Honda revives sporty name from the past for first model on new EV platform
Instead of being a sporting-ish three-door coupe, the new RSX is a high-riding five-door SUV with an 'expressive coupe-like silhouette'.
Scheduled to make its in-the-flesh debut at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this weekend, the RSX Prototype is in true Honda fashion a very thinly disguised version of the production vehicle, with the wing mirror design likely the only change.
It will be the first production model based on Honda's new in-house EV platform, and will be manufactured in the company's Ohio factory. Sales of the new RSX will begin in the second half of 2026.
According to Acura, the production RSX will have a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, double wishbone front suspension, and Brembo brakes as standard. No word yet on outputs, performance figures, battery capacities, or range.
It will also feature the company's new Asimo OS that controls not only the infotainment system, but also driver assistance, autonomous driving, and basic hardware functions.
Likened to a smartphone operating system — not to mention OSes in other brands, such as Tesla and Rivian — Asimo OS supports over-the-air updates, high levels of driver customisation, connected services, and machine learning to adapt to the driver's entertainment and driving preferences.
The RSX is the second model name Acura has brought back from the dead for an electric SUV; the ZDX holds the honour of being the first.
While the second-generation ZDX stayed true to the coupe SUV silhouette of the original, it and the closely related Honda Prologue are actually Honda designs on top of GM's BEV3 platform. Both not only use GM's EV technology, but are built by the General.
Acura began mining its nameplate history in 2022 when it released the Integra liftback, basically a lightly restyled Honda Civic equipped with its most powerful engines.
Sold for just one generation from 2002, the original RSX (above) was a rebranded fourth-generation Integra. Unlike the Integra, which was available in both three- and five-door liftback guises, the RSX only ever came with three doors.
When it departed the scene in 2006, it became the last-ever non-NSX coupe from the brand, and ended the brand's opening era where it deliberately courted young enthusiasts.
The shift from Integra to RSX came at the tail end of the marque's dumping of its original model names: Legend for RL, Vigor for TL, and Integra for RSX. The shift to letters was reportedly due to a desire to focus owners' affections on the overall marque rather than individual models.
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The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Honda says it's no longer a ‘volume brand'
Honda says it's not a 'volume brand', but it's not using its upmarket status as a reason not to grow sales in Australia, where it says the CR-V has the potential to topple the Toyota RAV4 from its throne. The Japanese brand's local sales in the first seven months of 2025 have put Honda on target to sell more than 15,000 vehicles this year, which would would be its best result since adopting a controversial agency sales strategy in the middle of 2021, a year in which it sold 17,562 vehicles. But that's still a far cry from its pre-COVID days when it consistently sold more than 40,000 vehicles annually, including a peak of over 60,000 sales in 2007. While the switch to agency sales, which introduced fixed drive-away prices nationally and ownership of vehicles by Honda rather than its dealers, came with a lower annual sales forecast of around 18,000 vehicles, Honda Australia is still to reach that number. However, under the new leadership of CEO Jay Joseph and managing director Rob Thorp, both of whom took up their respective positions in April 2025, Honda says it has no intention to become a volume brand once again. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Honda. Click here to get a great deal. "We've earned this niche of not just being a mainstream brand that's just selling volume on price, but because of the inherent qualities and tech innate qualities of our products," Mr Joseph told CarExpert. "We've earned a spot where there are premium mainstream products. Honda is not trying to reposition itself as a volume brand – that is not our aspiration – but as far as the space we occupy here, we don't behave like a volume brand because we don't need to, because our value proposition is not just the product and not just the price, but it's how we take care of customers. "[But] Don't get me wrong – we have volume potential." Mr Joseph spoke of "aggressive" sales growth for the brand, but – while many auto brands including new Chinese entrants publicly state their sales forecasts and even their desired rank on the Australian sales charts – Honda will not. "We're not putting a number on it, but we're quite ambitious with our growth plan," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "We think we've got a current product portfolio, plus a range of models that we're able to bring to market that's going to give us the opportunity to extract more growth out of this brand, and particularly the growth I think it deserves. "It all comes down to our ability to execute on the quality of the product that we're going to have access to – that becomes the challenge in the current environment." Honda Australia currently sells only five models – the small Civic hatchback, the mid-size Accord sedan, and the HR-V small SUV and ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUVs – but it recently outlines