Acura ZDX - viitorul ACURA SPORTS CUV

[LoDRpR Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LoDRpR]

masina e un dezastru stilistic.

ma repet, inclin sa cred ca design-ul este destinat pentru o piata diferita de a noastra, unde exista multe ciudatenii si uratenii (din punctul nostru, al europenilor, de vedere). Nu vreau sa-i iau apararea, nu vreau sa zic ca e frumoasa; vreau doar sa precizez ca daca e o ciudata printre ciudate atunci poate fi ok. btw, funny comparatia cu buburuza

Uite niste "noi aparitii" de la GM si Ford; care iti place mai mult

[Guest Close BogdanRR]

Mie nu-mi displace stilul american, ba chiar pot sa spun ca imi place, fiind mai putin conservator decat cel european...dar asta nu e stil american, e "renaultist". Diferenta dintre ce imi arati tu si ZDX e ca porcariile alea NU se fabrica in serie. In afara de cateva ciudatenii ale unor marci din defunctul grup GM, nu prea am vazut masini americane urate (sau, hai sa zicem, ciudate). Apai, nu te supara, Acura nu-i GM. De la seriile RSX/TL/TSX, frumoase prin simplitatea lor, pana la chestia asta e cale lunga. Dar, cum si X6 a vandut de a rupt, probabil ca si ShreckDX va prinde la o importata categorie de clienti (ce-i drept, departe ca tipologie de cea tipica Honda - almanahe si goagal va spune ceva?)

[LoDRpR Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LoDRpR]

imaginea mea de ansamblu e cam asa: americanii fac masini mai putin stilizate/aranjate decat europenii, mi se pare ca tind spre mastodont care nu trebuie sa fie neaparat si frumos; daca e mare tare, e brici.

Cu simplitatea RSX/TL trebuie sa-ti dau dreptate insa, ar fi fost frumos sa continue liniile respective sau macar in acelasi stil.

Acum noi doi avem oarecum aceeasi parere de baza (tu mai pronuntata) ca modeulul din titlu nu e vreo capodopera; eu insa vreau sa cred ca nu s-au aruncat cu | capul inainte cand au scos-o, poate au facut ceva studii la ce se vrea pe piata. Si daca piata e din ce in ce mai plina de almanahe, le dau almanahe. Cred ca de fapt asta te deranjeaza pe tine, ca nu scot ce considera ei ca e frumos, ci se lasa condusi de o piata cu gusturi indoielnice (dar cu bani). Am I right?

[tokyodream Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokyodream]

http://www.auto.ro/news/Acura-ZDX-galerie-foto

Dezvaluit la Salonul Auto de la New York, Acura ZDX se afla din nou in prim plan, de data acesta datorita unei impresionante galerii foto care infatiseaza androginul sedan/hatch/coupe in toata splendoarea sa. ZDX va fi probabil lansat in toamna si va fi propulsat de un V6 de 3,7 litri, cu o putere de 300 de cai, legat la o cutie de viteze automata in sase rapoarte si tractiunea integrala.

Masina consuma 14,7 litri/100km in oras si 10,7 litri/100km la extra-urban. Printre elementele incluse in varianta de serie se numara conectivitatea Bluetooth, acoperisul panoramic din sticla, iPod cu radio prin satelit.

Masina va fi oferita cu trei niveluri de echipare: Standard, Technology si Advance. ZDX va merge spre vanzare incepand cu acesta iarna si va fi pozitionat intre SUV-ul MDX si sedanul RL. Noul ZDX va costa intre 40.000 si 46.000 de dolari.

[Guest Close BogdanRR]

Nu Bogdane, problema lor e ca scot variante de design ce numai lor li se par exceptionale. Piata reactioneaza in functie de educatie/asteptari/imagine. Se gasesc clienti destui si pentru ciudatenii, doar ca, daca vrei sa te asociezi cu ei, s-ar putea sa ai o problema generala in curand. Daca au testat piata asa cum au testat-o cu Insight, imi fac cruce sa iasa bine.

[tokyodream Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokyodream]

Acura drops more details and pics aplenty of the new ZDX !

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/17/a...f-the-new-zdx/ - foarte mare articol, nu-l mai pun aici, POZE si DATE TEHNICA !!!

[akebono Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close akebono]

Mda, era de asteptat ca vom vedea un strigoi. Dar vad ca este mai rau, e un strigoi stealth bomber.

Eu inca ma intreb cine a venit cu ideea noilor grile.

[ticker Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close ticker]

Ideea pentru ele se poate vedea aici:

[tokyodream Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokyodream]

Honda rolls out 2010 Acura ZDX !


http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...Acura_ZDX.html

Is it a sedan, sport coupe or SUV?
The short answer is “yes.”

