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posts about #rdx more →
2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
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Dan Neil Likes the Acura RDX, He Really Likes It
Pre-Release Video of Acura RDX SUV
Uteful Digressions: Acura's New RDX Prototype

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bobshishkabob55
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
Don't get me wrong. I love Jalopnik. But isn't it a bit overkill to be saying the updated RDX is "a special kind of ugly only imagined in the worst kind of horror films" I do agree that the grill is pretty bad, but aside from that, I think it's a pretty slick looking vehicle. The grill surely doesn't enhance the car, but it by no means cancels out every other good thing Acura did with the RDX.

Which brings me to another gripe. It seems like sometimes, this site, along with every other car site ever made seems to hate on Lexus and Acura (and toyota and honda.) Just because most (none?) perform anywhere close to a sports car, but how many times is the average buyer going to be careening on the sides of mountains pushing their car's handling capabilities to the limit? The Lexus IS review got like 2 stars for ride because it was "too harsh" even though every single mention of Lexus in in the past has gotten the "too soft" comment. They gave you what you wanted and you're still complaining. The Lexus IS-F performs just as well as the BMW 3 M is far more reliable, looks better, and is cheaper to maintain, yet, I bet you 50 bucks that Jalopnik would make the BMW win in a head to head contest jsut because they're biased against Japanese cars.

The new LS? Seriously. That's probably the most beautiful car on the road today and even though it's HUGE, it goes 0-60 in less than 6 seconds. They (as well as toyota, honda, and acura) make really outstanding carsfor the average consumer (as opposed to the 1% of customers who are looking for a performance car) and I sometimes wish jalopnik and other car sites would review cars based on the average consumer's needs rather than their highly specialized needs.

Just a minor complaint. Still love Jalopnik.
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tonyola
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly

It's hard to believe that this is the same company that brought us the lovely 1987 Acura Legend Coupe. Look at the clean, lean lines, the tidy flaring over the wheels, the subtle curves on top of the wedginess. I particularly love that wonderfully curvaceous and airy roofline with hardly any metal. One of the best-looking cars of the 1980s, period. Now look at any of the current Aura line-up - over-chromed, overweight, and overwrought. What the hell happened?
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kerc (wants a Mustang!)
07/24/09

@tonyola: Wow, man, that car was pretty damn cool. Was it designed in Japan or in America?
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tonyola
07/24/09

@kerc (wants a Mustang!): I really don't know, but Honda and Acura were definitely on a styling roll in the 1980s. I've always wondered whether an Italian styling house was secretly involved with Honda - I could swear I see hints of Pininfarina in mid-80s Hondas, like the Civic, Accord, and CRX. Anyone out there know anything more about this?
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Deartháir II
07/24/09

@tonyola: I'd also have to nominate the Vigor. The owner of the audio-video shop in my hometown had one, and while he was a bit of a skeezy fellow, the car was beautiful. Black on black, chrome wheels, slightly lowered, a great "VIP" treatment to it. Wish I could find a photo of the Vigor that wasn't awful. This'll have to do.
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kerc (wants a Mustang!)
07/24/09

@tonyola: I love this nose design. Oh, sometimes I wish pop-up headlights were back...
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
07/24/09

@tonyola: Right. I took a hard look at these when I transitioned from van to car. But the damn things just don't lose their value. I can't believe Honda gave up the styling, much less the name.
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kerc (wants a Mustang!)
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly

Too much computer, not enough pencils. Sadly, that's how most cars are styled now. They look more like D&D polyhedra dice than automobiles.
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Al Navarro promoted this comment Edited by Al Navarro at 07/25/09 9:27 PM

redman042
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
I love my 2006 TL and admire the looks all the time. It's a great car in many ways. So I find it so sad that Acura moved to this new design direction. It's absolutely terrible. Granted, this RDX blends the grill in a little better than I've seen on the other new models, but they just need to ditch this design direction entirely. It just plain sucks.
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MushyHeirloom
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
Wait, this is supposed to be a sporty small-ish cross-U-V, right?

So they gave it front-wheel-drive?

