Acura has confirmed that its hottest SUV, the high-performance Type S trim of the mid-size MDX, will go on hiatus after the 2026 model year. First reported by Automotive News, the MDX Type S is taking a production pause because the automaker is unsure what the EPA’s new U.S. emissions regulations, scheduled to go into effect in 2027, will look like. The automaker did not confirm that this is the real reason, nor did it give any indication of when it expects the Type S to return, but it’s safe to assume that nothing will be decided before those new emissions rules, which are also said to be the reason for dropping the manual-transmission Integra A-Spec and the manual Civic Si for 2027, are made final.
Acura MDX Lineup to Get Type S-like Treatment
Cole Attisha/Autoblog
Acura spokesperson Andrew Quillin told AutoNews that dealerships should have enough inventory to last through early 2027, adding that the brand plans “to apply many of the premium Type S features and styling [elements] to the other trims in the MDX lineup.” Presumably, the base MDX and MDX Technology (with or without all-wheel drive) will probably miss out, while the A-Spec, Advance, and A-Spec Advance will get a little fancier and a little sportier. However, it’ll be hard to make up for the loss of the Type S Advance’s 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, which makes 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. The Type S Advance also features adaptive air suspension that can be raised and lowered, four-piston Brembo front brakes and 21-inch wheels, and Type S-specific drive modes, while the cabin gets a 31-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Which of these features will be sprinkled where remains to be seen, but with non-Type S MDX SUVs featuring a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that makes just 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, any added sportiness in the styling department may feel a little cheesy.
Why Acura Is Putting the MDX Type S on Ice
Kristen Brown/Autoblog
The Environmental Protection Agency finalized new Tier 4 criteria pollutant standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles in March 2024, and they go into effect for 2027 model year vehicles. While the EPA has proposed moving the Tier 4 phase-in to 2029, existing Tier 3 requirements will remain in place for 2027 and 2028, and while they’re certainly not impossible to meet, the MDX Type S’s turbocharged V6 isn’t offered in any other Acura product. Therefore, meeting average emissions values across the brand’s U.S. lineup may be more costly and difficult with the standalone engine in the range. It’s also worth mentioning that Tier 4 rules, which may not move, have stricter onboard diagnostic software requirements, and the 3.0-liter would certainly require specific attention. If the EPA decides to delay the new rules until 2029, Acura will probably bring the turbocharged engine back to the MDX lineup, but until the feds figure out what they want to do, the brand is effectively being held hostage by bureaucracy.
