CB77
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The 2014 MDX was spotted at the legendary Nürburgring proving ground in the Eiffel region of Germany while running through its paces in the final stages of development. Eight HRA engineers entered the famous facility on May 22, with one week to evaluate the two prototype test cars.
Testing and tuning at the Nürburgring is an important part of guaranteeing high quality Acura Dynamics. This activity takes on even more significance as Honda prepares to export the MDX to Europe for the first time.
Very few MDX owners will experience the extreme Nürburgring driving environment first hand, but they will appreciate what our engineers adjusted to create such a well-balanced and easy-to-drive vehicle. The Nürburgring proving ground and the surrounding Müllenbach area are ideal for quick and efficient evaluation of a wide array of ride, handling, and steering checks.
Many vehicle characteristics are evaluated and adjusted: body rigidity, drivetrain capability, brake performance, electronic control systems, ride and handling settings, and steering dynamics. This trip resulted in suspension damper valve code and brake booster changes and data setting optimization of the steering and electronic chassis control systems.
Three members of the 2014 MDX team joined during the final days of testing to verify the vehicle's tuned settings. The LPL of the project shared these comments, "The Nürburgring is a very unique place with conditions well-suited to highlight vehicle strengths and weaknesses. The new MDX performed very well during the testing and confirmed that we have developed a vehicle that successfully blends Acura sportiness with improved luxury and refinement. I am sure our customers will be happy with the end result. The spy video posting is indicative of the high levels of anticipation and interest in our new vehicle. I can't wait to show it off without the camouflage."
It is important to note that the advancements made to the suspension, brakes, drive-train, and vehicle weight reduction improved the lap time by several seconds quicker than the outgoing model.
HRA has been using the Nürburgring to tune all Acura products since 2004, starting with the 2007 MDX. And will continue using the Nürburgring when later this fall, the 2014 TL will begin its first round of specification setting testing.
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superchg2
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The really big question is whether these newly found high g-forces will cause the family's slurpies to spill on their way home from the convenience store.
:)
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CB77
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Maybe high-tech, deeper cupholders...
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CivicB18
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That last paragraph didn't make sense. Anyway, Acura should have a standard method of testing for all vehicles in its portfolio especially if the brand wants to become global and the Ring is a great place to start. Everything from the ILX to the NSX should be thoroughly tested here.
This is one reason why European makes such as BMW, Audi and especially Mercedes products have that "bank vault" level of solidity. I know and understand that the driving style is much different in Europe (specifically Germany's high speed Autobahns) but using this and other methods for engineering and testing makes the end result much more capable.
~Patrick
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auto_enthu
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It looks like Acura will continue to try to provide best-in-class driving dynamics, which is good news.
A few days back, a friend of mine told me that his co-worker, who was in the market for a luxury CUV, was test-driving an MDX and when they were approaching a 35mph curve ahead of them (down a hilly road), the sales-person asked him to try to accelerate to 80 mph. While the person driving was skeptic, he did in fact accelerate to 65-70 mph just before he entered the curve. That's it.
Within moments, the person was so impressed with the level of stability MDX has exhibited.
He told my friend, how "mightily impressed" he was with its driving dynamics and he would very likely buy one soon, unless some other CUV impresses him more in terms of driving dynamics.
My friend told me that his co-worker is not an enthusiastic driver, which tells that a driver does'nt have to be an enthusiastic car lover to enjoy great driving dynamics.
I hope the lack of SHAWD in the nextgen standard MDX, will not deprive too much of its handling capabilities.
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Powered by Honda
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WOW! MDX looks like it could remain on top!
2014 TL eh??? Now thats exciting. Hopefully it rights the wrong of the current TL.
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Chocs
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Here's to hoping the next TL is not just a big ILX...
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dmarks
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I can't wait for the next MDX. I'm glad Acura is delaying the model switch if it means the consumer gets a better overall vehicle in the process. I will be in the market about the time the new 2014 arrives. I sure hope the sporty side is maintained and expanded. I can live with a little less fuel economy if it means a better performing automobile.
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Midi_Amp
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Chocs wrote:
Here's to hoping the next TL is not just a big ILX...
