Acura MDX Type S Dropped Over Emissions RulesAutoGuide.comMarcus LewinskyThu, September 17, 2026 at 10:02 PM UTCAdd us on Googleacura mdx type s dropped over emissions rulesAcura will halt production of the MDX Type S after the 2026 model year, ending the top performance trim of its mid-size luxury crossover as tighter federal emissions standards loom. The standard MDX stays.The decision stems from uncertainty surrounding the U.S. EPA's new emissions regulations set to take effect in 2027, according to Automotive News. The Type S is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that appears nowhere else in Honda or Acura's current portfolio, while the standard MDX relies on a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6. That singular status makes it an easy cut. As the regulatory picture shifts, an engine with no economies of scale elsewhere in the lineup becomes hard to justify.The MDX Type S joins a growing list of Acura models exiting the lineup. The brand has recently discontinued the TLX sedan, the ZDX electric SUV, and the manual-transmission version of the Integra. The portfolio is noticeably thinner than it was a year ago.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat Integra stick-shift model was also axed as a result of upcoming emissions rules, as well as the Civic Si.Rather than let the Type S nameplate's identity vanish entirely, an Acura spokesperson said the automaker would extend some of the model's "features and styling" to the rest of the MDX range. That points to revisions coming to the standard MDX. The company has not detailed what those changes will involve, and Acura says specifics on the 2027 MDX will arrive later this year.The current-generation MDX has been on sale since the 2022 model year, and the Type S variant arrived alongside it at the generation's debut. Buyers still interested in the performance trim have time to act, as Acura expects to keep 2026 MDX inventory available for a while. Several hundred new Type S examples remain in stock across dealer listings.The pause underscores how the pending EPA framework is already reshaping product decisions ahead of its 2027 start date. Low-volume, high-output variants built on standalone engines are the first to go. Further details on the next MDX are expected before the end of the year.