Colin

I notice that those that populate forums are sometimes the slowest to accept change.

cp3117

I agree.

I like it from the windshield back. The maroon picture of the passenger rear quarter looks really good.

Im one of the rare people that also likes the X6 though so.....

Costco

At first I really, really, really liked the production-form X6 in pictures, though I personally saw no use for such a vehicle. I liked the X5 but the X6 was essentially an X5 with a fastback profile. Then I saw the X6 in person.... wtf? It simply doesn't look right for some reason. These Acuras on the other hand.... they don't look good in pictures already, so I'm not holding my breath for when I see them in person.

Its not nearly as bad as the 4G TL, but just like the 4G, there are some things that just leave me scratching my head. What's up with the tail lights and the blacked out part right above them? I see they tried to make it flow with the blacked out part on the hatch, but then it doesn't really work. Looks incomplete. And as mentioned, those reflectors/fogs by the exhaust outlets.

I'm trying really, really hard to like these new designs, but when I look at it from an unbiased perspective, they just look awful. Sigh

Infamous425

yeah, not many new models coming out this year

JediMindTricks

like the rear.

SpicyMikey

I always try to bite my tongue when it comes to style comments. It's just so subjective that I feel my opinion is irrelevant. But I agree about the blacked out sections in the back. What is that? Are they trying to revitalize the two-tone look? It's been out of favor for so long now that maybe it will start to return. I don't know.

Someone could always just get it in black to avoid the contrast if it's a show stopper. I want to see it in black for that reason.

JediMindTricks

msl82

lol, look at the changes of opinions. Initially everyone hated this new car. They were being so impulsive in saying this car was ugly and useless, I mean they haven't even seen this car in real life.

At least look at the car in REAL LIFE before making a judgement.

JediMindTricks

i still the it's ugly and useless.

Yumcha

Say what...?

dom

Still looks like to me.

West6MT

You are making a judgment in calling everyone impulsive, which is not accurate based on the few posts above mine. Generalizing FTL.

What's wrong with people changing their opinions?


Still looks weird btw

Yumcha

But, in terms of -age, it is less than the BMW X6 which is Aztek-esque ugliness...

I'd also name the Panamera as more than the ZDX...

Yumcha

I'd liken this competition of to an Import Model pageant.

Moog-Type-S

X6 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ZDX

Yumcha

No way. But, we're really just comparing ...and honestly, nothing good comes of comparisons.

Just alot of stink.

miketala

No way, i was 5 feet behind an X6 the other day and it looked truly stupid from behind.

dom

I wouldn't say I like the look of the X6 but I don't find it nearly as ugly as the ZDX. My problem with both is how pointless they are.

JediMindTricks

i mean i still think it's ugly and useless.

that's what i get for posting while trying to work. or working while trying to post.





thing is...
1. moog's saying the X6 > ZDX, but they're both still (personally, i think the X6 looks awesome. FX > X6 > ZDX)
2. it's all objective anyways.

and that's probably an argument that's less objective than looks. and i agree.

dtc5

Is it see through? Like the ones in Prius to make up for the rear visibility lost with the fastback rear windshield?

Moog-Type-S

I dunno about the pointless thing.

My problem is that out of all the vehicles the Acura line-up is missing, Acura goes out and builds a bad X6 knock-off?!?!?!

Acura: How about you fill the big holes in the line-up (flagship sedan, convertible, coupe, wagon) before you build "pointless" niche vehicles.

JediMindTricks

i wonder how long the ZDX (and X6) were in production for.

Moog-Type-S

Dunno....but BMW can build vehicles like the X6, because they have a complete line-up....and now they are adding niche vehicles, whereas Acura.......

Yumcha

I guess I shouldn't tell you my next vehicle is likely something from that segment (i.e. FX50)...

Yumcha

Well, kinda goes with their entire "new-look" philosophy with the baking-plate-for-a-grille. Niche market.

cp3117

How True....

I am sure if they sold 1500 Coupes a month compared to probably a couple hundred ZDX's they would be happier.

Who knows whats going on though up in their boardrooms, they change Acura's direction almost every coffee break.

dtc5

Isn't flagship sedan, convertible, coupe, wagon also "pointless" niche vehicles?

SpicyMikey

That's the most relevant point about all this. The ZDX might end up being a fine car. Hell, I think I even might buy one after my MDX lease runs out next year. But, did they really need THIS to be their next product? It's really the last thing they need right now. 50% of their product lineup will be utility vehicles now. Who has more than that? GMC maybe?

krio

+1. the interior too for me is ugly...

