Joint venture with GM as shown EV Honda Prologue and Acura RDX will get its own version. When?

 

The ZDX will be Acura's version of the Prologue.

 

I've heard the Acura ZDX BEV is a joint venture with Cadillac Lyriq BEV. I think they might be built in the same GM factory and uses the batteries from the BEV Hummer? I don't know if it will be a rebadge Lyriq with Acura interior/exterior touches, same powertrain choices, price range, or same level of tech/luxury features (minus GM Super Cruise)? Hopefully, it won't be a repeat of Acura/Honda joint venture with Isuzu with the first Honda minivan, first Honda Passport, or Acura SLX.

I've haven't heard any details of the Acura ZDX BEV and the pricing might fit in the current gas versions of the RDX and MDX of $55,000-$80,000 depending on trim level, battery size, and fwd/awd motors (subtract up to the $7,500 tax rebate from MSRP)?

 

Why is the charge point in the drivers front fender? Put it in the rear - similar to a gas tank refueling - as the charging cables are not long. Hope they standardize on the Tesla plug too - much more efficient and faster communication than the current CCS type.

 

I don't know how "smart" BEV are with charging and drive mode. I can see a lot of people driving off with the BEV still plugged into the charger if placed on either side on the rear. Less likely if the plug is near the driver.

I probably see a few vehicles a month with the gas door open and sometimes the fuel cap dangling driving down the road.

 

Gasoline fueling takes place at pull-through stations, so having the filler as close to the fuel tank as possible makes sense. EV charging takes place almost exclusively at pull-in public stations or in pull-in residential garages, so toward the front seems perfectly logical.

 

I posted in ZDX section but obviously that place was outside of most attention, so pardon me for rehash here:

• ZDX body/chassis is based on Lyriq not Blazer/Prologue.
• Therefore, same powertrain/battery as Lyriq.
• The positioning appears to be a little lower than Lyriq on tech and leans more on premium luxury, so I think the price will be a couple thousands less than Lyriq.
• The infotainment is for sure not Lyriq's wide screen setup. Most likely from Blazer part bin and a 17" unit.
• The most recent spy shots probably showed ZDX Type-S for the first time. I spotted fixed six-pot calipers with significantly larger front rotors, slightly different rear diffuser design, and likely air suspension. The size of the rotors and calipers match well with Lyriq V-series spy shot, so likely ZDX Type-S will have the same spec as Lyriq-V, and is in the neighborhood of Blazer SS with ~550hp.
• Looks like Type-S will have different lower front bumper, and the side trims that decorate the rear bumper.

 

The Lyriq, Blazer EV, Prologue and ZDX are all built on GM's BEV3 Ultium platform (along with a bunch of other upcoming EV's).

 

Ultium is the battery/powertrain branding. The actual battery module and the underlying chassis(steering /suspension) bits can differ vastly for each application.

 

Sure they can, but as I said BEV3 is the platform code for all four models. They're all related.

 

Most "plug-in" station like the Tesla ones - the cord reaches the back - not the middle of the car. Side of the front fender is not ideal for most charging stations.

 

You could always back into charging stations and the ZDX BEV plug will feel like it is on the rear quarter panel.

Some of us old fart had to get use to gas tank doors being located on left or right side back fender, behind and/or infront of rear wheel on fender, on top side of the left/right fender near the trunk hatch, back bumper behind flip down license plate, high mounted near back passenger's door, and even both sides of front fenders near the hood. We just adjusted and moved on.

 

Teslas are specifically designed for back-in charging. Tesla engineers claim there is a lower chance of mishaps when backing in/pulling out since the cameras and tilt-down mirrors engage automatically to assist when the car is put in reverse. It also allows them to keep the cables shorter. But it does reduce flexibility when it comes to locating a home charger.

The big downside to GM's driver-side fender charge port is curbside chargers. I don't think they're terribly common, but I assume they will become more prevalent in inner cities as the charging infrastructure grows.

