Women know how to surprise men, especially in the heavily male-dominated auto industry. The lady behind the all-new 2010 Acura ZDX is the lovely Michelle Christensen, 28. Her sketches made such a strong impression on Honda executives that, for once, the production model looks virtually identical to the concept.
Of course, the ZDX borrows the entire bag of styling tricks from every other Acura product. Unfortunately, the controversial grille messes things up a little by gashing the front fascia, particularly on dark-coloured models. The overall design is so busy and full of intricate details, it would take hours just to list them all.
Still, a handful of visual elements aft of the B-pillars deserve special attention. First of all, it’s awfully rare to see a vehicle other than a two-door coupe with a roofline that starts to drop right above the driver. The result is an extremely sleek and aerodynamic profile in the mold of a true sports car.
Elsewhere, the rear door handles are nicely integrated to the blacked-out section of the window frame, cleaning up the body sides and further enhancing that stylish coupe look. On the other hand, these high-mounted handles are out of young children’s reach, while the ultra-tapered door openings make entry and exit a real challenge for tall rear passengers. Headroom won’t satisfy most people, either. On the bright side (literally), the panoramic roof provides a sense of space and airiness by flooding the interior with natural light.
This black-tinted glass panel flows into the liftgate with built-in taillights. There is no break between the long, sloping rear window and the subtle lip spoiler. Speaking of seamless integration, how can you not praise designers for the pair of dual exhaust tips at the bottom of the rear bumper? Bravo.
In typical Acura fashion, the tastefully-executed cabin feels sumptuous and sporty. There’s nothing spectacular or outlandish, but you gotta love the graceful wave pattern that springs from the center stack and extends well into the door panels in superb wraparound style.
Another Acura trademark is the complex array of buttons and controls, although I must say I had my fair share of enjoyment after some getting used to. The whole aircraft-inspired cockpit won me over, so I wasn’t going to let some questionable ergonomics curb my enthusiasm, let alone ruin my experience! Material selection, especially the rich leather, is a testament to the brand’s business-like approach. Fit and finish are top notch.
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| The 2010 Acura ZDX really stands out from the crowd, including all these hot new extravagantly-styled, coupe-like SUVs/CUVs. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Of course, the ZDX borrows the entire bag of styling tricks from every other Acura product. Unfortunately, the controversial grille messes things up a little by gashing the front fascia, particularly on dark-coloured models. The overall design is so busy and full of intricate details, it would take hours just to list them all.
Still, a handful of visual elements aft of the B-pillars deserve special attention. First of all, it’s awfully rare to see a vehicle other than a two-door coupe with a roofline that starts to drop right above the driver. The result is an extremely sleek and aerodynamic profile in the mold of a true sports car.
Elsewhere, the rear door handles are nicely integrated to the blacked-out section of the window frame, cleaning up the body sides and further enhancing that stylish coupe look. On the other hand, these high-mounted handles are out of young children’s reach, while the ultra-tapered door openings make entry and exit a real challenge for tall rear passengers. Headroom won’t satisfy most people, either. On the bright side (literally), the panoramic roof provides a sense of space and airiness by flooding the interior with natural light.
This black-tinted glass panel flows into the liftgate with built-in taillights. There is no break between the long, sloping rear window and the subtle lip spoiler. Speaking of seamless integration, how can you not praise designers for the pair of dual exhaust tips at the bottom of the rear bumper? Bravo.
In typical Acura fashion, the tastefully-executed cabin feels sumptuous and sporty. There’s nothing spectacular or outlandish, but you gotta love the graceful wave pattern that springs from the center stack and extends well into the door panels in superb wraparound style.
Another Acura trademark is the complex array of buttons and controls, although I must say I had my fair share of enjoyment after some getting used to. The whole aircraft-inspired cockpit won me over, so I wasn’t going to let some questionable ergonomics curb my enthusiasm, let alone ruin my experience! Material selection, especially the rich leather, is a testament to the brand’s business-like approach. Fit and finish are top notch.
 |
| The whole aircraft-inspired cockpit won me over! (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |