Acura, the luxury division of Honda, has recently unveiled its inaugural all-electric vehicle, the Acura ZDX. Mirroring the technology employed in the Honda Prologue, this electric SUV leverages General Motors’ Ultium platform, with customer deliveries anticipated to commence in early 2024.
Originally showcased as the Precision EV Concept a year ago, the production version of this electric SUV will bear the name ZDX A-Spec or ZDX Type S. Both iterations will boast a robust 102 kWh battery, capable of accommodating charging rates of up to 190 kW. This indicates a probable utilization of GM’s 400-volt iteration of the Ultium platform.
Distinguishing the two variants – A-Spec and Type S – lies in their powertrain and orientation. The ZDX A-Spec incorporates a rear-wheel drive configuration with an output of around 254 kW, offering an EPA-estimated range of 325 miles (523 kilometers). This model commences at approximately $60,000. An all-wheel drive, dual-motor setup is in the pipeline for the ZDX A-Spec, promising a range of roughly 315 miles (507 kilometers).
The performance-oriented flagship model, the ZDX Type S, boasts an all-wheel drive system that delivers around 373 kW of power. Expected to start at roughly $70,000, it offers an EPA range of about 288 miles (463 kilometers). The Type S is poised to become Acura’s most potent SUV to date, featuring distinctive attributes such as an air suspension equipped with finely-tuned dampers and high-performance Brembo brakes on the front axle.
Acura’s Executive Creative Director, Dave Marek, emphasizes the brand’s dedication to innovative design as they venture into an electrified future. “As Acura moves into an exhilarating, electrified future, we will continue to push the forward-thinking design and proportions of our products as we take full advantage of the increased styling and packaging freedom EVs offer,” Marek states.
While the ZDX’s design maintains a conventional aesthetic, Acura designers have incorporated signature elements such as LED daytime running lights and the characteristic pentagonal grille featured in their internal combustion models. The relatively extended front section, a rarity among electric SUVs, bears semblance to traditional combustion-engine vehicles – a trait evident in the GM models built upon the Ultium platform.
Inside the ZDX, a driver-focused cockpit showcases “high-end materials, premium features and expansive intuitive technologies,” according to Acura. Distinguished as the first Acura model to incorporate a Google system, the ZDX integrates the Google Assistant as a voice-activated assistant, while navigation and route planning, including charging station recommendations, are facilitated through Google Maps. The driver and infotainment sections each house an eleven-inch screen. Acura’s statement highlights, “Through ZDX’s Google built-in system, Google Maps can be displayed on either screen providing sophisticated route planning with recommended charging stations to optimize travel time. Google Maps also can estimate the charging time required to reach the destination and can initiate preconditioning of the EV battery when the destination is a DC Fast charging station.”
Measuring 5.02 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width, and 1.64 meters in height, the Acura ZDX’s wheelbase is specified at 3.09 meters. While the curb weight remains undisclosed, both the A-Spec and Type S variants possess a towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms (approximately 3,500 pounds). Notably, the Acura ZDX exceeds its counterpart, the Honda Prologue, in length, measuring 4.88 meters, with an equivalent wheelbase.
