Acura Trademarks Hint Two New SUV Names, And Potential Off-Road Trims
Honda just dropped a huge hint about Acura's pair of upcoming SUVs.
The automaker recently filed four new trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office: TDX, LDX, TYPE-TRAIL, and TYPE T.
Automakers file defensive trademarks all the time for names that never see a factory floor, but this fresh batch lines up perfectly with Acura’s incoming new SUVs, the first of which should be here for 2028.
TDX and LDX fit alongside Acura’s established three-letter crossover naming convention, joining the RDX and MDX.
One will be a large flagship three-row crossover — right now we know it as the Acura XL. The flagship is expected to have an upright, boxy profile with the design cues of a Range Rover, including broad shoulder lines, a spacious cabin, and a horizontal light bar running across the front fascia. It should enter production in 2029, my bet is this one will wear the LDX badge.
Acura's second confirmed new SUV will be derived from the Honda Passport and will target the Lexus GX. The new off-road Acura will fill a glaring gap in the brand's midsize portfolio. Building a dedicated off-roader on the Passport's back should give Acura instant credibility in the adventure-lifestyle space. The new truck is expected in the first half of 2028 and should roll out of Honda's Alabama plant alongside the Passport.
The other two trademarks likely point towards new trim levels or submodels. Type-Trail and Type T point directly at a dedicated off-road trim aimed at buyers who actually want to hit a dirt trail, potentially offering the most extreme off-road treatment, similar to the performance-minded Type S badge for pavement cars and in the same vein as Honda's use of "TrailSport" badging on the CR-V, Pilot, and Passport.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, went over the wall during the Rolex 24, and wrenched in the intense IndyCar paddock.
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