INTRODUCTION
The Acura MDX was the first product in an uncharted portion of the
market: a car-like, family-sized, luxury SUV. To venture beyond
current competitive offerings with a no-compromise design, a new
chassis was essential. Engineered to deliver the exhilarating driving
experience and the outstanding vehicle dynamics expected of Acura
products, MDX exceeds conventional SUV chassis design standards by a
wide margin.
Key design elements selected to meet ambitious driving dynamics goals are as follows:
- Extra-wide track dimensions
- Short wheelbase for agility
- Rubber-isolated front and rear subframes
- Independent front and rear suspension systems with car-like geometry and long wheel travel for sporty handling and a comfortable ride
- 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels
- All-season, radial tires with silica tread compound for excellent traction and fuel economy
- Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS and electronic distribution
- Torque sensing rack-and-pinion power steering
FRONT SUSPENSION
MDX has a wide track - 66.3-inches front, 66.5-inches rear -to
optimize handling precision, stability, and ride comfort. The
strut-type front suspension provides a generous 7.3 inches of wheel
travel (4.3-inches in compression, 3.0-inches in rebound) with a
moderate spring rate and relatively firm damping. Separate load paths
to the unit body are provided for the coil spring and the shock
absorber to facilitate tuning out road noise. A solid 0.9-inch
stabilizer bar is linked directly to the strut via ball-joint
connections to resist body roll during cornering maneuvers. The small
0.04-inch scrub radius designed into the front suspension is unusual
for SUVs but this feature gives the MDX car-like steering response
and handling that's consistent and predictable in on- and off-road
situations. Accelerating or hard braking with uneven traction
underfoot does not cause MDX to drift off line as is the case with
many SUVs.
A low roll center (6.2-inches above the ground) further improves MDX's handling. The lower control arm bushings are designed to provide a stabilizing toe-out steering effect when loaded during braking or cornering. The L-shaped arm allows a very tight steering lock for good low-speed maneuverability. In fact, the Acura MDX's turn-circle diameter is a modest 37.2 feet, some four feet tighter than the Lexus RX 300's turning circle.
FRONT SUBFRAME AND MOUNTING SYSTEMS
The MDX's engine, transaxle, transfer case, steering gear, and front
suspension are all supported by a welded-steel subframe secured to
the unit body's longitudinal rails through four tuned rubber
isolation mounts. The front of the subframe assembly is tubular for
maximum stiffness with minimal weight. A stiffener located under each
subframe attachment fastener helps stabilize the assembly, thereby
sharpening handling and braking performance. A stiffener plate bolted
across the subframe under the transfer case greatly increases the
assembly's rigidity. Two dynamic and one mass damper are positioned
to counteract noise and vibration, while two fluid-filled engine
mounts quell vibration at idle and isolate powertrain NVH from the
passenger compartment. The steering gear mounts are made of
heat-resistant rubber to provide good vibration isolation, the firm
retention necessary for sensitive on-center-steering feel, and
life-of-the-vehicle durability.
POWER RACK-AND-PINION STEERING
MDX's steering system is tuned for quick, linear, car-like response
and sensitive feel - and the torque sensing, power steering assist is
high for parking maneuvers and low at highway speeds.
REAR SUSPENSION
The MDX's rear suspension is a compact, multi-link trailing arm
layout for excellent ride and handling, minimum weight, and optimum
packaging. Wheel travel is a generous 4.9 inches in compression and
3.3-inches in rebound. The three links that position each rear wheel
laterally run between the knuckle assembly and the subframe. A
trailing arm also runs from the unit body to each rear knuckle. Coil
springs seat on the lowermost lateral link and anchor against the
unit body directly behind each axle shaft. Shock absorbers,
positioned ahead of the drive shafts, run from a low point on each
knuckle to a secure attachment point on the unit body. Knuckles are
an "in-wheel" design to optimize suspension geometry and packaging
efficiency. Bushing compliance provides a modest toe-in effect in
response to substantial cornering and braking loads to enhance
dynamic stability. A solid 0.8-inch anti-roll bar helps keep the body
relatively flat during hard cornering. The rear roll center is
positioned at a 6.7-inch height to provide linear and predictable
behavior at the limit of adhesion. The results speak for themselves,
as MDX truly sets a new standard for ride and handling in the luxury
SUV category.
