2009 New York Auto Show: 2010 Acura ZDX Now Official

Wait - isn't BMW already going at that market with its 5-series GT? How many people do they think are chomping at the bit for a large coupe-ish sedan with a semi-station wagon carrying capacity?

trackwrex.... Everytime someone walks by you or things you hold with pride and they think to themselves awful things about you, without ever communicating or getting to know you. What if they said those "awful" things out loud instead of in there head? you wouldn't know what to do or how to respond, but you then would ask them " why are you saying such "awful" things about me without ever knowing me?" As you finish asking them that question they just stroll away and you never see or hear from them again...

With that said.... Why trackwrex, do all those SUV that Acura has produced "SUX" (your term)?

People need to pay more attention to what they're saying (typing) because what are you offering anybody interested in automotive news? What valuable comments are you leaving for all the World wide web to read? You're leaving "SUX" Way to go! Our nation is doomed, thanx buddy!

trackwrex.... Everytime someone walks by you or things you hold with pride and they think to themselves awful things about you, without ever communicating or getting to know you. What if they said those "awful" things out loud instead of in there head? you wouldn't know what to do or how to respond, but you then would ask them " why are you saying such "awful" things about me without ever knowing me?" As you finish asking them that question they just stroll away and you never see or hear from them again...

With that said.... Why trackwrex, do all those SUV that Acura has produced "SUX" (your term)?

People need to pay more attention to what they're saying (typing) because what are you offering anybody interested in automotive news? What valuable comments are you leaving for all the World wide web to read? You're leaving "SUX" Way to go! Our nation is doomed, thanx buddy!

Lets hope is looks better than the TL.
Anyone remember the 6000 SUX from Robocop?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:6000SUX.jpg

I have no hope for Acura anymore.

hpd: i'm criticizing their naming convention, not their vehicles. "SUX" went with the three-letter designations that they're using for their SUV line. it was meant to be a light-hearted quip. you're OBVIOUSLY an acura fan who either a) owns an 09 TL that is equipped with something from Honda Performance Development (HPD) or b) you WORK for HPD. ANYWAYS. my comment, which at the moment DOES imply that i don't approve of their SUV's, shouldn't be taken literally. it wasnt to bash their SUV line by any means. i actually LIKE their line and what they have to offer. if you KNEW me (from your own words), you'd know what i meant and wouldn't have taken it out of context. so, okay, i apologize for not being clear about my comment earlier. now if we're to talk about their new "design language", or evolution if you will, THEN i can REALLY get into being opinionated. design is subjective. it's all opinion. just like the blog and these comments.

dboston: yes. agreed. it's funny that you mentioned the 6000 SUX from Robocop because that's the vehicle i was trying to remember after i posted the comment.

At this moment in time why is Acura pushing out another model when I would think resources would be better used to push high tech innovation in fuel economy. I would really be applauding if this vehicle launched their new diesel engine or hybrid technology.

I wish Honda would place Acura at the top of the heap when it comes to green luxury. After all its cars in that price point that will need to be built first to allow and then allow the technology trickle down to more affordable cars.

^- This seems contradictory. But I do agree they should be working and improving on what they already have.

It's seem Honda/Acura's current model line up don't have a clear product focus.

^- This seems contradictory. But I do agree they should be working and improving on what they already have.

It seem Honda/Acura's current model line up don't have a clear product focus.

I hope this one has less than the other Acuras pre-requisite for 75 buttons on their dash.

I'm kind of seeing a mix between an Infiniti EX35 and a BMW X6.

Having said that, I'm still very interested in what this vehicle will look like.

Hi everyone. I am a loyal Honda fan. I have a Honda Accord, an Oddyssey and the new 2009 Acura TSX. However, I am a bit concerned about Acura's product range. They really need to expand the lineup significantly especially if they are going to compete successfully with BMW and Lexus. They need the Acura NXS and an all new All Wheel Drive Acura RL (Not a rear wheel drive one), they also need to bring back the Acura CL but make it much more sporty and appealing. Acura is in a tough position right now, very similar to what Infiniti was in a few years ago.

