3 days ago
After Nearly 20 Years, a Legendary Japanese Sports Car Returns with an Unexpected Twist
Honda has revived a long-discontinued nameplate in a way that's sure to ruffle some feathers.
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Between the Integra and the Prelude, Honda has recently revived some iconic nameplates from its back catalog. Thankfully, in each case, it stayed pretty faithful to the original concept.
But the brand isn't finished. Having teased that it was working on a new Acura RSX (as in, the early 2000s Integra successor) earlier this year, Honda is back with a pre-production prototype as part of Monterey Car Week.
Acura's RSX revival
True to Honda's word, the RSX is, unfortunately, no longer destined to be a sporty tuner coupe like it was in the oughts; instead, it will be making its return as an all-electric crossover. Before you roll your eyes, however, Acura already has a car like the former in the Integra, and it just got an update.
In any case, an RSX EV promises thrilling performance in its own right. According to Acura, the model will feature dual-motor all-wheel drive, sport-tuned double-wishbone front suspension and Brembo brakes all as standard.
And remember — even though the prototype takes the form of a high-riding crossover, careful battery placement can result in a lower center of gravity than you'd expect.
As such, Acura does claim it will deliver a 'fun to drive and engaging driving experience.' In that sense, it'll take on driver-friendly EVs like the Mustang Mach-E and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
An in-house EV
As significant as it is that Honda is reviving the Acura RSX nameplate, the car itself is notable for its own reasons.
That's because, unlike the Honda Prologue or the Acura ZDX, Honda engineered this EV completely in-house. It'll be among the first models built on the brand's proprietary platform, and it'll be the first assembled at the Honda EV Hub in Marysville, Ohio.
Accordingly, Honda has some big aspirations for the RSX. In running the ASIMO OS operating system, the car will bring automated driving, advanced driver assistance systems, machine learning and over-the-air updates, among many other forward-thinking features.
As if that wasn't enough, the RSX will support vehicle-to-load charging. In practice, this means that it will effectively be able to function as a portable generator, capable of powering both homes and devices.
More to come
While the vehicle you see before you is only a prototype, it's likely that the production version will be a close match. Moreover, Honda has stated that the revived Acura RSX will be coming in the second half of 2026. In the meantime, you can head to Acura's website to stay updated.
Acura RSX Prototype
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