, help give front-seat passengers
added head protection in side-impact situations.
NEW REAR CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS
To allow a child seat to be securely positioned in any of the back
seat positions, seat tether anchors are standard in the RL.
FRONT AND REAR CRUMPLE ZONES
The RL's structure is designed to deform progressively in both front
and rear impacts, letting the front and rear sections absorb the
energy of a collision while helping to keep the highly rigid
center-passenger section intact. Straight frame rails, front and
rear, give the structure the strength necessary to help the RL
withstand offset collisions at either end, with reduced possibilities
for passenger injury.
XENON HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS
The RL features Xenon High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with
double the total illuminating power of conventional halogen
headlamps, enhancing visibility and active safety performance.
Standard fog lamps are integrated into the bumper fascia for improved
performance in combination with the HID headlights. The HID headlight
bulbs also last twice as long as halogen bulbs and require less
energy to operate.