The Acura MDX Prototype made its debut in January at the Detroit Auto Show.
Few models have been more important to Acura than its original crossover, the MDX, so expect the maker to pull out all the stops when it unveils the production version of the three-row CUV at the New York Auto Show next week.
The 2014 Acura MDX will be the latest in a series of critical rollouts designed to revitalize the long-lagging Japanese luxury brand. It will reach showrooms in the wake of the Honda luxury brand’s launch of both the entry ILX model and its all-new flagship, the Acura RLX.
And like the RLX, you can expect to see the maker add a wide array of new safety and infotainment features – while also downsizing the oft-criticized chrome shield grille that detractors have dubbed the “beak.”
Mounted on what Acura says is a “completely new platform,” the 2014 MDX got an early preview at the Detroit Auto Show, last January. The production version will be quite similar, with less over-the-top details, such as the show car’s headlamps. But the underlying design carries forward, with a softer, more rounded look than the outgoing crossover and a less controversial grille.
The longer wheelbase should translate into more room for both second and especially third-row passengers, in particular — as well as easier access to the back with a quick-fold middle row system borrowed, in part, from the Honda Pilot.
The maker also claims the 2014 Acura MDX will deliver, “enhanced ride comfort, a more versatile cabin, and increased fuel efficiency, while also improving dynamic performance.”
The MDX will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management. That means when coasting or in low-load situations it will shut off three of its cylinder to improve fuel economy. That and other technical improvements should deliver a solid boost compared to the old model’s 16 City mpg/21 Highway with the 3.7-liter V-6 in AWD configuration. The new MDX will continue to be offered in both front- and AWD.
Among other safety features, Acura plans to borrow a number of items recently introduced on the RLX sedan, including lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning and radar-guided active cruise control with low-speed follow capability.
Look for more details when the 2014 Acura MDX makes its official debut on March 27 at the Big Apple’s Jacob Javits convention center.