Nearly five years worth of design, development and manufacturing preparations have taken shape behind-the-scenes by local Honda of America associates to pave the way for the official production that begins today of Acura’s new flagship vehicle – the 2022 MDX — to be exclusively manufactured at the East Liberty Auto Plant.
With associates previously counting down the months and then the days until the Jan. 12, 2021, launch, it is a day to celebrate for the entire team involved, from the drawing board to the production line, where the three-row luxury sport utility vehicle is produced on an all-new light truck platform. It will begin arriving at Acura dealerships Feb. 2 and has a starting retail value of $46,900.
“Our associates at the East Liberty Auto Plant are incredibly excited to showcase their expertise in craftsmanship and quality as they begin mass production of Acura’s new flagship model, the 2022 MDX,” East Liberty Plant General Manager Jun Jayaraman said.
“Our team has been incredible in the amount of effort that has been put forth — they have stepped it up in every way to achieve this milestone of producing the flagship vehicle,” said Bill Ramsey, Acura MDX engineering project leader, who delayed his retirement until March so that he could be a part of the launch this month.
The last full model release of the MDX was in 2012, with production at that time being launched at Honda Mfg. of Alabama. The East Liberty Plant began production of the MDX in 2017, and now all of the new Acura models are built in Central Ohio, either at ELP or at the Marysville Auto Plant, furthering Acura’s legacy in the state that began 25 years ago.
With the full-scale redesign of the 2022 MDX, part of the challenge was analyzing how to reinvent a vehicle that had experienced much success. Over the past 20 years across three generations of development, the MDX had established itself as America’s all-time best-selling SUV, with sales of over one million, company officials said.
“To fulfill its new role as the flagship model of the Acura brand, we had a clear focus on taking MDX to a higher level, a true revolution, that would evoke passion, excitement and emotion like never before,” said Tom Nguyen, global development leader of the MDX.
Nguyen of Honda R&D Americas and Ramsey of Honda of America Mfg. explained Monday that a pivotal stage in the planning period for the fourth generation vehicle began about five years ago at a conference in Mammoth Lake, Calif., where staff were joined together from research and development, sales and manufacturing.
Relationships built at that conference provided an ease of communication between the divisions as development continued for the new MDX.
“We could give each other feedback and be in contact throughout the entire process. Those relationship-building efforts now show in our flagship vehicle,” said Bellefontaine area resident Ramsey, a 1979 Benjamin Logan High School graduate who will retire after 35 years at Honda.
“It’s one thing for our engineers to dream up the ‘perfect car,’ but we have to make sure that car can be manufactured in a real manufacturing environment,” Nguyen said. “We were very cognizant of that from the very beginning.
“We wanted to develop a vehicle that the associates at the East Liberty Plant could build with confidence. That effect on our associates then transfers to a positive response for our customers as well.”
To prepare production associates for the manufacturing processes of the 2022 MDX, a new virtual training tool also was implemented for the first time at ELP, said Joey Sippel, Honda of America Assembly Department New Model Unit manager.
As of Monday, 1,500 associates at the plant have been trained on the virtual program and 8,000 runs of the training platform have been completed.
The program offers step-by-step visual prompts for every aspect of the new model build and four levels for associates to work through. By the time participants reach the fourth level, many of the previous hints disappear and associates have to memorize much of the process.
“In attempt to build that perfect car, every car, our first customer is our associates,” training director Sippel said. “Our interactive training has been a wonderful tool to increase our engagement and to make it more exciting for our associates.
“The tool also has a feedback option, so that if associates see a process that could use some tweaks or changes, they can enter their feedback and it gives them a voice on the floor that is so valuable to us.”
Another unique facet in the production of the 2022 MDX is that it is the first model launched exclusively on East Liberty Auto Plant’s new 5,000-ton servo (stamping) press, which allows for sharper sculpting of the hood and body panels while forming steel and increased amounts of aluminum.
Officials related that the new model’s ultra-rigid body is stiffer in every measure, created using a high-accuracy body weld process and new high-performance adhesive. It enables the MDX’s finely tuned ride and handling qualities, as well as a quiet and more comfortable cabin.
While underpinned on the all-new light truck platform, this manufacturing technology provides more athletic handling performance, refined ride comfort, exceptional cabin quietness and improved collision protection.
“Like anyone who has bought a house knows, the foundation is so important,” Nguyen said. “With this high-accuracy body, we are able to execute a flawless fit and finish.
“My focus has been making sure that this vehicle is effortless and easy to drive, and while at speed, gives the driver confidence, safety and security.”
The Honda R&D Americas associate said the interior of the vehicle features Milano leather seats and metal accents, and all of the latest infotainment and technology options, including a wireless charging port by the driver’s seat.
Production associates at the company’s state-of-the-art engine plant in Anna will build the 3.5-liter V6 engine for the new MDX as well as the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that will power the Type S high performance variant, set to arrive in the summer.