Acura is reportedly planning a new three-row SUV flagship that'll slot above the MDX

• Acura is developing a larger three-row SUV that'll sit atop its lineup, according to a report by Automotive News.
• The new SUV will reportedly offer a lot more third-row legroom and feature the same hybrid powertrain found in the next-generation Acura RDX and Honda Accord.
• Dubbed the "Acura XL," plans are still in the preliminary phase, and production isn't expected to start until September 2029.

In 2008, Acura teased an ambitious plan to introduce five new products to its lineup. Then the financial crisis happened, and the brand's aspirations for a V-8-powered, rear-wheel-drive platform were thrown in the bin. Acura scaled down its five-vehicle proposal and filed away the rest of its notebooks.

However, among those scrapped plans, there was reportedly a larger three-row SUV to sit above the mid-size Acura MDX and compete with luxury brands. It's been a long time coming, but Acura could finally resurrect those old plans and bring the large SUV flagship to life, according to a report by Automotive News.

This new vehicle, dubbed the "Acura XL" in documents, is expected to be larger than the MDX and compete directly with competitors such as the Buick Enclave and Lexus TX, which both have more third-row legroom than the MDX.

The proposed Acura will be equipped with a newly developed hybrid powertrain, per the AN report, which might help it stand out in a crowded segment. Only the TX and Volvo XC90 currently offer a hybrid version, but that could change by the time the "XL" goes on sale near the end of the decade.

This is all still in the preliminary phase, though. In the meantime, Acura's lineup will consist of just three models during a two-year break in production of the RDX; we expect the fourth generation to debut in 2028, featuring the new hybrid powertrain and a complete redesign. Honda and Acura gave us our first look at the future powertrain, along with the redesigned Honda Accord and RDX, back in May. At the time, Honda said the new system would slash costs by over 30 percent and improve fuel efficiency by at least 10 percent.

Acura reportedly expects to produce around 40,000 copies of the new flagship SUV per year, but it'll be a while before we see it go on sale, as production isn't expected to start until September 2029.

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