The 2014 Acura MDX is bigger, but also lighter

The new seven-passenger MDX is now built around an also new platform offering an improved ride comfort and dynamic performance, a more versatile and luxurious cabin, and an increased fuel efficiency for the luxury SUV that will be offered for the first time with a cheaper two-wheel-drive configuration.

The 2014 MDX is now powered by a V6 3.5 liter engine, that uses a Variable Cylinder Management system, producing a power output of 290hp (294PS or 216kW) and 267lb/ft (362Nm). While you can't choose any other transmission besides the six-speed automatic, you will be able to choose the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) or the front two-wheel drive system.

The combined fuel consumption with the SH-AWD drive train is rated at 21 USA mpg (11.2l/100km or 25.2 UK mpg), but if you choose the MDX with front-wheel drive the fuel consumption improves to 23 USA mph (10.2l/100km or 27.6 UK mpg).

The new Acura SUV is now lighter by 275 pounds (125kg) thanks to the use of lightweight materials, like high strength steel, aluminum and magnesium.

If you compare the production version with the MDX concept we can see a lot in common, something most brands normally don't do. The overall shape is the same and so are its measures. It is 193.6 inches (4917mm) long, 77.2 inches (1961mm) wide, 67.6 inches (1717mm) high and has a wheelbase with 111 inches (2819mm).

With the new dimensions the interior is also bigger, and together with the more compact multi-link rear suspension and innovative new technologies on the second-row of seats, the access to the rear seats is now easier and so is the legroom. The rear cargo area is also larger.

Other things worth mentioning are the Acura/ELS Studio premium audio system and the improved AcuraLink connectivity system that make use of the 7-inch color touchscreen and the 8-inch Color Information Display. You can also have a 16.2-inch full VGA screen with HDMI compatibility if you need to play some games. Another cool feature are the Acura Jewel Eye LED head light that give the front a different look.

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2013 NYIAS Press Conference Unveiling the 2014 Acura MDX

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2014 Acura MDX | PR + WG

Acura unveiled the all-new 2014 MDX luxury SUV at the 2013 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). Built on a completely new platform, the seven-passenger MDX offers improved ride comfort, a more versatile and luxurious cabin, increased fuel efficiency and enhanced dynamic performance. The MDX will also be offered for the first time in a more affordable and even more fuel-efficient two-wheel-drive configuration.

"Building on the award-winning dynamic performance of the previous model, the third-generation Acura MDX adds new levels of luxury comfort, family functionality and fuel efficiency to once again set the luxury SUV benchmark," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura Sales. "From Nürburgring-tuned dynamics and thoughtful interior appointments, to the addition of a new two-wheel-drive model, the all-new MDX continues Acura's direction of creating vehicles that advance the synergy between man and machine."

Powertrain

The 2014 Acura MDX is powered by an all-new direct-injected 24-valve 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™), producing 290 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque. The MDX's engine architecture is shared with two racecars that recently finished First and Second in the LMP2 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). Employing a 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport Mode and Sequential SportShift Paddle Shifters, the new Acura MDX will be offered in both Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD™) and two-wheel-drive drivetrain variants, both featuring Acura's new Agile Handling Assist technology.
Matched to the highly efficient Earth Dreams Technology engine and the SH-AWD drivetrain, the 2014 MDX has an EPA fuel economy rating of 18/27/21 mpg (city/highway/combined), while the new front-wheel-drive model is EPA rated at 20/28/23 mpg (city/highway/combined).

While achieving even higher fuel economy ratings, the MDX remains a true driver's SUV with enhanced dynamic performance, including quicker acceleration, more responsive braking and even more precise steering feel. Tuned and tested on the grueling Nürburgring racing circuit in Germany, the lighter and more dynamic new 2014 MDX with SH-AWD bests the previous model's lap time by eight seconds.
To satisfy the preferences of multiple drivers in any family, the 2014 MDX features an all-new Integrated Dynamic System (IDS) with three modes: Sport, Normal and Comfort. IDS adjusts steering effort, throttle response, SH-AWD and active sound to suit the tastes of the driver. The Acura MDX's new Amplitude Reactive Dampers, MacPherson strut front suspension and new multi-link rear suspension enable its more nimble and responsive handling and improved ride quality. 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels and 245/60-18 tires come standard on the MDX. Technology and Advance grades are equipped with 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and 245/55-19 tires.
Body and Styling

The 2014 MDX body applies more than 55 percent advanced lightweight materials - including high strength steel, aluminum and magnesium - resulting in a vehicle that is both more rigid and lightweight, with total vehicle weight reduced 275 pounds from the previous model. Measuring 193.6 inches in overall length, 77.2 inches in overall width (excluding door mirrors), 67.6 inches in overall height, and riding on a 111-inch wheelbase (up 2.75 inches from the previous model), the new MDX boasts an "Executive Aero Sculpture" exterior design that lends it a sleek, tailored and sophisticated appearance. The aerodynamic body design - refined by engineers in a new wind tunnel at the company's Ohio R&D center - helps the MDX achieve a more than 17 percent improvement in aerodynamic efficiency, making it one of the most aerodynamic and fuel-efficient luxury SUVs on the road.

