Acura’s RSX prototype is a taste of what’s to come with Honda Zero
Acura is bringing back the RSX sedan as a premium, dramatic-looking, all-wheel drive electric crossover that’s also the first model engineered in-house on Honda’s new global EV Platform. This is the same platform that will eventually underpin the automaker’s Zero series, which is expected to go into production next year along with the RSX. So suffice it to say, the resurrected RSX is a big deal for Acura and its parent company.
The RSX Prototype is making its global debut this week at two Monterey Car Week events: The Quail Motorsports Gathering and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Acura says it will assemble the RSX at Honda’s EV Hub in Ohio, on same production line as Acura Integra, starting in the second half of 2026.
When it arrives, the all-electric SUV will help kick off what Honda anticipates will be a new era of software-defined vehicles. That’s because the RSK will debut the proprietary, in-house-developed Asimo operating system that Honda announced CES earlier this year. Asimo will control the vehicle’s core functions and receive updates over the air, so it theoretically can improve over time. Asimo will also underpin the automaker’s new Honda Zero vehicles, with the first being the Honda 0 SUV. So far, Acura’s only EV in the market is the ZDX, which, like Honda’s Prologue, is built on GM’s Ultium EV platform.
The RSX Prototype is based on the Performance EV concept that was revealed at last year’s Monterey Car Week. The Prototype retains a lot of the sharp angles that gave the concept an almost boat-like appearance. But while it certainly isn’t as wild-looking as the concept, the Prototype’s front end is assertive and in your face, with slit-like daytime running lights that offset the Acura logo in the middle. Acura says that the full-width rear taillight are meant as a homage to the second generation NSX, complemented by a new “ACURA” logo splashed across the tailgate. (In other NSX news, Honda has said to expect a new “NSX-type” electric sports car in the works for 2027 or 2028.)
Acura isn’t releasing any of the key specs yet, which makes sense since this is still just a prototype. So we’ll have to wait a little longer to learn about the range, battery size, acceleration, and price. The Prototype rides on multi-spoke 21-inch rims, with the bright red calipers of the large front Brembo brakes peaking through. A coupe-like silhouette and a fastback roofline is sure to be an indication of impressive performance capabilities.
In another first for Acura and Honda, the RSX Prototype can serve as a mobile energy unit that can power other appliances, including a whole house. Bidirectional charging is increasingly becoming a highly sought after feature in new EVs, so Acura is trying to get ahead of that trend with the RSX.