Honda apparently is aiming for a combination of all three with the 2010 Acura ZDX, the newest vehicle from the Japanese automaker's luxury brand.
Introduced in concept form at the New York auto show in April, and rolled out this past week in production form, the ZDX is probably best described as a low-slung crossover utility vehicle, although Honda officially bills it as a “four-door sports coupe.”
The vehicle goes on sale this winter, joining an already crowded field of premium crossover-style family haulers, but most are not as sleek and un-boxy as the ZDX.
It seems to be a direct answer to the BMW X6, and is similar in concept to the Toyota Venza that was introduced last fall — vehicle that Toyota refused to call a crossover, even though that's exactly what it is.
The ZDX seems to be an MDX — Acura's seven-passenger family crossover — with the rear roof steeply sloped so that there's no room for a third seat. It's almost coupe-like, but there is a power rear hatch that opens just like that of an SUV, revealing a cargo area that can be expanded to more than 55 cubic feet by folding down the second seat.
From the side, it almost looks like it has only a front door, because the rear door has no visible exterior handles. But inside, there is a usable rear seat that Acura says can hold two adults quite comfortably, and three for short rides.
The dead giveaway that the ZDX is built on the same chassis as the MDX, other than the similar name (the X at the end denotes “crossover”), is in the dimensions. Its wheelbase is 108.3 inches, the same as that of the MDX. It's 192.4 inches long, which is almost two inches longer than the MDX, but it has the same 67.7-inch track.
In keeping with its lower profile, though, the ZDX is 5.4 inches lower than the MDX at the highest point of its roof, giving it a much-sleeker look.
Also telling is its ground clearance, which Honda says is high enough to allow for limited off-road driving. No sports coupe would ever be suitable for off-road use. The ZDX also comes with Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, which gives it some trail-driving capability, as well.
One cool feature is the double-paned panoramic roof. The front part opens just like a normal moon roof, while the rear panel, over the rear passenger area, is stationary. Both have electrically operated sunshades. With the expansive windshield and tailgate glass, it looks like the top of the car is almost all glass from the hood to the rear.
Honda says the car is the first to be styled completely at the new Acura Design Studio in Torrance, Calif. In charge was Michelle Christensen, identified as Acura's first female designer.
The vehicle will be built and sold exclusively in North America.
“The ZDX is like nothing you have ever seen before from Acura,” said Jeff Conrad, Acura's vice president for sales. “It combines the best attributes of a coupe, a sedan and a sport utility, all wrapped in a beautifully sculpted package that will attract an entirely new luxury customer to the Acura brand.”
Honda hasn't revealed the expected demographics of the typical ZDX customer yet, but the vehicle seems to be aimed at a more-youthful audience than the MDX, and one with fewer children in the house, for sure.
The all-wheel drive and cargo-carrying capabilities of the ZDX make it great for ski or snowboard trips, but it's designed for those who enjoy time on the links, as well. Its cargo area, even with the back seat in place, can carry four golf bags — when removable side panels are taken out and stowed in the hidden, 2.2-cubic-foot under-floor storage area.
This is an elegant vehicle, too, with Acura's first hand-stitched leather interior trim, including the dashboard, door panels and sculpted center console. “The rich leather appointments give the ZDX a warm and inviting feeling while creating an intimate cockpit for the driver and front passenger,” the company said.
The cabin has modern LED lighting, although it's superfluous in the daytime with all of the glass, which lets in plenty of light.
Another similarity to the MDX: the ZDX uses the same 3.7-liter V-6 engine, turning out 300 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque. This engine is connected to a new six-speed automatic transmission, though, while the current MDX and other Acura cars have only five-speed automatics. You can expect to see this more-fuel-efficient transmission show up in the other Acura vehicles, as well.
EPA fuel-economy ratings for the ZDX are estimated at 16 mpg city/22 highway, and the car will have a 21-gallon fuel tank to give it great range.
Standard will be 19-inch, seven-spoke aluminum wheels, and it will come with the same type of all-weather tires found on the MDX.
Optional will be the Integrated Dynamics System, which allows the driver to toggle the suspension settings between Sport and Comfort modes. The Sport mode is for spirited driving, while the Comfort mode is designed to keep your passengers quiet.
No prices have been announced yet, but three models will be offered: the base version; the midlevel model, with a Technology package that adds a navigation system and the great Acura/ELS audio system; and the top version, with both the navigation/audio upgrades and the Advance Package, which includes the Integrated Dynamics System, along with blind-spot monitoring, Acura's Collision Mitigating Braking System, and adaptive cruise control.
Standard safety features will include Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, as well as front seat-mounted side air bags and roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows. Anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control are included, too.

The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III appear Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Express-News Drive section. Contact him at (210) 250-3236; chambers@express-news.net.

