With plans for one of the most substantial lineup expansions in recent years, Acura is making its intentions clear. The automaker has put forward a product roadmap for North America that includes three new SUVs: an adventure-oriented model, the fourth-generation RDX Hybrid and what will be the largest Acura SUV to date.
To back up the larger models, Acura is also developing a new V6 hybrid powertrain. The company says this will offer a better mix of efficiency and performance, not to mention more towing power.
It is a strategy designed to give the brand a much wider array of SUVs to go with the present-day ADX and MDX, while also putting Acura in segments where it has yet to make an impact.
2028: An Adventure SUV Arrives
The first of these new offerings is set for the first half of 2028. Acura has yet to put a name or any hard numbers on the spec sheet for the adventure-focused Acura SUV, but the message is that it will have the capability for the outdoors without sacrificing the comfort, technology and premium design the brand is known for.
One has to wonder just how much off-road hardware Acura will put in it; there has been no word on specialized suspension or extra ground clearance. Nor has the company said where it will fit in with the RDX, MDX and ADX. But the positioning implies Acura is looking to make hay from the vogue for more rugged luxury SUVs.
Room for Eight
Then there is the matter of size. Acura is working on an all-new eight-passenger SUV that will be the biggest the brand has ever put on sale.
The as-yet unnamed model will sit above the MDX and put Acura in the large family SUV market, where space is king. No launch date has been given, but development is underway. As for the platform or dimensions, we don’t know. The fact that Acura is touting a new V6 hybrid for its D-segment vehicles is a fair indication of what to expect.
A New V6 Hybrid
Speaking of which, Acura has confirmed work on a V6 hybrid for its larger stable. It is meant to be sporty and efficient with greater towing ability, though the specifics on torque and fuel economy are being held back.
This is key for Acura as it looks to put some electrification in its bigger cars without going fully electric. Which models will get it is another question; we will have to see if it ends up in the new eight-passenger or the MDX.
The RDX Hybrid Is a Done Deal
We were aware the Acura RDX Hybrid was in the works, but Acura has now made it a cornerstone of its new plan. The fourth-gen RDX comes in 2028 and will be the first to run on Honda’s two-motor system, a big shift from the turbo four-cylinder of today.
There are no technical details to hand and we don’t know if a gas-only version will remain. Still, the hybrid option should plug an obvious hole in the lineup as rivals pile on their own electrified products.
Covering All Bases
In the end, this is about keeping the customer in the Acura fold. Right now, you have the Integra and ADX as an entry point, the RDX for a bit more heft and the MDX at the top. But when a buyer outgrows an MDX, there is nowhere to turn within the brand. An eight-passenger flagship would rectify that.
And with the adventure SUV, Acura can appeal to a different sort of buyer as ruggedness becomes a premium proposition.
The announcements signal a rethink of how Acura wants to compete. By 2028, the new RDX and the adventure model will be on the road, with the larger SUV to come later. There are still plenty of unknowns when it comes to names, pricing and the like. But the path is evident: Acura is after more hybrids and a broader range of SUVs.
