Acura prepares its largest-ever SUV and a new V6 hybrid powertrain
Honda’s luxury brand Acura has decided to offer American buyers more space and confirmed that it is developing its largest-ever SUV. The new eight-seat flagship will sit above the current MDX and compete with the Lexus TX. Acura also promises two new SUVs by 2028 and is developing a sportier V6 hybrid powertrain.
Eight seats and more luxury than before
According to the official roadmap, the new flagship will have three rows of seats and seating for eight. The current MDX seats seven, and its 5039 mm body length gives a fairly good indication of how large the next Acura could become.
The manufacturer has not yet disclosed the new model’s dimensions, name or specifications. According to earlier reports, the project carries the internal designation XL, and production could begin in 2029 at Honda’s Alabama plant. Acura has not officially confirmed these details.
Its main rival will be the Lexus TX, which offers three rows and up to seven seats in the American market. Acura hopes to attract buyers who find the MDX too small but do not want to move up to even more expensive luxury SUVs.
A new V6 hybrid and two additional SUVs
Acura is also developing a new hybrid powertrain based on a six-cylinder petrol engine. The manufacturer promises to combine sportier performance with lower fuel consumption and improved towing capability. Neither the engine’s power output nor the technical layout has been disclosed.
A new off-road-focused SUV will reach the market in the first half of 2028. Acura has not revealed its name or design, but promises greater capability away from paved roads.
The fourth-generation RDX will arrive in the same year, marking the first use of Honda’s two-motor full-hybrid system in Acura’s model range. Unlike the current RDX, the new generation will therefore offer an electrified powertrain.
Europe remains on the sidelines for now
Acura is focusing its new models on North America, where large luxury SUVs form a lucrative market segment. In Europe, the eight-seat flagship would be a niche product, with the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS as its main rivals.
Honda has not announced any plans to bring the new Acura models to the European market.
There is, however, one interesting shift in Acura’s strategy. Rather than electric cars, the manufacturer is focusing primarily on hybrids and larger SUVs over the next few years. That is an understandable choice in the American market, but at a time when competitors are talking about electrification, developing an eight-seat luxury SUV feels like a fairly old-school approach.
