Acura RSX Prototype Up Close: The Most Important Acura in Years
The Acura RSX is back … well, almost back. The brand revealed the second-generation RSX in prototype form, appearing both near-production and glaringly yellow, and promised that the full production RSX will break cover later this year or early in 2026. Of course, with this being a preview for one of the more stylish and dramatic vehicles in Acura’s lineup, the brand chose the ever-excessive The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, Calif., for the prototype’s debut — but not before I got some quality in-person studio preview time.
Related: Acura to Reveal All-Electric RSX SUV Prototype at Monterey Car Week
A More Aggressive Electric ADX
Lucky me, and if you plan on entering the premium electric compact SUV market soon, lucky you. Though I’d love to herald the return of Acura’s legendary mid-2000s sport compact coupe, the new RSX is very much electric and very much a crossover. It’s a sharp-looking thing, both literally and figuratively; all the hallmarks of modern Acura design are here, including dramatic angulation, razor-sharp angles and an evolution of the familiar Acura “beak.”
It is, predictably, a proto-production translation of the Acura Performance EV Concept that was also debuted at The Quail. Whereas that was a lifted “coupe” with exaggerated proportions, the RSX Prototype offers a clear view of a standard crossover liftback, albeit one with a profile leaning more toward fastback than an upright SUV, especially with the prototype’s contrasting gloss-black roof. Think ADX, only more aggressive and entirely electric.
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Still Some Unknowns, But It Will Be Important
In terms of hard figures and specs, we’re not there yet, nor are we privy to what the interior might look like, as the concept’s windows were completely opaque. From a hardware perspective, expect certain trims of the forthcoming RSX (likely a performance-oriented Type S configuration) to present as the prototype does with its large 21-inch wheels and Brembo brake calipers. Acura also confirmed the prototype hides a double-wishbone front suspension and dual electric motors, so expect it to be requisitely quick both in a straight line and on its feet.
When it does reach production, the RSX will be one of the most important Acura vehicles of the past decade, as this will be the first production vehicle built on Honda’s proprietary, in-house dedicated electric platform (Acura is Honda’s luxury brand). It will also be the first to incorporate the brand’s new ASIMO operating system, a digital architecture and user interface that will “accelerate Acura into the software-defined vehicle era.” In other words, I hope you love touch controls and hate physical buttons.
The RSX Prototype is an interesting preview of what’s to come, especially as Honda’s first true homegrown EV. I’ll reserve full judgment and summation for the real-deal production vehicle, but this is a tasty (and very, very yellow) amuse-bouche.
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