a future product plan including the release of more hybrid powertrain options for its best-selling CR-V lineup to tackle the top-selling, hybrid-only Toyota RAV4. It also confirmed the born-again Honda Prelude sports car – with a hybrid powertrain – for Australian release in 2026, when it will also launch its first electric vehicle (EV). While Mr Thorp and Mr Joseph confirmed the company is keen on the Honda 0 Series range of EVs for Australia, they cautioned that the 0 Series (and the Prelude) won't be volume-sellers. Instead, the Honda Australia leadership team pointed to hybrid-powered mid-size SUVs, specifically the CR-V, as its biggest growth potential. "We know that the CR-V is the best vehicle in this segment – the CR-V hybrid is the absolute best vehicle in the segment in terms of driving performance and versatility, and the overall value proposition," Mr Joseph said. "When we look at how we take care of the customer after the sale – low-cost servicing, resale value – when you look at all of that together, aside from the fact it's the best driving vehicle in its segment… if it's the best vehicle in its segment, why wouldn't it be the best-selling vehicle in that segment? "I think that's the starting point. We look at those things and then if we can make the adjustments that can be the best-selling vehicle in the segment."That's our potential. That's how we look at that – and that's what we should achieve." To July this year the CR-V has notched up 3592 sales (down 11.2 per cent year-on-year), while the RAV4 – Toyota Australia's top-selling model and the nation's favourite SUV in 2024 – found 28,449 new homes (down 9.2 per cent). MORE: Explore the Honda showroom Content originally sourced from: Honda says it's not a 'volume brand', but it's not using its upmarket status as a reason not to grow sales in Australia, where it says the CR-V has the potential to topple the Toyota RAV4 from its throne. The Japanese brand's local sales in the first seven months of 2025 have put Honda on target to sell more than 15,000 vehicles this year, which would would be its best result since adopting a controversial agency sales strategy in the middle of 2021, a year in which it sold 17,562 vehicles. But that's still a far cry from its pre-COVID days when it consistently sold more than 40,000 vehicles annually, including a peak of over 60,000 sales in 2007. While the switch to agency sales, which introduced fixed drive-away prices nationally and ownership of vehicles by Honda rather than its dealers, came with a lower annual sales forecast of around 18,000 vehicles, Honda Australia is still to reach that number. However, under the new leadership of CEO Jay Joseph and managing director Rob Thorp, both of whom took up their respective positions in April 2025, Honda says it has no intention to become a volume brand once again. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Honda. Click here to get a great deal. "We've earned this niche of not just being a mainstream brand that's just selling volume on price, but because of the inherent qualities and tech innate qualities of our products," Mr Joseph told CarExpert. "We've earned a spot where there are premium mainstream products. Honda is not trying to reposition itself as a volume brand – that is not our aspiration – but as far as the space we occupy here, we don't behave like a volume brand because we don't need to, because our value proposition is not just the product and not just the price, but it's how we take care of customers. "[But] Don't get me wrong – we have volume potential." Mr Joseph spoke of "aggressive" sales growth for the brand, but – while many auto brands including new Chinese entrants publicly state their sales forecasts and even their desired rank on the Australian sales charts – Honda will not. "We're not putting a number on it, but we're quite ambitious with our growth plan," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "We think we've got a current product portfolio, plus a range of models that we're able to bring to market that's going to give us the opportunity to extract more growth out of this brand, and particularly the growth I think it deserves. "It all comes down to our ability to execute on the quality of the product that we're going to have access to – that becomes the challenge in the current environment." Honda Australia currently sells only five models – the small Civic hatchback, the mid-size Accord sedan, and the HR-V small SUV and ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUVs – but it recently outlines a future product plan including the release of more hybrid powertrain options for its best-selling CR-V lineup to tackle the top-selling, hybrid-only Toyota RAV4. It also confirmed the born-again Honda Prelude sports car – with a hybrid powertrain – for Australian release in 2026, when it will also launch its first electric vehicle (EV). While Mr Thorp and Mr Joseph confirmed the company is keen on the Honda 0 Series range of EVs for Australia, they cautioned that the 0 Series (and the Prelude) won't be volume-sellers. Instead, the Honda Australia leadership team pointed to hybrid-powered mid-size SUVs, specifically the CR-V, as its biggest growth potential. "We know that the CR-V is the best vehicle in this segment – the CR-V hybrid is the absolute best vehicle in the segment in terms of driving performance and versatility, and the overall value proposition," Mr Joseph said. "When we look at how we take care of the customer after the sale – low-cost servicing, resale value – when you look at all of that together, aside from the fact it's the