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| 2013 Acura RDX |
The entirely new Acura RDX is more like the brand new Honda CR-V but what did they do from here is somewhat more of a cost-cutting procedure. First up, the magnificent 2.3L K23A1 Turbo I4 engine has been replaced by a more "polar bear friendly" 3.5 L V6 engine. Also, the magnificent SH-AWD system has been replaced by a simple AWD layout. That's a shame... The only good news I've been getting that the 5-speed AT has been replaced with a 6-speed Paddle Shift Transmission. Looks like the RDX's rock and roll days are over. What Honda did focused on the entirely new RDX is killing the fun factor in favor to be more economical and practical. This is a crossover that is not targeted for the enthusiasts but rather more for the soccer moms and dads. In terms of fuel economy, the entirely new Acura RDX, thanks to its naturally aspirated V6 engine and 6-speed AT, will get through an estimated 20 mpg in the city /23 combined/28 mpg highway and there was the possibility of Variable Cylinder Management. Most Honda enthusiasts already familiar about the Variable Cylinder Management but for those who are asking how does it work, Variable Cylinder Management allows the V6 engine to run on three or four cylinders depending on road conditions. If this RDX runs on three cylinders, engine vibration is reduced by extrapolating vibration from the change in crankshaft rotation speed and sending the information to the 'active control' engine mount.
Okay, about that 3.5L i-VTEC V6 engine, this produces 273HP of power and 251lb-ft of torque. It even has this Drive-by-wire throttle system that reduces weight, increases operational accuracy and stretches out the time between service visits.
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| 2013 Acura RDX interior |
It's just typical Acura interior for the new RDX but luckily, the navigation system has been upgraded into an HDD Navi system. There are lots of other stuff you can do while driving the RDX such as listening to music via Pandora® internet radio, text your friends, check traffic information, search for nearest points of interests, voice recognition, find out what's the latest weather in Los Angeles, and everything else just as long as your not fiddling with everything. The Acura ELS Surround® audio system isn't quite what you call "opera quality" but this is somewhat more like your portable iPod speaker you have in your home. This car can accommodate up to five passengers and the rear seats can be folded for some more cargo space.
Some standard equipment on the new RDX includes a 5-spoke 18-inch wheels and improved 4-wheel disc brakes that include an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. The rear view camera is now a necessity as well as the keyless acess and push button start.
The entirely new Acura RDX comes in seven colors such as Basque Red Pearl II, Crystal Black Pearl, Forged Silver Metallic, Graphite Luster Metallic, Silver Moon, White Diamond Pearl, and Amber Brownstone.
My comment:
Killing a turbo engine is a hard thing to do for Honda because, well let's be honest, the performance profile of the turbo four may have doomed it to being merely a footnote in Honda's illustrious history. Last year, the previous generation RDX sold only 15,000 units, which sounds a bit too reasonably but with the turbo Honda engine dead, the hopes of applying the power-dense four cylinder on other Honda products has been axed. That made me sad.
Anyway, back at the entirely new Acura RDX, it's not as better as the previous model but more importantly, this car is only focused to be safe, innovative, and more importantly, comfortable for five adults. This is built for the size of your life and let's be honest, like most Acuras, this was only come from a fast food nation. This new model will never get it right...
Photo: American Honda Motor Co.
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