Acura is the latest maker to offer up a coupe-like sedan, shown here, for the first time, in production trim.
It seems like every automaker is trying to find a way to stand out in a crowded market – often by following the latest trend. In Acura’s case, that means the luxury arm of Honda will be rolling out an all-new four-door sports coupe this fall.
This is the first official look at the 2010 Acura ZDX, which made a thinly-disguised debut as we said at the New York Auto Show, last spring, in concept car trim. Both show car and production model share the oversized “panoramic” glass roof, as well as hidden rear door handles and outsized fender flares – another styling theme that has swept through the luxury segment.
The design puts a premium on flexibility, the five-seater coupe-like sedan appears to boast substantial interior space for passengers fore and aft, but there’s also a hefty cargo compartment that can be expanded, Acura notes, to handle golf bags and other long objects, by removing the cargo bay’s side panels. There’s also an under-floor hidden storage compartment.
The 2010 Acura ZDX aims to deliver a large cargo compartment, an extensive technology package and Acura's Super Handling-All-Wheel-Drive.
There’ll be three versions of the 2010 Acura: the base ZDX, ZDX with Technology Package and the ultra premium, ZDX with Advance Package. Even the starter package will feature a significant amount of standard equipment, in keeping with the ’10 model’s luxury positioning. That includes the panoramic glass roof, a hand-stitched leather cabin, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, a power tailgate and a high-power audio system that includes XM Satellite Radio, USB audio and an iPod link.
The high-line models will offer such features as an ELS Surround premium audio system and a new multi-view rear camera. The Advance Package boasts technologies like a blind spot information system, a Collision Mitigating Braking System, and radar- guided Adaptive Cruise Control.
Power will come from a 3.7-liter V-6 making 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The all-aluminum engine will be mated to Acura’s new 6-speed automatic transmission, which will feature steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Another standard feature with the 2010 Acura ZDX is Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive, a propriety AWD system that shifts torque, on the fly, to any or all four wheels and, among other things, can help power the ZDX through a corner.
Nineteen-inch, 7-spoke alloy wheels are standard. That’s the largest standard wheel in the Acura line-up.
Acura won’t release pricing until shortly before the 2010 ZDX goes on sale, later this year.