The third Acura prototype to debut at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show today is the 2013 RDX crossover and just like the ILX compact sedan, there’s nothing really conceptual about it as what you see here is what you’ll get when the redesigned crossover model arrives in dealerships across the country in Spring 2012.
The second generation of Acura’s five-passenger crossover has grown in size featuring a longer wheelbase and wider tracks that result in more passenger room, and increased cargo volume.
The styling both inside and out is intentionally more mainstream though Acura’s beak-like front grille remains.
At the Detroit Show presentation, Acura’s Assistant Vice President of Product Planning, Vicki Poponi, said: “As you can see we’re evolving the RDX from a sporty, compact SUV to a more formal look with a longer, sculpted hood and styling that is more elegant and sophisticated to match our philosophy of timeless, beautiful design.”
One of the most important changes for the new RDX lies under the hood as Acura replaced the current model’s 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 273 horsepower.
Despite the significant increase in power (+33HP), Acura says that the 2013 RDX is more fuel efficient than its predecessor with anticipated EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel-drive model (vs 19 mpg and 24 mpg respectively).
The 2013 model also gets a standard 6-speed automatic transmission with a new lock-up torque converter and an available lighter all-wheel-drive system, both of which help improve fuel economy.
Other updates include all-new Amplitude Reactive Dampers, a new motion adaptive electronic power steering system, and host of new technologies such as Pandora internet radio interface, SMS text message feature, a smart entry keyless access system, push-button start, and a three view rear camera.
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