Acura to Unveil New MDX in New York

Acura is not letting any grass grow under the tires of its 3-year-old MDX, with the brand announcing it will debut a redesigned and reengineered version of the large CUV at next month’s New York International Auto Show.

“The ’17 MDX will boast substantial design enhancements, added luxury comfort and convenience features, and advanced new powertrain technology, in concert with the Acura brand’s focus on precision crafted performance,” Acura says in a statement.

The current MDX debuted in summer 2013 as a ’14 model.

John Mendel, executive vice president-American Honda, told WardsAuto in January that new powertrain technology could include a hybrid propulsion system.

WardsAuto forecast data shows a hybrid powertrain is due for the model for ’17.

Acura officials interviewed at the North American International Auto Show said they were to introduce the brand’s new design language, seen on the NAIAS Precision concept show car, into Acura’s production lineup.

“From now on whatever we touch needs to have this DNA or this performance feeling,” said Dave Marek, Acura global creative director. “You’ll see (this design language) sooner than later, in different iterations.”

The “huge” competition in the MDX’s segment was one reason why MDX sales fell in 2015, new Acura Senior Vice President Jon Ikeda said in the same interview.

While MDX volume was down 11.3% last year to 58,208 units, it still was the leader in WardsAuto’s Large Luxury CUV segment, topping the Infiniti QX60 by roughly 17,000.

An Acura spokeswoman also blamed lower sales on lower MDX output in 2015 at Honda’s Lincoln, AL, plant, as the automaker needed more capacity for the newly launched Honda Pilot CUV.

Honda hopes to remedy the MDX shortage next year when it adds a second production source for the vehicle in East Liberty, OH.

[email protected]