Second-Generation Acura RDX Ditches Turbo Four for V6

Acura is putting in a real effort into improving  the Acura RDX. The first generation was not expecially well received, and even Acura admitted that the SUV did not have great fuel economy. 

The redesigned RDX is cleaner and slicker than the previous generation. It uses the newest version of Acura's plenum grill that actually looks attractive on the RDX. The wheelbase is longer and the track is wider as well. 

Inside Acura says that it has increased sound deadening, and it is incorporating Pandora and SMS text-to-speech. 

The RDX had used a 2.4 liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but the new generation has a 3.5 liter V6 with 273hp with a six-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain is rated at 20mpg city and 28mpg highway for the front-wheel drive model, which is a significant improvement over the 19mpg city and 23mpg highway that the first generation had. There will also be an all-wheel drive version, but Acura has not announced the fuel economy for that version yet. 

Acura will launch the second generation in the spring of 2012.