New MDX soon?

Honda will unveil, at least in concept form, an all-new version of its MDX premium all-terrainer at the April 14-23 New York International Auto Show.

Due to be displayed under its upmarket Acura brand (the vehicle wears Acura badges in the US), the new model will replace the slab-sided wagon that has been on sale here since 2002. The only images released for now are these sketches -- and they indicate that the newcomer will have a somewhat sleeker, more tapered profile than the current MDX.

The Japanese marque also plans to use the New York show to whip the covers off its RDX compact SUV, which will be pitched squarely against Mazda’s imminent CX-7.

The production vehicle isn’t likely to differ dramatically from the concept version revealed earlier this year at the Detroit motor show.

Honda says the RDX will be powered by a new 2.3-litre turbocharged engine (just like the imminent Mazda CX-7 -- what a coincidence!) and use the acclaimed Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system that debuted in the latest Legend sedan.

The manufacturer claims the RDX combines “sport-utility function with sports sedan handling and performance”. We’ve heard similar boasts before, so we’ll believe it when we drive it. The RDX launches in the US around mid-year, and we may see it locally in 2007.

Meanwhile, the all-new MDX is expected to embrace a similar theme to its predecessor. It’s designed, developed and manufactured in North America -- as per the current model -- so rest assured it won’t be a minnow.

No word as yet on technical spec, but it’s reasonable to assume that the new model will continue to use a 3.5-litre V6 -- albeit possibly with a few tweaks to boost power and economy.

Standard features will include Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) technology -- essentially an active cruise control system, a la Mercedes-Benz Distronic.

Although the premium SUV segment has enjoyed phenomenal growth in Australia over the past few years, the MDX hasn’t been one of the big winners. Just 829 examples were sold last year, compared with 3225 sales for the segment-leading BMW X5. So the new model clearly has some ground to make up…