But not when the driver jabs the gas pedal. The RL gets rolling in an exhilarating rush, and the subdued roar of the engine never lets anyone forget that it is a carefully crafted mechanical beast. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph comes in a quick 8 seconds flat. The RL's four-speed automatic shifts crisply and decisively, but never abruptly. Kickdown shifts are immediate. With good torque at all engine speeds, quick lane changes are easy work.

Ride quality may be the single most important issue for luxury car buyers, and the 3.5RL travels on the soft side. Yet it never wallows or floats over bumps, and it never allows the driver to forget that the tires are connected to the pavement. And if that driver gets a bit frisky or aggressive, the RL is up to the job. Steering is light, yet the car turns in quickly for a large, heavy sedan. It leans over a bit at turn-in, then takes a steady set and tracks through curves with authority. Large disc brakes at all four wheels keep stopping distances short and reduce brake fade. Measured by its willingness to be driven hard, the 3.5RL sits near the middle of the luxury car pack.

In all, the driving experience is exactly what one expects in a solid, well-tuned luxury sedan. Airflow managing tweaks on the front end, mirrors and undertray keep wind noise to a minimum, even at triple-digit speeds. The RL's front-wheel-drive layout offers inherent foul-weather advantages over rear-wheel drive, and Acura enhances that advantage with an effective traction control system that controls front wheel spin on slippery surfaces.

New for 2000 is Acura's Vehicle Stability Assist system. Like other such systems now on the market, VSA manages individual wheel braking forces and throttle control to maintain directional stability during hard cornering, sudden collision-avoidance maneuvers, or any sudden loss of traction. An RL owner needn't fear the onslaught of rain or snow.

Nor, with the optional navigation system, should he or she worry about finding a destination. The satellite-guided navigation system almost falls into the too-amazing-to-believe category. The menu is easy to use with a little practice. Punch in an address and in seconds the system calculates a route to get you there. Deviate from the prescribed route and it quickly recalculates. The display shows both a route map and directions for turns, with plenty of warning. The voice prompt, which can be turned on or off, has advantages, though it takes some getting used to. The system gets upgraded for 2000 with a larger, color LCD screen and a DVD player - an industry first. Detailed maps and instructions for the entire U.S. are now available on a single disk. Previously, dealers had to reprogram the system software if owners moved or wished to travel outside of their home region.