Acura ZDX Debuts as Brand’s First All-Electric Model
August 18, 2023Some people may recall the Acura ZDX as a coupe-inspired SUV which was last seen rolling off the assembly line about a decade ago. Now the nameplate has been revived, shocked back to life in the form of an all-electric SUV.
Not only does this make the new ZDX Acura’s first all-electric product, but the Type S variant will be the marquee’s most powerful SUV ever. So, the ZDX fulfills a couple of milestones for the brand, but what is it really all about?
The powertrain may be the most interesting bit of info to some, especially considering the 500 horsepower tease. Again, it’s the Type S model which is expected to reach that lofty number, also packing things like height adjustable air suspension, adaptive dampers and six-piston Brembo front calipers bringing the whole thing to a stop. Those brakes are sheathed by 22-inch wheels– another milestone as the largest ever for an Acura model– wrapped by 275/40ZR22 tires (summer tires available).
Most buyers will likely go for the ZDX A-Spec; not quite as gung ho as the Type S, but the A-Spec model starts with an estimated 340 horsepower being delivered to the single rear-mounted electric motor, delivering an Acura-estimated 325 miles of range. The A-Spec can also be served up in a dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration, estimated to bring range down to 315 miles total. The Type S, even with its substantial gain in horsepower, is estimated at 288 miles on a full charge.
The ZDX is built on GM’s Ultium platform, using the same 102 kWh battery used in the Cadillac LYRIQ, rechargeable at rates up to 190 kW with a proper DC Fast Charger. It’s anticipated that a single-motor A-Spec will be able to recoup approximately 81 miles of range after 10 minutes on charge. Drive your ZDX hard enough and you’ll see those range figures start to drop, but Acura claims a near 50/50 weight distribution; so, with that, plus all the other suspension refinements in mind, you might just end up taking the backroads and putting your foot down more often than you imagined while signing off at the dealership.
The ZDX will measure 197.7-inches long on a 121.8-inch wheelbase, putting it in the neighborhood of the current MDX midsize utility. It may not be as SUV-coupe-ish as the previous ZDX, but the new version still has the expected aero-conscious exterior we’ve come to expect from an electric vehicle. And all the same, the ZDX sports some unique LED lighting upfront, including a glowing surround on the front grille. The interior, you guessed it, has a lot of digital real estate, namely the 11.3-inch infotainment screen and 11-inch gauge cluster. Google assistant is built in, and Bang & Olufsen have teamed up to offer an 18 speaker sound system.
We’ll be seeing more of the 2024 Acura ZDX soon enough, plus more news coming out of Monterey this weekend, so stay tuned!