Slquic

That doesnt mean the RDX shares the same platform as the CRV. There are usually things you can measure to prove this as you can with MDX/PILOT , TLX/ACCORD (last GEN) (both are on the same wheelbase )

bobby2478

With no word or leaked images I'm pretty sure that they aren't going to launch redesign 4th gen MDX this year (as a 2020 MY). So looking like it will be next year instead (as a 2021 MY in calendar year 2020). Detroit Auto Show is next week and if they were doing it this year they'd reveal it there first, but would have teased images to generate buzz in advance of the show which they have not

bobby2478

LOL exactly what I was arguing. The lead engineer is an American as the vehicle was designed and built in the USA by Americans. They wouldn't push so hard on the completely redesigned new platform if it was just a rebadged CRV. Most luxury manufacturers now don't use the exact same platform between their non luxury and luxury cars, they are different vehicles now not just the same thing with different window dressing like they used to be

bobby2478

Every new model including redesign and refresh have first been introduced at the Detroit Auto Show which is next week. So if anything new for this year they would reveal it there. Considering they haven't even released teaser images of a new release in advance of the show to generate buzz I'd say it's very unlikely they are doing any redesigns this year, but we'll find out next week

Tony Pac

bobby2478

Agreed. If it were they'd have had to test it on roads and tracks and there hasn't been a single spy shot of the car with camo pop up anywhere so I doubt they are doing it this year

skarface

skarface

skarface

I guess since we haven't seen any camo MDXs and the prototypes are at the Detroit Auto, we probably won't see it this year.

MrJames

Too early to say a new MDX isn't coming this year. TLX is rumored to be coming first. If we don't get any hints or leaks by April when the NY Auto Show happens then it probably won't be out this year. Jeff from TOV mentioned seeing test mules with heavy camo bags on the front with Honda Pilot body work at an Acura event in Ohio. These are likely the mules for for the new MDX that were alongside the TLX mules.

bobby2478

Go back and look as early as the 3rd gen MDX reveal in 2013, it was at Detroit first, so MDX and RDX always were first revealed at Detroit in January then subsequently shown again in NY later in the year. New vehicles typically hit sales floors in the spring.

Biggest change is this is the last year Detroit will be in January, next year its moving to June. And a lot of manufacturers aren't at Detroit this year for that reason. So Acura could be breaking the trend here too.

Regardless of auto show, if they were putting finishing touches on a production ready 4th gen MDX we'd have seen camo shots of it undergoing testing by now (as it would go on sale in 6 months) and we haven't seen anything. That's the stronger indication nothing is coming this year for the MDX. They could be working on a Type S TLX as there have been camo shots of a beefed up TLX in the past few months.

Wander

How's the handling of that Canadian pano roof CRV, I wonder? Does anyone who buys them care?

We currently have a 2018 CRV Touring AWD sharing a garage with a 2019 RDX Advance SH-AWD. Both are very nice vehicles for their intended market, but they are very different. CRV gets the nod for practicality and efficiency, RDX gets it for performance and handling. I don't think there's a singe piece of the chassis or drivetrain that's shared between them. Our 2014 MDX Tech SH-AWD is the third point of the triangle; it's the cruiser.

If we have a baby pool going I'm putting my cash on a 2021 MY MDX introduction early in the 2020 calendar year. But maybe Acura will turn over a new leaf and iron out the bugs before they release it later in 2020.

Tony Pac

I was right No MDX at Detroit auto show. TLX will be in NY auto show. I am not sure 100% if MDX will be revealed this year or next year at Detroit auto show.

Let the countdown begins for 2020 TLX

ZipSpeed

The fact that Acura introduced an A-Spec variant for MY2019 is telling that 3G MDX will live on till MY2020. It would be a waste of resources if the 3G MDX A-Spec doesn't sell for at least a couple years. This year is TLX and the introduction of the first Type-S model. I suppose there could be chance that Acura may prototype the 4G MDX later in the year (LA auto show?) with sales in 2020 spring?

neoshi

It could actually be even later. Manufacturers usually run models for about 3 years for ROI, but that will make it really long in the tooth, so my bet is still on 2021 (while calling it a 2022 model).

bobby2478

I highly doubt they launch a full redesign of the TLX for 2019 (as a 2020). I would bet on a S Type variant of the current TLX generation instead. There have already been spy shots showing a TLX that looked beefed up under camo (it wasn't a full redesign).

Wander

But A-spec is just a styling variant, so the investment of resources is small. And it's well worth it if it keeps sales sorta going while they ( hopefully ) get their sh1t together for the 4G introduction.

