Overview
- Automotive News reporting, repeated by Carscoops and TFLcar, says internal materials refer to a range‑topping model called the “Acura XL” that would sit above the MDX in Acura’s lineup.
- The project is reported to target production at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln with a planned start around September 2029, though Honda and Acura have not confirmed those details.
- Sources say the XL would use a new large‑vehicle hybrid powertrain rather than a full electric architecture or a traditional big gasoline engine, reflecting Honda’s recent move away from aggressive full‑EV plans.
- Dealers quoted in the report are pressing for a more substantial package—potentially a body‑on‑frame or extended‑wheelbase design—to deliver a genuinely usable third row and larger cargo and towing capacity.
- If built, the model would position Acura against larger luxury three‑row rivals such as the Lexus TX, BMW X7 and Mercedes‑Benz GLS and could tap a profitable segment that has grown to roughly 195,000 U.S. sales in recent data.