Last year, the BMW X6 served as an automotive guessing game, and keeping us on our toes this year is the Acura ZDX. Acura calls it a four-door sport coupe, but we're not really sure what to make of it.
Acura calls its new model a four-door sport coupe, but we find it occupies that same twilight zone of car design settled in by the BMW X6 last year. The ZDX brings in some elements of an SUV, such as a driver position higher than a sedan, but many of the elements that make Acuras other cars so enjoyable.
At this point, Acura is only specifying a new V-6 for the ZDX, although 3.5 or 3.7-liters seem likely. It will also have Acura's all-wheel-drive system, designed for sport driving, and an all new six-speed automatic. We are looking forward to the latter, as Acura's current five-speed automatic doesn't let the company's engine realize its potential.
Part of the unique styling of the car comes in the fastback design, although the bilevel rear glass, split by the spoiler, is familiar from the Prius and the new Honda Insight.
Although the ZDX is considered a prototype, Acura says it will have a production version in showrooms by fall of this year. The impending production date means the exterior must be nearly finished. The cabin doesn't show any radical technology, suggesting the car could be built very soon.
The cabin tech is all familiar from the new TL, including a navigation system with weather and traffic and iPod integration. In fact, the switchgear on the instrument panel is all familiar from current Acura models.
