Acura ZDX electric crossover breaks cover in prototype form

Acura’s upcoming ZDX electric crossover, which is expected to go on sale next fall as a 2024 model, will feature a long hood and wide stance based on photos of the camouflaged vehicle released by Honda Motor Co.’s luxury brand Tuesday.

The brand will unveil a ZDX and ZDX Type S next year and it will share many styling cues shown on the Precision EV Concept revealed this summer, including a low roofline, unique D-pillar treatment and rear fascia.

The ZDX, pictured in a Type S wrapper, is the result of a collaboration between Honda and General Motors, which is providing the sporty crossover its architectural underpinning and Ultium battery pack. The design and driving characteristics will be distinctly Acura.

It’s likely that the ZDX will be based on the Cadillac Lyriq, which is assembled at GM’s factory in Spring Hill, Tenn. Acura has not shared ZDX specs, but the Lyriq offers a 340-hp single-motor rear-wheel setup powered by a 100-kilowatt-hour battery with 312 miles of range. A dual-motor all-wheel Lyriq will come out in early 2024.

The Honda-GM partnership will give Acura a competitive edge against automakers that import EVs, especially Hyundai and Kia, following the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, which limited the $7,500 federal tax credit to EVs that, along with their batteries, are assembled in North America. Complex battery material sourcing rules are also expected to kick in early 2023.

Glenn Davis, the chairman of the Acura National Dealer Advisory Board, told Automotive News that getting an electric vehicle to market quickly is crucial for Acura as all luxury manufacturers without an EV are losing market share to Tesla.

Davis, who owns Davis Acura in Longhorne, Pa., said the partnership with GM was a positive thing because in addition to getting the product developed, it will help Acura get quick access to raw materials and other necessities needed in the supply chain to produce electric vehicles.