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Acura's first electric vehicle has arrived for its Monterey Car Week debut, marking the return of the ZDX nameplate and serving as a role model for other Acura vehicles going forward. It remains famililar on the outside, flaunting the same design features as its gas counterparts, but underneath its sleek body panels hides a plethora of GM influence. The ZDX is based on the same Ultium platform that underpins EVs from General Motors, and as a result shares many components with those vehicles.
Just like its less posh Honda Prologue sibling, the ZDX is largely based on the bones of the Chevy Blazer EV. This places it in the midsize luxury SUV segment, competing against the likes of the BMW iX, Mercedes EQE SUV, and the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron. Acura is showing off its electric SUV in A-Spec and swift Type S form at Monterey Car Week, after the model was previewed by the Precision EV Concept that broke cover at the same event in 2022.
All ZDX models feature a large, GM-sourced 102 kWh battery pack, providing up to 325 miles of range. In the ZDX A-Spec, this battery powers a single motor mounted to the rear axle, which generates 340 hp. That's decent power for just one motor, but buyers looking for more juice will find it in the sportier ZDX Type S. The Type S is powered by a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain that produces 500 hp, making the Type S the most powerful production SUV ever sold by Acura. As a result of the huge jump in power, range drops to 315 miles. While this setup comes standard on the Type S, it can be added on to other trims as an option.
The ZDX is capable of charging at up to 190 kW, with the A-Spec model regaining as much as 81 miles of range in a claimed 10 minutes when using the fastest chargers.
The Type S supplants the more refined ride found in the A-Spec with more lively driving dynamics, with upgrades that include an adjustable air suspension, performance-tuned adaptive dampers, and 15.6-inch Brembo brakes with yellow six-piston calipers. Sport mode in the Type S is not the same as what you'll find in other ZDX models, as Acura tuned it to unleash its full output with no compromises for range.
While the ZDX's exterior closely resembles its gas-fed stablemates, its interior represents a large departure compared to previous Acuras. The electric SUV marks the beginning of Bang & Olufsen sound systems for Acura, and is the first model from the brand to feature infotainment with Google built-in. That means the ZDX will come standard with apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store. All ZDX models include an 11-inch digital cockpit and an 11.3-inch infotainment display, which introduces a touchscreen interface instead of the trackpad controller found in other Acuras. The system comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is met with much praise as GM plans to ditch those features in its systems.
Among its plentiful driver assist features, the ZDX introduces a new Hands-Free Cruise feature that comes standard on the Type S model. Essentially Acura's spin on GM's Super Cruise, it enables drivers to keep their hands off the wheel for 400,000 miles of available roadways in the U.S. and Canada.
Acura hasn't provided exact pricing for the ZDX, but says it will start at around $60,000 for the A-Spec. Meanwhile, the Type S will set buyers back even more, as it will open up at around $70,000. Delivieries of Acura's first dedicated EV are said to begin in the first quarter of 2024.
Would you buy the ZDX over its platform mates from GM?
Image Credits: Acura
Revealed
Aug 17, 2023
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Acura ZDX Returns As An All-Electric SUV With A 500-HP Type S Variant
The ZDX may resemble existing Acura models on the outside, but many of its parts come from GM.
Acura's first electric vehicle has arrived for its Monterey Car Week debut, marking the return of the ZDX nameplate and serving as a role model for other Acura vehicles going forward. It remains famililar on the outside, flaunting the same design features as its gas counterparts, but underneath its sleek body panels hides a plethora of GM influence. The ZDX is based on the same Ultium platform that underpins EVs from General Motors, and as a result shares many components with those vehicles.
Just like its less posh Honda Prologue sibling, the ZDX is largely based on the bones of the Chevy Blazer EV. This places it in the midsize luxury SUV segment, competing against the likes of the BMW iX, Mercedes EQE SUV, and the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron. Acura is showing off its electric SUV in A-Spec and swift Type S form at Monterey Car Week, after the model was previewed by the Precision EV Concept that broke cover at the same event in 2022.
All ZDX models feature a large, GM-sourced 102 kWh battery pack, providing up to 325 miles of range. In the ZDX A-Spec, this battery powers a single motor mounted to the rear axle, which generates 340 hp. That's decent power for just one motor, but buyers looking for more juice will find it in the sportier ZDX Type S. The Type S is powered by a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain that produces 500 hp, making the Type S the most powerful production SUV ever sold by Acura. As a result of the huge jump in power, range drops to 315 miles. While this setup comes standard on the Type S, it can be added on to other trims as an option.
The ZDX is capable of charging at up to 190 kW, with the A-Spec model regaining as much as 81 miles of range in a claimed 10 minutes when using the fastest chargers.
The Type S supplants the more refined ride found in the A-Spec with more lively driving dynamics, with upgrades that include an adjustable air suspension, performance-tuned adaptive dampers, and 15.6-inch Brembo brakes with yellow six-piston calipers. Sport mode in the Type S is not the same as what you'll find in other ZDX models, as Acura tuned it to unleash its full output with no compromises for range.
While the ZDX's exterior closely resembles its gas-fed stablemates, its interior represents a large departure compared to previous Acuras. The electric SUV marks the beginning of Bang & Olufsen sound systems for Acura, and is the first model from the brand to feature infotainment with Google built-in. That means the ZDX will come standard with apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store. All ZDX models include an 11-inch digital cockpit and an 11.3-inch infotainment display, which introduces a touchscreen interface instead of the trackpad controller found in other Acuras. The system comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is met with much praise as GM plans to ditch those features in its systems.
Among its plentiful driver assist features, the ZDX introduces a new Hands-Free Cruise feature that comes standard on the Type S model. Essentially Acura's spin on GM's Super Cruise, it enables drivers to keep their hands off the wheel for 400,000 miles of available roadways in the U.S. and Canada.
Acura hasn't provided exact pricing for the ZDX, but says it will start at around $60,000 for the A-Spec. Meanwhile, the Type S will set buyers back even more, as it will open up at around $70,000. Delivieries of Acura's first dedicated EV are said to begin in the first quarter of 2024.
Would you buy the ZDX over its platform mates from GM?
Image Credits: Acura
