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NEW YORK – The Acura ZDX causes folks to scratch their heads and think, “Is it a fastback SUV or an all-wheel-drive sports coupe?”

Well, it’s both.

The company calls the ZDX a four-door sports coupe even though the precise definition of coupe is a car with two doors.

Prices have not been announced, but the company says the ZDX will be priced between the MDX ($41,000) and the RL ($47,000) when it goes on sale in December.

The most obvious competitor is the BMW X6.

The ZDX rides on the chassis of an SUV, but it definitely has the heart of a coupe. Michelle Christenson, 28 years old, first sketched its sleek lines three years ago.

Last week, when I was driving a preproduction model down the Henry Hudson Parkway on the west side of New York City, a couple pulled alongside, rolled down the window of their car and commented on how much they liked the Acura’s styling. I was surprised that the ZDX drew so many admiring looks in a city where cars are more of a headache than a pleasure.

Size may be one reason the ZDX drew so much attention. It is relatively wide, and it sits tall like the MDX sport-utility. The aggressive design, however, has a presence that makes the car hard to ignore.

The steeply sloping roof is only one part of the car’s visual appeal. Deep shoulders over the back wheel accentuate the car’s muscularity, and an all-glass roof runs from the windshield to the tailgate. The roof is pinched in at the back, and that, too, gives the ZDX a very distinctive appearance.

Getting into the back seat is not easy because of the sloping roof, but the space is tolerable for relatively short distances once you’re inside.

So just who is the ZDX for? Acura said the car is designed for buyers who are looking for the intimacy of a coupe with the flexible cargo space and all-road capability of an SUV. Clearly this target demographic is relatively small, and Acura predicts sales of 8,000 or so a year, perhaps more when car sales pick up again.

Aside from the styling, the highly refined interior and luxurious materials make the ZDX a most pleasant car to drive. The seats are among the best I have experienced lately, and the instrument panel that wraps around the driver and passenger has great lines and nice leather covering. The matte black center stack is a nice change from the ubiquitous brushed silver that everyone seems to use these days.

Standard equipment includes a Bose stereo, power liftgate, rearview camera and 19-inch wheels. The Advance package adds adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitoring system, ventilated seats and a collision mitigation system. The Technology package adds surround-sound stereo, navigation and a rear camera that lets the driver select three distinct views.

The ZDX uses many components from the MDX, but they have all been retuned for this application. The engine is a 300-horsepower, 3.7-liter unit that provides excellent power across the entire rev range. It accelerates smoothly while noise and vibration are held in check.

The six-speed automatic transmission can be shifted manually with paddles on the steering wheel.

Even though this crossover coupe has all-wheel drive and good ground clearance, it doesn’t drive like an SUV. It feels tight and solid on twisty two-lane roads. Choppy pavement reveals that the ride is quite firm, but it is not objectionable.

The size of the cargo compartment is hindered somewhat by the steeply sloping roof, but when the seats are folded the result is a long, deep space big enough to haul a bicycle.

The cargo space is finished with nice carpeting and plated handles. The side panels of the trunk come out to accommodate four golf bags. The cargo floor opens to reveal a good-sized storage space that can be used to keep valuables out of sight.

Price

The base price is expected to be between $41,000 and $47,000.

Warranty

Four years or 50,000 miles with a six-year, 70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

There is no “At a Glance” box because this is a preview drive.

2010 Acura ZDX

Engine: 3.7-liter, 300-hp V-6

Transmission: Automatic

All-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 108.3 inches

Curb weight: 4,424 lbs.

Base price: $41,000-$47,000 est.

MPG rating: 17 city, 22 hwy.

To contact Tom Strongman, send e-mail to tom@tomstrongman.com.