For the first time in Acura's 27-year long history, Honda's premium brand has introduced the world premiere of a concept car outside of North America with the new SUV-X at the Auto China 2013 in Shanghai, as further proof that the automaker wants to expand its global reach.

Acura describes the SUV-X as a "global concept vehicle for a small SUV developing primarily for the Chinese market" adding that it combines "sharp styling and driving performance" with "the environmental performance of a small vehicle and excellent utility of an SUV".

The Japanese carmaker revealed a production version of the SUV-X that will be built in China will follow in about three years from now, but did not share any technical details on the concept.

"We are planning to produce the mass-production model of the Acura Concept SUV-X locally in China," said Honda president Takanobu Ito during the presentation of the car in Shanghai.

He continued: "With the hope that our Chinese customers will more closely feel the values offered from Acura, we will begin preparing for the start of the local production. In China, where dynamic growth continues, both Acura and Honda will keep up our efforts to enhance products and technologies that will offer new joys of mobility to our customers."

Together with the SUV-X, Acura also exhibited the NSX Concept and the Chinese version of its RLX flagship saloon that goes on sale in China this June with a 3.5-liter V6.

We're not saying Acura should off their Concept SUV-X for sale as-is, we're just saying we'd like to see Acuras that are interesting to look at on the outside, rather than just being packed full of technology on the inside. Revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show, the Concept SUV-X joins other compact high-rollers like the MG CS concept as an entrant for China's compact SUV segment.

But this won't be a concept forever. Acura says that the SUV-X is the precursor to a production offering from the brand in China that will come "in about three years." A presser below sheds a little more light on this and the Chinese version of the RLX that will go on sale in a few months, and there's a short video detailing some of the concept's finer points, as well.

Press Release

Acura Exhibits World Premiere of the "Acura Concept SUV-X" at Auto Shanghai 2013

SHANGHAI, China, April 20, 2013 � Acura today exhibited the world premiere of a design concept model, the Acura Concept SUV-X, at Auto Shanghai 2013 (the 15th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, press day: April 20, public days: April 23 - 29).

Acura Concept SUV-X
The Acura Concept SUV-X is a global concept vehicle for a small SUV developing primarily for the Chinese market. This is the first time for Acura to introduce the world premiere of a concept model outside of North America. Emotional and sharp styling and driving performance, together with the environmental performance of a small vehicle and excellent utility of an SUV are all fused together at a high level in this vehicle. Acura is planning to begin local production and sales in China of a mass-production model based on this concept vehicle for its market in about next three years.

Introducing Acura RLX to go on sale in June 2013
Acura announced the Chinese version of the Acura RLX, a luxury flagship sedan which will go on sale in China in June 2013. Excellent maneuverability and comfort are pursued through the adoption of a number of advanced technologies including a newly-developed 3.5L direct-injection SOHC i-VTEC� V6 engine and Precision All-Wheel Steer�, the world's first technology that achieved both outstanding turning performance and vehicle stability.

At Auto Shanghai 2013, Acura also exhibits the NSX Concept, the next-generation super sports model which was exhibited at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in January.

Comment by Takanobu Ito, president & CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
"We are planning to produce the mass-production model of the Acura Concept SUV-X locally in China. With the hope that our Chinese customers will more closely feel the values offered from Acura, we will begin preparing for the start of the local production. In China, where dynamic growth continues, both Acura and Honda will keep up our efforts to enhance products and technologies that will offer new joys of mobility to our customers."

One of the biggest areas for growth for luxury automakers is the compact crossover and SUV segment.

Today, there are just a few players, with the Audi A3 sold overseas and the BMW X1 and Buick Encore already available in local showrooms the most recognizable.

There are a number of rival models on the horizon, however, with Acura the latest to show its intention to enter the segment.

The Japanese automaker used this past weekend�s 2013 Shanghai Auto Show to present its SUV-X concept car, the first of the automaker�s concepts to make its world debut outside the U.S.

Acura describes the SUV-X as having a �global� design, but so far has only confirmed production for the Chinese market.

The SUV-X features a sharp new look that borrows elements from the recently designed RDX and MDX, and Acura also boasts that the vehicle has the performance to match its good looks.

Given the SUV-X�s size, any production version would compete nicely with the aforementioned rivals as well as the upcoming Lincoln MKC, Mercedes-Benz GLA Class and the rumored Lexus NX.

Unfortunately, no other details were revealed apart from production of the SUV-X taking place in China within the next three years.

