OVERVIEW
The 3.5 RL body design has been honed to perfection. While
displaying
a muscular stance and dynamic appearance, it maintains an
enduring
elegance and sophistication. The body of the 3.5 RL provides
generous
interior space and headroom, especially in the rear seats,
coupled
with a more substantial exterior appearance. With body-colored
lower
side sills, splash guards, and roof strips, the 3.5 RL has a
strongly
masculine appearance, with an efficient, aerodynamic front
grille/fender/bumper area.
With an extremely low drag coefficient of 0.32 and a lift coefficient of 0.102, the RL offers impressive high-speed stability and a quiet interior environment.
PRECISE FIT AND FINISH
The RL is engineered and assembled to have a level of fit and
finish
second to none in the luxury sedan class. Panels have been
combined
and integrated, wherever possible, to eliminate gaps and
seams.
VISIBILITY
The tall, spacious-feeling greenhouse of the RL is designed to
give
the driver and passengers a clear, panoramic view of the road
ahead
and the surroundings to the sides and rear for enhanced safety.
The
driver's front, side and rear views are largely unobstructed, due
to
slim, yet highly rigid, roof pillars. The body is designed to give
the driver a clear sense of the boundaries of the car, for more
secure maneuvering and parking.
UNDER-CHASSIS SPOILER
A special spoiler, located immediately behind the front bumper,
streamlines airflow under the RL, reducing the high-pressure air
under the front of the body and diverting it to flow around the
sides
and over the top of the vehicle. This reduces drag and front-end
lift
and also reduces wind noise, helping to give the RL a
remarkably
quiet interior, even at high speeds.
PAINT PROCESS AND CORROSION PROTECTION
The RL is built with a high proportion of galvanized steel panels,
most of them galvanized on both sides for superior corrosion
protection. All visible surfaces are protected by a 23-step, 4-coat,
4-bake paint process, with special antichip primer and
chip-resistant
paint used in areas that are likely to be struck by stones or other
debris. The paint process is so precise and exacting that
painting
personnel wear special contamination-free clothing while
working and
are regularly checked for colognes or other cosmetic chemicals
that
might cause the slightest contamination of the painting
environment.
Chassis panels are protected by corrosion-resistant
undercoating
material, and body cavities are injected with an oil-based
anticorrosion wax that displaces moisture for even better
protection.
With the addition of three new exterior colors, Aerial Blue, New Gray Pearl, and Marble Beige Pearl, the 2003 RL is available in seven total exterior colors including: Indigo Blue Pearl, Nighthawk Black Pearl, Premium White Pearl, and Satin Silver Metallic, New Gray Pearl
CRYSTAL-FACETED TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY
The ultra-high quality appearance of the RL is enhanced by a
special
crystal structure cast into the inner surface of the RL rear
outer-lens assembly. For 2003, the RL gets a redesigned
taillight
with a clear turn signal portion.
SIDE-MIRROR AIR DEFLECTORS
RL side rearview mirrors underscore the extraordinary lengths
taken
to reduce wind noise. The side rearview mirrors are designed
with a
small wind deflector, or spoiler, that directs oncoming air down
and
away from the mirror assembly. By separating or breaking up the
airflow under the mirror, the deflector reduces the pressure
between
the air rushing around the mirror housing and the still air behind
the mirror, eliminating the "whistling" effect that has been
identified as a cause of wind noise in the wind tunnel.
AUTO-OPEN POWER MOONROOF
The RL's innovative power moonroof consists of an outer
moonroof
panel with one-touch tilt or open controls. Heat-rejecting privacy
glass is used, and the moonroof is programmed to pause at the
130 mm
position during closing to help ensure passenger safety.