They need to address their product range, their focus and modify the design language. They need to find a more attractive "family" design for the front grill on all Acuras. The front design on the TL is simply UNATTRACTIVE.

Hi everyone. I am a loyal Honda fan. I have a Honda Accord, an Oddyssey and the new 2009 Acura TSX. However, I am a bit concerned about Acura's product range. They really need to expand the lineup significantly especially if they are going to compete successfully with BMW and Lexus. They need the Acura NXS and an all new All Wheel Drive Acura RL (Not a rear wheel drive one), they also need to bring back the Acura CL but make it much more sporty and appealing. Acura is in a tough position right now, very similar to what Infiniti was in a few years ago.

They need to address their product range, their focus and modify the design language. They need to find a more attractive "family" design for the front grill on all Acuras. The front design on the TL is simply UNATTRACTIVE.

Acura should STRONGLY consider the following:

- Styling should be MUCH more cohesive.
- Stronger family resemblance between models.
- Larger product portfolio.
- Revive NSX development.
- RL/TL/TSX should be RWD, SH-awd as an option.
- Revive the CL coupe (RWD/SH-awd)
- More diverse drivetrain options (V8/diesel).
- New V6 engines with more focus on fuel economy AND top of class performance.
- 2.3T in the RDX should have DI.
- 6 or 7 speed ATs across the board.
- New a-VTEC system. (I havent heard anymore on this since 2006)
- Dual clutch transmission option.
- More innovation and technologies.
- Little to no Honda parts sharing.
- More features, keyless start, panoramic roofs, infotainment ETC ETC.
- Build/material quality standards that are inline or surpass the Germans.
- Keep models fresh to better position them against the competition. (NSX is prime example as Honda simply let it rot to death)
- Think globally.

Inifinti and Cadillac are proof that changing a brands image cant happen over night as each new product should speak for itself and the brand. However, one product (CTS/G35) alone cant change the brands or peoples perceptions.

I really think Acura has the tools (at least on the engineering side) to make the tier 1 dreams become reality. However, one of the things thats going to hold Acura back is a place to manufacture all the new products as supposedly the sedans/coupe will no longer share platforms with Honda. As of right now the RDX, MDX and TL are built along side their Honda platform cousins in Ohio while the RL is built solely in Japan and the TSX in Japan and Europe.

Manufactures really have to come up with better vehicle names than these alpha-numeric names. Especially with a line-up entirely consisting of Name-By-Boggle cars, they can get confusing.

Navigator...I know what that is. Escalade, I know what that is too. Tahoe, yup. CRXRSXRLTLCTSTSXCLKSLRCTS....WTF?

In the words of a teenage girl: "WTF?!"

Acura has lost it. You ccan't even see the whole thing and you can tell its ugly as sin- it will be even worsae if its not rear wheel drive (which its probly not).

Bottom line is, Acura has no chance of ever becoming a relevant luxury brand. Say all you want about quality. No one who gets a Mercedes gets it for quality. And as Lexus continues to climb the super luxury ladder to MB's level, their quality drops (and no one's complaining). This is not the type of vehicle an upcoming luxo brand with a portfolio like Acura's should be building. Its for cocky brands like BMW who know they can build something as unnatractive as the X6 and be confident it will sell because of brand image.

I bet this has the ugly buck tooth grille on the front, too.

another crossover? seriously? we need more of these frigging things? especially coming from a company that dropped out of F1 for the economic recession, this seems rediculous. Honda, what are you thinking????

SO BASICALLY... ACURA'S VERSION OF A BMW X6

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.... I say this is a direct X6 fighter by the way it looks...this profile pic of it looks just like the profile of the BMW X6

"Manufactures really have to come up with better vehicle names than these alpha-numeric names."

Altimadude, I fully agree HOWEVER... has anyone here ever thought as to WHY luxury manufacturers use the alphanumeric system in the first place?

Im thinking the alpha system is used so certain models wont outshine the brand name. Remember the Acura Legend? Sure everyone does. The reason is the Legend name had much more recognition than the Acura name itself. It all about marketing folks. I dont like it but it does work.

