It seem like a Type-S is a foregone conclusion as the front subframe is built for a V6 and Acura says they're going all-in on the Type-S branding but are there any rumours about a hybrid RDX? If so, any guesses as to what powertrain it'll use? Off the shelf there's the Accord's hybrid drivetrain with 221hp and then there's the MDX's eSH-AWD one. The former is probably a bit weak for a RDX and I doubt it aligns with the brand image they're chasing so I'd guess that the MDX's system would be a better fit.

I'm fairly interested in a hybrid as most of my driving is city driving and as I'm likely to keep this car for a long time I'm mindful of gas prices continuing to climb pretty relentlessly.

 

My guess would be sport hybrid rear drive system, ala MDX and RLX. Dunno what they will combine that with up front. And I don't think we'll know until Acura announces it.

Rumor has it a sport hybrid option for 3rd-gen RDX was shelved at the last moment. Dunno why and dunno if it's true.

Rumor also has it 48V "soft hybrid" tech may be widely deployed in new Acura models, including next-gen MDX.

 

The salt in the wound for someone like me that wants a new vehicle before winter, and is "too early" for these improvements, is that I can't even get Aspec combined with Advance. PMC edition or not. ACURA! Call me. We'll do a one-off. Name your terms.

 

Honda's hybrid needs an upgrade. If Acura follows the German's trend, they need to have a PHEV (you can forget about pure electric) instead of regular hybrid.

 

The Honda Clarity is a plug in hybrid. Would be nice if a more powerful version of this system would make its way to the Rdx.

 

I thought clarity is a fusion cell car...

 

There's a plug-in gasoline hybrid version, too, as well as an all-electric model.

 

Why is Acura always playing catch up? Volvo, MB, BMW, Audi are all coming out with all electric and PHEV versions of SUVs in 2020/21. Instead, they focused on drive mode knobs and TTI....

 

There is more market for fuel-conserving and non-hydrocarbon-consuming automotive propulsion in Europe. Citizens and governments in Europe have a sense of urgency about reducing CO2 emissions. Industry is responding to those concerns.

North America is Acura's primary market. Denizens thereof who are concerned, have relatively few options.

 

I think part of this is the nature of how Honda is set up for R&D and a mistake made early this decade around alternative fuels - long term R&D is done separate from core businesses (see Asimo, the Hondajet etc) and takes time to trickle into the core businesses. And Honda management acknowledged a few years ago that they have missed the boat on electric cars and had spent too much time just experimenting with different fuels and systems (hydrogen for example, the weird Insight cars, the slightly odd first Accord Hybrid). Even now there seems to be little consistent strategy when it comes to non-pure IC drivetrains.

The Accord/Insight systems seems to be starting to gain a foothold within Honda and seems to hold the promise of matching Toyota's systems but this system doesn't match up well with Acura's brand (sorta happening with Toyota/Lexus tech transfer too). It seems the Sport Hybrid of the NSX, RLX, and MDX are the way forward for Acura but their attempts at it are so new that they haven't settled on the configuration yet (Is it a J30 or J35 V6 that pairs up with the electric motors? Can a K24 pair well on a TLX or RDX?). The MDX's Sport Hybrid system is probably overkill for the RDX with a Type-S on the way so maybe it's a K24 optimized for fuel economy that pairs with the electric motor. That'd probably yield a 230-240 hp type of system which would be fine for an earth friendly RDX - this would fit right into a TLX as well and probably into any of their smaller products.

 

Ya, the fact that Acura is mainly a US (and Canada) only brand means that there's not a whole lot of urgency to have vehicles powered by alternative fuels. It wasn't long ago that people were questioning non stop about Acura and RWD and V8.

Sport Hybrid should be the way forward for Acura. My hope is that most Acura models will have sport hybrid available as an option and that they can be mated to the K20 found in the RDX or the new V6 turbo engine.

The J series is on its way out.