Acura Teases 2017 MDX Ahead of New York Show

It doesn’t seem all that long ago that the Acura MDX was all-new for the 2014 model year, with an all-new direct-injected V-6 engine, a new body, and dramatically improved fuel economy and vehicle dynamics. Now, just a scant three years later, Acura is bringing a major update to its best-selling midsize SUV for 2017. Honda’s luxury brand released a shadowy rendering showing a much more prominent grille and front end and generally more sculpted styling.

Aside from promises of “substantial design enhancements” and “powertrain technology” updates, few solid details were released ahead of its official reveal in March. While we’re not expect a wholesale redesign just three short years into its model run, the changes seem to indicate more substantial updates than the typical minor trim and equipment changes.

Acura already made a running change to the 2015 model with the change to a nine-speed automatic transmission from the previous six-speed. To date, the only Acura models employing hybrid drivetrain technology have been the Civic-based ILX, which no longer offers a hybrid variant, the RLX Sport Hybrid luxury sedan, and now the ultra-high-performance NSX. If the MDX adopts any hybrid technology, it would most likely share some components with the RLX. We will find out full details on the 2017 MDX on March 23.

Source: Acura