Acura CL
2nd-gen Acura CL
Overview
Manufacturer	Acura
Production	1996–2003
Assembly	East Liberty, Ohio, United States
Body and chassis
Class	Personal luxury car Executive car (E)
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	FF
Doors	2
Chronology
Predecessor	Acura Legend (coupe)
Successor	Acura TL

The Acura CL is a midsize grand tourer manufactured by Honda's Acura brand from 1996 until 2003. The CL is often thought to have been a replacement for the Acura Legend coupe. It was not directly related to the first gen TL either, a Japanese-built model which replaced the Vigor and had a longitudinal engine layout. With the advent of the second generation TL in 1999, the transverse engined CL became more precisely a TL coupe.^[1] All Acura CLs were built at Honda's plant in East Liberty, Ohio, which is also the plant that builds the Honda Civic. The second generation TL and the Honda Accord upon which the Acura CLs were based, are built at Honda's plant in Marysville, Ohio, a few miles away from East Liberty. The CL was the first Acura to be built in the United States.

Following the end of the 1995 model year, the Acura Legend coupe disappeared from Acura's lineup when the sedan version was renamed the Acura RL. The CL was not a direct replacement for the Legend coupe as it no longer shared the same chassis as its sedan counterpart, and was not made in Japan, unlike the RL. Because Acura no longer had a suitable Legend coupe replacement, they created this vehicle. With the release of the TL and 3.5RL in 1996, Acura transitioned to alphanumeric and/or two-letter names, naming of all of its vehicles (with the exception of the Integra which kept its name until the 2001 model year). Although the CL was considered to be a satisfactory vehicle, it never gained traction or popularity like the other Acura coupes.

First generation (1996–1999)

First generation (YA1)
1998–1999 Acura CL
Overview
Production	February 19, 1996–1999[2]
Model years	1997–1999
Body and chassis
Related	Acura TL Honda Accord Honda Odyssey Isuzu Aska Isuzu Oasis
Powertrain
Engine	2.2 L F22B1 I4 2.3 L F23A1 I4 3.0 L J30A1 V6
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	106.9 in (2,715 mm)
Length	190.0 in (4,826 mm)
Width	70.1 in (1,781 mm)
Height	54.7 in (1,389 mm)
Curb weight	3,064 lb (1,390 kg) (I-4) 3,285 lb (1,490 kg) (V6)

For the 1997 model year, early models having been licensed as 1996 models, the CL was offered with either a 3.0 L J30 V6 producing 200 hp (149 kW), or a 145 hp (108 kW) 2.2 L (F22B1) I4 engine.^[3] The 1998 and 1999 models featured a 2.3 L 4-cylinder (F23A1) engine with 150 hp (112 kW).^[4]

1996–1997 Acura CL

Rear view

Both the 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder CL offered a "Premium" trim level which offered leather upholstery (with heated front seats in the 3.0), and in the 3.0, an Acura/Bose stereo. For the 1999 model year, the "Premium" trim level was eliminated, and leather upholstery became standard on all models, as was a trunk cargo net.^[4] The alloy wheel design was different on the 3.0 for each year, moving from a five-spoke design (MY 1997) to a seven-spoke design (MY 1998), to a different multi-spoke alloy design for the 1999 model year. The 2.2/2.3 CL used a six-spoke design for 1997, then moved to a 5-spoke double-prong design for 1998 and 1999. The 4-cylinder model had an option for a 5-speed manual transmission.^[3] The CL also featured galvanized body panels which helps to prevent rust.

• 1996–1999 Acura CL 3.0 L V6 – 200 hp (149 kW)
• 1996–1997 Acura CL 2.2 L I4 – 145 hp (108 kW)
• 1997–1999 Acura CL 2.3 L I4 – 150 hp (112 kW)

Second generation (2000–2003)

Second generation (YA4)
2000–2003 Acura CL
Overview
Production	January 2000–2003
Model years	2001–2003
Designer	Donald Herner, Harumi Okano, Kunihiko Tachibana (1997) [5]
Body and chassis
Related	Acura TL Honda Accord Honda Pilot Honda Odyssey
Powertrain
Engine	3.2 L SOHC VTEC J-series V6
Transmission	5-speed automatic 6-speed manual (2003 only)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	106.9 in (2,715 mm)
Length	192.0 in (4,877 mm)
Width	70.6 in (1,793 mm)
Height	55.5 in (1,410 mm)
Curb weight	3,450 lb (1,565 kg)

For the 1999 model year, the Acura CL's sibling, the TL, was redesigned. The CL, however, was never produced as a 2000 model and instead in March 2000 the completely redesigned Acura CL was released as a 2001 model featuring a 3.2 L SOHC VTEC J-series V6. A navigation system was also available along with the Type-S model, denoting Acura's 'Sport' edition. While the regular CL featured a 225 hp (168 kW) V6, the Type-S boasted a 260 hp (194 kW) V6 with 17-inch wheels, a firmer suspension, slightly larger brakes, and firmer seats. At the time, the Type-S was the most powerful front-wheel drive vehicle Honda had ever manufactured.^[6]

In 2002, the CL Type-S was offered, as a 2003 model, with a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission with a helical limited-slip differential. The 6-speed CL deleted some minor interior features from the automatic, such as a center console light. Also, the heated seats only featured one heat setting (vs. high and low in the auto). VSA and TCS were also not found on the 6-speed car, and as such, a 3-channel ABS unit was used. One of the main criticisms of the CL was that a manual transmission had been dropped when the car was redesigned for the 2001 model year. Very few manual transmission models were built; there were 2,690 without navigation and 824 with navigation, for a total of 3,514 in the US market. An additional 331 cars were produced for the Canadian market, all without navigation.^[7] Despite such small numbers of manual transmissions, there was still a greater demand than Acura had expected. The 6-speed car was highly praised by critics, with one calling it "the high point of Acura performance outside the NSX and Integra Type-R".^[8] However, with the CL's sister car, the TL, coming up on a redesign for the 2004 model year, the CL was dropped from Acura's lineup and to this day Acura has no mid-size luxury coupe replacement. Total Acura CL sales from 2000 until 2003, when the last new model was sold, was less than 31,000 units. The CL's manual transmission survives in the 3rd generation TL and 7th generation Honda Accord.

2003 Acura CL

Rear view

The model year 2003 also saw cosmetic changes to the CL. The 5-watt road/fog lamps found on the 2001–02 models were deleted, and non-functional air vents were installed in their place. The grille surround and door handles were now body color, as opposed to being chrome on the 01–02. The side mirrors were also redesigned (for both the 2002 and 2003 models) by having a more square shape, full-body matched paint, and tinted glass since customers had complained about excessive wind noise coming from the mirror seam. The 2003 models also saw new headlights which now featured a blacked-out interior, and the taillight lenses had a cleared turn signal and reverse light. Type-S's now included updated 17 × 7" 12-spoke wheels. Revised thicker exhaust tips were also a new addition. Canadian CLs offer daytime running lights and a windshield washer fluid level sensor as standard equipment (USDM CLs do not have these as an option).

• 2000–2003 Acura 3.2 CL – 225 hp (168 kW), 217 lb⋅ft (294 N⋅m) mpg: 17 city/27 hwy. (5AT)
• 2000–2003 Acura 3.2 CL Type S – 260 hp (194 kW) at 6,100 rpm, 232 lb⋅ft (315 N⋅m) at 3,500–5,500 rpm. mpg: 19 city/29 hwy (6MT),^[9] 17 city/27 hwy. (5AT)

Sales

References

External links

• Media related to Acura CL at Wikimedia Commons