LOS ANGELES: Acura, Honda's luxury arm in the US, unveiled its MDX Prototype.
The significance of the unveiling allows consumers to have an idea of what is to come in the fourth-generation MDX - an all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV in the US.
Set to be on sale early next year, the new MDX will assume the flagship role in the lineup as the most premium, performance-focused and technologically sophisticated SUV in the brand's history.
It will be featured with a front double-wishbone suspension system for the first time and will also carry the Type S moniker for an Acura SUV while taking on a matte finish of Liquid Carbon or Performance Red.
The MDX will come fitted with an upright grille that leads to a long sculpted hood for the lower and wider body thanks to the pronounced shoulders and a greenhouse that's been set further back.
Illumination will come from nothing less than LEDs for the headlights and the ARX-05 race car-inspired daytime running lights and rear light clusters.
Fitted within its gaping wheel-wells will be 21-inch wheels and its additional 76mm wheelbase will help to provide a more generous seating arrangement for all three rows and the boot.
Inside, the cabin gets fitted with open-pore wood infused with metallic flakes, accented by a polished aluminium and contrasted by a soft-touch Milano leather in Ebony and Light Orchid.
The instrument panel and steering wheel will receive French-stitched detailing while an ultra-wide panoramic moonroof opens the cabin up to provide natural light for all three rows.
Next-generation Acura sport seats offer a more sculpted form with curvilinear quilting in all three rows, gradient perforation, and high-contrast stitching and piping.
The MDX’s wider body design enables first-class seating with more legroom in all three rows, and notably more headroom for front and third-row occupants.
The sports seats offer 16-way power adjustment and integrated massage (9 modes) functionality and the entire cabin can be illuminated with 27 different lighting schemes.
This is tied to the driving modes of the vehicle and can even act as a representative of various locations that include iconic roads and even race circuits around the world.
The MDX Prototype debuts Acura’s all-digital Precision Cockpit which replaces the physical gauges with a customizable 12.3-inch driver’s metre.
This SUV also gains the latest generation of the brand's True Touchpad Interface featuring an ultra-wide 12.3-inch full-HD centre display.
The Signature Edition (ELS STUDIO 3D premium audio system) in this prototype sets a new standard for concert-quality in-vehicle audio with more than 1,000 watts of power, 22 discrete channels and 25 speakers.
This elevated tier of ELS system features six ceiling-mounted Highline speakers and six carbon fibre coned mid-range woofers including two positioned in the front console to create a “Center of the Studio” experience with a perfect left-to-right balance.
Tuned and perfected by eight-time Grammy award-winning music producer and sound engineer, Elliot Scheiner, this is the most advanced and powerful audio system ever offered in an Acura vehicle.
