Acura Automobiles: 2017 Acura MDX Press Kit

Thanks to its use of advanced materials including aluminum, high-strength steel and magnesium, the 2017 MDX’s restyled body combines exceptional rigidity with low vehicle mass. This combination provides the foundation for the MDX’s confident handling capabilities, refined ride quality, and its particularly high mitigation of cabin noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). High structural rigidity at crucial suspension mounting points allows the MDX’s suspension systems to be tuned to provide the best combination of ride and handling.

Collision performance is further enhanced by Acura’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) front frame structure and the MDX’s one-piece stiffener ring — made of ultra-high strength steel. It comprises the A-pillar and B-pillar, roof rail and lower frame member — for improved management of collision energy in frontal offset and side impacts and roof load management in the event of a rollover. See Safety section for more information.

Key Body Features

  • Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
  • Acoustic glass
  • Efficient underbody airflow
  • Optimized Material Grades
  • Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) mitigation
  • Active control engine mounts

Exterior Dimensions
Compared to the 2016 MDX, the restyled 2017 MDX is 0.6-inches longer but shares all other key exterior dimensions.

2016 MDX vs. 2017 MDX Exterior Dimensions

 

Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure
The MDX’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. It uses a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle, helping to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. It can help to more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles in a crash as well. ACE also helps reduce the chances that one vehicle will override another, improving crash compatibility of vehicles that differ in size. ACE goes further by offering additional strength and protection in small overlap frontal collisions, which are among the most severe. See Safety section for more information.

Acoustic Glass
The MDX utilizes 4.5-mm thick, 3-layer acoustic windshield and 4.8 mm front door glass to help mitigate wind, road and traffic noise in the cabin.

Underbody Airflow
Carefully managing underbody airflow helps reduce turbulence and drag for improved fuel efficiency, while also enhancing stability at highway speeds. Strategically placed aerodynamic underbody components — including front splash shields, an engine exit cover, and a mid-floor undercover — help smooth airflow between the body and road surface, while also helping to minimize power-robbing turbulence and drag. A front air dam with a broad wickerbill, along with strakes positioned ahead of the rear tires, further improves efficient airflow. These techniques help maximize fuel efficiency, increase stability and reduce wind noise on the highway. See Exterior section for more information.

Advanced Materials, Lower Weight
High-strength steel, aluminum and magnesium total 65 percent of the MDX body structure. The MDX has the lightest published weight in its segment which directly contributes to its powerful acceleration, light and nimble handling, and class-leading fuel economy ratings.

The MDX is assembled from steel stampings that are robotically welded together to form a single, lightweight unit-body with a high level of rigidity. A variety of advanced materials and techniques give this structure exceptional strength and uniformity. One is high-strength steel, which composes 59 percent of the body structure by weight, including the use of 1,500-megapascal ultra-high strength “hot-stamped” steel in 7 percent of the body, enhancing collision protection while minimizing vehicle weight.

An example of high-strength components in the MDX are the one-piece stiffener rings around the front doors. Formed from a single piece of hot-stamped steel, each ring provides immense strength for enhanced performance in frontal and side impacts, as well as enhanced roof crush protection. Likewise, the rigid tailgate opening is engineered to distribute loads through the rear suspension mounts, further aiding body stiffness. See Safety section for more information.

The MDX steering hanger beam is made of a magnesium casting, which spans the entire width of the interior (inside of the instrument panel). This 3-piece component saves 7.5 pounds compared to an aluminum hangar beam, while also reducing the potential for intrusion of the steering column into the cabin in a frontal collision.

Body Materials

 

Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) Mitigation
To create a premium driving experience, extensive research and countermeasures were applied to help reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) throughout the MDX. Acura engineers began by working to eliminate NVH at its source with technologies such as a highly rigid unibody tightly controlled manufacturing tolerances, a highly rigid aluminum-alloy engine block and forged-steel crankshaft, electronically calibrated engine mounts, careful aerodynamic tailoring, acoustic glass, and more.

Road Noise Reduction
To help isolate road noise and reduce its intrusion into the cabin, the lower suspension components attach to fully isolated steel subframes that ride on specially tuned bushings. In addition, improved door sealing and melt sheet (an asphalt-based sound-damping material) is bonded to the floor and wheel arches of all Acura vehicles at the time of assembly.

Wind Noise Reduction
Smoothing airflow over the complex shape of a vehicle body can help reduce not only aerodynamic drag, but also the wind noise that is transmitted to the cabin. The MDX was tested extensively in a full-sized wind tunnel. Wind-tunnel testing combined with sophisticated computer modeling allowed engineers to identify areas of the body that are prone to wind noise — and then analyze fine detail changes with a high degree of accuracy.

One result of this testing is the MDX’s body-panel fit, which helps minimize gaps that create turbulence and wind noise when the vehicle is traveling at speed. Other details include carefully styled A-pillars and side mirrors, a flush-fitting windshield, moonroof and side glass, and numerous other design details that all contribute to the low wind-noise characteristics of the 2017 MDX.

Wind-noise attenuation details also include components that are not visible. For instance, the MDX’s body sections are isolated using 22 clip-in foam inserts that expand during the baking cycles of the body painting process. This material reduces wind noise transmitted into the vehicle. The fin-type 2.7-inch high antenna used for AM/FM and SiriusXM® radio, AcuraLink and engine remote start, is positioned at the rear of the roof panel and is designed for low wind noise at speed.

Active Control Engine Mounts
The MDX has an Active Control Engine Mount system (ACM) that minimizes the effects of engine vibration as the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system switches between 3- and 6-cylinder modes. Special vibration sensors alert the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to direct ACM actuators — which are positioned at the front and rear of the engine — to cancel vibration. Additionally, an Active Sound Control system, operating through the vehicle’s stereo speakers, further reduces low-frequencies associated with 3-cylinder operation by producing a reverse-phase sound profile. See Powertrain and Interior sections for more information.