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PREVIEW: 2010 Acura ZDX

QUICK LOOK: New Alliston-made Acura to arrive in winter 2010 !

http://lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publish.c...73665&s=wheels



Honda has chosen a winter 2010 introduction for its Acura ZDX crossover utility, a competitor for BMW's X6 and the Volvo XC60 that will be made at Honda's complex in Alliston.

Joe Duarte

As with many current four-door designs from various companies, Honda calls the all-new ZDX a "sports coupe", in reference to its fastback roofline. True to the prototype shown at the 2009 New York International Auto Show, the production ZDX features a panoramic glass roof with moveable shades and hidden rear door handles.

Power comes from a 300-horsepower, all-aluminum 3.7-litre V6 that also makes 270 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is delivered to all four wheels by a six-speed automatic, with sequential shifting available through steering wheel- mounted paddles. The latest generation of Acura's Super Handling-All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) enhances the ZDX's handling abilities while providing all-season traction. It rides on 19-inch wheels (the largest ever offered on an Acura vehicle).

The interior of the ZDX features hand-stitched leather seats, panels and trim, with seating for up to five adults and plenty of cargo room for whatever they may want to bring along.

Cargo-carrying features include underfloor storage and removable side panels (for extra wide cargo). Keyless entry and start, Bluetooth, premium sound system with satellite radio, and USB and Aux ports are also standard.

As with other Acura models, a Technology Package adds a navigation system with bilingual voice recognition, a surround sound system and a new multi-view rear camera.

--- --- ---

Fact file

2010 Acura ZDX

Trim levels: ZDX; ZDX with Technology Package

MSRP: Not set

Freight: Not set

Notable options: Surround sound; nav system; rear cameras

Configuration: Front engine; all-wheel drive

Available engine: 3.7-litre V6

Power/Torque: 300 hp/ 270 lb.-ft.

Available transmission: 6-speed automatic with sequential shift

Warranties: N/A

Competitors: BMW X6; Volvo XC60



E-MAIL: Joe Duarte

PHOTO GALLERY ONLINE: autonet.ca/acurazdx

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2010 Acura ZDX hits right notes despite styling compromises !

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...cura-zdx_N.htm

By James R. Healey, USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Automakers say they are hearing this message from some important (well-heeled) shoppers: Give us the SUV's high seating position with such a nice view and handy cargo space and the foul-weather and bad-road capability that comes with all-wheel drive and ample ground clearance. But change the look, either to the mainstream appeal of a tailored sedan or the excitement of a sports coupe.
Replies so far include Toyota's Venza in the mainstream category and BMW's X6 in the coupe genre.

Come December, Honda's Acura luxury brand joins the fray with the 2010 ZDX.

PHOTOS/AUDIO: Acura ZDX with Healey's comments
QUESTIONS? Ask them now for Healey's chat, 2 p.m. ET


Penned three years ago by Michelle Christensen — then 25, fresh out of design school and newly hired by Honda — ZDX's style is distinguished by a tucked and tailored roof covered in black glass panels and by rear-wheel bulges that would be striking even if the roof's taper did not accentuate them. It's three-dimensional drama. ZDX looks far less exciting in photos than on the road.

It's all but unique for a rookie designer to have sketches embraced by a car company and rendered almost literally.
ZDX is an Acura MDX crossover SUV underneath, though that's hard to believe because of the differences in looks, interiors and personalities. Same wheelbase and track width, similar suspension but retuned for ZDX, same engine. Transmission, developed for the ZDX, is shared, too, beginning with the 2010 MDX.
Acura views ZDX as a niche product: 6,000 sales the first year, maybe 10,000 in a hot year. Only way to make money on so few is such hardware sharing.
A morning in city traffic here, then a rural romp on parkways and lanes to the north, plus 250 hot-shoe highway miles back home to Virginia and a few more miles through suburban duty in two preproduction ZDXs left a crisp impression:
If you are willing to accept the compromises that come with the coupe styling — and coupes are all about style — ZDX is one terrific piece of work.
Acura says ZDX is meant not as a family vehicle, though it seats four or five adults. It's more for a couple with no kids at home and craving something exciting to see and drive. Able when necessary to tote back-seaters in relative comfort, but the front-seaters get the emphasis.
Compromises (as you'd find in any coupe, which typically is a two-door car with sleek styling):

•Awkward rear entry. There are back doors, but the low roofline means you'll duck and tuck like a suspect going into the back seat of a squad car.
Once in, leg and knee room are far better than suggested by the 31 inches of rear leg space in the specifications. That's due mainly to sculpting of the backs of the front seats. The curving roof, though, skirts the skull closely.

•Poor rear visibility. Fat rear roof pillars and a horizontal crossbar partway down the tailgate's glass panel mean you'll need the rear-view camera and the blind-spot warning system.

