If you had asked us a couple of weeks ago, then we would have told you that “maybe” is the word that answers this question best. After all, we all heard rumors about a possible expansion to include a few novelties, haven’t we? Well, fast forward to a few days ago, and we have official confirmation that Acura is indeed planning to release more models. More particularly, there will be two of them, and these rides will be quite different, not only from each other, but also from other vehicles that the automaker currently has in its portfolio.
So, what are we talking about exactly? Well, the one that America is definitely waiting for more is the new flagship SUV. This will be the biggest high-rider that the company has ever made, and it will be offered with three rows of seats, and seating for up to eight. Chances are higher specs might get individual captain’s chairs for the second and third rows, so they will probably be six seaters. However, you may want to refrain from quoting us on this information, because it is just our two cents, and should be taken with a pinch of salt.
What we can confirm, however, is that this model is indeed coming. Acura recently made the big announcement, some two months after a report spoke about this model. The vehicle is currently known as the Acura XL, and this is the codename, as no one who is not directly involved in its development knows what it will be christened. And that’s not all, because details about it are also unknown. Thus, we cannot tell you anything about the size, equipment, powertrain family, and even the underpinnings.
Photo: Kolesa
You see, Acura has not confirmed whether this model will be entirely new, based on a fresh construction, or whether it will share its nuts and bolts with other existing models. The Acura XL will sit above the seven-seat MDX, and it will likely have plenty of things in common with the Honda Pilot XXL (unofficial name) that is also in the making as we speak. The latter will be bigger than the Grand Highlander. And we also have no idea when it will officially debut, though reports speak about a possible launch in 2029.
Thus, we are still a few good years away from seeing the so-called Acura XL, and by then, a lot of things could change. But what exactly is the second model that Acura is planning? Well, it is an “adventure-ready” SUV. The company described it by using words such as “modern,” “premium styling,” “comfort,” and so on. And just like the XL, we also do not know whether it will be based on an existing crossover or not, though some believe that the Passport could be a great foundation.
Now, we may not know anything about this model at this point, though that hasn’t stopped Kolesa’ pixel master, Nikita Chuyko, from imagining it. The images shared in the gallery are nothing more than mere renderings. And if you believe that the design is quite familiar, that’s because the car in question has been based on the Honda Passport TrailSport. Compared to its more mainstream sibling, it features a new front fascia that is clearly Acura. The headlights, grille, bumper, hood, and front fenders are entirely new.
Photo: Kolesa
The profile, on the other hand, carries over from the Passport TrailSport, complete with the black plastic cladding on the lower parts of the body. The wheels are bigger, and they are the same ones from the official teaser that Acura recently released. The door handles, side mirrors, roof rails, and so on, carry over from the Honda. Out back, we can see a completely different lighting signature, as well as a new bumper, and a redesigned tailgate.
A look inside hasn’t been provided in this case, though the interior should be very similar to that of the Honda Passport TrailSport. However, in order to set them apart, we reckon that such a thing would feature different screens, as well as a more premium setup overall, and probably a few other tweaks. But let’s not forget that we do not really know whether Acura’s “adventure-ready” SUV will indeed share its underpinnings with the Honda mentioned above, and even if it does, chances are it won’t look anything like this.
The adventurous, high-riding Acura will launch in the first half of 2028, and additional details about it will be released in due course. Meanwhile, feel free to tell us whether you dig the styling of this rendered SUV. So, do you?
