It’s no secret that Acura is preparing to take the covers off of its revamped 2022 Acura MDX. The newest MDX will represent a very interesting chapter in its history as the model evolves to truly embrace its role as the flagship model for the luxury brand (NSX where are thou? However, the one other thing that has eluded us (along with the NSX’s current status in the lineup) was a date for the MDX’s debut and the Japanese luxury brand has revealed that it will take place December 8th.
Keeping up with the 2022 Acura MDX Prototype
Acura also supplied us with one lone teaser image of the 2022 Acura MDX but while the MDX is playfully hiding its finer details from the camera in a sea of shadows, the core elements here are virtually identical to the prototype. That’s no surprise, but we suspect that some changes were made to the lower bumper as well as the shape of the front grille. We like good design as much as the next writer, but safety and production practicalities reign supreme in the automotive world.
That said, styling will be a very big part of the MDX’s story, with the SUV evolving into a contender that aims to take on some of the richer flagship luxury SUVS on the market today. Look for the new look to largely mirror that of the Prototype, with polish and handsome swagger taking center stage over the current model’s bolder but decidedly awkward looking lines. The interior also promises to be a world beater, but we will have to wait until the production model sheds more of its cover to see whether it can wow us like it did when it first made its appearance in the MDX Prototype.
Acura confirms 2022 MDX performance hardware
Acura stopped well short of revealing anything too sensitive when it came to the finer details surrounding the 2022 MDX’s performance numbers, but the firm did confirm that the production version will indeed be powered by a 3.5 liter V6 which will be mated to both a 10-speed automatic and the company’s latest iteration of Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD.)
This potent combination aims to make the MDX a very dynamic offering in the segment which is even more prevalent in the range topping MDX Type S. When the company chooses to release final power figures, we hope that the Type S in particular will still have the punch that made its corporate counterpart the TLX Type S the talk of the town when it appeared.
When can I buy a 2022 Acura MDX?
After the MDX makes its virtual debut in December, the company revealed that the wait for the 2022 Acura MDX will be a brisk one for consumers with the first models making their way to showrooms early next year. These inaugural arrivals will cover the MDX’s broader trim lineup and will be targeted towards sales volume. Buyers looking to buy the MDX Type S will have a bit longer of a wait with those models not arriving until summer of 2021.
Look for pricing to not stray too far from the current generation model for the most part, though we suspect that the higher levels of trim and equipment in range topping models will be responsible for the bulk of any price increases between the outgoing model and its inbound replacement.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.