Madd Dog

PMGT

From everything I've read, mid June seems to be the launch.

PMGT

Acura has, with the NSX halo, and the soon-to-be-released 2019 RDX, returned to its original mission was Performance. As is both a good and questionable aim. As an Acura owner (MDX, TL), I've had a few conversations with company reps about the performance topic. The new RDX, in my opinion, looks great, and while performance is certainly better (according to the specs),, the A -Spec does not provide another level or performance to compete with AMG or M, and this feels like a miss in terms of Acura's stated goal. Mercedes and BMW launched their M and AMG versions right away...I think Acura has got some work to do, and while they are doing better than in recent years--current version of MDX less HP than previous iterations, if Performance is the intended goal, the launch of the 2019 RDX should set the benchmark and meet its competitors at the starting line...

TacoBello

birdonamission

I was told by a dealership next week last week, which will make it this week.

Then you hear others saying sometime in June, which will make it the last part of next week -- or several weeks from this week, depending on what week in June it will end up being when they say "June."

In other words, "how much wood would a woodchuck chuck when a woodchuck would chuck wood." lol

TxLady

birdonamission

That makes sense... Ohio is not terribly far from Maryland, but the store's volume, ratings, and whatever other factors that come into play sort of puts a measure of uncertainty into things. Just got off the phone with a dealership and the gentleman told me cars may begin to show up at their store this week but technically the official launch date for the car is June 1st.

He said he already sold one! Apparently some guy saw a car he liked on their website, noted the VIN -- and already made a deposit on it. I'm going to their website now to see what he's talking about...VIN already on their website??? UPDATE: I don't see any 2019s with VINs on their website. Weird he will tell me that. Anyway, whatever. lol

TxLady

birdonamission

Madd Dog

TxLady

Madd Dog

jcardona1

This was posted by the guys at Challenge Manufacturing (they build components for the new RDX). Interesting look with the black wheels. Plastidip'd perhaps?

Illuminati

My dealer had an RDX in today. Sadly I had to work and couldn't stop in to view it.
Not sure if this has been posted yet but it shows the "needle sweep" upon start up.

PMGT

TacoBello,

Thank you for your reply to my post.
In terms of Acura vs the German auto makers, my post stemmed from many conversations with folks from Acura, and a recent interview I watched with a VP from Acura. There has long been the understanding that Acura does not compete with the German brands, which I think is fine, until executives within Acura specifically refer to the German brands as part of their competition. My statements start with that assumption: that Acura feels they compete with the German brands and have refocused the brand on performance to close the performance gap. There are, as you so rightly mention, many aspects to the differences between the German brands and Acura. Part of the difference is the build, but there are also currency differences and brand perception at play.
In terms of pricing: I don't think anyone would expect an A-Spec or an S-Spec to retail for the base model price. What I was stating is BMW, Audi and Mercedes all have performance lines: M, SQ, and AMG, respectively which were launched at the same time as their base models. With the launch of the 2019 RDX, Acura will include the base model and an A-Spec, however, that A-Spec will retain the same engine/torque as the base. The point I was trying to make is that, IF Acura views BMW, Audi and Mercedes as its competition, it has some work to do to close the performance gap, regardless of price point--in other words Acura can say the Germans are part of their competition, but with a lack of product competing at the higher performance levels, there really is not competition. I believe Acura does have the capacity to compete, the NSX is world class and is an excellent example of style and function. If looks and performance are important to Acura's customers (and the company itself) the 2019 RDX is a fine start. And Acura, I believe, can make inroads against the German brands (many of the models are actually made in the US) because when I look at the X3M, the SQ5 and the GLC AMG 43, though fine automobiles, none of them scream performance by their esthetics The other option, of course, is for Acura to avoid comparisons to the German brands and stick to the more obvious competitors. This would take pressure off the brand, and avoid building consumer expectations.
Acura has been losing market share and its reliability record has also been in decline. The stated direction in which Acura is headed is bold and does have the potential to revitalize the brand (as an Acura owner, I could not purchase the latest models as that "beak" grill was not appealing, the navigation system was in decline, and in some models, like the MDX, performance specs went down, not up.

idgystinks

Anyone know the official color combinations vs trim levels. I feel my dealer not in the know.

I asked about the red pictured with base RDX in Parchment or Beige and he said he could order. Base with have fake leather seats. Any experience with those in current Acura products?

thanks!

TxLady