•Imperfect cargo space. To carry four golf bags, for instance, you remove side panels from the cargo area and put them under the cargo floor.

On the other hand, ZDX is:

•Exotic. That roofline, especially seen from above. And covering the roof in black glass, attached to a metal frame, is daring. On a black ZDX, the monochrome look is delectable.
A skylight covers both front and rear seats and includes a sliding sunroof over the front. The dashboard, including challenging convex surfaces, is covered in premium leather (inspired by leathered walls at the St. Regis hotel in San Francisco).

•Erotic. Dangerously close to a Cialis ad, Acura says ZDX is for couples who might like a weekend getaway to, uh, reconnect. Goes pretty much anywhere they'd like, any time they wish, Acura says.
The wide rear fenders are supposed to suggest wide, sexy shoulders, the automaker says, illustrating with a photo of a woman's shoulders graced only by narrow straps.

•Exciting. The 3.7-liter V-6 romps quickly up the rev range, catches a shrieking second wind between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm and the new-for-ZDX six-speed automatic snaps up to the next gear so quickly your senses almost don't notice.
The high-end model, Advance, has an adjustable suspension. The driver chooses "sport" for feisty moves or "comfort" when the road's a beast. Each setting automatically adjusts within a range. The test car with that system was a dream. Comfort was smooth, not sloppy; sport was firm, not harsh.
The less-than-handy configuration imposed by the dramatic style could be a turnoff, but those who can make allowances might find ZDX irresistible.

About the 2010 Acura ZDX

•What? Sleek, four-door, five-passenger, crossover SUV aimed at coupe lovers who don't need family-style passenger room but want the stance, capabilities of an SUV. To be marketed as a car but classed by the government as a truck.

•When? Mid-December.

•Where? Built at Alliston, Ontario.

•How much? Not set yet, but between the $41,000 MDX and $47,000 RL.

•What's the hardware? Acura MDX SUV chassis, retuned; 3.7-liter V-6 rated 300 horsepower at 6,300 rpm, 270 pounds-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm; new six-speed automatic; standard SH-AWD (Acura-speak for its performance-oriented "super-handling all-wheel drive); driver-selectable suspension (optional).
Rear camera with selectable views (normal, fish-eye, straight down); side-curtain air bags with separate chambers that inflate near the roof in the event of a rollover.

•How big? Midsize SUV outside, compact car inside. ZDX is 192.4 inches long, 78.5 in. wide, 62.8 in. tall on a 108.3-in. wheelbase. Passenger space is 91.2 cubic feet. Cargo space, 26.2 cu. ft. behind rear seat, 55.8 cu. ft. when the seat's folded.
Tows 1,500 lbs., weighs 4,424 lbs. to 4,462 lbs., depending on model.

•How thirsty? Rated 16 miles per gallon in town, 22 mpg on the highway, 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
Trip computers in the preproduction test vehicles showed 18.8 mpg and 19.8 mpg in two legs of brisk driving on rural parkways, 22 mpg in high-speed interstate highway driving, 14.2 mpg in spirited suburban use.
Burns premium, holds 21.7 gallons.

•Overall: Entertaining, exciting if judged (as Acura intends) as an all-weather, all-road sports sedan rather than as a family-oriented SUV.

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First Drive: 2010 Acura ZDX !

http://www.businessweek.com//lifesty...929_598236.htm

The new Acura ZDX may just be the best-looking new model of 2010. But its handling and performance prove it's more than a pretty face
By Thane Peterson












Editor's Rating:

The Good: Rakish styling, beautiful interior, sporty all-wheel-drive system
The Bad: Marginal rear seat, so-so fuel economy
The Bottom Line: A gorgeous new model aimed at affluent empty-nester couples
Reader Reviews

• View Slide Show

Up Front :

