2007 Honda MDX: First Look

By Motoring Channel Staff - 15/Sep/2006

Tokyo, Japan — Few auto companies can match Honda's engine-making capacity - it manufactures more than 14 million combustion engines per annum - and with the revealing of the redesigned 2007 model year MDX luxury 4WD, the company releases it's largest engine yet.

Powered by a 3.7-litre V6, Honda claims the new engine will be one of the most powerful naturally-aspirated 6-cylinder engines in the world, creating 224kW with a bit of help from its VTEC variable valve system. There are also murmurs within the company that the powerful V6 could be used in other applications in future, possibly even in a replacement for the mid-engined NSX sports car.

The new '07 MDX will feature the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system first seen on the Honda Legend, and like all self-respecting luxury SUVs it will be packed with practical features, like an active damper system, LCD information screen, roll-over sensors and a significant complement of airbags.

Launched as the Acura MDX in North America, Honda says the new model is a much sportier proposition than before, longer, lower and wider, and able to handle tight cornering with more ease. Benchmarked against some of the best performance SUVs in the world and tuned on the world famous Nurburgring racetrack in Germany, the completely redesigned 2007 MDX expands on the capabilities of its predecessor. 

The all-new model features SH-AWD, which Honda calls an innovative full-time all-wheel-drive system that actively distributes the optimum amount of torque not only between the front and rear axles but also between the left and right rear wheels. This system is believed to be the only one of its kind, and together with the powerful 3.7-litre V6, provides an emphasis on sporting performance. 

The second-generation MDX targeted the dynamics and driving feel of its strongest European SUV competitors and this led to the development of a platform with a longer wheelbase, new suspension geometry and calibrations that were tuned on Germany's demanding Nurburgring Nordschleife race circuit.

In addition to the totally revised chassis, which resulted from customer feedback that pointed towards a sportier driving format, Honda will also offer the single-minded driver the Sport Package, which includes the Active Damper System. Tuned specifically for the MDX, these active dampers can individually adjust from minimum to maximum damping force in as little as five milliseconds (0.005 seconds) to provide improved transient handling, road isolation, and body control. To increase strength while minimising weight, the MDX takes full advantage of greater use of high strength steel and lightweight aluminum than its predecessor.

The 7-seat luxury MDX is aimed at the European brands' sporty SUV models, most of which are powered by 8-cylinder engines. Honda claims its new V6 has the power of a V8, but with the economy of a 6-cylinder vehicle. 

The all-new 3.7-litre VTEC V6 is rated at 224kW (300hp) which is exerted @ 6000rpm, while peak torque of 380Nm arrives @ 5000rpm. The engine generates its power and torque high in the rev range, and features a dual-stage intake manifold and an electronic drive-by-wire throttle system, and the 0-100km/h sprint is expected to take about 7.5 seconds. Sorting out the engine's power is the standard-issue 5-speed automatic with a tiptronic mode and what Honda calls Grade Logic Control, which is designed to maximise acceleration and fuel economy, which is rated at 14 and 11L/100km for the city and highway cycles respectively, which betters the returns offered by the BMWX5 3.0i.

As is the norm for more and more modern Honda vehicles, the gear lever is located on the centre console, and the Japanese company says that the MDX is perfect for towing, as the upgraded gearbox enables the MDX to haul up to 2268kg (5000 lb.).

As well as the MDX's improved utility, the all-new Honda SUV features a new exterior style that uses sharp edges and angles to define its character. Framed by high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, the chrome grille is bolder than before (30% larger than the previous model's) and the MDX rides on standard 18-inch alloy wheels. It is longer, lower and wider than its predecessor, and Honda insists that the body's cleanly sculpted shapes echo those of a high-end megayacht.

One of the criticisms levelled at the previous MDX was it's hum-drum interior, and it appears as though Honda has addressed with issue, providing its flagship SUV with well-equipped but stylish decor. Soft leather, highly supportive front bucket seats and a driver-oriented cockpit make it clear that the new MDX is focused on the driver explains Honda, and all without compromising passenger comfort. The outboard second-row seats echo the style and lateral support of the front seats, giving the interior a unique 4+3 seating design, highlighting its blend of sport and utility.

Features like a 9-inch LCD screen and DVD player for rear seat passengers and a detachable remote and two sets of headphones indicate a desire to please family customers, while standard features include a tri-zone automatic climate control system with humidity control and air filtration, a Multi-Information Display (MID) that allows access to multiple electronic functions, such as Sat Nav and a 253-watt premium stereo with AM/FM tuner, 6-disc in-dash CD, MP3, WMA changer, 8 speakers, and an auxiliary jacks. Optional extras like wireless Bluetooth telephone interface should have been standard, however.

Honda has placed an emphasis on safety, which begins with a new Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure that evenly distributes collision forces and helps maintain the integrity of the passenger cabin in the event of a severe frontal collision. Honda has indicated that the latest generation of dual-stage, dual-threshold airbags for the driver and front passenger are standard fitment items, as side airbags for the driver and front passenger and side curtain airbags for all passengers, with a rollover sensor for all outboard occupants, and front active head restraints reduce the chance of neck injury.

"The MDX will once again set a new standard in the luxury SUV segment, just as it did when it was first introduced," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of Acura sales in North America, which will be the MDX's biggest market. "Bold styling, track tuned performance and the latest technology make the MDX one of the most advanced SUVs on the road."

The MDX was developed and designed at the Honda Research of the Americas, and will be assembled in Canada (Alliston, Ontario).