2014 Acura mdx concept and review

2014 Acura mdx concept and review - kingautocars.blogspot.com. Meet the 2014 Acura MDX; well, sort of. In a fashion typical of Honda and Acura these days, the newest MDX crossover is being previewed in nearly production-ready “concept” form at the 2013 Detroit auto show. The MDX is one of Acura’s most popular offerings, so it is perhaps with little surprise that the redesigned 2014 model won’t differ much from the current version, at least in terms of styling. Despite the carry-over looks, Acura is working to make the new MDX roomier and more fuel efficient.

The new Acura MDX, like its flagship sedan counterpart, the RLX, harnesses a host of Acura signature technologies to deliver on Acura's "Synergy between Man and Machine" product direction, and to offer higher levels of luxury, quietness, comfort and prestige in a vehicle that performs "at the will of the driver" with intuitive control and exhilarating dynamic performance.

No matter how long you stare at that exterior, you likely won't catch on to the fact that it's about seventeen percent more aerodynamic than before. Nor will you notice the increased use of high-strength steel, aluminum, and magnesium in the MDX's unibody structure. Those ingredients help the 2014 MDX shed 275 pounds, despite the fact the new model is two inches longer than before.

The 2014 MDX measures 2.0 inches longer than the previous-generation MDX and has a 2.8-inch longer wheelbase. Vehicle height has been lowered by 1.5 inches, and rear step-in height is lower by 1.8 inches compared to the outgoing model. The front track is 1.4 inches narrower and the rear wheel track is 1.2 inches narrower. The vehicle width is reduced by 1.3 inches. In this respect, the MDX presents a 2 percent smaller frontal area to the wind for improved aerodynamic efficiency, and a slightly narrower body for improved garage-ability, while the longer wheelbase helps to enhance ride quality and interior spaciousness. The passenger hip points in the first and second rows are lower by 1.2 inches and the third row is lower by 1.4 inches, improving the feeling of stability and reduced body roll for all occupants.

Power comes from a direct-injection, 3.5-liter, DOHC V-6 with variable cylinder management, which throttles back to run on only three cylinders under light loads. Sound familiar? It's essentially the same engine used in the 2014 RLX sedan, but with a little less power on tap. While the RLX offers 310 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque, in MDX guise, the same engine produces 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. That's down from the outgoing MDX's 3.7-liter V-6, which was rated at 300 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps the aforementioned weight savings play a factor in performance, as Acura claims the 2014 MDX accelerates quicker than prior models despite the drop in power.

Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) switches seamlessly between 3- and 6-cylinder modes, depending on engine load, effectively varying engine displacement to match driving conditions for improved fuel efficiency. Active Control engine Mounts (ACM) and Active Noise Cancellation allow the VCM system to operate in 3-cylinder mode across a wider range of driving situations.

We're more concerned with how the 2014 Acura MDX entertains the person seated behind the wheel: the automaker claims the new MDX is eight seconds quicker around the Nurburgring than before. Although that's a metric absolutely no crossover buyers actually care about, we're hoping it's a sign the 2014 MDX remains a cross between a practical family schlepper and a sport sedan on stilts. We'll know in short order, as the 2014 Acura MDX should go on sale this summer.