Spied: 2013 Acura RDX

Acura’s compact RDX crossover drives swell enough, but since its 2006 introduction, its look and interior have gotten a little long in the tooth (or beak, as the case may be). For the 2013 model year, Acura is prepping a replacement, a prototype of which is seen here accompanied by high-fashion models—or perhaps they’re engineers, it’s so hard to say—in nearly every picture.

If you were hoping that Acura might use the 2013 RDX as an opportunity to explore alternatives to the maligned “power plenum” grille, brace yourself for disappointment. A familiar shape is visible through the camo on the nose of this prototype, although we’re holding out hope that it is, like the grille of the recently refreshed TL, subdued a bit. The rest of the front-end styling appears cleaned up, with one of the two lower intakes disappearing and sleeker headlights looking like they came directly off the new TL. Out back, we can see that the opening for the rear hatch seems wider, an important improvement for those who actually haul things with their crossover.

We’re hoping there’s more significant change inside. If Acura wants the RDX to be competitive with the rest of the compact-lux-u-vee class, it needs to match the warm, inviting interiors of its competition. Expect the RDX to continue to offer a class-leading suite of standard and optional features.

Don’t expect much change under the hood, either. The turbocharged, 240-hp, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine in today’s RDX does a fair job hustling it to and fro, and while its 19-mpg city/24 highway EPA ratings aren’t particularly impressive, they better the economy of many of its competitors. The only powertrain upgrade is likely to be a six-speed automatic in place of the current five-cogger.

Look for a loosely disguised RDX “concept” to appear at an auto show this winter, either L.A. in November or Detroit in January, in advance of the production model hitting dealerships in late 2012. If you want a good idea of what it will look like before then, just keep your eyes peeled for a current model—preferably without a bunch of engineers crowded around it.

Thanks to: Car and Driver