All-Electric Acura RSX Prototype Set to Debut During Monterey Car Week

Acura’s getting ready to roll out a second all-electric model and we’ll get a first look at what’s coming in concept form when the Japanese automaker rolls out the Acura RSX Prototype during Monterey Car Week later in August. Headlight.News has more on what will be Acura’s first EV totally engineered in-house.

After a long wait Acura rolled the ZDX battery-electric vehicle into U.S. showrooms early last year. Now, it’s getting ready to introduce a second EV and will offer a first glimpse in concept form later this month.

Unlike the original, all-electric model which was developed as part of a partnership with General Motors, the upcoming Acura RSX has been completely engineered in-house. And it will be the first model produced at the new EV Hub operated by its parent Honda in mid-Ohio.

While the model set to debut at Monterey Car week is officially called the Acura RSX Prototype, it will provide a close idea of what the production EV will be.

Going it alone

The RSX Prototype provides more than just a sneak peek at Acura’s next battery-electric vehicle.

To start with, it marks a significant shift in strategy by the luxury brand’s parent Honda Motor Co. Initially reluctant to enter the EV market, Honda chose to test the waters through an alliance with GM – a partnership that also included working together on autonomous vehicle technology and hydrogen fuel cells. Most of those efforts now are winding down, though production of the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX EVs will continue for at least a few more years.

Going forward, however, Honda and Acura will go it alone when it comes to developing – and manufacturing – EVs. We’ll see a new Honda model based on its edgy 0 Series debut next year. But the luxury brand will beat it to market by at least a few months with the Acura RSX.

What we know about the RSX

Acura first signals its intentions with the Performance EV Concept revealed in Monterey last year. A subsequent teaser image showed us another sporty design that moved to a more coupe-crossover shape. “The nameplate pays homage to the Acura RSX with its coupe-like silhouette,” Acura’s assistant vice president of national sales, Mike Langel, said in August 2024.

The automaker has since signaled the final design could stray significantly from that look, as well.

The latest teaser is shrouded in shadows, revealing only the low and aggressive nose of the RSX Prototype. But it’s expected to continue evolving into a more crossover-like design, albeit one that continues to pay homage to the original Acura RSX.

More Acura News

• Acura RSX to Return in All-Electric Crossover Form
• First Drive: Acura ZDX Type S
• First Look: 2026 Acura Integra

Range, power and more

For the moment, Acura continues to be mum when it comes to hard details about the drivetrain technology underpinning RSX – and shared with the production Honda 0-Series model to follow. But we’ve been able to pick up some details. To start with, we can expect several different configurations, including at least one high(er)-performance package.

At its most efficient, Honda reportedly is aiming for an EPA-rated 300 miles range. There have been reports that RSX will rely on a 400-volt electrical architecture which is somewhat surprising considering so many competitors, including GM, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and others, are upgrading to 800-volt systems permitting better performance and quicker charging – albeit while increasing production costs.

That said, Acura reportedly has engineered RSX to go from a 10% to 80% state-of-charge in as little as 15 minutes – which suggests it actually may have switched to 800-volt technology.

Meanwhile, as Headlight.News previously reported, RSX may become the first Acura to feature Honda’s ASIMO operating system which debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. It is supposed to bring Level 3 eyes-off-the-road automated driving to consumers.

As for production, the Acura RSX will be assembled at the new Honda EV Hub that brings together an assortment of manufacturing operations in mid-Ohio. Expect to see the new EV reach showrooms next year.