Acura Rsx Prototype Is A Close Look At The Sporty Electric Suv That Will Be Made In Ohio Starting Next Year

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Honda's first existent effort astatine an electrical conveyance for nan U.S. is the Prologue, a compact crossover based on General Motors' Ultium level (there's besides an Acura version, nan ZDX). Despite underwhelming specs and sedate styling, nan Prologue has been a beautiful large hit, particularly acknowledgment to some slayer deals. Still, arsenic nan Prologue isn't really a Honda, it doesn't really entreaty to group successful nan aforesaid measurement that nan Japanese automakers different models do. Luckily Honda is moving connected its ain made-in-the-U.S. EV platform that should connection amended capacity and ratio and much Honda-like driving and styling characteristics, and nan first exemplary to usage it will beryllium the caller Acura RSX.

Initially previewed by nan Performance EV conception that debuted astatine Monterey Car Week past year, astatine this year's Car Week that's presently underway Acura conscionable revealed nan RSX Prototype. In Honda parlance, that intends what you spot present is fundamentally 98% of what nan accumulation RSX creation will look for illustration — conscionable adhd connected existent broadside mirrors, somewhat tweak nan diffuser and beforehand bumper, and this is it. In fact, judging by nan rear three-quarter image of a camouflaged RSX that Acura released earlier this year, each of nan Prototype's assemblage panels, lights, model solid and exterior trim pieces are identical to nan existent thing. I sewage to cheque retired nan RSX Prototype successful a workplace a fewer weeks ago, and I deliberation it looks very, very good.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Acura hasn't fixed dimensions, but it seems to beryllium astir nan aforesaid magnitude arsenic a CR-V — for reference, nan wheels are 21 inches, while nan accumulation car teaser (below) is connected 20s. It has a dramatically sloping coupe roofline that useful rather well, reasonably short beforehand and rear overhangs, a shark-like chemoreceptor and a salient ducktail spoiler edge. As Honda talked astir pinch its 0 Series prototypes, nan caller level will person a attraction connected lightness and thinness, some successful position of existent wide and ocular mass. Unlike galore different existent EVs wherever you tin evidently show that there's a large fat artillery battalion successful there, nan RSX doesn't transportation a batch of ocular wide successful its little midsection aliases beneath nan sills. It has an diversion stance, nicely sculpted rear haunches and subtly widened fender flares.

Acura

Acura heard each of you whining astir really you don't for illustration erstwhile EVs person clone grilles, truthful nan RSX's beforehand extremity doesn't moreover effort to mimic an soul combustion car. The starring separator comes to a crisp constituent for illustration nan prow of a boat, pinch that style forming nan apical separator of nan intake successful nan bumper. The abstracted precocious daytime moving lights retain Acura's "chicane" ray signature, while nan main headlights are successful nan triangular housings beneath that besides person functional aerial curtains to cool nan beforehand brakes. It doesn't look for illustration nan boomerang constituent successful nan beforehand doors is an existent aerial vent, but nan ones successful nan rear bumper are besides functional. Otherwise, location isn't excessively overmuch unnecessary surfacing aliases ornamentation here, which is simply a bully thing. One new-for-Acura item is connected nan liftgate, wherever Acura is written retired successful book utilizing a caller font beneath nan NSX-inspired taillight bar. Hopefully nan Propulsion Yellow Pearl overgarment will make it to production, too.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

The RSX Prototype's windows are each blacked out, arsenic this is conscionable a rolling exemplary pinch nary interior. We don't really cognize what to expect from nan RSX's cabin, but hopefully it'll present a caller interior creation language. Acura does opportunity that nan RSX will usage nan ASIMO OS infotainment strategy that debuted astatine CES earlier this year, which will make this nan brand's first existent software-defined model. The operating system will "provide integrated guidance of physics power units for automated driving and precocious driver assistance systems, in-vehicle infotainment and different conveyance systems," Acura says, and it'll characteristic over-the-air updates.

Acura says nan ASIMO OS will study nan owner's driving style and preferences for things for illustration euphony and ambiance power to make nan personification acquisition moreover much personalized. There will beryllium a bunch of different apps and connected services available, and astatine slightest successful nan 0 Series prototypes nan strategy looks much nicer and little outdated than immoderate package we've seen from Honda. Unlike connected GM's Ultium cars, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will surely beryllium offered, arsenic well.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Honda hasn't fixed its caller level a sanction yet, conscionable calling it nan "global EV platform," and we don't cognize immoderate capacity specs either. But nan institution says nan RSX will travel modular pinch an electrical centrifugal astatine each axle, Brembo brakes and a "sport-tuned" double wishbone beforehand suspension. Its artillery battalion will person vehicle-to-load capabilities to powerfulness appliances and enactment arsenic a backup generator for your house, too. Acura promises nan RSX will "deliver a nosy to thrust and engaging driving experience."

The RSX will beryllium produced astatine Honda's "EV Hub" successful Marysville, Ohio, connected nan aforesaid accumulation statement arsenic nan Acura Integra, Honda Accord, and upcoming Afeela 1. The institution is investing complete $1 cardinal successful making nan works fresh to nutrient next-gen EVs alongside new hybrids and internal-combustion vehicles, and it says nan RSX will beryllium made "using home and globally made parts." Acura says nan RSX will spell connected waste successful nan 2nd half of 2026, truthful expect nan accumulation car to debut a fewer months beforehand.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

I already cognize that a bunch of you are gonna beryllium up successful arms astir the RSX sanction being reused connected a four-door electrical crossover. But do you really, really care? And will nan mean user care? I don't deliberation so. Acura only sold astir 130,000 of the RSX successful its six years connected waste successful nan U.S., only hardly cresting nan 30,000-per-year people once, successful 2002. Most of nan RSX that were sold successful nan U.S. were beautiful normal ones, too. Sure, it was a great-looking two-door liftback coupe pinch an disposable manual, but it's still conscionable a regular car — successful nan aforesaid measurement that nan Integra, which nan RSX was called successful different markets, was typically conscionable a normal car contempt our fondness for nan chaotic Type R.

It conscionable doesn't look apt that personification will beryllium put disconnected from buying nan caller RSX because of its name, and their memories of nan original, particularly if they're personification looking to bargain an electrical crossover successful nan first place. Everyone was truthful furious astir nan Ford Mustang Mach-E utilizing nan Mustang name, but existent buyers didn't care, and nan car has been a beautiful large success. Acura surely picked nan RSX sanction for this caller crossover astatine slightest partially because it wouldn't request to trademark aliases marketplace thing wholly new, but I do deliberation it fits this car's mission. It whitethorn beryllium a four-door electrical SUV, but it's sewage sleek styling and an outwardly sporty intent. Plus, location surely will beryllium a performance-oriented Type S model.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik