Acura Plans Three-Row Flagship SUV to Target Lexus TX

Acura is developing an all-new three-row flagship SUV to fill the top-end gap in its North American lineup — and directly compete with Lexus TX. The vehicle may be named the "Acura XL" and is expected to enter production in September 2029 at the Lincoln, Alabama plant, with an annual production target of 40,000 units.

According to insiders, this flagship model will adopt a brand-new hybrid powertrain developed by Honda specifically for large vehicles — balancing luxury, performance, and fuel efficiency. Honda has declined to comment officially on future product plans, stating only: "We do not comment on unreleased vehicles."

The move also serves as a proactive response to product-line contraction: as Honda shifts strategic focus toward hybridization and cancels several previously announced electric models, Acura's U.S. lineup may shrink to just three models. Even so, Acura rose to become the fourth-largest luxury brand in the U.S. in the first half of 2026 — surpassing Cadillac and Audi.

In market terms, the large luxury SUV segment has grown for three consecutive years, reaching a record 194,900 units sold in 2025 — with Lexus TX leading the segment. Ed Kim, CEO of AutoPacific, noted: "The TX redefined interior space standards for three-row vehicles; by contrast, the MDX's cramped third row struggles to accommodate adult passengers — clearly falling short in this key dimension."

If launched as scheduled, the new model won't just compete head-on with the TX — it could also carve out space in the premium full-size SUV segment dominated by high-priced European flagships such as Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, and the upcoming Audi Q9 — leveraging more competitive pricing. Dealers have expressed strong enthusiasm: one anonymous dealer stated, "We urgently need a true full-size luxury SUV capable of going toe-to-toe with the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, or even the Cadillac Escalade — if built on a body-on-frame platform or with extended wheelbase, it would ensure practicality across all three rows while significantly boosting cargo capacity."

This revival also marks a return to Acura's unfulfilled ambition from over a decade ago. In the early 2000s, the brand aimed to ascend into the elite luxury tier — planning V8 engines, rear-wheel-drive platforms, and higher-tier models to rival BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even ultra-luxury competitors. A large crossover or flagship SUV was part of that original roadmap — but was shelved amid the 2008 global financial crisis.