Acura is bringing a restomodded version of the 1997 SLX, the brand’s first SUV, at Radwood this Saturday.

Acura ditched the original 3.2-liter V6 engine, the four-speed automatic transmission and the conventional 4×4 system, replacing them with a tuned 350 HP turbocharged 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo, a 10-speed automatic, an independent rear suspension and the fourth-generation torque vectoring Super-Handling all-wheel drive system from a third-gen Acura RDX.

Related: 2020 Acura MDX PMC Edition Is Handcrafted By The Same Experts Who Make The NSX

The Acura SLX was basically a subtly revised and rebadged Isuzu Trooper and was sold only in the US market from 1995 to 1999. It was replaced by the fully Acura-engineered MDX.

The restomodded show car comes with minimal changes to the exterior and interior, retaining its ‘90s charm and stealth character. The original two-tone paint was updated with Acura’s Performance Red Pearl and Champagne Silver while the wheels are now 17-inch Fifteen52 Tarmac items shod in all-terrain tires. Acura has also added an ‘SH-AWD’ badge on the tailgate.

The interior received reupholstered Milano leather seats and a grey wood applique on the door cards and dashboard, but other than that it remains stock.

“Acura is an ‘80s kid, so Radwood is a perfect event for us to display our heritage,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and Acura brand officer. “Nostalgia for ‘80s and ‘90s vehicles has grown tremendously, and we’re seeing them start to become really collectable. Radwood is always packed with a lot of fun and interesting stuff, so we knew we would have to bring something a little crazy to the table.”

Acura is expecting to surpass the 1 million mark in SH-AWD models sold in North America this year. The latest version of the mechanical SH-AWD system is available on the 2019 RDX, featuring 40 percent more torque capacity at the rear axle, quicker torque transfer between axles and 30 percent quicker torque transfer between left and right rear wheels.

Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive is currently available on the RDX, MDX and TLX in mechanical form and the NSX, MDX and RLX in its Sport Hybrid version.

The restomodded 1997 Acura SLX will debut at the Radwood car show in Orange County on December 7.

 

Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD
Acura Has Restomodded Its First SUV With Modern Guts, Including Torque Vectoring AWD