best driving vehicle in its segment… if it's the best vehicle in its segment, why wouldn't it be the best-selling vehicle in that segment? "I think that's the starting point. We look at those things and then if we can make the adjustments that can be the best-selling vehicle in the segment."That's our potential. That's how we look at that – and that's what we should achieve." To July this year the CR-V has notched up 3592 sales (down 11.2 per cent year-on-year), while the RAV4 – Toyota Australia's top-selling model and the nation's favourite SUV in 2024 – found 28,449 new homes (down 9.2 per cent). MORE: Explore the Honda showroom Content originally sourced from: Honda says it's not a 'volume brand', but it's not using its upmarket status as a reason not to grow sales in Australia, where it says the CR-V has the potential to topple the Toyota RAV4 from its throne. The Japanese brand's local sales in the first seven months of 2025 have put Honda on target to sell more than 15,000 vehicles this year, which would would be its best result since adopting a controversial agency sales strategy in the middle of 2021, a year in which it sold 17,562 vehicles. But that's still a far cry from its pre-COVID days when it consistently sold more than 40,000 vehicles annually, including a peak of over 60,000 sales in 2007. While the switch to agency sales, which introduced fixed drive-away prices nationally and ownership of vehicles by Honda rather than its dealers, came with a lower annual sales forecast of around 18,000 vehicles, Honda Australia is still to reach that number. However, under the new leadership of CEO Jay Joseph and managing director Rob Thorp, both of whom took up their respective positions in April 2025, Honda says it has no intention to become a volume brand once again. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Honda. Click here to get a great deal. "We've earned this niche of not just being a mainstream brand that's just selling volume on price, but because of the inherent qualities and tech innate qualities of our products," Mr Joseph told CarExpert. "We've earned a spot where there are premium mainstream products. Honda is not trying to reposition itself as a volume brand – that is not our aspiration – but as far as the space we occupy here, we don't behave like a volume brand because we don't need to, because our value proposition is not just the product and not just the price, but it's how we take care of customers. "[But] Don't get me wrong – we have volume potential." Mr Joseph spoke of "aggressive" sales growth for the brand, but – while many auto brands including new Chinese entrants publicly state their sales forecasts and even their desired rank on the Australian sales charts – Honda will not. "We're not putting a number on it, but we're quite ambitious with our growth plan," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "We think we've got a current product portfolio, plus a range of models that we're able to bring to market that's going to give us the opportunity to extract more growth out of this brand, and particularly the growth I think it deserves. "It all comes down to our ability to execute on the quality of the product that we're going to have access to – that becomes the challenge in the current environment." Honda Australia currently sells only five models – the small Civic hatchback, the mid-size Accord sedan, and the HR-V small SUV and ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUVs – but it recently outlines a future product plan including the release of more hybrid powertrain options for its best-selling CR-V lineup to tackle the top-selling, hybrid-only Toyota RAV4. It also confirmed the born-again Honda Prelude sports car – with a hybrid powertrain – for Australian release in 2026, when it will also launch its first electric vehicle (EV). While Mr Thorp and Mr Joseph confirmed the company is keen on the Honda 0 Series range of EVs for Australia, they cautioned that the 0 Series (and the Prelude) won't be volume-sellers. Instead, the Honda Australia leadership team pointed to hybrid-powered mid-size SUVs, specifically the CR-V, as its biggest growth potential. "We know that the CR-V is the best vehicle in this segment – the CR-V hybrid is the absolute best vehicle in the segment in terms of driving performance and versatility, and the overall value proposition," Mr Joseph said. "When we look at how we take care of the customer after the sale – low-cost servicing, resale value – when you look at all of that together, aside from the fact it's the best driving vehicle in its segment… if it's the best vehicle in its segment, why wouldn't it be the best-selling vehicle in that segment? "I think that's the starting point. We look at those things and then if we can make the adjustments that can be the best-selling vehicle in the segment."That's our potential. That's how we look at that – and that's what we should achieve." To July this year the CR-V has notched up 3592 sales (down 11.2 per cent year-on-year), while the RAV4 – Toyota Australia's top-selling model and the nation's favourite SUV in 2024 – found 28,449 new homes (down 9.2 per cent). MORE: Explore the Honda showroom Content originally sourced from: Honda says it's not a 'volume brand', but it's not using its upmarket status as a reason not to grow sales in Australia, where it says the CR-V has the potential to topple the Toyota RAV4 from its throne. The Japanese brand's local sales in the first seven months of 2025 have put Honda on target to sell more than 15,000 vehicles this year, which would would be its best result since adopting a controversial agency sales strategy in the middle of 2021, a year in which it sold 17,562 vehicles. But that's still a far cry from its pre-COVID days when it consistently sold more than 40,000 vehicles annually, including a peak of over 60,000 sales in 2007. While the switch to agency sales, which introduced fixed drive-away prices nationally and ownership of vehicles by Honda rather than its dealers, came with a lower annual sales forecast of around 18,000 vehicles, Honda Australia is still to reach that number. However, under the new leadership of CEO Jay Joseph and managing director Rob Thorp, both of whom took up their respective positions in April 2025, Honda says it has no intention to become a volume brand once again. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Honda. Click here to get a great deal. "We've earned this niche of not just being a mainstream brand that's just selling volume on price, but because of the inherent qualities and tech innate qualities of our products," Mr Joseph told CarExpert. "We've earned a spot where there are premium mainstream products. Honda is not trying to reposition itself as a volume brand – that is not our aspiration – but as far as the space we occupy here, we don't behave like a volume brand because we don't need to, because our value proposition is not just the product and not just the price, but it's how we take care of customers. "[But] Don't get me wrong – we have volume potential." Mr Joseph spoke of "aggressive" sales growth for the brand, but – while many auto brands including new Chinese entrants publicly state their sales forecasts and even their desired rank on the Australian sales charts – Honda will not. "We're not putting a number on it, but we're quite ambitious with our growth plan," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "We think we've got a current product portfolio, plus a range of models that we're able to bring to market that's going to give us the opportunity to extract more growth out of this brand, and particularly the growth I think it deserves. "It all comes down to our ability to execute on the quality of the product that we're going to have access to – that becomes the challenge in the current environment." Honda Australia currently sells only five models – the small Civic hatchback, the mid-size Accord sedan, and the HR-V small SUV and ZR-V and CR-V mid-size SUVs – but it recently outlines a future product plan including the release of more hybrid powertrain options for its best-selling CR-V lineup to tackle the top-selling, hybrid-only Toyota RAV4. It also confirmed the born-again Honda Prelude sports car – with a hybrid powertrain – for Australian release in 2026, when it will also launch its first electric vehicle (EV). While Mr Thorp and Mr Joseph confirmed the company is keen on the Honda 0 Series range of EVs for Australia, they cautioned that the 0 Series (and the Prelude) won't be volume-sellers. Instead, the Honda Australia leadership team pointed to hybrid-powered mid-size SUVs, specifically the CR-V, as its biggest growth potential. "We know that the CR-V is the best vehicle in this segment – the CR-V hybrid is the absolute best vehicle in the segment in terms of driving performance and versatility, and the overall value proposition," Mr Joseph said. "When we look at how we take care of the customer after the sale – low-cost servicing, resale value – when you look at all of that together, aside from the fact it's the best driving vehicle in its segment… if it's the best vehicle in its segment, why wouldn't it be the best-selling vehicle in that segment? "I think that's the starting point. We look at those things and then if we can make the adjustments that can be the best-selling vehicle in the segment."That's our potential. That's how we look at that – and that's what we should achieve." To July this year the CR-V has notched up 3592 sales (down 11.2 per cent year-on-year), while the RAV4 – Toyota Australia's top-selling model and the nation's favourite SUV in 2024 – found 28,449 new homes (down 9.2 per cent). MORE: Explore the Honda showroom Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Honda Australia not worried about Chinese competition
Honda Australiasays it has what it takes to compete with the growing number of Chinese brands in our market, as it looks to rebuild after several tough sales years. While Honda is pitched – and priced – as a more premium brand than many Japanese rivals, it's facing increased competition from new brands from China. Chinese automakers are aiming ever higher, expanding beyond the cheap and cheerful offerings they're known for to more premium products – witness the introduction of Geely's Zeekr marque, MG offering products from the IM Motors premium brand, GWM offering pricier Tank SUVs, and BYD readying its more luxurious Denza offshoot for Australia. But while Chinese brands are aiming upmarket, Honda Australia says it will focus on its plan regardless of who enters the local scene, with managing director Rob Thorp confident the automaker is on track for growth in Australia. