Acura is making a big statement in the electric vehicle market, and it’s doing so with a familiar yet unexpected name—RSX. The brand has officially revealed the Acura RSX Prototype, a sleek electric SUV that represents not just a new model, but a new era for the company.

If you’ve been following the auto industry, you’ve probably seen some well-known names reimagined for the EV and SUV age. The Mitsubishi Eclipse became a crossover. The Ford Mustang got an electric Mach-E version. Chevrolet’s Blazer came back as both a gas-powered and electric SUV. Now, Acura is following the trend—but with a twist.

Before die-hard RSX fans get upset, there’s more to the story.

From Concept to Production Reality

The RSX Prototype takes its design inspiration from the Acura Performance EV concept, first shown to the public last year. Unlike Acura’s current ZDX EV, which shares much of its DNA with the Chevrolet Blazer EV, the RSX will be Acura and Honda’s first in-house-designed, developed, and built battery-electric vehicle.

That’s a major milestone for the brand, and it comes with several other firsts:

• First EV built at Honda’s EV Hub in Ohio – a facility that also produces the Acura Integra.
• First model to use Honda’s new global EV platform – designed for flexibility and high performance.
• First production vehicle to feature Honda’s Asimo operating system – handling infotainment, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and driver personalization.

Design: Sporty Yet Practical

In person, the RSX Prototype is about the size of Acura’s RDX compact SUV, but with a more dynamic, coupe-like profile. Acura’s designers have taken inspiration from performance cars, giving it flowing body lines that some say resemble the Ferrari Purosangue.

The prototype shown was painted in Propulsion Yellow Pearl, a color that immediately catches the eye. Up front, it wears the brand’s bold “beak” grille design, while at the rear, the Acura name is spelled out in a modern font—replacing the usual A-shaped logo.

Interestingly, despite being built on a skateboard-style EV platform, Acura hasn’t confirmed whether the RSX will include a front trunk (frunk).

Performance Hardware We Already Know

While the full performance specs are still under wraps, Acura has revealed some mechanical details:

• Double A-arm front suspension for sharp, sporty handling.
• Brembo brakes with bright red calipers.
• Dual-motor all-wheel drive is standard on all models.
• 21-inch wheels, which look great but may impact ride comfort—something we’ll only know for sure after test drives.

The RSX will also include bi-directional charging capability, meaning it can not only take in power but also send it back out—enough to run household appliances or even help power a home during an outage.

Charging will be made easier thanks to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug—originally the Tesla connector—making it compatible with a growing network of fast-charging stations.

Interior and Range Still a Mystery

Since this unveiling was focused on the exterior, Acura has not yet shown the interior design or shared the official driving range, battery size, or acceleration times. However, based on Acura’s promise of performance, we expect it to deliver a more engaging driving experience than the ZDX.

Why the RSX Name?

The “RSX” badge might surprise some enthusiasts. In the early 2000s, the RSX was Acura’s sporty two-door coupe, essentially replacing the Integra coupe in North America. It lasted for only one generation and never achieved the same legendary status as the Integra.

With the Integra name already brought back for a successful new sedan, Acura saw an opportunity to revive RSX—this time in line with its SUV naming style (think MDX, RDX, ZDX).

As one Acura insider hinted, it’s better to see the RSX reborn as an electric SUV than to watch the Integra name attached to one.

Type S Possibilities

When asked about a high-performance RSX Type S, Acura kept quiet. But considering the brand already offers performance-focused versions of the MDX and ZDX, a sportier RSX Type S seems like a natural next step. With EVs, boosting power is often easier than with gas engines, so this could be a strong possibility down the road.

Acura’s True EV Beginning

While the ZDX marked Acura’s first step into the EV market, it was essentially a rebadged Chevy Blazer EV. The RSX, on the other hand, will be Acura’s own design from the ground up, making it the company’s true EV launch in terms of engineering and brand identity.

Launch Timeline

The production version of the Acura RSX is set to debut in the second half of next year. If Acura delivers on its promise of sportiness, technology, and style, the RSX could be the brand’s most important SUV launch in years—electric or otherwise.

Bottom Line: The Acura RSX Prototype is more than just a familiar name—the brand declares that it’s ready to take electric performance seriously. While questions remain about the interior, driving range, and final price, one thing is certain: Acura is aiming to make the RSX the EV that finally captures the brand’s sporty spirit in electric form.

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