Ultimately there is no perfect charge port location because there is no universal charger setup. Maybe we'll start to see more cars with two ports like the Taycan to increase versatility, but the higher cost will prevent such a setup from becoming the norm.

 

Hopefully, EV charging in the future will include a front and rear charge port with an option of induction charging pad under the BEV. Who knows, we might even see years from now a 3rd lane for induction charging on the hwy you can drive over at +65 mph and it activates just under your BEV just like those high speed Meglev train. We have hundreds of miles of open hwy with open space for solar and wind farms out west to supply the induction lanes and/or BEV charging at rest stops.

 

Off topic, but I just found out that Sony-Honda-Mobility's Afeela is going on tour in Bay Area from 7/20-7/26.
https://www.shm-afeela.com/en/news/2023-07-20/

I still think this will be a flop, but it is an interesting science project for the employees and a technology showcase for customers.

 

Because nearly all commercial chargers are located at the front of the parking spot.

 

Looks like a hearse from that angle. Eek.

 

Seriously wth is that??? Ewwwww.

 

The paint/wrap they used make the car look flat and uglier than it really is. Not saying it will win any beauty contest, but at least the proportion will look half decent.
This is the latest batch of photos. I think the front quarter view is a bit challenging as the white test mule, but side and rear quarter look fine.
https://www.reddit.com/r/electricveh...c_blazer_mule/

EDIT: I also realized that the earlier #3 test mule is near production spec, with production headlight/taillight/spoiler brake light. It even has decals on the tailgate, so the official unveil of ZDX is probably not far away.

 

Compared to ZDX, Afeela is so much more beautiful. The rear looks even better in person than the photo, but the front is a little plain. The exterior has a similar vibe as Lucid Air, but cleaner and more elegant.

Interior is basically a living room, I like the design as it is clean but welcoming. Sound system supposedly is one of its highlights, but even with speakers embedded into the seat just below the headrest, the sound quality is no match to ELS 3D let alone Signature. But the comparison is pretty pointless, as the car is a technology demo and there is a long way to go until production. Speaking of timeline, nothing has changed, still looking at 2025 production spec announcement and pre-ordering, then 2026 availability. TBH, I think the time-to-market is too long. By then, the expansive infotainment will lose a bit of the wow factor as several other brands have similar designs on the horizon. But at least the infotainment is functional already and looks really polished for demo purpose. The rep said he is not sure if the screens would be too distracting, and I suggested they should have two modes - one is simplified view for driving, and the other to unleash the full entertainment side of business when the car is parked.

Moving to the mechanical side of things, the front end is low, the cabin is pushed forward to an extreme, and as a result the firewall needs to curve into the floor more than other cars. Connecting the three dots, I got a strong hint that the front PU of Honda's e:architecture is probably quite compact.

 

ZDX Type S teaser ...




And lightened to enhance detail ...

 

I'm interested in what the interior will be like. Will it follow the current Acura design language, will it look like a GM product, or will it be something different designed by Acura.

 

If the Prologue is any indication, it will have a GM look and feel, although I prefer the Prologue to the Blazer. If GM authority is to be believed, the Prologue uses the following GM components:

• Steering wheel, featuring the same buttons as the Blazer EV but with a different airbag cover
• Power window switches
• Climate controls
• Switchgear below outboard driver’s-side air vent
• Vehicle start button (Blazer EV doesn’t have one, but the Prologue uses a GM button nonetheless)
• Turn signal stalk
• Gear selector stalk

 

If true that would be disappointing for Acura customers. It would be a pointless car.

It looks like if you want to go electric, it's Tesla or nothing else. In terms of pricing, Tesla is practically giving their cars away (at least Model 3 and Model Y). Nothing can compete in terms of infotainment or MPGe, not to mention the fast charging network. Even people that hate Elon because of politics end up buying a Tesla after cross shopping.

