By Brendan Moore
07.21.2009
Over the last month, Acura has released details of its ZDX coupe which will be on sale later this year. The concept was shown at the New York Auto Show in April; I saw it during a press conference there and assumed at the time that the design would get tweaked considerably before production.
Considerable changes didn’t happen.
I want to be kind and say that it is a somewhat awkward design, but really, it just begs for criticism. I look at it and see the Pontiac Aztek and the BMW X6, two vehicles that look tortured to me in terms of sheet metal.
Regardless, Acura’s plans for the vehicle are that it will be known as an attractive four-door sports coupe, a la Mercedes and BMW.
The ZDX looks similar to the upcoming Honda CrossTour, but Acura officials say that there are absolutely no shared components between the two vehicles. But, the ZDX engine is used elsewhere in the Honda line – it’s the ubiquitous 3.7 liter, 300 hp V6.
The ZDX has seating for five, a modular cargo area behind the rear seats, and, a storage well underneath the cargo area floor.
The ZDX will come in three trim packages; the ZDX, the ZDX with Technology Package and the ZDX with Advance Package. Standard equipment on every ZDX includes a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters and Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. Other standard features encompass panoramic glass roof, 19-inch wheels, leather seats, leather instrument panel dashboard and door panels, Bluetooth connectivity, power tailgate and a CD player with, of course, USB port and iPod integration.
The Technology Package adds electronic options and the Advance Package adds hi-tech safety equipment.
Acura says the ZDX will occupy the space between the MDX and the RL, so an average MSRP of approximately $45,000 USD should be a good price point to use when estimating the ZDX sticker.
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Okay, so it’s ugly. At least it’s expensive.
Acura released the photos . . . and my eyes will never forgive them. Ach! Did they use Pontiac’s styling mock-ups for the second generation Aztek?! Hideous! Once again, if this were a domestic, it would be another sign of how American auto co’s can’t compete. As it is, I am sure the press will heart the thing.
J.S Smith, I wondered the same thing if they stolen pictures of a aborted proposed 2nd-gen Pontiac Aztek. Someone on Auto123 forums wondered what the folks at Honda smoked? http://www.auto123.com/fr/community/forum/showthread.php?t=24012
Zounds!
It’s an ill wind that blows this thing along.
Is that you Transformer??? May Pontiac live on….
HA HA HA I can’t stop laughing at that thing HA HA HA HA
To me, this looks like something a modern-day Mr. Hulot would drive to the beach. After it became sufficiently battered, of course.
A reference to Hulot from “Mon Oncle” on an automotive site? Now, that’s weird, but a pleasant surprise. Especially considering it’s an auto blog in the U.S. How many Americans have seen Mr. Hulot in action?
I guess this is a culturally sophisticated bunch.
It’s not April 1, but you might be forgiven for checking the date, as I did. What an abomination!
I think Hulot would think this is a real ugly car.
Hulot had an Amilcar from the Twenties, so he might have liked it in 2010.
If we could transport the imaginary character of Hulot to contemporary society, that is.
Maybe he could take his holiday in Daytona, and drive this thing there.
who is thi guy hulot?
OMG. I thought the new TL was ugly.
This feels like another ‘Legend’ moment where Acura falls off their horse and does something stupid (RL). A company, er brand, that has enormous potential in the auto industry to rival the premiums, but does something like this just because one of the Euros did it last year (X6). My advice: Keep to the core of awesome performance, ok styling, value packed features and appease the techno crowd and you are guaranteed a rapid increase in market segment share. Peace out.
For those Hulot references, it just so happens that Comcast just added (yesterday) in their FREE On Demand menu, the film “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday”. At least where I live (Oregon), they added it. I don’t know if it varies by state or region.
You can see Mr. Hulot’s weird-looking car.
Unless you’re a Comcast executive, that is a hell of a coincidence. It’s not like Hulot films are shown on TV in America all the time. Be forewarned, Hulot is not for everyone. You will probably think it’s not very funny, but to some, Hulot is hilarious in a sublime way.
Yes, givemeabreak, Hulot is most definitely hilarious in a sublime way.
Did you know that Hulot was actually a car designer in one of the later films in the series? (Trafic, see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069400/ )
You know, I agree. Sufficiently battered, this could be Hulot’s ride in 2017.