Sneak Peek: AcuraSporty Crossover

This teaser image showed up in our electronic inbox this morning from Acura, accompanied only by the word “INTRIGUE” (emphasis and capitalization theirs). If it is what we think it is—namely a sporty crossover coupe in the style of BMW’s X6—intrigue is probably an appropriate word. Four more teasers surfaced courtesy of an Acurazine forum member who located the extra shots hidden on Acura’s own media site. Consider any intrigue heightened.

As we hypothesized when it was spied last fall, the vehicle will likely use MDX underpinnings and feature Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. Power could come from the biggest V-6 in Acura’s lineup, the 305-hp 3.7-liter found in the TL. The now-mythical, on-again/off-again Acura V-8 would likely make an appearance if it were to ever become reality.
From the overhead view, we can see four doors—the rearmost with hidden handles—and a hatchback roofline. Protruding headlights and taillights are complemented by bulging front fenders and chiseled rear shoulders. Oh, and the side mirrors have integrated turn signals. The rest of the shots confirm an overall shape very similar to that of the X6, right down to the shark-fin antenna. It will likely prove sexy, but just as space-inefficient.

Like the vehicle’s specifics, its true identity is still a mystery. While we would love to see a return of Acuras with actual names, it’s doubtful that this one will be called the Intrigue (mid-size Oldsmobile, anyone?) or anything else that might conjure an image or feeling. Our money is on a badge consisting of three letters, ending in X. Ho-hum.
Real information on Acura’s secret scheme will likely come at the New York auto show in April. Or maybe this is all just an early April Fools’ joke. We’ll know soon enough.