REAR SUBFRAME
Packaging of major components at the rear of the MDX is a major
engineering challenge. The rear subframe, which supports most of the
rear suspension and the rear axle drive unit, is made of
high-strength steel for high stiffness and minimal weight. The shape
of the rear subframe is equally important - it must accommodate the
drivetrain components for the VTM-4 four-wheel drive system, the
multi-link rear suspension pieces and still allow the versatility of
the third-row seat and flat cargo floor. For excellent ride and
handling characteristics, the subframe attaches to the unit body at
four widely spaced, rubber-isolated mounting points. Rear-suspension
components, especially the springs and shock absorbers, are as
compact as possible to facilitate a wide, flat load floor and to
leave room for both a spare tire and a full-size fuel tank. The rear
axle drive unit is mounted to the subframe by means of rubber
isolators to block road and powertrain noise and vibration from the
passenger compartment. A tuned dynamic damper attached to the drive
unit cancels propeller-shaft and drive-shaft vibration.
WHEELS AND TIRES
Two different die-cast aluminum wheels are offered for the MDX. Both
have 6.5-inch-wide by 17-inch diameter rims, a 45mm offset dimension,
and five-lug bolt pattern. Large openings in the wheels provide ample
brake-system ventilation. Tires supplied by Michelin and Goodyear are
both sized P235/65R-17 and carry an M+S (mud and snow) label and a T
(118 mph) speed rating. Both the tread and the carcass were designed
with computer-aided tools to achieve excellent ride comfort, low
noise and wear, and best-in-class all-weather performance. Tread
materials are compounded for excellent winter traction and include
silica for low rolling resistance. During cold weather engineering
tests, the MDX's tires consistently outperformed some of the most
highly rated snow tires on the market.
The compact spare tire is carried under the rear load floor and can be lowered by turning a hidden hex-head bolt with the provided lug-nut wrench. The hex-head bolt is located under a cover conveniently located in the rear hatch trim area. This arrangement guarantees the security of the spare and keeps it readily accessible without disturbing luggage or cargo carried onboard. Room is provided to stow a flat or a full-size spare in the compact spare's location. Corrosion and failure of spare tire retention equipment, a common problem in some competitor SUVs, is avoided by use of stainless steel and polymer materials eliminating high-mileage failure.
BRAKING SYSTEM
MDX is equipped with state-of-the-art, four-wheel disc brakes and a
Bosch 5.3 four-channel Anti-lock braking system. The brake system
hardware is tuned for quick response, low effort, and short pedal
travel. For optimum performance with widely varying loads - including
the possibility of towing - the MDX features an innovative Electronic
Brake Distribution system (EBD). At the rear, a select-low braking
strategy is used to preserve directional stability in slippery
driving. In the event one rear wheel verges on lock-up, triggering a
pressure modulation at that wheel, brake pressure is also diminished
at the adjoining wheel to preserve the rear axle's lateral stability.
Extra-large brake rotors and calipers provide the capacity necessary for short stopping distances and excellent fade resistance - even with a heavy load in tow - and the precise pedal feel expected of an Acura. The vented front rotors are 11.8-inches in diameter and 1.1-inches thick. Solid drum-in-disc rear rotors are 12.3-inches in diameter and 0.43-inch thick. A drum-type parking brake mechanism is positioned within the inner portion of the rear rotor. Parking brakes are both set and released by stepping on a pedal, freeing space in the console area. The tandem-type vacuum booster consists of two 9-inch diameter booster chambers.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
MDX brake components are large in capacity to help handle heavy loads
- both those carried on board and those towed behind. Front-to-rear
brake effort proportioning is electronically regulated. The Anti-lock
Braking System (ABS) has four sensing and activating channels to
detect a wheel on the verge of lock up. In the event this occurs,
brake pressure is held, then reduced, to permit that wheel to regain
traction before full braking resumes. A select-low strategy controls
the braking effort at both rear wheels as soon as one nears lock up
to safeguard lateral adhesion and to help avoid any tendency to spin
or fishtail during hard braking.