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "It's a competitive landscape – so whether it is the Chinese competitors, or the Koreans or the Germans – or whatever it may be, that just becomes the competitive landscape we have to deal with," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "It's a free market, they've got the right opportunity to compete here, it is what it is. "I think for us, we're very clear on our proposition in the markets and what our competitive strengths are. I think the challenge we have is to ensure that enough consumers know that." What are those strengths the Honda boss believes will hold the brand in good shape in Australia over the next decade? "I think of it from the quality of the product that you see, the quality of the customer care and service you receive, the longevity of the models and the relationship we have with you during the ownership period," he explained. "So we're very comfortable we've got the ingredients to be successful in this market – but they're competitors, whatever and wherever they come from – that's just the environment we have to work in." The Japanese brand is expanding its hybrid lineup, which will include the introduction of the hybrid-powered Prelude sports car here next year, and plans to launch its first electric vehicle (EV) before the end of 2026, too. It has, however, ruled out bringing its luxury brand sold overseas, Acura, to local showrooms. Honda posted its lowest sales on record in this country in 2022 and 2023, following the move to a fixed-price agency model, a reduction in the number of dealers in its network, and the discontinuation of more affordable products like the Jazz. The number of brands in Australia has continue to increase, making our market – already saturated given the number of brands competing for sales of only 1.2 million vehicles each year – even more cut-throat. It led chief operating officer of Chery-owned Omoda Jaecoo, Roy Muñoz, to recently declare more brands benefited new-car buyers and only improved showroom offerings through an ultra-competitive climate. MORE: Honda Australia's first EV to launch in 2026, but what will it be? MORE: Australia doesn't have too many car brands, says one of its newest arrivals Content originally sourced from: Honda Australiasays it has what it takes to compete with the growing number of Chinese brands in our market, as it looks to rebuild after several tough sales years. While Honda is pitched – and priced – as a more premium brand than many Japanese rivals, it's facing increased competition from new brands from China. Chinese automakers are aiming ever higher, expanding beyond the cheap and cheerful offerings they're known for to more premium products – witness the introduction of Geely's Zeekr marque, MG offering products from the IM Motors premium brand, GWM offering pricier Tank SUVs, and BYD readying its more luxurious Denza offshoot for Australia. But while Chinese brands are aiming upmarket, Honda Australia says it will focus on its plan regardless of who enters the local scene, with managing director Rob Thorp confident the automaker is on track for growth in Australia. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "It's a competitive landscape – so whether it is the Chinese competitors, or the Koreans or the Germans – or whatever it may be, that just becomes the competitive landscape we have to deal with," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "It's a free market, they've got the right opportunity to compete here, it is what it is. "I think for us, we're very clear on our proposition in the markets and what our competitive strengths are. I think the challenge we have is to ensure that enough consumers know that." What are those strengths the Honda boss believes will hold the brand in good shape in Australia over the next decade? "I think of it from the quality of the product that you see, the quality of the customer care and service you receive, the longevity of the models and the relationship we have with you during the ownership period," he explained. "So we're very comfortable we've got the ingredients to be successful in this market – but they're competitors, whatever and wherever they come from – that's just the environment we have to work in." The Japanese brand is expanding its hybrid lineup, which will include the introduction of the hybrid-powered Prelude sports car here next year, and plans to launch its first electric vehicle (EV) before the end of 2026, too. It has, however, ruled out bringing its luxury brand sold overseas, Acura, to local showrooms. Honda posted its lowest sales on record in this country in 2022 and 2023, following the move to a fixed-price agency model, a reduction in the number of dealers in its network, and the discontinuation of more affordable products like the Jazz. The number of brands in Australia has continue to increase, making our market – already saturated given the number of brands competing for sales of only 1.2 million vehicles each year – even more cut-throat. It led chief operating officer of Chery-owned Omoda Jaecoo, Roy Muñoz, to recently declare more brands benefited new-car buyers and only improved showroom offerings through an ultra-competitive climate. MORE: Honda Australia's first EV to launch in 2026, but what will it be? MORE: Australia doesn't have too many car brands, says one of its newest arrivals Content originally sourced from: Honda Australiasays it has what it takes to compete with the growing number of Chinese brands in our market, as it looks to rebuild after several tough sales years. While Honda is pitched – and priced – as a more premium brand than many Japanese rivals, it's facing increased competition from new brands from China. Chinese automakers are aiming ever higher, expanding beyond the cheap and cheerful offerings they're known for to more premium products – witness the introduction of Geely's Zeekr marque, MG offering products from the IM Motors premium brand, GWM offering pricier Tank SUVs, and BYD readying its more luxurious Denza offshoot for Australia. But while Chinese brands are aiming upmarket, Honda Australia says it will focus on its plan regardless of who enters the local scene, with managing director Rob Thorp confident the automaker is on track for growth in Australia. