Acura MDX Scheduled To Debut October 5 With Best-in-Class Performance, Safety and Versatility
17 August 2000
Acura MDX Scheduled To Debut October 5 With Best-in-Class Performance, Safety and Versatility
HERSHEY, Pa. - Acura announced today that the all-new MDX luxury sport-
utility vehicle will makes its debut at Acura dealers nationwide on October 5
as a 2001 model. The MDX will be priced in the mid-$30,000 range with a first
year sales plan of 35,000 to 40,000 units.
The MDX is Acura's first designed-from-the-ground-up sport-utility vehicle
-- a fully-featured luxury SUV that delivers exhilarating performance and a
versatile seven-passenger interior in combination with outstanding all-weather
handling, class-leading fuel economy, ultra-low emissions and an expected
five-star level safety rating.
"The MDX is a no-compromise SUV," said Dick Colliver, executive vice
president, Acura division. "It is the first luxury sport-utility vehicle to
deliver both the sport and the utility consumers desire in one thoroughly
refined package."
Powered by an advanced, all-aluminum, 3.5-liter, 24-valve VTEC V6 engine
mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, the MDX produces 240 horsepower
and 245 pound-feet of torque. Driving power to all four wheels is Acura's
innovative new VTM-4 (Variable Torque Management 4WD) system.
The VTM-4 system employs advanced electronic sensing and control
mechanisms to monitor the vehicle's dynamic condition and to pro-actively
apportion engine torque between the front and rear wheels before wheel spin
occurs for outstanding driveability and control in dry, wet, snowy and icy
road conditions. A unique locking feature, activated by a button on the
instrument panel, sends maximum torque to the rear wheels for use is
low-speed/low-traction and "stuck" conditions.
All MDX models sold nationwide will meet California's stringent Ultra-Low
Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) standards with estimated city/highway ratings of
17/23 MPG, the best overall fuel economy performance of any vehicle in its
class -- making the MDX one of the cleanest and most efficient SUVs on the
road today.
The MDX also features a highly versatile seven-passenger interior with
second- and third-row seats that split and fold flat into the floor to
accommodate a wide-variety of passenger- and cargo-carrying configurations.
All seven seats are equipped with headrests and three-point seatbelts.
The MDX also provides the highest levels of safety for all passengers and
is equipped with a comprehensive list of advanced safety features including
dual-threshold front airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and an advanced passenger
side airbag system with occupant sensing capabilities. Internal crash test
data confirms an expected NHTSA five-star rating in safety performance for all
passengers in frontal and side collisions.
Like all Acura products, the MDX comes equipped with a comprehensive list
of standard luxury features including leather seating surfaces* and door
inserts; power windows, door locks and mirrors; power tilt and sliding
moonroof; cruise control; seven-speaker AM/FM/Cassette stereo with in-dash CD
player; power adjustable heated front seats; alloy wheels and a multi-function
digital trip computer. *First and second row seats only.
The MDX is offered with an optional Touring package, which adds a two-
position driver's seat and mirror memory system; 8-way power adjustable
passenger seat; roof rack; reverse-mode tilting passenger mirror, exclusive
alloy wheel design and an upgraded 200-watt, eight speaker Acura/Bose music
system with in-dash, 6-disc CD changer.
Available as a stand alone factory option is the Acura Navigation System
with DVD (digital versatile disc), which contains mapping of the entire
continental U.S. and features a nationwide directory of 3.7-million points of
interest, restaurants, hotels, ATMs and a number of other categories.
The MDX was designed and developed by the company's Los Angeles and Ohio
R&D centers and will be assembled by Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Ontario,
Canada.