Luxist Drives the Acura ZDX, Replies "Y-e-s."

Well this was unexpected: we spent a week in the Acura ZDX and it was terrific. We hadn't given any thought to the quizzical SUV-meets-flying-saucer-looking ride, and that emptiness of mind continued right up to the moment we opened the front door and realized that the roof of the ZDX sits above the driver's seat almost like the roof on the Aston Martin DBS Carbon Black we were just in. Except for the cabin being about a foot higher off the ground, which completely screwed up our reference points. But even though we're still not exactly sure of what it is, we know we liked it, and that's what this thing called life is really all about, no?

Acura ZDX is stylish - at a price

Acura

The new-for-2010 Acura ZDX offers a sleek design, but the sloping roof and long doors hamper space.

The new-for-2010 car pushes the styling envelope with a sleek, coupelike body that rides high above the pavement, like a sport utility vehicle. The trade-offs, however, include compromised visibility out the back and lengthy front doors that can bang into adjacent cars in parking lots when passengers try to exit the vehicle.

The ZDX comes with the most modernly luxurious interior of any Acura, including handsome, closed-loop carpeting and hand-applied leather strips on the dashboard. Back-seat room is surprisingly cramped, and the roofline can cause passengers to bump their heads as they enter.

With a starting price, including destination charge, of $46,305, the ZDX is $1,335 less than the base price of Acura's most expensive vehicle, the RL sedan.

Such lofty pricing puts the five-seater, which comes standard with a 300-horsepower V-6, six-speed automatic transmission, leather-trimmed seats and all-wheel drive, in the company of other high-brow luxury crossovers.

Acura officials reportedly expect only 6,000 ZDX sales annually, which would make it the second-lowest-volume Acura after the RL.

Despite its looks, this newest Acura uses some familiar Acura parts. It rides on the platform that's used by the eight-passenger MDX, and the ZDX is powered by the 3.7-liter, single overhead cam V-6 that's in the MDX.

The two Acuras, in addition to the RL, use the company's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, which can distribute engine torque between front and rear wheels and between right-side and left-side wheels. The ZDX weighs almost as much as the MDX, too -- 4,424 pounds, compared with the MDX's 4,550 pounds.

And yet, the ZDX is less of a utility vehicle. It can tow just 1,500 pounds.

The test car was comfortable, though still let in some road bumps, when its suspension was set on "comfort" mode. When moved to the "sport" mode, the firmness in the ride became pronounced, with passengers feeling some road bumps sharply. The different mode settings change damper settings on the suspension and steering. In "comfort" mode, the steering on the tester had a light feel.

The interior was decently quiet, even as the ZDX rode on the biggest standard tires ever on an Acura -- 19-inch Michelin all-season tires. The vehicle's raked profile kept wind noise at a minimum. Like several other Hondas, the ZDX includes an active noise-control system.

It was awkward to step over the sills at the doorway entrances of this crossover. I also disliked the smallness of the side windows in the doors and both the thickness and positioning of the metal pillars around the windshield.

The rear window was constricted, too, providing limited views of cars behind. In fact, when cars pulled up right behind, I couldn't see their headlights or hood, only their windshield and roof.

Excitement builds for Acura's ZDX

2010 Acura ZDX

2010 Acura ZDX

2010 Acura ZDX

2010 Acura ZDX

The all-new 2010 ZDX four-door sports coupe is set to go on sale at Acura dealerships on Dec. 15 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price starting at $45,495, plus a destination and handling charge of $810.

Designed, developed and manufactured in North America, the ZDX has already generated a tremendous amount of excitement since its world debut at the New York Auto Show in April, thanks to its stunning coupelike styling combined with flexible utility, a commanding presence and outstanding performance.

"Acura dealers are seeing strong interest from customers for the ZDX well before its official on-sale date," said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. "The ZDX is like nothing you have ever seen before from Acura."

The ZDX will be available in three trim packages, the well-equipped ZDX; ZDX with Technology Package; and the ZDX with Advance Package. Highlights of standard features on the ZDX include the world's longest panoramic glass roof, concealed rear door handles, and a hand-stitched leather dash, center console and door panels. Powering every ZDX is a 3.7-liter VTEC V-6 that generates 300 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque while achieving a class-leading EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 16/23 mpg. Standard on every ZDX is Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system that provides outstanding handling as well as excellent all-season capability.

The ZDX with Technology Package adds an Acura Navigation System with voice recognition, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with traffic rerouting, AcuraLink Real-Time Weather with radar image maps, a full VGA display screen and an innovative new multiview rear camera. Additionally, the technology package includes an upgraded Acura/ELS Surround 415-watt premium audio system with a built-in 15-gigabyte hard disk drive media storage system (that allows the ZDX owner to download and store up to 3,500 songs), a GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system and keyless access system (with Smart Entry and push button ignition).

In addition to the features found in the technology package, the advance package adds several premium technologies including a new blind-spot information system, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigating braking system, an integrated dynamic system active damper system, heated and ventilated front seats with perforated milano premium leather seating surfaces, premium brushed tricot headliner material and a sport steering wheel.

First Close Up Look At The Production Acura ZDX

One of the new vehicles at the 2009 OC Auto Show was the production Acura ZDX.

Take a look at the Photos as we give you a closer look and tell us your opinion of how it turned out.

I found it much more attractive and thought the quality of the materials inside it were 10 times better than any Acura we'd ever been inside.

The carpeting was Range Rover quality and the leather dash and stitching was more of what you'd see in a BMW individual car.

