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LIFESTYLE AUTOWORLD PAGE www.lawcrossing.com 1.800.973.1177 continued on back RDX is R-E-A-D-Y: Acura puts plenty of tech treatments into new crossover style [By Mark Maynard] “Whoa, easy little fella,” I muttered on my way past 80 mph in the turbocharged Acura RDX. I didn’t quite expect such a rousing reception from a four-cylinder and all-wheel drive. But this is an Acura, and the engineers have finessed 240 horsepower from the new 2.3- liter engine with a variable flow turbo that spools up quickly at low speeds. That, and a five-speed automatic transmission with sport mode and “sportshift” paddle shifters at the steering wheel make for an involved driving experience. The sophisticated shift system works three ways. Grab a downshift or two in drive with the paddle shifters, then the transmission automatically upshifts a few seconds later. Or, pull the console gear-shift lever down a notch to sport and the transmission upshifts only to third gear, which is handy in traffic to keep the turbo on its toes for even quicker response. Then flick a gear change with paddle shifters and sport mode puts the driver in charge of shifting. It’s really not as “Ricky Racer” as it may sound, and after a few outings to experiment you’ll never ask why Acura didn’t also offer a manual transmission. This is the first Acura on Honda’s new, global light-truck platform, and as a so- called crossover vehicle it blends SUV image and sedan practicality with lots of storage for the urban user’s many things - phones, digital music, workout gear, weekend gear and friends. On sale since August, RDX features one trim level with one factory option package. Pricing for the standard model is $33,665, including $670 freight charge from the Marysville, Ohio, factory. Conveniences include dual- zone automatic climate control, a 360- watt, seven-speaker sound system with multiformat six-disc changer, XM satellite radio and an MP3/auxiliary input jack (with a ...
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