2009 New York Auto Show News: 2010 Acura ZDX

NEW YORK — In a blatant bid to lure affluent customers away from BMW and Infiniti, Acura took the wraps off its curvaceous 2010 ZDX prototype today at the 2009 New York Auto Show.

The upscale Japanese brand confirmed a few more details about the production version of the ZDX, which is due out in the fall and will feature a V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. "Sorry, we will not be announcing the engine size," said Acura spokesman Chuck Schifsky in response to an e-mail query from Inside Line.

Acura said the production ZDX will get Acura's SH-AWD (Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive) system. The production version will also get a new blind-spot information system and a new multiview rear camera with wide-angle and top-down views.

Acura used such words as "sensuous" and "emotional" to describe the ZDX prototype and said in a statement that it was clearly in the hunt for "an entirely new customer."

The ZDX prototype grabs attention with such details as an all-glass tailgate, a panoramic glass roof, 20-inch Michelin tires and door handles concealed in the C-pillar. Exterior cues include a sharply raked roof line and striking fender flares. Its "quad coupe" design is similar to the slinky shapes of the BMW X6 and Infiniti FX35.

The ZDX prototype's cabin features a dual cockpit layout and black-and-pearl-white leather trim.

Acura did not release technical or engine specifications on the production ZDX. While pricing has not yet been announced, it is expected to range between $42,000 and $50,000.

Honda's upscale brand clearly has taken a page from the BMW playbook with the debut of the ZDX. Like the 2009 BMW X5 and X6, which are very similar in size, the Acura ZDX prototype appears to be an extremely close sibling to the 2009 Acura MDX.

The dimensions of the five-passenger ZDX prototype are nearly identical to those of the seven-passenger MDX.

Both vehicles are 78.5 inches wide. The overall length of the ZDX prototype is 192.4 inches, while the overall length of the MDX is 190.7 inches. The wheelbase of the ZDX prototype is 108.2 inches, while the wheelbase of the MDX is 108.3 inches. The ZDX prototype is slightly shorter at 61.8 inches, while the MDX is 68.2 inches tall.

The 2009 Acura MDX ranges in price from $41,550-$49,450, including a $760 destination charge.

Inside Line says: That "entirely new customer" that Acura seeks with its new ZDX clearly is a fan of German engineering and styling. But will this new crossover cannibalize sales from the MDX? — Anita Lienert, Correspondent