The 1998 Acura CL Series two-door sport-luxury coupe marks a significant milestone in the company's history. Conceived specifically with the needs and tastes of American buyers in mind, the CL Series is the first Acura model to be designed and engineered entirely in the United States. In addition, building upon Acura's commitment to the American market, the CL Series is manufactured exclusively in East Liberty, Ohio.
The CL Series was created to appeal to what Acura has identified as a growing number of American consumers interested in the concept of a stylish, personalized sport-luxury coupe, but with limited buying options in the mid-luxury coupe segment. Also, within the Acura lineup itself, the CL Series is designed to bridge the gap between the youthful, performance-oriented Acura Integra and the more luxurious and refined Acura TL Series--blending key qualities of each car into one distinctive, appealing package.
To fulfill that mission, the CL Series combines an exciting interior and exterior design, lively throttle response, and precise handling with an unusually high level of standard luxury and convenience features. Perhaps most important, the CL is priced to deliver exceptional value for the dollar.
The CL is the product of a unique development process. The American-based design, engineering, and manufacturing teams worked as a cohesive unit throughout the CL's evolution, contributing significantly to cutting costs, meeting the project's lofty quality targets, and achieving the unique balance of luxury and performance originally envisioned for the CL Series.
The CL is intended to compete against such other sporting coupes as the BMW 318is and 328is and the Lexus SC300.
With its impressive portfolio of features and capabilities, the CL coupe is leading a resurgence in the mid-luxury coupe market, and will further strengthen Acura's position as the premier Japanese luxury/performance nameplate in the United States.
For 1998 the CL receives several improvements including a new larger, more powerful 2.3-liter engine and additional standard features, such as an immobilizer anti-theft system, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and more.
CONCEPTS AND GOALS
The CL Series is designed to provide:
- A stylish, distinctive, high-value alternative for buyers shopping in the mid-luxury coupe segment.
- An exceptionally high level of comfort and convenience items as standard equipment.
- Spirited performance combined with outstanding drivetrain refinement and excellent fuel economy.
- Sophisticated and elegant exterior styling, using a new front grille, body colored front and rear skirts, body colored side sill, flush-mounted window glass and door handles, a distinctive center character line, and a bold tail lamp design.
- A personal yet comfortable interior, with room for four adults, handsome materials, and a warm ambiance accented by wood-grain trim and a host of luxury amenities.
- Exceptionally high body rigidity, for improved handling precision, freedom from vibration, and excellent noise isolation.
- Precise, responsive handling dynamics combined with a forgiving and compliant ride.
- A high level of safety, utilizing a full complement of safety systems.
OVERVIEW
The CL Series, available exclusively in a 2-door coupe body
style,
comes in two variations: the 2.3CL and the 3.0CL. The CL Series
has
the highest standard feature content in its class, with both
models
including an Automatic Climate Control System, a premium
AM/FM stereo
system with in-dash CD player, a power driver's seat, power
windows
and door mirrors, a power tilt/sliding glass moonroof, and a
remote
keyless entry and security system. With the Premium Package,
both the
2.3CL and 3.0CL come outfitted with leather trimmed interiors
and
heated front seats on the 3.0CL. An electronically controlled
4-speed
automatic transmission is optional on the 2.3CL, and standard
on the
3.0CL.
The luxury-oriented 3.0CL is powered by an all-new, SOHC 3.0-liter V-6 engine with the exclusive Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) system. Developed jointly in the United States and Japan, the engine is built at the Anna Engine Plant in Anna, Ohio. Designed for light weight, compactness, excellent performance, and high fuel economy, the V-6 features a 60-degree layout, all-aluminum construction, and four valves per cylinder. Output is 200 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 195 lbs-ft of torque at 4800 rpm. The engine mates to a standard electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission equipped with the Grade Logic Control System. In keeping with its luxury status, the 3.0CL complements its many standard features with an 8-way power driver's seat with power walk-in and a unique "autoposition" feature, and a 100-watt, 6-speaker Acura/BoseAE music system.
The sporty, driver-oriented 2.3CL is powered by an all new all-aluminum, single-overhead-camshaft, 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder. Output is 150 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 154 lbs-ft of torque at 4800 rpm. The engine utilizes the exclusive Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) system, first developed for the NSX exotic sports car, to provide an impressive balance of low-rpm torque, high-rpm power, and efficient fuel economy.
The engines on both the 2.3CL and 3.0CL are so technologically advanced that they do not require a scheduled tune-up for the first 100,000 miles.
The standard transmission on the 2.3CL is a 5-speed manual. A new electronically controlled 4-speed automatic, with Grade Logic Control System is optional. The Grade Logic Control System is utilized for reduced gear "hunting" while driving uphill or downhill. When descending steep grades, for instance, the system automatically selects the proper transmission gear for enhanced engine braking.
Both CL models utilize a front-wheel-drive layout for excellent handling stability, superior traction on slippery road surfaces, and an efficient, lightweight overall package. The CL also features a 4-wheel double-wishbone suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, a standard Acura-designed Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), and a standard driver's and front passenger's air bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).
For outstanding dynamic rigidity, the structure of the CL has been designed with numerous reinforcements in critical areas, resulting in a solid, vibration-free unit-body that delivers a quiet interior environment while also enhancing handling response by maintaining precise suspension geometry over changing road surfaces.