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Well, for one the TL should have all multilink suspension, a big ass engine with ED and... That's about it I think. Whether or not it will use eSH-AWD or regular SH-AWD is still up in the air.
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CivicB18
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auto_enthu wrote:
It looks like Acura will continue to try to provide best-in-class driving dynamics, which is good news.
A few days back, a friend of mine told me that his co-worker, who was in the market for a luxury CUV, was test-driving an MDX and when they were approaching a 35mph curve ahead of them (down a hilly road), the sales-person asked him to try to accelerate to 80 mph. While the person driving was skeptic, he did in fact accelerate to 65-70 mph just before he entered the curve. That's it.
Within moments, the person was so impressed with the level of stability MDX has exhibited.
He told my friend, how "mightily impressed" he was with its driving dynamics and he would very likely buy one soon, unless some other CUV impresses him more in terms of driving dynamics.
My friend told me that his co-worker is not an enthusiastic driver, which tells that a driver does'nt have to be an enthusiastic car lover to enjoy great driving dynamics.
I hope the lack of SHAWD in the nextgen standard MDX, will not deprive too much of its handling capabilities.
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The next generation MDX should debut with the new eSH-AWD which is supposed to be lighter than the current mechanical SH-AWD and make the vehicle much more powerful (electric motors on rear wheels and between the engine/transmission) yet much more efficient. It should have the same or similar setup as the all new RLX flagship which is supposed to get 30mpg across the board! I'm also fairly certain that it will be much easier to exploit the performance capabilities of the new AWD ststem vs the former.
~Patrick
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Midi_Amp
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CivicB18 wrote:
auto_enthu wrote:
It looks like Acura will continue to try to provide best-in-class driving dynamics, which is good news.
A few days back, a friend of mine told me that his co-worker, who was in the market for a luxury CUV, was test-driving an MDX and when they were approaching a 35mph curve ahead of them (down a hilly road), the sales-person asked him to try to accelerate to 80 mph. While the person driving was skeptic, he did in fact accelerate to 65-70 mph just before he entered the curve. That's it.
Within moments, the person was so impressed with the level of stability MDX has exhibited.
He told my friend, how "mightily impressed" he was with its driving dynamics and he would very likely buy one soon, unless some other CUV impresses him more in terms of driving dynamics.
My friend told me that his co-worker is not an enthusiastic driver, which tells that a driver does'nt have to be an enthusiastic car lover to enjoy great driving dynamics.
I hope the lack of SHAWD in the nextgen standard MDX, will not deprive too much of its handling capabilities.
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The next generation MDX should debut with the new eSH-AWD which is supposed to be lighter than the current mechanical SH-AWD and make the vehicle much more powerful (electric motors on rear wheels and between the engine/transmission) yet much more efficient. It should have the same or similar setup as the all new RLX flagship which is supposed to get 30mpg across the board! I'm also fairly certain that it will be much easier to exploit the performance capabilities of the new AWD ststem vs the former.
~Patrick
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If I'm not mistaken SH-AWD needs the driver to apply acceleration while cornering for the distribution of power to the wheels. While the eSH-AWD, again if I'm not mistaken doesn't need the driver to accelerate as it will apply power to the appropriate wheels via all wheel monitoring system and driving condition.
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Chocs
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Midi_Amp wrote:
Chocs wrote:
Here's to hoping the next TL is not just a big ILX...
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Well, for one the TL should have all multilink suspension, a big ass engine with ED and... That's about it I think. Whether or not it will use eSH-AWD or regular SH-AWD is still up in the air.
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True, though I was thinking more along the lines of its styling... Besides the NSX, if the RLX, RDX and ILX are any indication, it's that Acura's styling has become rather sedated.
So after the reaction to the current TL, will they keep the edge or soften it too much?
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Waldo
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CivicB18 wrote:
That last paragraph didn't make sense. . . .
~Patrick
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Yeah, it was confusing. The way I read it, they started using the Ring in 2004, and the first car released to benefit from that testing was the 2007 MDX. That makes sense from a typical development time perspective.
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CJT
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MDX headed to Europe as in Russia?
Out of curiousity, where did this article originate from?
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