The Acura MDX will go ahead, but its more powerful version will pause. The brand has confirmed that the MDX Type S will stop production at the end of the model year 2026 and, for now, there is no defined date for its return.
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The decision puts one of Acura’s most sporty products on hold and leaves the 3.0-litre turbo V6 out of the range by 2027.
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The uncertainty around future emission standards in the United States appears as one of the factors that complicate the continuity of this mechanical set.
The MDX Type S 2026 uses a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 that develops 355 horsepower and 354 pounds-foot torque. The engine works alongside a 10-speed automatic transmission and the SH-AWD all-wheel drive system.
The version also adds adaptive pneumatic suspension, Brembo four-piston front brakes and 21-inch wheels.
These are elements that will disappear from the Type S offer when production of the model 2026, although some features could be moved to other versions.
The situation is related to the EPA Tier 4 emission standards, implementation of which was planned for vehicles corresponding to the model year 2027. The agency proposed in May 2026 to delay that calendar until 2029, which keeps the regulatory scenario open.
For Acura, keeping an exclusive low-volume engine while defining what requirements it will have to meet in the coming years is a complicated scenario. That’s why the manufacturer has chosen to stop production of the Type S instead of committing to a new version by 2027.
Acura expects to have sufficient inventory to keep the MDX Type S on sale during the first months of 2027.
The company does not want to completely lose the sporting identity that this version brings. Andrew Quillin, a spokesman for Acura, said: “We plan to incorporate many of the features and exclusive design of the Type S version into the rest of the MDX range.”
The idea is to transfer part of the Type S’s equipment and design to other SUV variants, but that doesn’t mean that those models will automatically receive the 355 horsepower turbo V6.
For now, the MDX Type S is in pause and Acura keeps the door open to resume it when there is greater clarity on regulations.