 

I actually like the Prologue's interior. The shifter on the column alone is a big upgrade. GM switchgear isn't the greatest in general, but it beats no switchgear at all. I'll never own a car that requires touchscreen input for virtually everything.

Regarding Tesla's charging network advantage, well it's about to become a non-issue as more automakers switch to the Tesla NACS ports. The price thing is going to be a problem for a while, however - especially if dealers keep adding middleman costs for legacies. Tesla is using their cost advantage (with help from generous taxpayer subsidies) to force everyone else to try to lower margins. Legacy automakers trying to transition too fast (or too slow) could very well go bankrupt trying to catch up with Tesla's price cuts. Tesla is playing the long game.

 

Looks like the Honda Passport all over again...

 

And Prologue's infotainment and a/c control panel is a direct lift from this truck

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2023/07...er-screen/amp/

 

If I wanted a Prologue interior, I'd buy the Prologue (which will probably be easier to buy than the Acura because the local dealer is pretty stuck up).

Another big plus with Tesla is no need to deal with sales or finance people. My friend bought a Model 3 recently and he completed everything including payment and "paperwork" online. Then went to the dealership, activated his phone, went to the designated parking spot where his car was, and drove off.

Compare that to me needing about 3 hours at the dealership despite my telling them to call me when they were not busy.

 

I don't think the ZDX will have the Prologue interior. I was just using it as an example. If the ZDX gets GM bits, it's more likely they'll come from the Lyriq, which the ZDX will share an assembly line with.

 

I absolutely hate when they do that. It's essentially a sales tactic to wear you down before seeing finance. Last time this happened was when I was getting my TLX at the Acura dealer. This doesn't happen with BMW and Mercedes. If Acura wants to elevate their status, they need to elevate their thinking first and not rely on Honda graduates and their strategies!

 

May be in the US. In Canada, MB dealer is as bad if not worst than Acura. You go through the finance team and they try to sell you BS of the BS. Actually, at least the Acura dealer's finance manager respectfully accepts your NOs, unlike MB that makes you feel like sh1t if you don't buy extras. He will make you feel like you're poor and why buying a MB if you don't want to say YES to all their BS. Let's not go to dealer experiences, my friend was sold a BMW with 700KM on it and when he realized after the paperwork, the dealer said the car was brought to him from Toronto to Montreal. So that's why the brand new car has mileage.

 

I have experienced the same even with local BMW dealer. My guess is that it varies depending on whether you are a repeat customer, the owner of dealership, etc. I think they just want to make the deal as soon as possible, even at your inconvenience, to avoid a lost sale due to change of mind. But the point is Tesla eliminates that and makes the purchase experience (both how much you pay and the delivery process) uniform for everyone.

 

Tesla and Genesis are excellent!

Genesis: based on my personal experience. there is no BS. The price is what you see on the website and the sales guy sells and deliver. Clean!!!

Note: there was no Genesis dealership, so to avoid confusion, it was an Hyundai dealer but a dedicated Genesis section.

 

And here's the ZDX. Details and photos here.

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^ Too expensive with $60k+ base. This means it will be $70k+ out the door in most configurations. The physical climate controls are a big plus and the interior looks good aside from the seats which look quite uncomfortable. Why doesn’t everyone just copy seats that are known to be comfortable?

Another negative is built in Google. There’s no getting away from big tech’s prying eyes.

 

Carscoops image gallery

A few official images

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The pics of the blue ZDX are really channeling the FJ Cruiser! LOL!

 

When I saw one of the prior gen Odysseys in black, I thought the same thing. Honda/Acura designers have some strange eyeballs...

 

Not a very premium looking interior, but thank God for no more stupid true touch.

 

It's painfully obvious that this is a reworked GM product. Very bland and uninspired design inside and out, especially inside. That interior could belong to a Chevy or a Hyundai. Not impressed! Hopefully they do better with Honda's e:Architecture and more time.