Acura MDX & TLX debuts in Middle East, Kuwait first, maybe UAE later
Honda’s luxury division, Acura, has an entire range of cars that are offered in North America. The closest we’ve had to Acuras in the Middle East were the Honda Integra up till the late 90s and the Honda Legend in 2008, which were rebadged as Acura in the States. However, the brand now offers a bespoke set of models that aren’t just rebadged Hondas any more, although they all are based on Honda mechanicals. And Acura is finally on sale in at laest one country.
Acura has quietly started offering the MDX midsize crossover and the TLX midsize sedan in Kuwait, via Al Mulla Auto Trading dealerships. We’re already aware that Al Futtaim Motors has been looking to set up Acura dealerships in the UAE, but nothing has come of it in the past two years so far.
The 2015 Acura MDX comes with a 290 hp 3.5-litre V6 with a 6-speed automatic and “Super Handling” all-wheel-drive.
The 2015 Acura TLX comes with the choice of a 206 hp 2.4-litre inline-4 with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic or a 290 hp 3.5-litre V6 with a 6-speed automatic, both front-wheel-drive.
Both cars have 2016 versions out in America already, with new 9-speed automatics.
Acura also offers the RDX compact crossover, the ILX compact sedan and the RLX fullsize sedan in the United States, aside from the upcoming Acura NSX, but none are offered in the GCC yet.
Comments
dante
Acura has been in China for many years, not only in North America.
Ahmed K
China is separate planet. No body cares about China. I never knew Acura in China either, loool.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
You’re both right.
dante
@Ahmed K,If you don’t care, which does not mean all the others don’t care, moreover, it is not proudful thing to say I never knew…bla
Matlama
@Ahmed K
No matter what Dante says,
YOU shouldn’t go out and say that,
“No body cares about China.”
China is an extremely important market for any company in the automotive industry, let alone the luxury car brands.
Been an avid reader of drivearabia for better part of the past decade.
Disappointed that there is someone agreeing to this comment.
Lorry
Luxury car companies care of China, but not car buyers in Middle East or ones reading drivearabia. No offense but one care what is popular in Europe either where VW is called reliable, my cousin told me. We are in different market, not our problem.
Matlama
@Lorry
You and your cousin are entitled to your opinion.
I was just stating FACTS on the global automotive industry.
I agree with you on, ‘We are in a different market, not our problem.’
But to say that, ‘Nobody cares about China.’ could be mistaken as an insult, and to further extent, racism.
What if I was Chinese?
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Please don’t bring up pointless accusations of racism in a discussion about cars and car markets. This conversation is over.