The 2013 Acura RDX made its worldwide debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show, but it's not long for the show-car circuit. With an on-sale date of late spring, this crossover emerged at Cobo Center in almost fully production-ready form.

There's more to distinguish the RDX this time around from the related Honda CR-V. While the CR-V sticks with its four-cylinder engine, the RDX ditches its turbocharged four in favor of a V-6 engine with more horsepower--273 hp in all--and more gears in its automatic transmission (six, versus five in the last version). All together, the RDX now earns EPA ratings of 20/28 mpg in front-drive form, a boost over the last RDX's 19/24 mpg.

The RDX joins another new Acura in showrooms this year, the ILX hybrid sedan, based on the Honda Civic. Is it a recipe that can help the Japanese automaker recover from a steep sales slump? Watch this video and see if the RDX looks like a winner to you, and for more details, see our RDX preview over on TheCarConnection.