Alphanumberic names de-emphasize the model so you remember the brand/make. All of the European luxury brands have done it successfully. MB probably has the best recognition, helped by the fact that their naming strategy has no rhyme or reason -- I'm always mixing up CL, CLK, SLK.. and now GLK. WTK! So an admirer says "Which one is that?" but then they give up thinking "Who cares, it's an MB!".

Problem for Acura... you gotta have the cache first before "Who cares, it's an Acura!" has a /positive/ ring to it. They've been playing it safe, cutting costs and sharing platforms with Honda since day 1 -- to the detriment of brand image. NSX was their saving grace for a decade, but it wasn't mainstream enough to tackle the core competitors like 3 series and E class and establish the whole brand, rather than just the model.

As for this bulging silhouette? It's either aimed at the new 5 GT or the X6, but both are a scar on BMW's reputation so it's bad news either way. Give me a legitimate station wagon! Why green-light this oddball fastback design when there's a big ol' hole in their lineup with a more mainstream form factor?

Hondacura--That may be true, but that isn't always the rule. Do you think of "Cadillac" first or "CTS" first when you hear Cadillac CTS.

Personally, "Cadillac" means retiree. However, I also know of people that think Cadillac only make Escalades and CTSs.

I proposition that sometimes it's just trendy. Cadillac wants to bring in new, younger buyers. "Eldorado" and "Caterra" won't do it. CTS....yeah, that's sharp and hip! I don't drive no pensioners Cadillac, I drive a CTS! (This is that marketing thing you're talking about.)

Take M3, M35, and MS3. Close in name, broad in actual product. Which represent the brand or the car identity more?

But, back to Acura. As a luke-warm car nut, their naming does make sense. Cars have two letters and an "L" in their name and SUVs have three letters and an "X."

Except TSX is a car. *shrugs*

(And no, I'm not putting you on the spot, I'm just thinking out loud.)

"Hondacura--That may be true, but that isn't always the rule. Do you think of "Cadillac" first or "CTS" first when you hear Cadillac CTS."

Altimadude, I guess that all depends on what luxury brand you speak of. Cadillac has a lot of history and heritage here in the U.S. while Acura has only been around 13 years.

Everyone should be able to identify the CTS as a Cadillac as it draws heavily from Cadillacs past and current design language. It can be easily be identified by the traditional Cadillac consumers as well as the much younger crowd. In terms of brand recognition Cadillac is in a much better position vs Acura.

Acura however doesnt have a solid design foundation or brand language and Im willing to bet most people wouldnt know what an RL is much less know what vehicles Acura has in its portfolio. Most would probably still think of the Integra and Legend as those 2 names had more recognition than the Acura name.

When Im asked what kind of car I drive, I always say a CL-S. The response I usually get is "oh you have a Mercedes?" Most people think I mean a Mercedes CLS (4 door coupe thingy) which is hugely expensive. They automatically associate CLS with Mercedes as people are familiar with and recognize the brand ......and its products.

When I tell them its an Acura coupe they usually say "oh.... an Acura, I didnt know they made a coupe." Its as if they totally forgot about the brand. Acura deperately needs better brand recognition and the products to back it up. Unfortunately, Im scared that no matter how good their upcoming products may be, they will never have the chance to be able to really fully compete with the likes of Mercedes and BMW purely based on brand recognition and brand perception.

What really hurt Acura right out of the box is the fact that Acura didnt initially set out to be a tier 1 luxury brand as Acura wanted to be considered as a few steps up from Honda, which is the perception they have earned. No matter how you look at it Honda put Acura in its current position as Honda wouldnt allow Acura to really stretch its legs..... until now.

As a long time Honda Acura enthusiast (16 years) Im really hoping Acura can produce and properly execute a full line of world class sport/luxury products.

Product Managers at Honda are complete idiots.

It looks like Acura is good at something.

"For the first time in the history of automotive safety crash testing, an automobile nameplate (Acura) has simultaneously earned top government and IIHS safety ratings for every vehicle in its line-up."

It's a great vehicle and I'd luv to buy one...........for $25,000. Guess I'll have to wait for the next CRV or Accord to get this styling at an affordable price.

BTW,it's the 3.7 300 hp motor.