by Acura is preparing for significant changes in its crossover lineup. Production of the current RDX model will be discontinued this year, and the next generation of the vehicle will have to wait at least two years. The main reasons for this decision were the exit of key component suppliers from the market and strategic replanning.
Production Hiatus and Future Update
The Acura RDX production line will stop this year. The new version of the popular crossover will appear no earlier than two years after the end of production of the previous model. The company has released a teaser image hinting at more refined contours and sharper proportions of the future novelty.
The company noted that the production stoppage was planned in advance, citing supplier constraints as a factor. Several component suppliers for the RDX can no longer supply parts for the current version.
Although the image does not reveal all the details, it demonstrates the characteristic silhouette of the new car. Notable elements are thin LED headlights, wide rear fenders, and a pronounced rear spoiler extending over the tailgate glass.
Interestingly, Acura does not specify a concrete release date for the new model, limiting itself to the phrase “within the next few years.” No detailed explanations are provided regarding such a long pause between the discontinuation of one model and the appearance of its successor.
Hybrid Powertrain – The Main News
The most important innovation of the future Acura RDX will be the introduction of a hybrid powertrain. This will be the brand’s first model to receive a two-motor system.
“For nearly two decades, the RDX has been one of Acura’s most popular models, so it’s fitting that the future fourth-generation RDX will be the first Acura with our two-motor hybrid-electric system,” said Mike Lange, assistant vice president of Acura National Sales.
Although the Acura brand itself has not yet had its own hybrid models, its parent company Honda has extensive experience in this field. The current two-motor hybrid system is already used in the fourth generation of models such as the CR-V, Accord, and Civic.
This system combines one electric motor that functions as a generator for the hybrid battery and a second motor that directly drives the wheels. A compact 2.0-liter four-cylinder internal combustion engine supports the system’s operation and can either power the battery or transmit torque to the wheels via a lock-up clutch.
The planned production hiatus and subsequent model relaunch with a hybrid setup occur at a symbolic time for the brand – the year of Acura’s 40th anniversary. This indicates a strategic rethinking of the lineup and adaptation to modern market demands for efficiency and environmental friendliness, even if it temporarily affects the model’s availability in showrooms. This step may be calculated for the long term, as hybrid technologies are currently a key intermediate stage for many manufacturers on the path to a fully electric future.