What's the best-looking new model on the market this year? My vote could easily go to the all-new 2010 Acura ZDX, a rakish-looking crossover vehicle that Honda's (HMC) luxury car division describes as a "four-door sports coupe" (never mind that coupes, by definition, have two doors). The ZDX looks even better in reality than in photos. When I test-drove a couple of preproduction ZDXs through Manhattan recently, even jaded New Yorkers were stopping in their tracks and shouting questions about the new model, which will hit dealer showrooms in December.
The ZDX is designed mainly for affluent empty nesters, couples whose kids are grown and who no longer need the passenger capacity of a true SUV. It combines the good looks of a luxury coupe such as, say, a Mercedes CLS550 with enough luggage capacity to stow four golf bags behind its second row of seats.
The market for such vehicles will grow, Acura contends, "as the population matures, becoming couples again rather than large family units, and enjoying the fruits of their success through travel, second homes, and unique lifestyle activities." To put it more prosaically: As baby boomers age, Acura figures that a lot of active, affluent old geezers will be in the market for a vehicle that seems more stylish than an SUV but less sedate than a luxury sedan.
Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but the ZDX is expected to start at around $45,000, rising to perhaps $55,000 when you load it up with options. Its image is meant to be upscale and exclusive. Acura sees the ZDX competing with, in addition to the Mercedes CLS, such diverse models as Nissan's (NSANY) Infiniti FX35, BMW's (BMWG) X6, and the Porsche Cayenne. Acura only expects to sell about 6,000 ZDXs in 2010, and 8,000 to 10,000 annually in later years.
The ZDX is Acura's first truly North American model—engineered in Ohio, styled in California, and manufactured in Ontario, Canada. It has the oomph Americans like under its hood, provided by the same marvelous 3.7-liter, 300-horsepower V6 engine found in the Acura MDX SUV. Also in keeping with mainstream American tastes, the only available transmission is a six-speed automatic—though with a manual function for those who wish to do the shifting themselves, as well as the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that are now de rigueur on any North American model with pretensions to sportiness.
The ZDX's fuel economy—16 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway—is only slightly better than that of the '09 MDX and six-cylinder BMW X6 (15/20) and about the same as that of the Infiniti FX35 (16/23). However, it's markedly better than the six-cylinder Porsche Cayenne (14/16).

Behind the Wheel :

The ZDX is meant to drive something like a conventional luxury car, and it comes close. The big difference is that the floor is a bit higher off the ground than a car's, giving the ZDX more of an SUV-like feel. The ZDX isn't intended to be superfast, but it's lighter and therefore somewhat quicker than the Acura MDX, which accelerates from zero to 60 in under eight seconds. That's plenty of speed for most people, and there's a ton of power when you punch the gas at highway speed. The cabin is luxury-car quiet.
I'm a big fan of Acura's new Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, which comes standard on the ZDX.

The system (obviously) improves performance on snow and ice, but also dramatically improves the vehicle's handling during hard driving. It varies the distribution of torque between the vehicle's front and rear axles, and can shoot extra power to the outside rear wheel when you're going around a curve or corner. This dramatically improves grip and reduces understeer during hard driving. I tested the system in an Acura TL at the Pocono Raceway last year, and it really is remarkable. When your brain is screaming at you to hit the brakes, you can hit the gas instead and accelerate.
The ZDX's cabin is designed for owners who travel alone or with a spouse and only occasionally have adult rear-seat passengers. The rear doors are unusually narrow, with stylish recessed handles that are nearly invisible. That gives the vehicle a cool side profile, but makes getting in and out of the rear seats a chore. The rear seats also are too cramped to comfortably accommodate adults during long drives, partly because headspace is severely limited by the vehicle's radically sloping roofline. In a pinch, you could squeeze three adults into the back, but the seat is only really designed for two. Another inconvenience: There are no storage bins built into the rear doors.
The ZDX's interior is absolutely gorgeous, with a beautiful curved dash and soft, natural-grain leather throughout. I've driven numerous luxury cars, including many far more expensive than the ZDX, and I don't recall ever seeing interior leather with such a quality look and feel to it. Dual panoramic sunroofs give the cabin an open, airy feel and add to headspace when they're open. From the outside, the entire roof looks as though it's made of dark glass.
Luggage space behind the second row of seats is a sizable 26.3 cu. ft., expanding to 55.8 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded down. There's also a 2.2-cu.-ft. storage space under the rear deck. An innovative feature is that the side panels in the rear cargo area can be removed and stowed in the under-deck storage space. That makes the rear cargo area wide enough to accommodate golf bags laid down sideways (which is why four of them will fit in back). The rear seats fold down in a 60/40 pattern and there's a pass-through to accommodate skis when there are passengers in the rear seats.

Buy It or Bag It?

Although the ZDX is mainly aimed at couples whose kids are grown, it's stylish enough to appeal to some singles and roomy enough for families with one or two small kids. However, the vehicle's high price, tight rear-seat compartment, and lack of a third row of seats make it impractical for many families.
The ZDX's likely $50,000-or-so price tag makes it more expensive than the conventional Acura MDX SUV, which sold for an average of about $41,000 in '09, and the '09 Infiniti FX35, which averaged about 45 grand, according to the Power Information Network (which, like BusinessWeek, is a unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP)). The ZDX is in the same price range as an '09 Porsche Cayenne with a six-cylinder engine (average cost: $52,962).

The '09 BMW X6 with six-cylinder power cost far more than a ZDX, an average of $64,382, according to PIN. Ditto for the '09 Mercedes CLS550, which has a powerful 5.5-liter, 383-hp V8 engine and an average price of nearly $79,000.
With the exception of the Mercedes, however, the ZDX is better-looking than any of those models, in my opinion—both inside and out. If you don't do a lot of people-hauling and are in the market for a truly distinctive new vehicle, check it out.
Click here to see more of the 2010 Acura ZDX.

