Acura is preparing to expand its utility lineup with a larger, full-size three-row flagship SUV slated to arrive in late 2029. According to internal planning documents cited by Automotive News, the vehicle, tentatively codenamed the “Acura XL”, will sit above the midsize MDX, providing a more spacious rival to models like the Lexus TX and Buick Enclave, as well as entry-level variants of the BMW X7.
In the shorter term, Acura is actually shrinking its portfolio. With the TLX midsize sedan and short-lived ZDX electric crossover heading off into the sunset, and with the recent production pause of the RDX compact crossover, Acura’s lineup has contracted to just three core nameplates: the entry-level ADX crossover, the MDX and the Integra hatchback.
This contraction is a temporary setup before a broader, hybrid-focused product offensive. The RDX is set to return in 2028 as a fourth-generation model powered by a hybrid powertrain. It will also introduce Acura's refreshed design language, previewed by the brand's recent concept models and which feature ultra-slim LED lighting signatures, most notably.
The planned XL flagship is expected to adopt the new styling cues to go with a new heavy-duty hybrid system. Meanwhile, the subcompact ADX and midsize MDX will continue in their current iterations before undergoing full redesigns in the early 2030s.
While American Honda product planning chief Gary Robinson declined to confirm specific details regarding the XL project, he highlighted the growth potential within the luxury segment. “There’s opportunity in different places, and SUV is the biggest part of the premium market today,” Robinson noted.
Despite the heavy pivot toward crossovers and SUVs, Acura maintains that passenger cars remain integral to its future. Robinson pointed out at Monterey Car Week that demand for sedans has shown surprising stability compared to industry expectations from a few years ago, signaling that the Integra may not remain the brand's sole car indefinitely.
Last but not least, brand executives have continued to tease the possibility of making a production version of the low-slung Nexera Vision sports car concept. There again, thoughts of an all-electric powertrain have been pushed aside in favour of a combustion engine or, more likely, a hybrid system.