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "It's a competitive landscape – so whether it is the Chinese competitors, or the Koreans or the Germans – or whatever it may be, that just becomes the competitive landscape we have to deal with," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "It's a free market, they've got the right opportunity to compete here, it is what it is. "I think for us, we're very clear on our proposition in the markets and what our competitive strengths are. I think the challenge we have is to ensure that enough consumers know that." What are those strengths the Honda boss believes will hold the brand in good shape in Australia over the next decade? "I think of it from the quality of the product that you see, the quality of the customer care and service you receive, the longevity of the models and the relationship we have with you during the ownership period," he explained. "So we're very comfortable we've got the ingredients to be successful in this market – but they're competitors, whatever and wherever they come from – that's just the environment we have to work in." The Japanese brand is expanding its hybrid lineup, which will include the introduction of the hybrid-powered Prelude sports car here next year, and plans to launch its first electric vehicle (EV) before the end of 2026, too. It has, however, ruled out bringing its luxury brand sold overseas, Acura, to local showrooms. Honda posted its lowest sales on record in this country in 2022 and 2023, following the move to a fixed-price agency model, a reduction in the number of dealers in its network, and the discontinuation of more affordable products like the Jazz. The number of brands in Australia has continue to increase, making our market – already saturated given the number of brands competing for sales of only 1.2 million vehicles each year – even more cut-throat. It led chief operating officer of Chery-owned Omoda Jaecoo, Roy Muñoz, to recently declare more brands benefited new-car buyers and only improved showroom offerings through an ultra-competitive climate. MORE: Honda Australia's first EV to launch in 2026, but what will it be? MORE: Australia doesn't have too many car brands, says one of its newest arrivals Content originally sourced from: Honda Australiasays it has what it takes to compete with the growing number of Chinese brands in our market, as it looks to rebuild after several tough sales years. While Honda is pitched – and priced – as a more premium brand than many Japanese rivals, it's facing increased competition from new brands from China. Chinese automakers are aiming ever higher, expanding beyond the cheap and cheerful offerings they're known for to more premium products – witness the introduction of Geely's Zeekr marque, MG offering products from the IM Motors premium brand, GWM offering pricier Tank SUVs, and BYD readying its more luxurious Denza offshoot for Australia. But while Chinese brands are aiming upmarket, Honda Australia says it will focus on its plan regardless of who enters the local scene, with managing director Rob Thorp confident the automaker is on track for growth in Australia. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "It's a competitive landscape – so whether it is the Chinese competitors, or the Koreans or the Germans – or whatever it may be, that just becomes the competitive landscape we have to deal with," Mr Thorp told CarExpert. "It's a free market, they've got the right opportunity to compete here, it is what it is. "I think for us, we're very clear on our proposition in the markets and what our competitive strengths are. I think the challenge we have is to ensure that enough consumers know that." What are those strengths the Honda boss believes will hold the brand in good shape in Australia over the next decade? "I think of it from the quality of the product that you see, the quality of the customer care and service you receive, the longevity of the models and the relationship we have with you during the ownership period," he explained. "So we're very comfortable we've got the ingredients to be successful in this market – but they're competitors, whatever and wherever they come from – that's just the environment we have to work in." The Japanese brand is expanding its hybrid lineup, which will include the introduction of the hybrid-powered Prelude sports car here next year, and plans to launch its first electric vehicle (EV) before the end of 2026, too. It has, however, ruled out bringing its luxury brand sold overseas, Acura, to local showrooms. Honda posted its lowest sales on record in this country in 2022 and 2023, following the move to a fixed-price agency model, a reduction in the number of dealers in its network, and the discontinuation of more affordable products like the Jazz. The number of brands in Australia has continue to increase, making our market – already saturated given the number of brands competing for sales of only 1.2 million vehicles each year – even more cut-throat. It led chief operating officer of Chery-owned Omoda Jaecoo, Roy Muñoz, to recently declare more brands benefited new-car buyers and only improved showroom offerings through an ultra-competitive climate. MORE: Honda Australia's first EV to launch in 2026, but what will it be? MORE: Australia doesn't have too many car brands, says one of its newest arrivals Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Honda revives sporty name from the past for first model on new EV platform
