Future Acura electrical vehicles can be offered on-line solely, guardian Honda mentioned Wednesday in a press launch.
“Acura will function the tip of the spec for digitalization at American Honda,” the discharge mentioned, “with 100% of Acura EV gross sales happening on-line, beginning in 2024 with the ZDX and ZDX Sort S.”
Final seen within the type of a coupe-like model of the MDX mid-size crossover that was discontinued in 2013, the ZDX can be Acura’s first EV, with the Sort S efficiency model additionally deliberate. Pre-sales will start in 2023 forward of the deliberate 2024 begin of deliveries, Acura mentioned.
Acura Precision EV Idea
Acura has mentioned the ZDX will characteristic styling cues previewed by the Precision EV idea unveiled in August 2022 throughout Monterey Automobile Week. Whereas styled internally, the ZDX’s engineering will come by way of a partnership with Basic Motors. The Acura will draw from GM’s Ultium part set, and sure trip on the BEV3 structure utilized by the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Blazer EV.
The identical partnership can even see GM provide engineering for the 2024 Honda Prologue electrical SUV, which is scheduled to reach throughout the similar timeframe because the ZDX. It seems Honda is sticking to traditional dealerships for this mannequin, nonetheless.
Honda plans to launch EVs for each its predominant model and Acura based mostly on an in-house structure in 2026. The automaker is creating an Ohio “EV hub” and plans to construct a $3.5 billion three way partnership battery plant to help North American EV manufacturing, together with the brand new Afeela EV model launching in partnership with Sony.
2024 Acura ZDX Sort S prototype
The shift to EVs has led different automakers to reevaluate how they promote vehicles, though most plan to retool current franchised dealerships as an alternative of shifting to on-line gross sales.
Ford and Basic Motors have requested dealerships to make important investments to promote EVs, with Ford additionally requiring sellers to comply with no-haggle pricing. Two-thirds of Ford sellers have reportedly opted into EV gross sales, together with a decrease variety of Lincoln sellers from the Blue Oval’s luxurious model. GM has provided buyouts to Cadillac and Buick sellers that need to choose out of EV gross sales.