2010 Acura ZDX On Sale Dec. 15

If you’ve been anxiously awaiting the all-new crossover from Acura, your wait now has an end date. The ZDX will go on sale Dec. 15; it will start at $45,495, plus an $810 destination charge.

There are three trim levels -- the base ZDX, ZDX with Technology Package (yes, that’s the trim level’s name) and the ZDX with Advance Package. All ZDX models come with standard leather, all-wheel drive and what Acura claims is the world’s longest panoramic glass roof.

Keep reading for descriptions and pricing of the other trim levels.

First Look: 2010 Acura ZDX, On Sale This Winter

Acura’s new ZDX crossover will go on sale this winter, the automaker announced today. It also unveiled the first images of the production version, seen in the photos above and below.

The styling of the production version is almost identical to the prototype we saw at April’s New York auto show. However, we’re not sure why Acura made the door panel gaps so pronounced, even extending them across the top of the vehicle. It makes it look a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. 

The ZDX will feature a 300-hp V-6 and Acura’s new six-speed automatic transmission, as well as standard all-wheel drive. Nineteen-inch wheels are also standard; as the company points out, they’re the largest in the Acura lineup.

We also get a glimpse of the interior, which looks very similar to the redesigned TL sedan in terms of scalloped dashboard. The ZDX seats five, unlike the BMW X6, which forgoes a fifth seat in the rear for a cargo compartment.

Speaking of cargo, the ZDX offers up some surprises because it doesn’t pack a normal SUV silhouette. The side panels in the cargo area can be removed so longer items like golf bags can fit across.

Acura says the ZDX will go on sale this winter and will be priced between the $40,990 MDX SUV and the $46,830 RL sedan.

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.

Acura ZDX Video

Acura’s ZDX prototype is a sporty SUV that favors an engaging driving experience over raw utility. In this Cars.com video, Kelsey Mays highlights what to expect from the sporty ZDX, which has a purpose similar to those of competition like the BMW X6 and Infiniti FX.

Acura ZDX Concept: Up Close

Yesterday, Acura took the wraps off the 2010 ZDX, and I had a chance to see the prototype up close. Acura says the prototype is close to the real thing that will hit dealerships this fall. Whether the ZDX adds anything to the luxury-crossover fray will largely depend on its driving dynamics. As a utility vehicle, it runs the same playbook as the BMW X6 and Infiniti FX, which is to say styling trumps space.

2010 Acura ZDX at the 2009 New York Auto Show

• Looks like: Acura saw the BMW X6 and said, “We’ve got to have one of those!”
• Defining characteristics: Hatchback body style, Acura’s not-going-away grille
• Ridiculous features: Acura hasn’t given up on the new grille
• Chance of being mass-produced: Goes on sale this fall, so 100%

Honda and Acura don’t often roll out concept cars. Instead, they reveal prototypes that closely resemble upcoming production vehicles. That’s definitely the case with the Acura ZDX crossover concept. The company announced today it will indeed go on sale this fall. We’d guess the first look at a final version will be at a press event shortly before the car goes on sale.

What will that production ZDX be like? It’ll feature a V-6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission and Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive along with 20-inch wheels, which we’d guess will be standard.

The company also promises an upscale cabin beyond what’s in current Acuras. High-tech features will include a blind spot detection system and multi-view rear camera. It will also have a panoramic glass sunroof, as all luxury crossovers must have these days. 

As for the styling … we’re not sure if the BMW X6 is really something to emulate.

Unfortunately, the ZDX’s best angle, the rear, isn’t represented well in Acura’s supplied press photos below. We’ll have more live shots later today.

Acura Teases ZDX Via Twitter

I was off taking a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE for a spin at lunch — don’t ask why — and was listening to a humorous exchange on talk radio in which a newspaper tech reporter was trying to explain Twitter to the host, and callers were chiming in about how they didn’t get it either.

Like it or not, Twitter seems to be a place to get interesting tidbits on all things, including autos. One Acura official Twitter-er took a shot of the ZDX concept under a sheet and uploaded it to Twitpic, a photo site for Twitter users.

We’ll have full details on the ZDX come tomorrow at 11 a.m. EDT.

New Acura ZDX to debut at N.Y. Auto Show

As the date of the New York auto show approaches, we’re getting a better idea of what to expect in terms of new-vehicle unveils. Over at the Acura booth, the automaker will unveil a prototype of a production-intended vehicle named the ZDX.

The ZDX is a luxury four-door crossover. Judging from the shadowy teaser pics, it will have a fastback silhouette and trapezoidal wraparound taillamps. Assuming the production vehicle holds the same shape — and Honda products usually do — Acura could position the ZDX as an X6 competitor.

The production ZDX will arrive at dealerships this fall. For additional information, stay tuned for the unveiling April 8. If you’ve got an opinion about the name “ZDX” or whether there’s even a need for an X6 competitor, please comment below.