Acura boldly asserts that, by the end of the 2001 model year, its all-new 3.2 CL will be the greatest selling import-brand coupe in the luxury car market. That prediction sounds brazen when you consider the competition: The
Volvo C70,
Mercedes-Benz CLK320 and
BMW 328Ci aren't exactly lightweights. The 328Ci in particular has long been a favorite among enthusiast drivers, and at this writing remains the greatest-selling car in the class. Undeterred, the engineers at
Acura claim their new CL is as smooth and quiet as cars costing $10,000 more.
We can tell you that, based on published figures, the CL has more horsepower than the competition. After driving the CL on the greatest roads central Texas has to offer, we can also tell you that the 3.2 CL is built like a fine watch and is more than pleasant to drive. Finally, we can tell you that, similarly equipped, the CL costs several thousand dollars less than the least expensive car among the competitors named above.
Maybe the folks at Acura aren't just blowing smoke.
The CL is available in two distinct models, both of which are very well equipped. In fact, only one option is available: Acura's $2,000 DVD-based Global Positioning Satellite navigation system.
At $27,980, the standard 3.2 CL coupe has virtually all the features buyers expect in a more expensive luxury car.
At $30,300, CL Type S comes with a higher-revving V6 engine that makes 35 horsepower more than the standard CL's V6. The Type S suspension is tuned for more responsive handling, and it features Acura's anti-skid stability electronics.
A coupe is supposed to look sexy, or at least a bit racy compared to the typical sedan. The CL may not be avant-garde in its styling, but it's clean and attractive. Sexy? Let the buyer decide.
The CL shares mechanical components with Acura's mid-sized TL near-luxury sedan, but none of the TL's body panels. The coupe is lower, with a longer hood and shorter rear deck than the sedan.
Structural enhancements inside the CL's body shell are designed to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. There's a fiberglass liner under the hood, asphalt sheeting in strategic areas around the cabin and electrically controlled hydraulic engine mounts that vary dampening rates at different engine speeds. Acura's engineers claim the 3.2 CL is quieter than the C70, CLK or 328Ci. Measured by finish quality, the 3.2 CL is a gem. Panels and seams on our test car matched flawlessly, and the paint had a deep luster.
The CL follows Acura's proven chassis layout: front-wheel drive with wishbone-type fully independent strut suspension and disc brakes at all four wheels. Its 3.2-liter V6 is free-revving with dual-overhead cams and multi-valves. The standard CL makes 225 horsepower, which is a lot of power for this class. The Type S, thanks a number of subtle engine tweaks, makes an even more impressive 260 horsepower. Those tweaks include a higher volume intake system, less restrictive exhaust pipes, higher compression (10.5:1 vs. 9.8:1) and a higher redline (6900 rpm vs. 6300 rpm).
Type S gets larger 17-inch aluminum wheels with Michelin all-season tires. Its springs and shock absorbers are stiffer than the standard CL's. Acura's Vehicle Stability Assist system, exclusive to the Type S, automatically applies the brake at one corner to tighten the trajectory of either the front or rear end in skid-inducing driving conditions.
Both CLs feature a five-speed automatic transmission with a sequential shift slot that allows a driver to manually click through the gears. Neither offers a work-the-clutch, fully manual transmission.
Every CL comes with features that aren't always expected below the $40,000 barrier. Both front seats feature seat-position memory; the mirrors are linked to this system as well. All CLs have heated front seats, a sunroof, Xenon headlamps and a six-disc, no-magazine in-dash CD changer.