I prefer this:

JediMindTricks

true.

that's why i was wondering how long the ZDX was in production. surely, it's had to have been years or quite some time. during all that time, they could've (or maybe should've) placed their attention elsewhere.

so you finally decided? nice. i the new FX.

neuronbob

Thanks for posting those pics, krio. My goodness, that interior is sumptuous. it is just right for me! The exterior....still dunno. I plan to go test drive that and the 6MT TL SH-AWD this fall.

jhr3uva90

Some random thoughts on the ZDX, please take with a big grain of salt:

1. They started developing this vehicle a few years ago BEFORE the launch of the BMW X6.

2. The ZDX is based heavily on the MDX. It is cheaper (and probably more profitable) for Acura to design a vehicle like the ZDX than to start from scratch with a new platform. Personally, I would have called it the "MDX coupe" or something similar in order to combine the ZDX sales with the MDX.

3. People on internet forums seem to crave an Acura coupe. However, Acura had two generations of CL coupes and both generations did not live up to sales expectations. If they made a TSX or TL based coupe today, it would probably sell even fewer units than the ZDX will. A convertible wouldn't even be worth the effort for Acura, which is a small brand of a relatively small car company.

4. Why does Acura have so many SUVs? Because Lexus become the top-selling luxury brand mainly because of SUVs. From the 1990s up until this economic downturn, many of the people who really bought luxury brands bought SUVs. By the time the trend changed starting in the summer of 2008, it was probably too late for Acura to cancel the ZDX.

5. Do Americans really buy wagons?

6. I would consider a "flagship" car to be a full-sized car with at least a V8 engine, various luxury features, and either RWD or AWD. Such cars usually have a base price of over $60K. Trends are even more against flagships than against SUVs. That's why Infiniti stopped making the Q a long time ago. The only flagships that will sell will be the German brands, although Lexus might sell a handful of LS sedans.

dom

Tongue planted firmly in cheek? I never said anything about not liking the interior.

If only Acura could get the exterior as right as they get the interior.

krio

the 5 series GT exterior is ugly, really...
but the new sedan 5 series will get the same interior...

neuronbob

Let me offer an astonishing insight.

I happened to be browsing GM's site yesterday, and more specifically, "Ask Fritz", a blog in which GM executives answer questions from us, the "little people". (Wish Honda had one of those.)

Background:
Cadillac has much the same decision as Acura to make--like Acura, their bread and butter line, the CTS is the one that sells the most cars and right now that's what really defines Caddy. It was previously known for making no-holds-barred luxury cars with RWD and V8s. They killed the flagship sedan, the STS this year as part of a product rollout plan.

They are now deciding what the flagship should be. The rumors are leaning, just like Acura, toward a FWD/AWD car, albeit Caddy's will still have a V8 option.

Now back to the blog. A user asked when Caddy would be releasing their next V8 FR ubermobile. The exec's answer was shocking. I'll post the actual quote later, but basically he said that that market including the 7 series and S series was 5% of the car market and was shrinking even for BMW and Mercedes. He questioned the logic of developing for a shrinking market with limited resources.

Sound familiar? Sounds a lot like the new Honda CEO's answer to V8/FR platforms, which is that they won't develop for a shrinking market.

These are interesting times, indeed.

agranado

^^^ so what you're trying to say is that companies like Acura and Infiniti whom have not had flagships for years (or in acura's case, at all) have been ahead of the curve? pfft.

PS - the exterior of the ZDX is still atrocious. Interior has always been money.

dtc5

^ I don't think that is what he is saying. At the end of the day, car companies are out to be profitable. They have answer to board members and stock holders. Both Acura and Infiniti have been doing relatively well without a flagship sedan. Why start now? If the ZDX is going to make Honda/Acura more profitable, I don’t have anything against that.

Belzebutt

Sorry for the dumb question but what does FR stand for?


Your post is right on, as are jhr3uva90's points. It's all about making investments that will pay off. It would be nice for Acura to have such a car, but the german companies already have these RWD platforms and they don't need to spend billions developing the next S or 7, Honda would.

SpicyMikey

Shorthand for the powertrain configuration
FF = Front Engine, Front Drive
FR = Front Engine, Rear Drive
MR = Mid Engine, Rear Drive,
etc...

neuronbob

This.

Basically, Acura knows the ZDX is a low-volume niche car on which they can make loads of profit as it platform-shares with the MDX and Pilot. It will sell little, but still make money for Acura. I guess that's OK by me.

Mikey beat me to it.

Here's the exchange on "Tell Fritz".
I hope Acura is doing the same--this once and (perhaps) future customer is waiting.