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.

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Acura’s ZDX Is $50,000 Velociraptor in Land of SUV Dinosaurs !

Review by Jason H. Harper



Oct. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Dude, the dinosaurs are dead. Which goes to show that all things must evolve in the face of cataclysmic change or, you know, die off for good. So it is with the auto industry and, more pointedly, sport utility vehicles.
A decade ago (akin to the Paleolithic era in swift-changing car years), 18-foot-long Suburbans and Excursions lumbered around our highways, slurping down petroleum and filling the air with emissions. Americans needed vehicles that could carry the entire family and the kitchen sink, plus be able to ford Donner Pass should the need arise.
Thankfully, the SUVlithic Age has (mostly) passed. Yet like crocodiles and other saurian holdouts who look similar to their prehistoric forebears, many sport utility vehicles look pretty much the same, too.
Now we’re told that a Darwinian evolution has arrived: Acura’s ZDX. A newer, smarter breed of SUV -- sorta, kinda, maybe.
The company has the audacity to call the ZDX a “four-door sports coupe,” a stretching of vernacular that might work for the Porsche Panamera, but not this vehicle. After all, it’s more than 5 feet tall and rides on the same platform as Acura’s regular ol’ SUV, the MDX.
A better description might be “an SUV with a coupe-like silhouette and sporting aspirations.”
While the ZDX may be less than an evolutionary leap forward, it does look sleeker and more agile than most of its blocky, shambling counterparts -- a velociraptor perhaps, in a world of brontosauruses.

Premium Gasoline :

The vehicle is an all-wheel-drive, seats five in a pinch, and offers 55.8 cubic feet of storage with the second row of seats folded. Its 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the highway is more in line with SUVs of old than any new, advanced life form. And it needs premium gasoline, too.
The four-door will be in dealerships mid-December, carrying a luxury level of technologies, comforts and price. Acura says the price will be between the MDX and RL, so expect the new addition to start around $45,000, rising to $50,000 for the most popular model with the technology package. That puts it within range of other lither SUVs like the Infiniti FX, and some $10,000 less than the BMW X6, another SUV-cum-“coupe.”
For now, the ZDX will only be sold in North America, and Acura expects a volume of around 6,000 a year to begin. A niche player rather than a game changer.
So just how sporty is it? Well, the 3.7-liter V-6 with 300 horsepower sounds pretty good until you realize that the auto weighs 4,400-plus pounds. More disappointing is the miserly 270 pound-feet of torque available at 4,500 rpm. That’s simply not enough grunt when you need it, especially when you’re looking to surge into gaps on the highway.

Lazy Power :

The six-speed automatic transmission takes a moment to drop to the gear below. Power comes on lazily. By then, the space you were hoping to shoot into has probably closed.
Buyers can opt for a system that can switch between sport and comfort settings. Sport tightens the steering and suspension noticeably and body roll is minimized. You can then truly appreciate the excellent all-wheel drive, which transfers torque to the outside wheels as you take curves.
Ultimately, this evolution is less a leap in function than in form. From many angles, the ZDX looks pretty terrific. (The fresh exterior was created by two young American designers, Michelle Christensen and Damon Schell, from the company’s Torrance, California, design studio.)

You’ll first notice the shape of the long roof, which is tallest at the point where the driver and front passenger sit, and then gracefully tapers as it extends to the rear.

Glass Roof :

The black roof is constructed completely of glass from hood to bumper, and is only interrupted by two bisecting lines. The ZDX is most compelling from the rear three-quarters and back, where the extremely deep shoulders lend a sports-car look and shows off the width of the vehicle.
Even better is the complex interplay of tail lights, glass roof and the arc of the lift gate. It all fits neatly together like a geometric puzzle. The rear door handles are also integrated into the side windows, which is super cool.

Inside, that sloping roof means much less headroom in the rear. If you’re unlucky enough to be the middle rear passenger, I suggest you practice calling “shotgun” next time. (Still, the BMW X6 has buckets in front and back, so only seats four.) The front seats are extremely adjustable and upholstered in high-grade leather.
Generally the inside shows the same level of detail and care as the exterior. Acura and Honda excel at electronic comforts -- paddle shifters, a power tailgate, rear camera, and iPod and Bluetooth connectivity are standard. Navigation with traffic and weather features come with the technology package. The ability to switch to sport settings, a blind spot warning system and adaptive cruise control are included in the top-level “advance” package.
The ZDX is not the energy-efficient people mover of the future, but it is a step out of the primordial SUV ooze.

