WHAT IT IS Acura is bringing back the ZDX nameplate, but this time it’s a whole different car. The 2024 Acura ZDX SUV will be Acura’s first dedicated EV, and it will be based on General Motors’ Ultium platform. The ZDX will share design cues with the Precision EV concept shown at last year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance and will be a two-row compact SUV to compete against the likes of the Audi Q4 E-Tron, Genesis GV70 EV, Tesla Model Y, and Lexus RZ. Acura has already confirmed the ZDX will get a high-performance Type S variant.
WHY IT MATTERS It’s yet another fully electric option from an increasing pool for consumers to choose from. That’s a good thing. General Motors and Honda signed an agreement where Honda gets to use GM’s Ultium platform for two of its models—the Honda Prologue and this ZDX. Last year, both companies expanded their contract to include joint development of a whole new EV architecture, saving costs for both companies.
PLATFORM AND POWERTRAIN The Ultium architecture—which really describes the battery and motor technology rather than a platform in the traditional sense—has already been deployed in several vehicles, including the GMC Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and Chevrolet Silverado EV, Blazer EV, and Equinox EV. The 2024 Acura ZDX will be closely related to the Blazer EV, and depending on the variant, range should fall between 240 and 320 miles. Regular models will surely have standard AWD, but it’s not yet clear if the Type S will be solely (or offer) rear drive.
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