Acura MDX Prototype Teases Major Change

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

Add Acura to the list of brands taking the wraps off a future vehicle, virtually, this month.

Just one day after Volkswagen unveils the Taos, Acura will show off a prototype that previews the next MDX.

Acura is promising big change for the three-row crossover, calling the redesign its “most ambitious” ever for the MDX. The fourth-generation of the MDX, or at least the prototype version, will bow on October 14.

A teaser image of the MDX is above.

“We’re accelerating Acura’s commitment to Precision Crafted Performance and this fourth-generation MDX is the most ambitious and consequential redesign of an Acura core model in our history,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and Acura brand officer. “This all-new MDX will take us into new territory in terms of performance, prestige and emotional appeal.”

The MDX will be longer, lower, and wider than the current-gen vehicle, according to Acura, and it will have LED headlights and taillights.

The MDX is the brand’s best-selling vehicle, accounting for around a third of Acura’s sales since it launched, according to the brand.

Teasers being what they are, there are no specs to report on right this second. We’ll know a lot more in two weeks.

[Image: Acura]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments
Join the conversation
5 of 22 comments
  • FreedMike FreedMike on Oct 02, 2020

    What major change is happening here? Looks like the current one to me.

  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Oct 02, 2020

    Defund Acura! - Bureau of Land Management.

  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Oct 03, 2020

    I have an ambitious and consequential comment which I plan to post later this month (this is just the teaser).

  • Speedlaw Speedlaw on Oct 03, 2020

    The MDX has 218k on it now. Overall, it has been a decent ownership experience. The quality isn't up to the BMW X5 they want to compete against...seats, notably, wear and the lumbar support system is made of model plastic. The six cylinder is a good motor, eats no oil, you've got to spin it for power, but it doesn't mind. The SH-AWD, at least in this iteration, gives it stability you don't expect from such a big water buffalo. Downsides- the hood wiggles, it's disconcerting at 80 mph. The suspension is Honda Pilot taught to dance, not Benz or BMW, so there's more thump and truck-ness than the competition. Stereo could be better for an alleged top shelf effort. The bluetooth module craps and is very expensive at the dealer, lots cheaper online and not too tough to install (center console) Good for the school run, but can also cover interstates all day at 80 plus with a full load. Third row, will carry a 4 x8 building supply. The MDX is assembled in Ontario, so technically its Canada, eh ? They haven't changed things much since my 2008. More gears in a less reliable transmission, a stop-start system, and oh, now bluetooth. I was in the dealer last week, and went over the current one. "overstyled" came to mind....who designs this stuff ? Acura being acura, I fully expect Bold New Graphics, and maybe some colored thread in the seats and dash. Such a useless front on Honda.....take it out back behind the barn, please, and let Honda make a Pilot Plus, or some such.

Next