The Acura RSX is the latest sporty nameplate from yesteryear that's been revived, and reimagined for the modern automotive landscape. Instead of being a sporting-ish three-door coupe, the new RSX is a high-riding five-door SUV with an "expressive coupe-like silhouette". Scheduled to make its in-the-flesh debut at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this weekend, the RSX Prototype is in true Honda fashion a very thinly disguised version of the production vehicle, with the wing mirror design likely the only change. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It will be the first production model based on Honda's new in-house EV platform, and will be manufactured in the company's Ohio factory. Sales of the new RSX will begin in the second half of 2026. According to Acura, the production RSX will have a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, double wishbone front suspension, and Brembo brakes as standard. No word yet on outputs, performance figures, battery capacities, or range. It will also feature the company's new Asimo OS that controls not only the infotainment system, but also driver assistance, autonomous driving, and basic hardware functions. Likened to a smartphone operating system — not to mention OSes in other brands, such as Tesla and Rivian — Asimo OS supports over-the-air updates, high levels of driver customisation, connected services, and machine learning to adapt to the driver's entertainment and driving preferences. The RSX is the second model name Acura has brought back from the dead for an electric SUV; the ZDX holds the honour of being the first. While the second-generation ZDX stayed true to the coupe SUV silhouette of the original, it and the closely related Honda Prologue are actually Honda designs on top of GM's BEV3 platform. Both not only use GM's EV technology, but are built by the General. Acura began mining its nameplate history in 2022 when it released the Integra liftback, basically a lightly restyled Honda Civic equipped with its most powerful engines. Sold for just one generation from 2002, the original RSX (above) was a rebranded fourth-generation Integra. Unlike the Integra, which was available in both three- and five-door liftback guises, the RSX only ever came with three doors. When it departed the scene in 2006, it became the last-ever non-NSX coupe from the brand, and ended the brand's opening era where it deliberately courted young enthusiasts. The shift from Integra to RSX came at the tail end of the marque's dumping of its original model names: Legend for RL, Vigor for TL, and Integra for RSX. The shift to letters was reportedly due to a desire to focus owners' affections on the overall marque rather than individual models. MORE: Everything Honda Content originally sourced from: The Acura RSX is the latest sporty nameplate from yesteryear that's been revived, and reimagined for the modern automotive landscape. Instead of being a sporting-ish three-door coupe, the new RSX is a high-riding five-door SUV with an "expressive coupe-like silhouette". Scheduled to make its in-the-flesh debut at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this weekend, the RSX Prototype is in true Honda fashion a very thinly disguised version of the production vehicle, with the wing mirror design likely the only change. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It will be the first production model based on Honda's new in-house EV platform, and will be manufactured in the company's Ohio factory. Sales of the new RSX will begin in the second half of 2026. According to Acura, the production RSX will have a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, double wishbone front suspension, and Brembo brakes as standard. No word yet on outputs, performance figures, battery capacities, or range. It will also feature the company's new Asimo OS that controls not only the infotainment system, but also driver assistance, autonomous driving, and basic hardware functions. Likened to a smartphone operating system — not to mention OSes in other brands, such as Tesla and Rivian — Asimo OS supports over-the-air updates, high levels of driver customisation, connected services, and machine learning to adapt to the driver's entertainment and driving preferences. The RSX is the second model name Acura has brought back from the dead for an electric SUV; the ZDX holds the honour of being the first. While the second-generation ZDX stayed true to the coupe SUV silhouette of the original, it and the closely related Honda Prologue are actually Honda designs on top of GM's BEV3 platform. Both not only use GM's EV technology, but are built by the General. Acura began mining its nameplate history in 2022 when it released the Integra liftback, basically a lightly restyled Honda Civic equipped with its most powerful engines. Sold for just one generation from 2002, the original RSX (above) was a rebranded fourth-generation Integra. Unlike the Integra, which was available in both three- and five-door liftback guises, the RSX only ever came with three doors. When it departed the scene in 2006, it became the last-ever non-NSX coupe from the brand, and ended the brand's opening era where it deliberately courted young enthusiasts. The shift from Integra to RSX came at the tail end of the marque's dumping of its original model names: Legend for RL, Vigor for TL, and Integra for RSX. The shift to letters was reportedly due to a desire to focus owners' affections on the overall marque rather than individual models. MORE: Everything Honda Content originally sourced from: The Acura RSX is the latest sporty nameplate from yesteryear that's been revived, and reimagined for the modern automotive landscape. Instead of being a sporting-ish three-door coupe, the new RSX is a high-riding five-door SUV with an "expressive coupe-like silhouette". Scheduled to make its in-the-flesh debut at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this weekend, the RSX Prototype is in true Honda fashion a very thinly disguised version of the production vehicle, with the wing mirror design likely the only change. