2006 Acura MDX Concept

The first iteration of the Acura MDX–an SUV equally utilitarian and reliable–competed with the Mercedes-Benz ML and the Lexus RX300, but the newest generation of the MDX aims straight at the BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne. Cargo capacity and off-road capability are no longer the key metrics when contesting market share with those lithe Germans. To instill the same level of driving excitement in the MDX as is found in its new competitors, Acura’s engineers headed to Germany’s Nurburgring, which is prized for its ability to expose chinks in a car’s driving dynamics.