Speculation

Here are the 6 models Acura will introduce by 2022 according to a leaked dealer slideshow

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Jun 5, 2020, 4:04 pm

Someone leaked photos of slides from the Acura dealers association meetings.

Photo courtesy of Acura

Fan forum AcuraZine reports to have slideshow images from an Acura dealership presentation that was given earlier this month. As part of the presentation, the premium vehicle arm of Honda detailed its moves for the next two years, including the introduction of six new models.

Acura has been on a teaser tear lately as it looks to ramp up the speed at which it's working to differentiate itself not just from Honda cars and SUVs but also from the rest of the field. Company employees have not been shy about vocalizing their desire to bring the company back into focus with performance as an intended key attribute to success.

Let's take a closer look.

2021 Acura TLX

2021 Acura TLX

Photo courtesy of Acura

Acura is upping the power, even on the base version, for the 2021 model year. Read more about the redesigned TLX here.

2021 Acura TLX Type S

2021 Acura TLX Type S

Photo courtesy of Acura

Acura has debuted a redesigned TLX for the 2021 model year. With it, a sportier model will debut called the TLX Type S. You can read more about both models here.

Acura MDX

The next generation of the Acura MDX is coming. It's expected to have looks that are in line with the RDX while giving buyers a well-appointed cabin that is full of premium features and seating across three rows. Look for the MDX to debut later this year.

Acura MDX Type S

The Acura MDX Type S might just be a new sleeper car. Poised to have a dramatic looking exterior (think RDX + MDX + TLX Type S), there's reason to believe that this SUV might just haul more than luggage. Fingers are crossed.

"New Compact Sedan"

There's a good chance that Acura is bringing back the Integra name for its new compact car, which will replace the ILX in the automaker's lineup. The ILX originally replaced the Acura CSX, which was only sold in Canada and was the first compact car Acura sold after the RSX was discontinued. With or without Integra badging, it's coming.

"New Compact Sedan" Type S

By now you're probably figuring out the trend. Acura will be offering performance-focused variants of all of its upcoming models, giving them the "Type S" badge with purchase. Think of it as the Acura equivalent of the Audi A3 vs S3 vs RS 3 nomenclature where the S3 is sportier than the A3, but not track-focused like RS 3.


2019 Acura RDX Acura hasn't said what is happening to the RDX other than that it will continue to be offered. Photo courtesy of Acura

The leaked images are also notable for what they don't show. There's no RDX Type S on the roster, nor are there any added variants of the NSX or a successor the RLX.

The Acura RDX is currently built on its own platform, which means that it's likely just a matter of timing before a Type S variant becomes available. Will it be part of a mid-cycle refresh? Will we be waiting until a full redesign around 2025? Only time will tell.

The exclusion of plans for the NSX isn't a surprise. The car recently went through a sold design refresh and it's more likely that Acura would tune the model and update the interior more than rushing a generational redesign for the halo car.

Likewise, the lack of RLX or its successor is indicative of the market today. Most automakers are killing off their large cars, with the exception of the German car companies, as buyers move toward midsize and larger SUVs instead. The RLX says goodbye after the 2020 model year. Given that the company sold, on average, less than 100 of them a month for the last few years, it's not likely many in the U.S. will notice its absence.

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New hybrid SUV

2022 Highlander Hybrid gets new Bronze Edition trim

The Bronze Edition model builds on the XLE trim.

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The Toyota Highlander entered its fourth generation for the 2020 model year, which brought sleek style, updated tech, and a premium-look interior. A new XSE trim joined the lineup for 2021, and for 2022, Toyota is adding a new hybrid-only Bronze Edition trim.

2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition The Bronze Edition adds useful features, such as a hands-free power liftgate.toyota

The new Bronze Edition Highlander builds on the XLE trim with:

  • Rain-sensing wipers
  • Digital rearview mirror
  • Ambient interior lighting
  • Memory driver's seat with 10-way power adjustments
  • Hands-free power liftgate

Toyota notes that the Bronze Edition previews features that will show up with the greater 2022 Highlander release. Among them are the new Wind Chill Pearl color, which replaces Blizzard Pearl from the previous model, and height/tilt passenger seat adjustments.

2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition The Highlander is a supremely comfortable SUV with room for the family.Toyota

The Highlander carries on into 2022 with a standard 3.5-liter V6 that makes 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. A Highlander Hybrid is available, which mates a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. Combined system output is 243 horsepower. With the V6 on board, the Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition The Bronze Edition is available for Highlander Hybrid models.Toyota

All 2022 Highlander models get Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, road sign assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure alerts, lane tracing assist, a sway warning system, and automatic high beams. Those features and the Highlander's excellent crash testing scores were good enough for the SUV to earn a Top Safety Pick + designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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New compact luxury SUV

2022 Lexus NX gets new tech and PHEV drivetrain

The NX is all-new for 2022.

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The NX may not be Lexus' most popular SUV – that title goes to the RX – but it's got a lot to offer in a compact package. Lexus redesigned the NX for 2022, and the big stories are its new PHEV powertrain, updated tech, and improved safety features.

The 2022 NX 450h+ is Lexus' first plug-in hybrid vehicle. It's expected to deliver 36 miles all-electric range, 84 MPGe combined, a 0-60 mph time of six seconds. It's joined in the NX lineup by the NX 350h hybrid, which uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two high-torque motor-generators that produce a combined output of 239 horsepower. The NX 350h is capable of returning 39 mpg combined and a 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds.

2022 Lexus NX New tech and updated safety features are headline changes for 2022.Lexus

A turbocharged gas engine rounds out the NX powertrain selection. It's a 2.4-liter unit that makes 203 horsepower and 184 horsepower. Surprisingly, it's weaker than both of the hybrid powertrains, and is only capable of a 0-60 mph time of 8.2 seconds with front-wheel drive. Fuel economy lands at 28 mpg combined.

The new NX comes standard with a 9.8-inch touchscreen that employs a new Lexus interface to make interactions smoother and easier. A 14-inch touchscreen is optional, and includes a three-year trial for a bundle of connected services. Lexus offers a new connected smartphone feature that allows drivers to store their vehicle profiles in the cloud and take them to other Lexus vehicles equipped with the tech.

2022 Lexus NX The NX gets a PHEV powertrain option for the first time.Lexus

The Lexus Interface also offers advanced voice controls and a new voice assistant feature. The automaker says that it was designed to recognize natural speech, and uses two microphones with noise cancellation, seat detection, and speaker location capabilities. Drivers can ask for the weather, traffic situations, control the audio system, and more with their voice.

The NX's safety features got a boost for 2022 as well. Standard features now include risk avoidance emergency steer assist, left-turn oncoming vehicle detection and braking, right/left turn oncoming pedestrian detection and braking, and dynamic radar cruise control with curve speed management.

2022 Lexus NX F Sport models get sporty interior finishes.Lexus

The 2022 Lexus NX should begin arriving on dealers' lots in December 2021. Pricing for the NX 250 FWD starts at $39,025, which includes a $1,075 destination fee. The range-topping NX 450h+ starts at $56,635.

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