The 2013 Acura
RDX rides on a 4-wheel independent suspension with a MacPherson strut front and
multi-link rear suspension design. A longer wheelbase, wider track and lower
center of gravity provide the foundation for the new RDX’s improved handling
and ride quality. New chassis technology for 2013 includes Acura-exclusive
Amplitude Reactive Dampers and a new Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering
system that replaces the previous hydraulic steering. The 2013 RDX will be
available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants.
2013 Acura RDX Exterior
The RDX’s
newfound maturity extends beneath the sheetmetal. Compared to the previous
model, Acura stretched the wheelbase 1.4 inches and widened the track for more
passenger and cargo room, while the door openings have been enlarged for easier
ingress and egress. The prototype also is about 1 inch lower and longer, and
0.1 inch wider than the current RDX.
2013 Acura RDX Interior
While the wheelbase is up only 1.4 inches,
and the new RDX grows an inch or less in every other direction, it looks larger
and more elegant. Likewise, the cabin feels more expansive despite modest leg-,
hip-, and shoulder-room increases in front. Cubby count is up, button count is
down, and standard techno-gadgets abound.
2013 Acura RDX Engine
The 3.5-liter
V-6 produces 33 more hp than last year’s four-banger—for a total of 273—and
comes bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission instead of last year’s
five-cog unit. For those who don’t require four driven wheels, the RDX will
continue to be available with front-wheel drive. According to Acura, the RDX
will return better fuel economy than the current model with either drive
configuration. The company expects the front-drive RDX to be rated at 20 mpg in
the city and 28 on the highway, but isn’t offering any preliminary numbers for
the all-wheel-drive model. The 2012 RDX’s fuel-economy numbers are noticeably
worse, at 19/24 mpg for the front-drive version and 17/22 with SH-AWD.
Previous-gen RDXs could boogie from 0 to 60 mph in the low-six-second range,
and we expect the 2013’s performance in a straight line won’t change much.
2013 Acura RDX Picture
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