American Honda shared its 2025 business outlook at a recent press conference with the media. In terms of electrification, the next 12 months for Honda will be pretty much the same: a facelift of tried-and-true ICE models like the CR-V and Passport. However, there was some interesting news from Honda related to the BEV: the automaker showed that it will begin U. S. production of an Acura RSX EV.
Honda and its premium sub-brand Acura, for that matter, are getting more and more coverage on Electrek’s homepage thanks to the combined efforts in adding new BEV models… although that transition has still been relatively slow compared to other OEMs.
However, Honda introduced the all-electric Prologue, which quickly became a hit with American consumers. Soon after, Acura introduced the ZDX, which is based on the same Ultium platform as the Prologue, provided through a partnership with GM.
While we await the arrival of those Honda BEVs, we can expect to see a new Acura model hit the market first, based on an SUV called the Performance EV Concept, which debuted at Monterey Car Week this past August. At the time, the Acura Design Studio described the concept as “the evolution of Acura’s performance-focused design direction and the brand’s next all-electric model.”
This new production style hasn’t had a call yet, but we’ve learned it will be the first BEV to ride on Honda’s new custom platform and the first all-electric style to roll off its production lines. meeting at the new Honda EV Hub in Marysville. Ohio Matrix.
Today we learned that the Performance EV concept has a full passenger style with a familiar name: Acura RSX EV.
During a press conference earlier this week, American Honda shared its outlook for 2025, via vice president of sales Lance Woelfer. This year’s strategy includes generating its first original BEV in Ohio and globally sourced portions, such as a new hybrid style and several ICE vehicles (boo).
Woelfer demonstrated that the first custom-built all-electric model coming out of Ohio will be the Acura RSX EV. The move marks the return of a notable nameplate to the Acura lineup, originating from the original Honda Integra. The Acura RSX was sold in North America from the early to mid-2000s and still has a decent fan base, especially among Honda Integra enthusiasts and Japanese domestic market (JDM) enthusiasts.
Acura revived the Integra nameplate in 2021 as a liftback based on the Honda Civic, and while that styling is sharp, it’s still combustion-powered, which is why Acura revived the RSX designation as an EV style. By Mike Langel, Assistant Vice President, Acura National Sales.
The nameplate will pay homage to the Acura RSX with its coupe silhouette, but it actually represents a forward-thinking strategy for fun-to-drive performance. Our all-electric SUV moment will solidify our EV credentials, even as its ICE peers, the all-new ADX, RDX, MDX, TLX and Integra, continue to attract new buyers to the Acura brand.
The Acura RSX EV, seen in unique camouflage above, looks pretty stylish, but I hope Integra and RSX purists dismiss this new look out of hand because it’s undeniably an SUV, not a sporty compact like the vehicles. in question. the name of. It reminds me of the days when Ford brought out the Mustang Mach-E and logo loyalists said, “It’s not a Mustang. ” Like the Mach-E, the Acura RSX EV represents a new generation of functional styling, no matter what you call it.
The new SUV also represents a milestone for Honda and its premium brand, as the Acura RSX EV will be the first style to use Honda’s new EV platform and its new ASIMO OS operating formula showcased at CES 2025. At the time, Honda stated ASIMO will constantly update its in-car software through over-the-air (OTA) updates for virtual UX and built-in dynamic controls that will allow the automaker to offer “a personalized ownership experience that will deliver the pleasure of driving. “
Acura says the RSX EV is slotted to begin development testing in real-world conditions this week ahead of planned production in Ohio later this year. We plan to visit Honda’s EV Hub later this month, so perhaps we can capture some images of where this new SUV will be built or, better yet, look at the prototype up close.