Five distinct vehicles comprise the 2006 fleet from Acura, a marque of luxury and performance vehicles derived from Honda of Japan. The diverse collection ranges from Acura's elegant full-size flagship RL sedan to a racy RSX sports hatchback coupe and two more four-doors -- the mid-size TL performance luxury sedan and compact-class TSX sports sedan -- plus a cushy mid-size crossover SUV called MDX.

Acura's top model, a lavishly equipped full-size sedan, packs a powerful engine and an intelligent all-wheel-drive (AWD) system which can disburse the engine's torque not only to wheels fore and aft but the left or right ones too. RL's aluminum V6 plant, displacing 3.5 liters with drive-by-wire throttle and VTEC (Variable valve Timing and lift Electronic Control) system, nets 290 hp for 2006. All muscle from this engine is controlled through a five-speed Sequential SportShift automatic transmission with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

Acura creates an optional Technology Package for 2006 RL issues that installs a Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with grille-mounted radar unit, motorized seatbelt pretentioners and automatic braking system. Other features of the package include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Michelin PAX Run-Flat Tires. RL also carries as standard gear an adaptive front lighting system (AFS) with xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.

Consider the chic TL a car of malleable character -- a keen performer if you wish to romp but also a plush ride with haute-cush gear aboard. Acura defines it as a mid-size performance sedan for the near-luxury category. It's capable of performing hard-wrought maneuvers like a sports car, although the content of a five-seat passenger compartment -- with soft leather on seats and sophisticated electronic controls governing climate and sound and navigation equipment -- portrays a conflicting image of elegant, even luxurious, motoring.TL's aluminum V6 engine displaces 3.2 liters with overhead camshafts, drive-by-wire throttle and VTEC technology.

For 2006, the plant rates at 258 hp with an automatic five-speed transmission adding SportShift override for manual shifts without clutching when desired. A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) applies to 2006 issues of the TL, plus new paint choices like Alabaster Silver Metallic.

Keen new exterior lines define the 2006 issues of Acura's compact-class sports sedan with a fresh front fascia and integrated foglamps, swoopy side sills plus new nine-spoke alloy wheels. Engine output rises too -- it bumps to 205 hp from a twin-cam 2.4-liter in-line-four plant with close-ratio six-speed manual shifter or no-load electronic automatic five-speed Sequential SportShift. Electronic Brake Assist (EBA) has been added as standard hardware for 2006 on the TSX, which also carries Honda's vehicle stability assist (VSA) equipment operating in conjunction with an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and traction control system (TCS).

The five-seat cockpit - with bolstered sport bucket seats clad in perforated leather - also gets a make-over this year. There's a sports steering wheel aboard plus restyled gauges in the instrument panel and an auxiliary audio jack for connecting a digital music player to the audio system.

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