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A hybrid with punch

Acura has just released its most powerful and technologically advanced car ever built in the form of a full-size luxury sedan.

Acura has just released its most powerful and technologically advanced car ever built in the form of a full-size luxury sedan.

Although the Acura RLX was introduced just last year and the standard model remains largely unchanged, the range-topping RLX Sport Hybrid joins Acura's flagship line-up as a true benchmark model.

In the luxury sedan market, Acura tends to go unnoticed, particularly in the upper end of the spectrum. But customers who seek something different than your neighbour's BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 or Cadillac CTS will find a lot to like in the RLX.

DesignThe most exciting new feature of the RLX Sport Hybrid is its powertrain. This new hybrid system is similar to the one that will power the soon to be introduced, highly anticipated Acura NSX.

On the surface, the RLX Sport Hybrid appears a lot like the standard luxury sedan. To set it apart, the grille has a dark chrome finish and "hybrid" badges adorn the front fenders.

Also, Acura's Jewel Eye LED headlights are standard and both the fog lights and turn signals are also LEDs.

The interior is also similar to the base model. However, the RLX Sport Hybrid is available with unique material finishes such as the exclusive chestnut wood grain trim.

PerformanceThe RLX Sport Hybrid's key selling point is Acura's claim that it is the most

powerful car built by this brand - ever.

Under the hood is the same 3.5-litre V-6 found in the standard RLX. Output is rated at 310 horsepower and 272 foot-pounds of torque. But that's where the similarities end. Mated to the V-6 is a new seven-speed dual clutch transmission with an integrated 35-kilowatt electric motor. And Acura didn't stop there. Two additional 27-kilowatt electric motors are mounted in the rear wheels. The three electric motors boost horsepower to 337 and torque to 377 foot-pounds.

Acura worked to ensure the system works seamlessly; the mechanical and electric power is constantly monitored and distributed to different wheels when they need it. The RLX Sport Hybrid comes standard with Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive and the system is calibrated to automatically bias the power to the outer wheels around a corner. This results in less understeer and more direct steering.

Not only will the AWD system meter out power but it will also brake the inside wheel if needed. While braking, the hybrid system will regenerate some energy as well, though unlike some other hybrids, the regenerative braking is very smooth and the pedal feels completely natural. The RLX Sport Hybrid certainly lives up to its name and provides a surprisingly pleasant driving experience, but it's also fuel efficient. Acura claims it is capable of V-8-like acceleration with a fuel economy of a four- cylinder engine vehicle.

Like other contemporary hybrid vehicles, the RLX Sport Hybrid is able to run in pure electric mode. And to make this Acura as efficient as possible, start-stop technology is standard.

EnvironmentMoving inside, the RLX Sport Hybrid is much more familiar.

The cabin is welcoming with its standard leather seating surfaces; the front seats are comfortable and supportive and are both heated and cooled. The rear seats are equally as comfortable and provide adequate legroom. Rear side window sunshades are standard to make the ride as pleasant as possible. The redesigned centre console houses the new electronic gear selector. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are also present to change gears when in manual mode. I was frustrated with the new electronic gear selector, however, as it was not intuitive and it felt odd every time I shifted from park to drive, or drive to reverse.

Other controls found in the centre stack are operated through Acura's twin screen interface. The top screen displays navigation and audio information and is controlled by the central mouse or voice command. The lower touchscreen controls the radio and a row of buttons below it adjusts the temperature. While I can see the logical reason for doing this, it took a while to get used to having two screens that displayed different information. In some ways, I feel that Acura has made the whole system more complex than necessary.

Features The RLX Sport Hybrid is the top-of-the-range model with prices starting at $72,164. Being the top model, it comes fully loaded with all available features as standard. Notable features include automatic climate control, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, auto dimming rearview mirrors, surround view camera system, forward collision warning system, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Fuel efficiency numbers (litres/100 kilometres) are 6.8 city, 6.3 highway for 6.5 combined.

Thumbs up The hybrid system seems complicated but it operates smoothly and is virtually undetectable to the driver. The driving experience is superb.

Thumbs down The RLX Sport Hybrid doesn't look "upscale," nor does it look more expensive than the cheaper TLX model.

The bottom line The 2015 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid is a cutting-edge luxury sedan that provides superb ride and excellent road manners.

CompetitorsBMW 5 Series The 5 Series has been in continuous production for several decades now, and each subsequent generation has improved on the latter. The 5 Series is the benchmark in this segment because of its ability to offer high levels of comfort, performance and practicality. Being the best comes at a price, and while a base 5 Series starts at $54,600, a fully loaded, top-of-the-line model is close to six figures. The handling is smooth but over-powered in some ways.

Lexus GS It wasn't that long ago that Lexus was criticized for being stale. Not anymore

with the brand's new restyling. The GS has an edgier appearance and a more luxurious interior, while the re-engineering makes the car more economical and more fun to drive.

A base model GS 350 begins at $59,450, but the more comparable GS 450h starts at $77,550.

Cadillac CTS The CTS comes with edgy styling and the heritage behind the Cadillac badge. The completely redesigned CTS sedan is significantly lighter which gives it more sporting ability along with its traditional comfort. Starting prices for the CTS sedan begin at $52,695 and range up to $76,295.

editor@automotivepress.com