The TL already has most of those amenities. And do you mean sport shift instead of auto shift You raise a good point with the Hybrid thing, but I don't see how it can possibly be a let down. The reliability of the system has been proven several times over, and it comes with a 10 year warranty. Some truck space will obviously be forefeitted, but I'd take that compromise happily. I take issue on the RL not selling by styling (I think it is the best looking luxury car besides the S) and the Seville reference...have you ever read a review of that thing? To avoid torque steer, the steering is sworn to secrecy. I can't see a Hybrid AWD RL being a let down in any way except if something goes horribly wrong and it has 11 recalls in its first 3 years. But hey, the Focus has had that and it's still selling strong.
I did mean sport shift.
You make valid points about the reliability of a hybrid. However, the general public does not know all the stats that most people in this thread are discussing. The people buying an RL or other luxury car probably never heard of a hybrid. It may not be a new invention, but hybrids have been offered in the economy class. That raises two issues: (1) Yes, hybrids are reliable in small, unpowerful, unsophisticated, economic vehicles such as the insight, but how will it measure up when the car is much more powerful and sophisticated; and (2) People in the luxury car segment are not as concerned about fuel economy as the consumer looking at an insight. Therefore, unless they
fully understand hybrids and have confidence in their reliability, they may opt for something that they know and understand, the competitions V8!
To each his own regarding the styling of the RL. No pun intended, but the new S is DIRT! :barf: I'll take the 92-99 S over the new one any day! I'm not knocking the styling of the RL, I own one, so I must have seen something that I liked. It is a nice looking car, but very bland. The RL, like the new S does not jump out and grab you like the older S and more importantly, like the 91-95 Legends. The first time I saw a Legend I was in awe. :jawdrop: And it's still a great looking car.