Sales figures don’t lie, and seven years of year-of-year sales growth make the RDX one of the most important products in Acura’s range. The luxury crossover is getting on a bit, which is why the third-gen model will make its world premiere in January for the 2019 model year.
Similarly to the 2019 Honda Insight, Acura describes the all-new RDX as a “prototype” that previews the production-ready model. Scheduled to go official on January 15, 2018, the third-generation RDX won’t share its bits and bobs with the fifth generation of the Honda CR-V.
According to the automaker, the new RDX will ride on an “Acura-exclusive platform” that incorporates key design elements from the Precision Concept and Precision Cockpit. Designed and developed in the U.S. and built around the concept of “Precision Crafted Performance,” the newcomer promises more premium-oriented touches than ever before.
The low-cut roofline and creased bodywork will make for a striking appearance, whilst the interior will be gifted with a waterfall arrangement for the infotainment controls and a large infotainment display. The teaser video, meanwhile, shows that the rear end’s design is an overstyled interpretation of what you’ll find on the second-generation Mazda CX-5.
Not much is known about what’s hiding under the hood of the 2019 Acura RDX, though many people expect the 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo from Honda to be offered. Not the 310-hp engine in the award-winning Civic Type R hot hatchback, but a detuned version of the four-cylinder powerplant.
There’s also the possibility Acura won’t be bothered with forced induction, instead dropping the 3.5-liter direct-injection V6 in the engine bay. Codenamed J35, the naturally aspirated motor comes as standard in the MDX, whilst the Sport Hybrid relies on a 3.0-liter port-injected V6.
On that note, a hybrid powertrain could be introduced to the RDX lineup after the non-hybrid model is revealed at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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