Acura ups the tech ante with latest MDX CUV - Chron.com
Acura showed it paid attention when it introduced the third-generation MDX as a 2014 model. Controls weren't as fussy, the rear seats stowed flat and the second-row seat was given about a half-foot of back and forth travel to increase the legroom for second-row passengers and make accessing the small third row a bit easier. The 2016 MDX, which arrived in February, may look identical to the 2015 but there are new features and packaging that savvy shoppers should be aware of. In the hardware department, the six-speed automatic transmission is gone. Taking its place is a nine-speed auto that Acura says is 66 pounds lighter and shifts 25 percent quicker. In its place are two selector switches: one for park, neutral and drive and one dedicated to reverse. Oddly enough, even though four of its speeds are overdrive ratios, the nine-speed transmission apparently does nothing for fuel economy ratings this time around. 2016 MDX buyers who opt for all-wheel-drive will benefit from the latest SH-AWD system (Acura shorthand for "Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive"). Thanks to a new twin-clutch rear differential that's 25 percent lighter, torque is not just distributed front to rear but between left and right wheels to improve cornering and stability. Source: www.chron.com
