Posted by AcuraImport on Tuesday, July 15 @ 21:25:00 EDT
Surprisingly enough it was not its engine, or its handling that impressed me most
about the new Acura RSX. It was the new sense of class and refinement that really grabbed my attention.
While its predecessor, the integra, was a solid reliable car, it was not really
designed for the comfort minded. It was a "few frills" pocket rocket with
limited luxury aspects and a fairly loud exhaust that could grow somewhat
irritating. Now the integra was no slouch in its day. In comparison, the RSX-S
is a step up, Acura has taken the Integra to a new level with the RSX. The ride
is better damped and controlled; the noise levels are reduced and what you still
hear has a more refined sound; the feeling of the materials in the interior -
dash, seats, carpet, etc. - are all a step up. Acura has truly made the RSX fit into a luxury lineup, something that could not be said of the 3rd generation Integra.
Most importantly this new level of class and refinement did not come at the
expense of the sporty performance the made the Integra famous. The new K20
engine is a screaming powerhouse just like its predecessor's B series engine,
when you push it it pulls with the best of them. One of the large faults with
the Integra was its poor low end torque numbers, an aspect that has been
improved with the RSX-S. The new chassis is still nimble and handles as well as,
if not better than the GS-R with better steering response and less body roll.
Acura also include a 6th gear for more relaxed highway cruising.
From an enthusiast's standpoint, this car has a lot of potential; then again it
would have to in order to succeed the famous Integra. at least as much potential
as the Integra GS-R did. The K20 engine has tremendous potential, boosting high
hp and low-end torque. That is thanks to the i-VTEC system, increased engine
displacement, and superior cylinder head design. The suspension design is quite good with excellent geometry and control. Better springs and struts, and tire upgrades will improve things just as they did on the Integra. Acura has also given the RSX a significant brake upgrade over the GS-R
with larger calipers and brake rotors. Just put on some better pads and some cooling ducts and you're ready for
some fun days at the track.
While the i-VTEC equipped K20 is a definitive step up from the B-series engine, Acura hasn't quite gotten
all the kinks out of the powerband. During testing we felt a distinct drop off
in power from 5k to 6k rpm. Unfortunately, I have yet to get an RSX to a dyno to
confirm my suspicions. Although, I have heard rumblings of a kink in the torque
curve around 5 to 6k rpm. I am inclined to believe that the kink is due to some
new emissions design, and if that is the case it is a simple matter of ECU
tweaking. All in all, thumbs up - Acura well done!