The 2010 Acura ZDX at a Glance :

Engine: 3.7-liter V-6 with 300 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic.
Gas mileage per gallon: 16 city; 22 highway.
Price as tested: $52,000 (estimated).
Best feature: Emphasis on exterior design and craftsmanship.
Worst feature: Underpowered.
Target buyer: The people hauler who’s looking for an SUV with style.


(Jason H. Harper writes about autos for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer of this column: Jason H. Harper at Jason@JasonHharper.com
Last Updated: October 1, 2009 00:01 EDT


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=ar7O8PZwGPow

[tokyodream Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokyodream]

2010 Acura ZDX first drive !

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10368075-48.html

When we saw the line of Acura ZDX models waiting for us in the parking lot, the cleanness of the design stood out. The sheet metal looked smoother than any new car we had seen recently, and Acura didn't load the body down with jewelry, just nicely integrated headlight casings. And the grille, which stands out like a beak on the smaller Acura sedans, seems to have found its medium. Unlike when we first saw the ZDX earlier this year at the New York auto show, the design took on new life under the bright sun at this special driving preview.
Built on the Acura MDX SUV platform, the ZDX is lower but just a tad longer than its platform-mate. During a presentation, an Acura representative called it a "four door sports coupe", and touted its off-road characteristics by showing a video of it running on a snow track. That schizophrenic character points to the ZDX's blessing or curse--it will be a convenient multipurpose vehicle to some people, but not good at any particular duty for others. That said, the ZDX comes out at the same time as other automakers experiment with this new type of crossover. BMW has the X6, and is working on the 5-series Gran Turismo. Audi is looking at making a hatchback version of the A5. These companies are trying to develop an SUV-alternative for people that no long want to drive a truck.


The glass roof extends over the hatchback lip.
(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

Most concept cars lose their most interesting features when the come to production, but the ZDX didn't drop a thing from its initial showing. It uses a glass roof extending from the hood to hatchback, giving both seating rows a sunroof. The short rear doors have handles hidden in the C pillar graphics. The center stack looks black when the car is off, but back-lighting highlights button labels when the audio system and climate control are turned on. We hope this feature finds its way into other Acura models, as it works well to hide the mass of buttons scattered over current Acura dashboards.
In the driver's seat, that lower-than-SUV-height is apparent, and it's not a bad thing. The curving roof, leading to the hatchback, makes us feel like we're piloting a missile, a sense enhanced by the length of the ZDX. But the drivetrain doesn't exactly rocket the car forward. The engine is the same as in the MDX, a 3.7-liter V-6 producing 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. EPA fuel economy is posted as 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway, numbers which probably mean never passing 20 mpg in normal use. The ZDX does feature a new transmission, a long overdue for Acura six speed automatic. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system (SH-AWD) is standard on the ZDX, generally biasing torque to the front wheels, but sending it to the rear as necessary, and shifting it from right rear to left rear to enhance cornering.


Steering wheel buttons activate the adaptive cruise control.
(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

The vehicle we drove was the ZDX with Advance package, the top trim available when the car goes on sale this winter. As such, it had something Acura calls the Integrated Dynamic System, combining an adjustable magnetic suspension with variable steering control. A dial at the bottom of the stack on Advance package models flips it from comfort to sport mode. Taking it down a rough bit of pavement on a downhill slope in comfort mode, the ride felt truck-like, bouncing around. Sport mode made it hunker down a bit. Throwing it around some hard corners, the SH-AWD helped it hold its line, but the suspension couldn't entirely counteract wallowing from the car's weighty body. During our drive, the ZDX performed adequately, but didn't seem to excel in any particular manner. As we suggested, jack of all trades, master of none.
However, we were treated to a luxury experience with the interior appointments. Acura has long struggled to reach the heights of competitors such as Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz in the luxury department, but the ZDX steps up the company's game. While still retaining a driver focus, the cabin gains a nice contoured band of stitched leather. Ventilated leather seats have cooling and heating functions. The switchgear, although still plastic, achieves a higher quality look, enhanced by the backlighting we mentioned earlier. The glass hatchback opens to reveal a carpeted cargo space. A hatch covering a compartment under that cargo space rises on pneumatic struts.
On the pure technology front, the ZDX with Advance package gets an impressive array of driver assistance gadgets. It comes with a blind spot warning system, which worked well during our brief drive, lighting up an icon in the side-view mirrors when it wasn't safe to change lanes. Adaptive cruise control is also included, using forward facing radar to match the speeds of slower traffic ahead. This system proved easy to activate using buttons on the right side of the steering wheel. The radar is also used in the Collision Mitigation Braking System, which will hit the brakes if it detects an imminent crash.


