2013 Acura RLX Flagship Will Debut at 2012 New York Auto Show

Honda's premium Acura, as expected, will pull the covers off its new flagship sedan, dubbed RLX, at the 2012 New York Auto Show. To be displayed in concept form, the 2013 RLX will go on sale this fall at U.S. dealers.

In a brief statement, the automaker said its big luxury sedan will feature "an array of new Acura technologies, including the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system" while delivering "an entirely new level of performance, sophistication and comfort."

Acura officials last year told Inside Line that the RL replacement will be larger than the current car and will have best-in-class legroom, combining the cabin space of a BMW 7 Series sedan with the agility of a 5 Series.

The car will offer a choice of a new V6 gasoline engine or a V6 hybrid system with all-wheel drive. The new SH-AWD hybrid system will be offered on both the 2013 RLX and the next-generation Acura NSX.

Honda said the hybrid system "was developed for large-sized vehicles." The system bundles a 3.5-liter V6 engine with an electric four-wheel-drive system, a 20kW motor on each of the rear wheels and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The SH-AWD hybrid system also gets a high-performance lithium-ion battery and will provide "acceleration equivalent to V8 engines, as well as fuel efficiency equal or superior to inline four-cylinder engines," the company said.