I think it turned out nice and will sway many FX buyers who think the ride is too stiff and other SUV buyers who think the ride is too soft in theirs.

Yes the beak doesn't get any less bothersome in person but all in all, I think it works best on this car and I think many dealers will paint them so they disappear.

I think it will sell for them...I kind of think is the their SUV interpretation of the Legend.

I has that presence in real life and I always like the legend.

Canadian-built Acura ZDX arriving this winter

The 2010 Acura ZDX four-door sports coupe will arrive at Acura dealerships in Canada this winter.

First introduced at the New York Auto Show this past April, the ZDX will feature "a panoramic glass roof, hidden rear door handles and bold fender flares," reads the official press release.

The ZDX will be produced at the Honda of Canada Mfg. assembly plant in Alliston, Ontario.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

Along with dynamic styling, the ZDX will boast outstanding performance from a 3.7-litre V-6 engine combined with an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission. The 3.7-litre SOHC V-6 all-aluminum engine will generate 300 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque for quick acceleration response, outstanding low- and mid-range torque, and superior high-rpm power.

The new 6-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters gives the ZDX excellent acceleration while also enhancing fuel economy. Standard on the ZDX is Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system. The SH-AWD® system expands the ZDX's appeal by providing outstanding handling as well as excellent all-season capability. Standard on the ZDX are 19-inch, 7-spoke alloy wheels; the largest standard wheel in the Acura lineup....

The flexible utility of ZDX allows great utility, coupled with sleek styling. The ZDX can seat up to five adults while maintaining a generous amount of cargo space behind the second row of seats. The cargo area can also be expanded to accommodate longer objects, such as golf bags, by removing side panels in the cargo-compartment sidewalls. As an added bonus, there is an integrated under-floor storage area.

The Canadian-built Acura ZDX will be available in two distinct trim levels: ZDX & ZDX with Technology Package. Like all Acura models, the ZDX will come generously equipped from the start. The panoramic glass roof with moveable sunshades, hand-stitched leather interior, HandsFreeLink™ Bluetooth® connectivity, power tailgate, and a high powered audio system with CD player, AM/FM/XM radio, and USB audio interface with iPod® integration are all standard features.

The ZDX with Technology Package adds several features, including a Navigation System with Bilingual Voice Recognition™, an Acura/ELS Surround® premium audio system and a new multi-view rear camera.

Acura ZDX at 2009 New York Autoshow photos

One of the more intriguing models to debut at the 2009 New York auto show was the Acura ZDX. Part hatchback, part crossover and part sporty car, the five-seat ZDX hits dealerships in fall 2009. Acura says it's designed for the growing Baby Boomer population, which is projected to stand at around 80 million in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The ZDX features important crossover attributes like a high seating position in a distinctively styled package, said John Watts, Acura senior manager of product planning. Whereas the automaker's seven-seat MDX crossover is geared for families, Watts said the ZDX is aimed at empty-nesters.

There are likely to be more and more such couples as Baby Boomers' children grow up and leave home. These are the buyers Acura is hoping to attract with the ZDX, Watts said.

Ed Kim, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific, also sees Baby Boomers as likely candidates to buy the ZDX, but said he thinks it has the potential to raise Acura's profile among luxury buyers, too.

“[Acuras have] been good luxury vehicles in well-established segments," Kim said. "ZDX is something completely new, and as such it has the opportunity to really help Acura, as a brand, get noticed."

That's not to say the ZDX heralds a complete shift in what future Acuras will look like.

"Our understanding of Acura's future product lineup is that they for the most part are sticking to the segments that they play in," Kim said. "This is the only one that we know of that breaks segment ground."

Pricing for the ZDX hasn't been announced, but Watts says it'll be positioned above the MDX in Acura's lineup. That means it'll likely have a higher starting price than the MDX's $40,990 base price. It wouldn't be out of the question to see it priced similar to Infiniti's FX35, which starts at $42,150. A price like that would make the ZDX significantly less expensive than the BMW X6, a crossover with similarly sporty styling and a starting price of $55,900.

It remains to be seen whether luxury car buyers will embrace an Acura like the ZDX, but in BMW’s case, its more traditional X5 crossover handily outsold the X6 through March 2009, according to Automotive News. Kim, however, said he doesn't think sales should be the primary measuring stick for the ZDX.

"I don't expect it's going to be a really high-volume product," Kim said. "I don't think it's meant to be. If it succeeds in drumming up interest in the rest of the brand it will have done its job."

Tell us what you think of the ZDX in the comments. We'd especially like to hear from any Baby Boomers as to whether they could picture themselves in one.

Acura ZDX presented officially!

After several weeks , Acura at last has shown ZDX. The new four-door, magnificent crossover "coupe", is aimed at a competition to somebody, and with BMW X6. ZDX now possesses a recognised radiator enclosure and the general modelling of a body which extends on all ruler of models Acura. To underline «a coupe» crossover, designers Acura have hidden handles of opening of front doors.



Acura ZDX it is established on 20-inch disks, the body possesses a considerable quantity of the chromeplated elements, including exhaust pipes. In interior it is possible to meet typical luxury from Acura, with use high-quality materials, advanced technologies which engage system of rear-view cameras, with a wide corner of the review. ZDX it is equipped with engine V-6 and high-quality all-wheel drive system Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. It is necessary to admit that for today it is the best project Acura which should receive the continuation on a ruler of sedans. New Acura ZDX should go on sale in 2009.