Acura Builds One for Baby Boomers With New ZDX
One of the more intriguing models to debut at the 2009 New York auto show was the Acura ZDX. Part hatchback, part crossover and part sporty car, the five-seat ZDX hits dealerships in fall 2009. Acura says it's designed for the growing Baby Boomer population, which is projected to stand at around 80 million in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The ZDX features important crossover attributes like a high seating position in a distinctively styled package, said John Watts, Acura senior manager of product planning. Whereas the automaker's seven-seat MDX crossover is geared for families, Watts said the ZDX is aimed at empty-nesters.
There are likely to be more and more such couples as Baby Boomers' children grow up and leave home. These are the buyers Acura is hoping to attract with the ZDX, Watts said.
Ed Kim, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific, also sees Baby Boomers as likely candidates to buy the ZDX, but said he thinks it has the potential to raise Acura's profile among luxury buyers, too.
“[Acuras have] been good luxury vehicles in well-established segments," Kim said. "ZDX is something completely new, and as such it has the opportunity to really help Acura, as a brand, get noticed."
That's not to say the ZDX heralds a complete shift in what future Acuras will look like.
"Our understanding of Acura's future product lineup is that they for the most part are sticking to the segments that they play in," Kim said. "This is the only one that we know of that breaks segment ground."
Pricing for the ZDX hasn't been announced, but Watts says it'll be positioned above the MDX in Acura's lineup. That means it'll likely have a higher starting price than the MDX's $40,990 base price. It wouldn't be out of the question to see it priced similar to Infiniti's FX35, which starts at $42,150. A price like that would make the ZDX significantly less expensive than the BMW X6, a crossover with similarly sporty styling and a starting price of $55,900.
It remains to be seen whether luxury car buyers will embrace an Acura like the ZDX, but in BMW’s case, its more traditional X5 crossover handily outsold the X6 through March 2009, according to Automotive News. Kim, however, said he doesn't think sales should be the primary measuring stick for the ZDX.
"I don't expect it's going to be a really high-volume product," Kim said. "I don't think it's meant to be. If it succeeds in drumming up interest in the rest of the brand it will have done its job."
Tell us what you think of the ZDX in the comments. We'd especially like to hear from any Baby Boomers as to whether they could picture themselves in one.
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Somehow I think this design would have looked better on a much smaller car - perhaps a revival of the RSX as the entry level in the Acura lineup. I would first have to see it in person but, from the pictures, as big and bloated as it is, not to mention pricey, I'm afraid it's going to be a flop. Definitely not the attention grabber Acura is hoping for. Furthermore, without a V8, it doesn't have a real fighting chance on the sportiness level against the likes of X6 and FX45.
Although, I'm not a baby boomer, I think this is one of those vehicles appealing to all segments of the market, albeit a small amount. I don't think it needs a V8 as there almost a stigma associated with V8s these days and V6s are produced with performance far north of 300 hp.
It's a good-looking car, no doubt. But, in my opinion will be low volume and will probably bring new buyers to Acura.
I like the way it looks, but need to see in person. I thought the BMW looked nice in pictures, but after I saw it in person did not like it. I do not like SUV's but this sporty hatchback, if the price is right, is something I would really consider for my next car. As an empty nester, it would fit my needs, great cargo space with rear seat down, rear seat when I need one, AWD for the snow here, wrapped in a sporty package with a nice interior.
I was first introduced to the ZDX via an email sent from Acura. The ZDX looks like a vehicle I would be very interested in. I currently drive an '05 TL and have been very happy with it and it's low cost to drive. My wife and I have only one child left in high school so we don't need a full size SUV anymore but she still likes the ride hight of an SUV and now wants a little "sportier" ride. This looks like it might just fit the bill.
But, it's ugly. Butt ugly. Front ugly. Side ugly.
i really like how it looks. great looking car. can't wait to see it in person.
great looking car
The ZDX will be another hit for Acura especially since they only have to sell it in small numbers. I've only had one Acura in my life, a 1998 Integra, I loved the dealer service but finally sold the car as I got tired of it. It had 190k and was running perfectly fine. It made some young college kid very happy.
The whole problem with this vehicle is that it's an answer to a question that's already been asked and answered by the X6 et al: people don't want it. There is just no point to this car. You can all the utility, and them some, with a used CRV and spend the extra cash on an S2000. And as much as they're all patting themselves on the back on the design, let's face it, it's still ugly, with the guillotine in the front and the feminine curves all over the place. Over $40k for this? They need their heads examined.
Feminine curves? What car are you looking at! The ZDX looks very sinister - I really like it. Then again I love my FX too but would not hesitate to trade it in for this Acura.
Trust me, Acura knows what their doing you don't. Your idea of having a CRV and a S2000 is stupid. And by the way BMW is having no trouble selling their X6's. A little education goes a long way son.
Perhaps Dave T. can provide actual sales numbers but a couple hundred units a month is by no means classified as "having no trouble selling."
Yes, everywhere you go you see X6s all over the place. Not. This car was designed by a woman and it shows. There is absolutely no point to a bloated SUV trying to disguise itself as a "4 door sports coupe".
If Acura knew what it was doing, none of their cars would have that idiotic grill on the front ends. And the TL would be selling better than the competition, not worse.