The new model is expected to be equipped with a hybrid powertrain, which is unsurprising given how poorly Honda's electric vehicles are performing in the American market.
The position of the Acura brand, owned by Japanese company Honda, in its primary market, the United States, is currently quite stable. For example, in 2025, brand dealers sold approximately 134,800 units here, an increase of 1.9% compared to the previous year. In the first half of 2026, sales reached 69,700 units (just 0.1% less than in January-June of last year). Nevertheless, Acura has previously suffered losses related to electric vehicles: in the spring, the company had to abandon production of the sporty RSX crossover, and at the end of last year, it discontinued the ZDX.
So it is no surprise that the next new model Acura is preparing will apparently feature a hybrid, rather than a fully electric, powertrain. According to Automotive News, the Japanese brand is already developing a flagship three-row crossover for its domestic market, which will sit one step above the MDX SUV in the brand's hierarchy.
According to the agency, the upcoming SUV is referred to as "Acura XL" in internal documents — whether this is a quirky internal code or a hint at the substantial size and spaciousness of the yet-to-be-officially-announced crossover remains unclear. It is also reported that the company plans to begin serial production of the new model in September 2029 at Honda's plant in Lincoln, Alabama. The annual production volume is expected to reach 40,000 units.
According to preliminary data, the upcoming flagship SUV will be equipped with a new hybrid powertrain from Honda, with details to be revealed later. It is possible that this system will include a V6 engine. Recall that in May 2026, Honda shared some information about its new family of hybrid systems: specifically, that their cost will be reduced by 30% compared to the company's existing hybrid systems, while fuel efficiency will be improved by 10%.
In the American market, the Lexus TX is expected to be a competitor for Acura's new model. The TX is a close relative of the Toyota Grand Highlander. Sales of the TX in the U.S. began in 2023; its overall length ranges from 5,159 mm to 5,169 mm depending on the version, with a wheelbase of 2,949 mm. It is worth noting that this SUV is currently offered with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine (maximum power: 279 hp, torque: 430 Nm), as well as a hybrid system based on the same turbo engine paired with an electric motor on the rear axle (combined output: 371 hp and 555 Nm).
It is worth noting that the Japanese brand recently discontinued the Lexus TX 550h+ variant, which was equipped with a plug-in hybrid system based on a 3.5-liter V6 engine, working in conjunction with two electric motors and an 18.1 kWh traction battery. The combined output of this crossover was 410 hp, and its all-electric range was 53 km.
It is expected that the new flagship Acura crossover will be more expensive than the current MDX. In the American market, the starting price of the current MDX is $51,800, which is equivalent to approximately 4.06 million rubles at the current exchange rate (price does not include delivery fees). For the top-tier version, the price is at least $75,850 (approximately 5.94 million rubles).
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