We may or may not already know what the 2022 Acura MDX looks like thanks to a leak from the RDX’s infotainment system, which gave us a pretty good idea of what to expect when Acura pulls the silk off of its best-selling SUV. It leaked the TLX, too, and what we saw ended up being essentially identical to the finished product. But that isn’t going to stop Acura from plugging up its well of teasers, and the Japanese luxury brand just gave us a peek at the Acura MDX Prototype, a teaser in and of itself for the next-generation Acura MDX.
Acura is going through a bit of a renaissance. It started with the Type S concept that introduced a whole new design language to the brand. The 2021 Acura TLX walks closely in the shadow of that concept, borrowing much of its sharper, tighter, and leaner look from the sleek show car. Now, similar changes are coming to the MDX.
Despite being just a red, purple, and orange outline of the MDX Prototype, the teaser shows notable changes to the model, including new styling that’s in line with the look of the 2021 TLX. The thin and very sharp headlight clusters are new, as are the slightly sharper “cheekbones” that outline the front bumper. The roofline looks more coupe-like than the current model, too.
In a recent interview, Acura brand manager Jon Ikeda revealed he’s committed to Acura’s performance goals. So, we expect the new MDX to edge more toward the sporty side of the equation relative to the current model. The MDX Prototype will be fully unveiled on October 14, and Acura claims the new show car previews the most ambitious redesign of the MDX ever. By the looks of the leaks, the brand’s probably right. Regardless, we can’t wait to see the finished product.