MDX's ABS is especially effective at maintaining a straight heading on split-friction surfaces where one track encounters snow or ice while the other rolls on dry pavement. The front suspension geometry has a very small scrub radius to help keep the MDX running true even when one front wheel is braking harder than the other because of uneven traction conditions.
TIRES
Low-profile Goodyear and Michelin radial tires provide outstanding
adhesion. During dry pavement handling tests, MDX demonstrates
significantly higher cornering grip than other luxury SUVs. As
cornering forces rise, understeer is mild and linearly progressive to
accentuate predictability. The power-assisted, rack-and-pinion
steering is tuned for on-center sensitivity and slack-free response.
Consistent with the desire to provide a rewarding driving experience,
MDX's overall steering performance is best-in-class.
FUEL SYSTEM
The 19.2-gallon, saddle-shaped fuel tank is molded of high-density
polyethylene for low weight, freedom from corrosion, and impact
resistance. It's positioned immediately ahead of the rear wheels and
over the propeller shaft to help guard against collision damage.
Corners of the tank are rounded and the inside of the tank is baffled
to diminish the likelihood of sloshing-fuel noise. The polyethylene
filler pipe and fuel lines are light, not susceptible to corrosion,
and resistant to fuel vapor losses. A high-efficiency fuel pump is
housed inside the fuel tank. The fuel-filter is a lifetime design
that never needs replacement.
MDX complies with all evaporative emissions, on-board diagnostics, and refueling vapor recovery requirements. The fuel vapor canister and filter are rubber mounted for noise isolation and protected against rock and debris damage by a deflection shield.
TOWING
The ability to haul pop-up campers, medium-sized boats, and
recreational vehicle trailers is high on the priority list for many
SUV owners. To understand this facet of the MDX's makeup, MDX
engineers polled focus groups and studied survey results that tapped
200,000 households. Their findings offered the insights needed to
properly outfit the MDX to surpass the towing expectations of most
customers. Engineers learned that roughly one third of the
six-cylinder-powered-SUV owners expect to tow something at one time
or another. In addition, 18-percent tow more than four times per
year. Approximately 10 percent of the miles accumulated on
six-cylinder SUVs are with a trailer in tow.
Another notable discovery was that many customers aren't particularly knowledgeable about towing technicalities. Terms like "gross axle weight" may be germane to the engineering process but such language can leave average customers in a state of bewilderment. This realization convinced engineers that customers' interests are best served by load ratings that are both realistic and easy to comprehend.
Ultimately, the engineers concluded that a casual or weekend towing capability was most appropriate for MDX. Customer feedback helped set the towing limit at 4500 pounds for boats and 3500 pounds for other types of trailers. A heavier load is acceptable with boats because their pointed bow shapes impose less aerodynamic drag on the towing vehicle than a slab-faced, square-cornered trailer.
Industry practice is to boast a high maximum tow rating, even though some sacrifice of passengers and cargo may be necessary to suitably accommodate such a trailer load - in some cases limiting the vehicle to one passenger to accommodate the maximum specified towing capacity. The Acura MDX's 3500/4500-pound rating is calculated to include up to four passengers and their cargo.
To help ensure that customers will be able to move a maximum rated load up a grade from rest (such as pulling a loaded boat trailer up a launch ramp), engineers sought out the most challenging entry roads and launch ramps in the country. Through testing, they verified that MDX proficiently handles the 17-degree (31-percent) grades on mountain roads approaching Lake Cumberland in southern Kentucky and the strenuous combination of 15-degree (27-percent) grades and 5280-foot elevation at Lake Tahoe. A note in MDX's owner's manual suggests reducing gross combined weight two-percent for every 1000 feet of elevation. At sea level, MDX can move a 4500-pound boat and four passengers up an 18-degree (32-percent) slope.
In support of safe towing, MDX's tow hitch and other hardware needed for the job are factory engineered for dealer installation. The dealer-installed trailer hitch is a Class III receiver-type design that bolts on with no drilling, cutting, or bumper-cover modifications. An external transmission cooler and a separate power-steering fluid cooler is also included along with a harness to provide electrical power to trailer lights plugs into a connector provided at the rear of the vehicle.