Our man with the long lens snapped a prototype of the next Acura MDX crossover testing on public roads near the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany.
The mid-size crossover model was heavily camouflaged but a close look at the front end of the vehicle reveals Acura’s revised five-point grille with the beaked chrome upper part and twin chrome slats underneath.
While most styling details of the third generation MDX remain hidden, it appears that like the 2013 RDX, it too will feature a more mature / less exciting exterior design, with several elements borrowed from the RLX and ILX sedans.
The current model, which has been on the market since 2006 having received a mild nip and tuck in late 2009, is available with a 300hp 3.5-liter VTEC V6 engine linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission and Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.
The new MDX, which is believed to arrive in late 2013 as a 2014MY, will likely share its powertrain lineup with the upcoming RLX sedan.
What this means is that we may see a base version offered with an updated V6 delivering 310hp and a hybrid variant combining Acura’s new 3.5-liter direct-injected VTEC V6 engine to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and three electric motors.
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