New Acura MDX
 

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...E/60825004/1024

3.7L V6, 300 hp, 275 ft-lbs.

Exterior looks much better compared to the concept - they fixed the nose. Way sharper looking than the current model, in my opinion.

http://cwimg.us.publicus.com/apps/pb...=1024&maxw=490

Interior looks very sharp - interesting steering wheel with the "vee" at the middle spoke on bottom. Overall, I'm liking it a lot.

http://cwimg.us.publicus.com/apps/pb...=1024&maxw=490

Thoughts and comments?

Looks nice. Wife will probably decide between this and the RX350 in the next year or so.

:thumbup: except for the unpainted molding on the front bumper.

Love the interior. Like the exterior of the current one much better. My same feelings on the new CRV.

Whats up with the grill? Its almost as inelegant as the one on the Ridgeline.

Thanks it's posts like this that keep me checking back here all the time.

Well I think the HP is OK, but the TQ is nice. It's got more grunt than the RX350 270hp 251-TQ.

I'm waiting to buy a nice up-scale SUV in the next year or two. The exterior much but better than the concept but not the best, it looks chunky while the new X5 looks svelt.

The interior is OK but very busy (IMO), I think overall the new X5 is a better stem to stern design, but of course the V8 X5will cost a butt load more and the I6 X5 will be slower than the MDX.

[QUOTE=rai,Aug 25 2006, 12:01 PM]Thanks it's posts like this that keep me checking back here all the time.

Well I think the HP is OK, but the TQ is nice.

Hey MDX, Nelly called...he wants his grille back.


:barf:

Hmm....

Split armrest, just like my FX45.

I hope those slide forward, makes you feel like you are sitting in an easy chair.

Does the MDX get Cylinder de-activation like the Oddy? That is on my wish-list for the MDX.

Seems with the bad PR SUVs have they would have shouted that off the roof.

What the heck is 5-speed sequential gearbox? Probably babble just another slush-box I bet.

Sigh, hope it's not going to weigh a lot more, but def it's a big step forward, other SUV I'm interested in the next-gen FX. I know they haven't been out that long, but the G is already getting an update, I think the 08 FX will be as well.

I'd take the FX

The FX isn't comparable - it's a five seater (at best). In price (FX45) it's comparable but the MDX is quite a big bigger and more useable. I think the FX35 is more comparable to the RDX in price and size (mid-to-high $30K range for an FX35 with options).

Woah, that's pretty nice. Evolutionary step forward from the first gen. Hopefully a bit more risky with the next gen, but overall loks good.

And I was not really taken by the concept either. Kinda dull. Glad the production model lost the blandness.

LOVE IT!!

The interior is overdone but nice. It would be just as good if they toned it down. Also, I really wish car makers would move away from those pod type gauge clusters. The Japanese moved away from them because it was a good idea. The domestics followed now everyone is moving back to them. Also bits of the interior remind me of Mercedes. The instrument cluster pod is one of them.
The exterior is a disappointment. It says Highlander-FX35 love child with a oversized Acura badge. Then again which companies don't oversize their badges these days?

I think it looks great. never was a huge fan of the current mdx but the new one looks much better. 300hp and 275 tq don't sound too bad either. I wonder how it'l be on the gas though...

Interior looks awesome, exterior is good, better than the previous MDX.

Looks like they brought the interior to Lexus levels. I like it!

Sam

Not bad. The interior is an improvement over the current model IMO. I'd like to see it in black though. Not a big fan of the cream color scheme. The exterior is OK. I think like the current model better. I'm not sure it needs a 3.7 liter with 300hp, but may the hp wars continue. My wife and I own a 2005 MDX and I think it's plenty quick with the 3.5L in it. No need to burn more gas than it already does.

that's one hot SUV.

I like it, and I'm not really a fan of SUVs. The Acura brand is moving up pretty nicely. I guess Honda doesn't have to worry about the RDX robbing sales of the MDX.

I like the interior, a lot; but the exterior is nothing to write home about. It looks a bit too "domestic". The RX is still a better looking car.

I love it!

May have more grunt, but the current MDX weighs 500lb more than the RX. I believe the new MDX is going to be larger than the current and might be heavier as well. Will is be faster and more agile? I'm guessing not, but we will only know until it comes out.

Sam

It should handle better since it will come with SH-AWD instead of VTM-4.

