US$54 Million/£40 Million Investment to Build the First in a New Generation of Acura Products
Acura celebrated the start of mass production of the all-new 2019 Acura RDX, the first in a new generation of products built around its Precision Crafted Performance brand direction.
The new RDX is a clean-sheet, top-to-bottom redesign of the brand‘s perennial top-selling five-passenger luxury SUV, brought to life through a new capital investment of US$54 million/£40 million in new technologies and processes at the East Liberty Auto Plant (ELP).
New technologies at the East Liberty Auto Plant include a new roller hemming process for the new RDX’s ultra-wide panoramic moonroof and the use of high-performance structural adhesives for enhanced body rigidity – both manufacturing firsts for a mass-produced model from the brand.
A new multi-layer paint system highlights the introduction of new exclusive premium exterior colour options.
“This new RDX defines the future of the brand, and our Ohio team did an incredible job preparing this first in a new generation of vehicles for our customers.
“Paired with a new Ohio-made 2.0-liter Turbo engine, an all-new platform and a host of new technologies, the 2019 RDX sets a new high bar for style, performance and sophistication in a compact luxury SUV,” said Jim Hefner, Plant Manager at the East Liberty Auto Plant.
The RDX is launching from a position of strength as the top-selling nameplate in the compact luxury SUV segment since its launch in 2006, with cumulative US sales of more than 375,000 units (through end of April 2018), all made in Ohio.
In addition to being manufactured in the US for the past 12 years and over three generations, the all-new 2019 model is the first RDX to be designed and developed in America.
Styling design of the RDX was conducted by the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles, California, with development undertaken by the company’s North American R&D team, based in Raymond, Ohio.
The RDX has been completely reengineered on a new exclusive platform and showcases the next-generation Acura design direction.
