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2019 Acura RDX compact crossover goes into production in Ohio

Acura has kicked off production of the all-new 2019 RDX, capping a $54 million investment in new technologies and processes at its plant in East Liberty, Ohio, where the compact crossover will be built. It goes on sale starting in June, though prices are yet to be announced. The RDX is Acura's best-selling model, and the 2019 model was designed and developed in the U.S. for the first time. Acura says it's the first in a new generation of vehicles based on its Precision Crafted Performance brand direction, which is based on the Precision Concept and Precision Cockpit concepts from 2016. Honda's investment in its East Liberty Auto Plant brought two firsts for a mass-produced Acura: a new roller hemming process for the crossover's large panoramic sliding moonroof and the use of high-performance structural adhesives to increase body rigidity. It also gets a new multi-layer paint system to handle the new premium exterior color options. The RDX is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder VTEC Turbo engine built in nearby Anna, Ohio. It makes 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque and is paired with Acura's 10-speed automatic, made at the company's transmission plant in Tallapoosa, Ga. Also notable is the "Super Handling All-Wheel Drive" system, which shifts more power to the rear axle to improve handling. It also gets a new, lightweight Acura-only platform that stiffens the body and adds more interior room and cargo space. Acura is also debuting a new True Touchpad Interface in the RDX that offers a unique one-to-one position with the 10.2-inch center display screen that works a little differently than a traditional cursor interface. You can read our review of it here. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 Acura RDX production Image Credit: Acura Plants/Manufacturing Acura Crossover acura rdx

Driving the GMC Hummer EV and Mercedes-Benz EQS, EQE, EQS SUV | Autoblog Podcast #750

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder. This week, they talk about driving Mercedes' fleet of EQ electric vehicles, including the EQE Sedan, the AMG EQS Sedan and the EQS SUV. They also talk about piloting the Acura NSX Type S. Next, they discuss the reveal of the 2024 Maserati GranTurismo, including the all-electric Folgore trim, as well as the Ferrari SP51 roadster. Finally, they talk about some of the best (including some unusual) car features for kids. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #750 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2022 Hummer EV Edition 1 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 2022 Acura NSX Type S 2024 Maserati GranTurismo revealed, twin-turbo V6 or 750-hp EV Ferrari SP51 is a V12 roadster with gorgeous paint based on the 812 GTS Spider Best car features for kids and family life Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video:

Acura considering Vezel-based compact crossover

There's a distinct benefit to automakers having their own premium brand. After all, why develop one vehicle to be sold under one nameplate if you can turn it into two? Especially if a little reconfiguration and some premium accoutrements allow said automaker to charge significantly more for the luxury version. It's a winning formula - for crossovers especially - that Toyota has used to turn the Highlander into the Lexus RX (even if the first-gen RX arrived before the original Highlander), that Ford has used to transform the Edgee into the Lincoln MKX and that General Motors has applied to the Chevrolet Suburban to turn it into the Cadillac Escalade (to name just a few of the many examples out there). And it's one to which Honda and its Acura division are certainly not unaccustomed.
Acura has adapted its Euro-spec Honda Accord into the TSX, the Civic into the ILX, the CR-V into the RDX and the Pilot into the MDX. And now that the Honda Vezel is coming to market, Acura reportedly has its eye on that as well. The idea was first introduced when Acura unveiled the SUV-X concept (shown above) at the Shanghai Motor Show this past April, just a few months after Honda revealed its Urban SUV concept that previewed the production Vezel. At the time, says Automotive News, Acura said it intended to put the concept into production in China for the Chinese market, and it's reportedly moving ahead with those plans. But now that it is, executives are wondering where else they might find buyers for the premium compact crossover.
With the Vezel soon to begin production alongside the Fit at Honda's new plant in Mexico, it wouldn't be a stretch to see the Acura version follow suit. The market does, after all, seem to be heating up with entries like the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, and we couldn't blame Honda - pardon us, Acura - for wanting a slice of that pie.