The ZDX stores music on its hard drive.
(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

The next trim level down is the ZDX with Technology package, a car with the kind of impressive cabin tech we've come to expect from Acura. That means the car gets the latest generation of Acura's navigation system, a hard drive-based unit that warns about traffic and weather problems. While we were testing out the car, we got a rare Tsunami alert to show on the system. We've always liked Acura's voice recognition, and that is included here. Acura's signature ELS audio system, using 10 speakers and a 435 watt amp, is also present. In our short time with the car, it sounded very good, producing excellent fidelity.
As a new addition to Acura's technology arsenal, the iPod integration allowed for voice searches on the music library. Similar to Ford's Sync, this system responds to voice commands such as play artist or play album. Acura had an iPod hooked up in the car we drove, and we were able to issue the command "Play Eric Clapton", and have it respond accurately. The last bit of notable technology here is a rear-view camera with three views: normal, wide, and top-down. All of the equipment from the Technology package is included in the Advance package trimmed ZDX.
With the ZDX, Acura has produced a uniquely designed car with a level of luxury greater than previous models from the company. The drive quality isn't terrible remarkable, and neither is the fuel economy, but the cabin technology pushes Acura towards the cutting edge.

16 POZE : http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-10863_7...?tag=mncol;txt

[tokyodream Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokyodream]

DARING DESIGN: Acura unveils unique SUV !

All-wheel-drive luxury ZDX boasts spaciousness, coupe-good looks

http://www.lvrj.com/drive/acura-unve...-63234352.html


"Man, this car is hot! What is it?"


The wide-eyed pedestrian is standing in the intersection of one of Manhattan's hopelessly gridlocked streets, mouth agape and feet welded to tarmac.











Certainly the new Acura ZDX is a show-stopper, even in a town where everyone has seen just about everything.
The ZDX is easily the most audacious automobile that Honda's upscale division has devised since its spectacular NSX sports car was unveiled some 20 years ago.
Acura's strategy in a nutshell: Offer premium sport utility vehicle buyers a more daring and sportier package that sort of resembles a coupe, but still retains its all-wheel-drive capability. With that premise, the uniquely positioned ZDX, arriving this December, will try and seduce a niche of early-adopting sophisticates willing to purchase a vehicle that's far outside the mainstream.
Today's limited choices in the luxo car/ute category include the Infiniti FX and BMW X6. The ZDX's interpretation begins with a platform developed from the highly successful MDX sport ute. From there, the company's California design team shifted into overdrive in developing a radically desirable shape.
Viewed head-on, the MDX's carry-over DNA is apparent, but beyond the front doors, the roofline swoops dramatically downward, seamlessly blending with an elongated hatchback that abruptly folds into the back bumper. The front doors are made coupe-like long, which is intentional since they help in masking two smaller rear-seat openings, the door handles of which have been cleverly camouflaged beside the rear-most roof pillar. The roof is actually a continuous glass surface extending from the windshield to the farthest edge of the hatch opening.
Members of the design group freely admit that their influence in penning the ZDX's interior came from the well-organized and uncluttered guest-room styling at San Francisco's Hotel St. Regis. That's difficult to verify, but the clean look is certainly in evidence, especially the well-carpeted storage area that can be extended when the passenger seat and split-folding rear seat are folded flat. As well, the spare tire stows under the load floor, leaving a substantial brief-case-sized compartment in back to keep all kinds of personal effects under wraps.
Also hidden from view is the MDX-based 3.7-liter V-6 that directs its 300-horsepower to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. In normal driving conditions, the front-to-rear torque is split on a 30:70 basis, but will automatically adjust up to a 90:10 if the rear wheels lose traction. However, in a turn, up to 100 percent of the rear torque can be shifted to the outside wheel to maximize cornering bite.
Of course, wearing the Acura badge means a car-load of standard or available luxury and technological features. Among the more interesting is Active Noise Cancellation, which uses the audio system to electronically counterbalance unwanted sounds from intruding on the passengers' peace and quiet. Also standard is a leather interior, rear-view camera, power-operated sunroof, tailgate and multi-adjustable rear seats. The options list includes a blind-spot warning system, multiview rear camera, upgraded ventilated leather seats, high-end audio system, voice-activated navigation and adaptive cruise control that maintains a set distance between the ZDX and the vehicle directly ahead. There's also an adjustable suspension that varies the ride between "Comfort" and "Sport" settings.
A truly sporty sport ute has its drawbacks and compromises and the ZDX is no exception. The sloping hatchback compromises luggage space, while the smaller rear doors are not easy to enter or exit, particularly for tall adults.
By contrast, the comfortable driving position and various controls are up to snuff, the 300-horse V-6 is an eager performer and the ride is both solid and smooth. And, as our Manhattan man in the street so eloquently put it, this car is "hot."