What's all that dark stuff on the instrument panel and console? Is that all fake wood (I'm guessing it probably is)? If so, that's terrible. I guess it could also be that "piano lacquer" stuff. Either way, way too much shiny wanna-be-something-else plastic. I also agree that the separate instrument pods are too busy. Overall, the interior just looks too Buck Rogers. I think the ML is more appealing to me. But, this could go on the list when it comes time to replace the FX with something with more room... I wonder if you can get FWD?

If you want FWD then look at a Honda Pilot instead.

You can get a FWD RX330 and RWD FX. Some people don't need 4WD. I'd rather get a few more mpgs. Too bad.

The RX has never been called agile. The latest iteration is fairly quick but never agile.

The current MDX has been considered quite carlike with no sporting intentions but a more sporty ride than the RX. I don't really think they'll be at all comparable. The Lexus will be about isolation and quietness while the MDX will be sportier and a little more fun to drive.

The Lexus is a great machine....for the wife. It's not fun to drive, though. I haven't been in a 350 but the 330 isn't that much different. I'd take it for a highway cruiser when I don't expect to encounter curvy roads. Otherwise, it's pretty bland.

The current (00-06) MDX is FWD, only when the fronts slip/spin do the rears kick in........

I like it except for the grille. The new C&D has a preview of it. They felt that the handling was quite impressive for a SUV.

I got one of first MDX's(hence the name) in the country in 10/00. I bought it for my wife. I just asked my wife what she thought of it - and she felt that it was "wasn't very pretty. I liked my 1st gen more"

I like the interior, but the new nose I could do without.

07 MDX will have SH-AWD, not VTM-4 like in the previous gen MDX.

SH-AWD is all wheel drive with a FWD bias under normal driving. Up to 70% of torque can be transferred to the rear. And 100% of that rear torque can be applied to one wheel for an induced yaw effect.

I dont know whether or not the next gen Pilot will get SH-AWD or VTM-4. It will probably be VTM-4 though.

Rai, it always seems you are in the market for a new vehicle in many of your posts. :D

Last week I had the oppoprtunity to drive an 07 MDX press vehicle and I was VERY impressed. The interior is, in my opinion, one of its best attributes. Extremely comfortable seats and I really like the RL-like dash configuration. Unfortunately, I've never been in a 1st gen MDX so I can't make much of a comparision. However, I can say I slightly prefer the MDX over the RDX (I know apples to oranges). Anyhow, I predict this will be a very successful vehicle. Another :thumbup: to Honda for a quality vehicle.

looking really good.

every day, for the past 4 years.....but i've stopped giving him a hard time about it.

:)

http://www.thecarconnection.com/imag...nails/2493.jpg
http://www.thecarconnection.com/imag...ginal/2488.jpg
http://www.thecarconnection.com/imag...nails/2489.jpg

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehicle_Re...181.A10811.html

I think it looks very nice.

[QUOTE=LUV2REV,Aug 28 2006, 09:48 PM] Rai, it always seems you are in the market for a new vehicle in many of your posts.

i was in my friends 06 RX the other day.....damn, it's a nice truck.

it has a perfectly calibrated suspension for an SUV.

our ML has the adjustable suspension, but between the 3 settings, i still can't get the ride to be what i prefer....

Looks great, inside and out. This one is going to be a big winner (bigger than the current MDX, which had great sales).

So what's all that dark, shiny stuff on the dash and center console? Fake wood? "Piano lacquer" plastic? I'm pretty curious. It looks really cheap and garish in the photos if my suspicions are correct... Thanks.

It's fake wood.

Damn. That's far more fake wood than good taste should ever justify. Used sparingly, perhaps you could forgive it. That strip across the dash is huge! Looks like Acura is giving the 1980 Buick Park Avenue a run for its money as worst thing ever to happen to the fake forests of the world. Lexus would not dare use the fake stuff...

Sure, but they use very little wood in the RX, just on the lower console. The rest is actually "fake" aluminum (plastic) and regular plastic. Kind of bland, really, though well put together.

I kind of agree that the huge swathe of fake wood isn't helping but it isn't bad. The curve of the dash helps a fair bit. The Sport package adds metallic accents, which may include those dash pieces. We'll see, I guess.

The interior is nice but I like my current '03 Touring/Nav better.

come on Acura, what's with the grill?? it looks like a shield or some sort of battle armor.