For the most positive change in the refresh of the 2009 Acura RL, the flagging flagship of Honda's luxury division that's making its production debut at the 2008 Chicago show, you'll need to look beyond its odd chrome snout and under the blow-formed aluminum hood. New for 2009 is the 3.7-liter, 300-horsepower VTEC V-6 that also powers the MDX, with 275 lb-ft of torque (up from 256 lb-ft on the 2008 RL) on tap.

2009 acura rl