My God.
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Syrax
07/24/09

@FP - missing Pete and the SHOwagon: Everyone knows there's nothing sportier than FWD CUV.
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Thrashy, perpetual Minardi
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
My hope is that the new Acura styling is so damn fugly that nobody buys any of them, thereby forcing Honda to deliver thousands of unsold RLs, TLs, and RDXs directly into the junkyards. From thence I shall liberate their torquey 6-cylinder engines and fancy electro-whizbang AWD systems for pennies on the dollar, and use them to create the most fearsome beast ever unleashed upon the motorsports world: FRANKENCRX!
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Sean Smith
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly

So...
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Deartháir II
07/24/09

@Sean Smith: Are you badmouthing the Old School Lincolns? Are we going to have to step outside for a little chat?
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Thrashy, perpetual Minardi
07/24/09

@Sean Smith: The Acura looks like a buck-toothed cartoon character, versus the Lincoln, which just looks like it tripped and fell face-first in the chroming vat. Also like there might be a Very Serious Businessman and his well-armed associates in back.
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MaWeiTao
07/24/09

@Sean Smith:

Those Lincoln grilles are a million times classier looking than anything Acura has stuck on their cars in the past decade.
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Deartháir II
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
We really must thank the Japanese, and particularly Acura. If you have a look at all the offerings from Acura, Toyota and Lexus, it's pretty hard to look at vehicles like the Malibu, CTS, G8, or pretty much the entire Lincoln lineup and think any of them are ugly. Put the MDX side-by-side with the Buick Enclave, and tell me you wouldn't immediately choose the Buick?

And if you wouldn't immediately choose the Buick, you're a moron, and should be smacked in the head until you get smarter. The Buick is better looking with one of the best interiors I've seen in a near-luxury car.

What with BMW repeatedly falling on their own sword and making each successive car less attractive than the previous one, Mercedes abandoning class in favour of garishly bold overstatements, Toyota producing the Venza, and Acura refusing to show us mercy by violently exploding before we can see their horrible cars, it's the perfect time for the American manufacturers to make some beautiful, quality cars, and remind the world why they used to love them.
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engineerd
07/24/09

@DEAЯTHÁIЯ: Well said.
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MushyHeirloom
07/24/09

@DEAЯTHÁIЯ: The Acadia's more attractive than the Enclave, to me, but the Enclave's just a bit awkward, while the new MDX... god, why couldn't they just make it look like the old MDX?
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stevecmh
07/24/09

@DEAЯTHÁIЯ:

I am glad to see other people think the Enclave looks great.. I am in my Mid 20's and I think its the best lookin SUV out there.
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bmoreDLJ
07/24/09

@DEAЯTHÁIЯ: Amen, bro.
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skaven
07/24/09

@DEAЯTHÁIЯ: Hearted.
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Tyson
07/24/09

@DEAЯTHÁIЯ: It seems to me like Ford is quietly doing exactly that.
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aSoundofSleep-less nights
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
As a longtime Honda and Acura fanboy I am deeply saddened by the direction they are headed in. Once known for making Hondas, but just a bit more luxurious and sporty, they're now known for excessive bloat and almost total lack of driver input. That huge chrome stash on every new model has to go. As much as I hate to say this, I hope their sales reflect what they're doing wrong, and eventually return to their roots.
2011 Acura Integra anyone?
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SeanKHotay
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
The Spartans used their shields to transport the wounded and dead...

Honda uses the Acura shield to carry their...oh...
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Number_Six
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
I say chaps, have I sprouted a star for real this week, or is Gawker still messing with my ruddy IE?
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ThreeLitre
07/24/09

@Number_Six:It's real. congrats!
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Number_Six
07/24/09

@ThreeLitre: Woo-hoo! *insert Mark Webber first-win celebration footage here*
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TimTim
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
Don't sugar coat it Ben, tell us how you really feel.
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Boosted Lego Wagon
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
It doesn't look that bad to me...

Mind you, my vision hasn't been all that good since I jabbed that pointy stick into my eyes after seeing the Panamera.
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engineerd
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly
The view of the rear-end isn't too bad. Unfortunately, I'll be seeing the front end in my rear-view mirror once I finally get around it since the driver will be talking on the phone, drifting between lanes, going slower than the flow of traffic, and randomly braking for no reason. Ipods playlist setup, makeup application, and latte drinking may also be occurring.
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Captain Slow and his Flying Washing Machine
07/24/09

In reply to 2010 Acura RDX: Less AWD, More Fugly

There are worse looking cars in this segment.
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