Acura also used the Shanghai show to present its 2014 RLX and the latest of its NSX concepts. Sister brand Honda, meanwhile, also had several new vehicles to present, including the Chinese market exclusive Crider sedan, Concept M low-cost MPV and Jade MPV. The latter is believed to be a preview of the next generation Honda Odyssey sold in global markets.

At last year's Shanghai auto show, Acura presented a concept for a sub-compact crossover named the SUV-X, which it said, previewed an upcoming production model primarily targeted for China. Now we're learning that Acura is looking to offer the vehicle in North America as well.

Speaking to Autonews earlier this week, Naohisa Mori****a, chief engineer for the Honda Vezel's drivetrain, told the publication that the Japanese company is studying a similar vehicle for the Acura brand in North America and pointed to the SUV-X.

"There is a market for it worldwide, not just in China," he said. "Personally, I think Acura needs it."

Honda spokeswoman Yuka Abe told the news agency that it hasn't decided yet which markets outside of China would get the production SUV-X, which will be built around the Vezel, itself loosely based on the latest generation Honda Fit / Jazz sub-compact.

The Vezel will go on sale in the Unites States later this year, though, it may be marketed under a different name.

There's a distinct benefit to automakers having their own premium brand. After all, why develop one vehicle to be sold under one nameplate if you can turn it into two? Especially if a little reconfiguration and some premium accoutrements allow said automaker to charge significantly more for the luxury version. It's a winning formula � for crossovers especially � that Toyota has used to turn the Highlander into the Lexus RX (even if the first-gen RX arrived before the original Highlander), that Ford has used to transform the Edgee into the Lincoln MKX and that General Motors has applied to the Chevrolet Suburban to turn it into the Cadillac Escalade (to name just a few of the many examples out there). And it's one to which Honda and its Acura division are certainly not unaccustomed.

Acura has adapted its Euro-spec Honda Accord into the TSX, the Civic into the ILX, the CR-V into the RDX and the Pilot into the MDX. And now that the Honda Vezel is coming to market, Acura reportedly has its eye on that as well. The idea was first introduced when Acura unveiled the SUV-X concept (shown above) at the Shanghai Motor Show this past April, just a few months after Honda revealed its Urban SUV concept that previewed the production Vezel. At the time, says Automotive News, Acura said it intended to put the concept into production in China for the Chinese market, and it's reportedly moving ahead with those plans. But now that it is, executives are wondering where else they might find buyers for the premium compact crossover.

With the Vezel soon to begin production alongside the Fit at Honda's new plant in Mexico, it wouldn't be a stretch to see the Acura version follow suit. The market does, after all, seem to be heating up with entries like the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, and we couldn't blame Honda � pardon us, Acura � for wanting a slice of that pie.

Together with the SUV-X, Acura also exhibited the NSX Concept

American Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel has revealed Acura is considering an entry-level crossover based on the Honda HR-V.

In an interview with Wards Auto, Mendel said an HR-V based crossover is something the brand is considering and it is �potentially the only place you could go.� The executive declined to elaborate but the model would slot below the RDX and compete with the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA.

While Mendel was coy on specifics, the 2016 HR-V features a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 138 bhp (103 kW) and 127 lb-ft (172 Nm) of torque. It can be connected to a continuously variable transmission and an optional all-wheel drive system.

Less than two weeks ago, we discussed the possibility of an Acura-badged version of the sure-to-be popular Honda HR-V. Now, Acura has gone ahead and registered a new trademark that fits in perfectly with its two other crossovers, the RDX and MDX.

Our friends at Auto Guide report the company has reserved the name "CDX" with the US Patent and Trademark Office, with the trademark covering "automobiles and their structural parts."

While it's true that these kinds of trademarks are filed regularly, the timing in this case is indicative of something more than simply covering bases. After all, it seems very, very unlikely that we'd have comments from Acura on a premium version of the HR-V on February 5 and a trademark filing for a name that fits the brand's CUV nomenclature less than two weeks later, only for it to not go ahead and build an actual vehicle.

Adding to that logic is the simple fact that the compact CUV market, both on the premium and mainstream level, is arguably the hottest in the auto industry right now, and it seems like a virtual guarantee that we'll see an HR-V wearing the Acura CDX name in the not-so-distant future. Should that come to pass, look for the CDX to challenge the near-premium Buick Encore, as well as a potential compact CUV from Infiniti.