The 2014 Acura MDX also takes a big step up in luxury comfort and quiet. The MDX's dynamically tuned platform, more airtight body and triple path isolated dampers, along with the use of new sound-deadening materials, such as acoustic glass and expanding body sealers, and Active Noise Control technology, make this the quietest and most composed MDX yet.
Interior

Equally adept at carrying clients and kids, the new MDX boasts a luxurious and versatile interior. The revised body dimensions and new, more compact multi-link rear suspension, combined with innovative new technologies on the second-row seats, significantly improve third-row access and all-around passenger comfort. Third-row ingress and egress is significantly improved by a two-inch lower step-in height and three-inch wider entryway, and by the introduction of a new One-Touch Walk-In feature. With a single press of the illuminated One-Touch Walk-In button, the second-row seats automatically fold and slide to their forward-most position. The second-row seats now feature a four-position recline and a new Extended Slide capability that provides six inches of total fore-aft seat adjustment for optimal balance between second- and third-row legroom. Rear cargo capacity is also improved and includes a new underfloor storage area.

Up front, there is a 10-way power adjustable and heated driver's seat and an 8-way power and heated passenger seat. The Acura MDX also addresses a major shortcoming of many luxury SUVs - available front-seat storage space - with a spacious new center console that can accommodate a purse, laptop case, or a pair of iPads®. The MDX's luxury quotient is further boosted by its upgraded interior appointments, including premium leather-trimmed interior, silver plated accents, LED overhead and cabin accent lighting, along with new optional luxury features, such as Smart Entry, second-row sunshades, remote engine start, and auto-linked air conditioning and climate-controlled seats.

Acura Signature Technology

In addition, the 2014 Acura MDX harnesses a range of Acura signature technologies, including Acura Jewel Eye™ LED headlights, more powerful Acura/ELS Studio premium audio system, and the next-generation AcuraLink™ connectivity system with AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™, featuring freeway traffic and surface street conditions (free for the first three years). In addition to the traffic services, the AcuraLink™ cloud-based connected car system offers an assortment of media, convenience, information and security features via an embedded cellular system and compatible web-enabled smartphones.

Both the AcuraLink™ and Acura/ELS Studio system take advantage of a 7-inch color On Demand Multi-Use Display™ (ODMD) touchscreen with haptic feedback and an 8-inch Color Information Display. The addition of the ODMD, along with other interior changes, allowed engineers to reduce the number of hard buttons in the center stack from 41 to just nine. The available Entertainment package adds a DVD Rear Entertainment system with a 9-inch full VGA screen for the rear seats, while the Advance package replaces the 9-inch monitor with an ultra-wide, 16.2-inch full VGA screen with HDMI compatibility for devices such as a game console.

The 2014 MDX offers a host of innovative driver assistive and visibility technologies, including a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera and available Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, Blind Spot Information (BSI), and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).

Safety

The third-generation Acura MDX is expected to achieve top-level safety ratings, including a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from NHTSA and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including the highest possible rating of GOOD in the Institute's new small-offset frontal collision test.

The new MDX is equipped with a broad array of advanced safety technologies, including the next generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure, 4-wheel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control, and airbags (front, front side, driver's knee and side curtain with rollover sensor), as well as the available Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems.

The 2014 Acura MDX is scheduled to go on sale at U.S. Acura dealers nationwide in the summer of 2013 and will be available in four grades - the well-equipped MDX, the robust Acura MDX with Technology package, the rear-passenger-friendly MDX with Technology and Entertainment packages, and the top-of-the-line MDX with Advance and Entertainment packages. The 2014 MDX was designed and developed in the U.S. and will be built at the Lincoln, Alabama plant using domestic and globally sourced parts.

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2014 Acura MDX | WG + PR

The production version of the all-new 2014 Acura MDX will be unveiled today, at the 2013 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), which will further cement the model's position as the benchmark in the three-row luxury SUV category. Utilizing a completely new platform that has been optimized in every respect, the seven-passenger MDX will offer enhanced ride comfort, a more versatile cabin, and increased fuel efficiency, while also improving dynamic performance.
The new third-generation 2014 Acura MDX is equipped with a highly efficient direct-injected 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), and will be offered in both SH-AWD and 2-wheel-drive drivetrain variants, the latter configuration being a first for the model. The 2014 MDX features a longer wheelbase that raises ride quality, increases second-row legroom, and improves third-row seat access. In addition, the 2014 Acura MDX harnesses a collection of Acura signature technologies, including the next-generation of the AcuraLink® Connectivity System and Jewel Eye™ LED headlamps.

The 2014 MDX offers a collection of innovative driver assistive and visibility technologies such as the Multi-Angle Rearview Camera and the available Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, and Blind Spot Information (BSI). The third-generation MDX is also equipped with a broad array of advanced safety technologies, including the next generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure and the available Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems. Further, the 2014 MDX is expected to achieve top-level safety ratings, including a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the IIHS.

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2014 Acura MDX will be revealed at the New York International Auto Show

Acura MDX Prototype

With less than two weeks for the start of the New York International Auto Show companies are starting to reveal what they will bring to the Big Apple. This time it's Acura, Honda's luxury vehicle division, that started to share some things about their new mid-size luxury crossover.

The third-generation Acura MDX will be almost completely new. It will make use of a completely new platform that has been improved in every way, meaning it will be lighter, making it more fuel efficient and with a better dynamic performance, but will also allow for an improved ride comfort and a more versatile cabin.

The seven-seat SUV will be available with a 3.5 liter V6 engine. Power and torque figures were not revealed, but we do know it will have variable cylinder management and direct injection. It will be available with all-wheel drive or just two-wheel drive. Outside we will have Acura's Jewel Eye™ LED headlamps.

Inside there will be more leg room in the third row of seats, thanks to the longer wheelbase of the new platform and the improved AcuraLink Connectivity System.

Acura will also make available several other systems, like the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, Blind Spot Information (BSI), Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure, the Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

Find out more on March 27.

Source: acura

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MDX Preview

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