Wards Podcast: Acura ZDX and Hyundai’s Savvy Safety For BEVs

There are so many elements to succeeding in the era of electrification. In this WardsAuto podcast we talk with two heavy hitters about range and BEV safety.

Acura is readying its ZDX battery-electric-vehicle CUV for 2024, and Acura sales chief Emile Korkor talks about how the ZDX is set apart from other SUVs and CUVs that have been electrified. Among other things, the non-performance version (there is a ZDX Type S performance trim) has a range of up to 325 miles (523 km), which bests every other model in the category with the possible exception of the Tesla Model Y (330 miles [531 km] of range). The ZDX has a bigger footprint than the Model Y, Ford Mach-E (224-312 miles [360-502 km]) or VW ID. 4 (209-275 miles [336-443 km]).

When it comes to safety, BEVs offer an interesting opportunity for automakers and suppliers to innovate both passive and active safety engineering. This week we also talk with Brian Letouf, global chief safety officer at Hyundai Motor Co. HMC just had two of its BEVS added to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+ list.

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