ZipSpeed

True, it might be a smaller investment, but I think Acura is trying to keep the vehicle as fresh as possible knowing that the 4G is still a year or two away. Personally, I want to see the 4G sooner than later. When my TLX lease is done in August 2020, I'm planning on moving into a MDX.

bobby2478

Suvs are where the money is and with the volume of RDX they've been selling after the refresh there's no way the 4th gen MDX won't be out by next year. I'd suspect it's a year away but not more than that. They are selling RDX like hotcakes now and they'll want to cash in on that with the MDX too. Every month since new RDX came out they've set new sales records each month

TLbullet

neoshi

InterestingI.. It also has a touchpad interface, so it's going to get a new infotainment system.

ZipSpeed

Interesting indeed. Now that we have seen mules for both TLX and MDX, I wonder which new gen will launch first.

Design language-wise, I'm expecting the new MDX to be basically a larger version of the RDX. So it should get everything the RDX has plus more. I don't really care for the dragon-tail tail lamps though on the RDX and I'm hoping the 4G MDX will have something different. These "C" shaped tail lamps are effing everywhere and doesn't look classy at all IMO.

skarface

bobby2478

If you read the article it says infotainment is heavily covered so you can't tell anything about it, especially not that it has a touch pad. If you also look at the interior picture you can see the passenger dash looks exactly like the current mdx.

Also the back pics show the tail light on top of the rear spoiler and it looks just like the current gen.

If I had to guess my money is on Acura launching a Type S TLX and MDX in 2019 (as a 2020 model) and it would be the current gen platform. Then next year (2020 as a 2021 model) they'd launch a full redesign

MrJames

A few things I noticed looking at that those spy shots.

- Heavy camo bags are covering the entire vehicle instead of just the front. Looks like it has its new body under there. You can see the zebra camo underneath.
- Huge wheels. 22 or 23 inch maybe?
- Touch pad from the RDX but it's slotted next to the shift buttons where the cup holders are on the current MDX instead of behind them like on the RDX. Could be just how they have set up in the test mule though.
- RDX steering wheel.
- You can barely see the left side of the gauge cluster but there is photo of the RPM gauge on the passenger side dash. I wonder if this is a digital gauge screen similar to the Audi Virtual Cockpit.
- Center stack is covered but I think we pretty much know what that will look like. Large drive mode dial with a wide screen tacked on top.
- Mid bass speaker in the door similar to the new RDX ELS 3D
- Can't see the top of the car to see if the sunroof is panoramic.
- The pornstache looks to be attempting a comeback

skarface

You can clearly see the touchpad in this pic next to the shift buttons. Looks like they took it out of the RDX and are testing it in the MDX. Looks like the RDX style steering wheel too.
https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/7K...-spy-shots.jpg

bobby2478

Yes the touch pad is just rudely hooked up and not really installed, it's just floating there.

The overall look of the passenger dash, dash overall and center arm rest look just like the current gen. I doubt they redesign the entire vehicle and retain current gen interior design instead of adopting new design queues from the rdx.

We'll find out over time whether this is a full redesign or not.

Personally I doubt they introduce not only a fully redesigned vehicle but also introduce their very first S-Type. My money is still on the S-Type being built on the current gen platform instead of a full redesign but time will tell.

If not a full redesign I also don't see Acura rolling out the new infotainment system retrofitted into the current gen interior, and don't see them redoing the interior design outside of a full redesign

Again time will tell what it actually is and isn't

bobby2478

You can also see the push button shifter in its current mdx location down on the center console instead of up higher by the ids button in the dash like the new rdx interior design

skarface

Why would they bother testing the new touchpad interface and installing the new steering wheel (with its inputs to the new infotainment system) if you're not going to install them. Seems like an odd waste of time. There's no real point in installing the 'garnish' of a new formed dashboard for testing purposes.

bobby2478

Agreed but look at the overall styling and design of the interior, it looks identical to the current gen design outside of the steering wheel and the touch pad that is just wired and not even screwed down. You can even see the center dash cutout and overhang for the top infotainment screen (2 screen setup) just like the current gen. Whatever this is It definitely isn't a production ready prototype

skarface

Tony Pac

Imagine TLX and MDX are reveal in 2019 as 2020 models....wow!

ZipSpeed

The TLX and MDX do share some common bits, so it's not hard to imagine the new gen models will also share platform bits. Perhaps this is helping to expedite the development process. That, and a lot of the tech from the RDX could probably be lifted and plopped into the TLX/MDX saving on development time as well. If anything, we should be grateful to the beta testers... uh, RDX owners!

SuperHandlingTL

SuperHandlingTL

SuperHandlingTL

ZipSpeed

My mistake. Platform shouldn't have been the word to use. When I say shared bits, I mean things like the J35 engine, SH-AWD, dash, speedometer cluster, steering wheel design, etc. For instance, assuming the 4G MDX will be getting a full digital speed/tach cluster, the assumption is the new TLX will also get it. Or vice versa.

SuperHandlingTL

SuperHandlingTL

alpha0

Will 3.0 Turbo be used in both base MDX and Type S?