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It will be the first production model based on Honda's new in-house EV platform, and will be manufactured in the company's Ohio factory. Sales of the new RSX will begin in the second half of 2026. According to Acura, the production RSX will have a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, double wishbone front suspension, and Brembo brakes as standard. No word yet on outputs, performance figures, battery capacities, or range. It will also feature the company's new Asimo OS that controls not only the infotainment system, but also driver assistance, autonomous driving, and basic hardware functions. Likened to a smartphone operating system — not to mention OSes in other brands, such as Tesla and Rivian — Asimo OS supports over-the-air updates, high levels of driver customisation, connected services, and machine learning to adapt to the driver's entertainment and driving preferences. The RSX is the second model name Acura has brought back from the dead for an electric SUV; the ZDX holds the honour of being the first. While the second-generation ZDX stayed true to the coupe SUV silhouette of the original, it and the closely related Honda Prologue are actually Honda designs on top of GM's BEV3 platform. Both not only use GM's EV technology, but are built by the General. Acura began mining its nameplate history in 2022 when it released the Integra liftback, basically a lightly restyled Honda Civic equipped with its most powerful engines. Sold for just one generation from 2002, the original RSX (above) was a rebranded fourth-generation Integra. Unlike the Integra, which was available in both three- and five-door liftback guises, the RSX only ever came with three doors. When it departed the scene in 2006, it became the last-ever non-NSX coupe from the brand, and ended the brand's opening era where it deliberately courted young enthusiasts. The shift from Integra to RSX came at the tail end of the marque's dumping of its original model names: Legend for RL, Vigor for TL, and Integra for RSX. The shift to letters was reportedly due to a desire to focus owners' affections on the overall marque rather than individual models. MORE: Everything Honda Content originally sourced from: The Acura RSX is the latest sporty nameplate from yesteryear that's been revived, and reimagined for the modern automotive landscape. Instead of being a sporting-ish three-door coupe, the new RSX is a high-riding five-door SUV with an "expressive coupe-like silhouette". Scheduled to make its in-the-flesh debut at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this weekend, the RSX Prototype is in true Honda fashion a very thinly disguised version of the production vehicle, with the wing mirror design likely the only change. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It will be the first production model based on Honda's new in-house EV platform, and will be manufactured in the company's Ohio factory. Sales of the new RSX will begin in the second half of 2026. According to Acura, the production RSX will have a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, double wishbone front suspension, and Brembo brakes as standard. No word yet on outputs, performance figures, battery capacities, or range. It will also feature the company's new Asimo OS that controls not only the infotainment system, but also driver assistance, autonomous driving, and basic hardware functions. Likened to a smartphone operating system — not to mention OSes in other brands, such as Tesla and Rivian — Asimo OS supports over-the-air updates, high levels of driver customisation, connected services, and machine learning to adapt to the driver's entertainment and driving preferences. The RSX is the second model name Acura has brought back from the dead for an electric SUV; the ZDX holds the honour of being the first. While the second-generation ZDX stayed true to the coupe SUV silhouette of the original, it and the closely related Honda Prologue are actually Honda designs on top of GM's BEV3 platform. Both not only use GM's EV technology, but are built by the General. Acura began mining its nameplate history in 2022 when it released the Integra liftback, basically a lightly restyled Honda Civic equipped with its most powerful engines. Sold for just one generation from 2002, the original RSX (above) was a rebranded fourth-generation Integra. Unlike the Integra, which was available in both three- and five-door liftback guises, the RSX only ever came with three doors. When it departed the scene in 2006, it became the last-ever non-NSX coupe from the brand, and ended the brand's opening era where it deliberately courted young enthusiasts. The shift from Integra to RSX came at the tail end of the marque's dumping of its original model names: Legend for RL, Vigor for TL, and Integra for RSX. The shift to letters was reportedly due to a desire to focus owners' affections on the overall marque rather than individual models. MORE: Everything Honda Content originally sourced from:
