Preview: Acura RSX Prototype Reveals the Brand’s Electric SUV Future

While our reviewers appreciated the spacious interior, quick acceleration, and long driving range of the larger, midsized Acura ZDX we’ve reviewed, it was missing some qualities we expect from the brand. Among its drawbacks, its interior quality fell short of other Acuras, and it is generally upstaged by its similarly priced Cadillac Lyriq platform-mate. 

The Acura RSX appears to signal a course correction, with Honda bringing its engineering for future EVs in-house for both its main brand, as well as its upscale Acura marque. At the very least, it won’t have a twin from a completely different automaker being produced on the same assembly line. 

For those of us with fond memories of the old RSX as a joy on twisty roads, putting that name on this electric SUV also adds high expectations in terms of handling and performance. While Acura has yet to release many specifics, it has at least touted its commitment to making the RSX fun to drive with things like a low center of gravity and standard Brembo performance brakes. We can also safely assume it will have much more torque than the rev-happy original RSX. Ultimately, we’ll need to drive it to see if these elements make it worthy of the RSX name. 

We were initially skeptical of the reinvention of the Integra, but that proved to be a fun addition to the line. Hopefully, the RSX will justify its name, as well. 

The RSX Prototype is a product of the mid-2020s, with a coupelike roof, flush door handles, and a full-width light bar in the rear. The side features a prominent ventlike detail that sets it apart from the numerous other fastback SUVs on the road, and a subtle ducktail spoiler sets off the rear. The front end comes to an aggressive point, with thin daytime running lights situated above the lower-mounted LED headlights. 

This prototype also wears an eye-catching golden shade called Propulsion Yellow Pearl, with a color-contrasting black roof. Its Brembo brake calipers are bright red, allowing them to peek through the RSX Prototype’s 21-inch wheels. 

An Acura representative explained to CR that the new RSX will be similar in size to the current RDX. It appears positioned to compete with premium small and midsized EVs. The RSX will be about 5 inches longer in length than the RDX, with a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs that give it a sportier, more carlike stance. 

While we don’t have any photos of the new RSX’s interior, we do know some of the technology that will go into it. 

The RSX will be the first vehicle with an all-new, Honda-developed operating system, Asimo OS. Named for Honda’s helpful humanoid robot Asimo, the new operating system is designed to learn the habits and preferences of the vehicle’s drivers to help personalize their experience with the car. The new operating system uses machine learning to detect user preferences on everything from music to vehicle settings, helping them customize the vehicle accordingly. 

Asimo OS will also allow users to download different applications as they would on a smartphone. The system can evolve by adding additional features that Acura plans to release through over-the-air updates. 

More details about the new RSX will be announced closer to its on-sale date in late 2026, but we do know it will initiate a wave of Honda EVs built on a new in-house-developed EV platform at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio. The RSX will be assembled on the same production line as the Acura Integra, seemingly bringing things full circle with the nameplate that the “RSX” originally replaced in Acura’s lineup. 

The RSX Prototype has a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain. A low center of gravity combined with the RSX’s standard sport-tuned double-wishbone front suspension and Brembo brakes should also help it navigate tighter curves with ease. No specifics have been announced about the RSX’s battery capacity or driving range, only that owners will be able to use the RSX’s battery to power devices, equipment, and even whole homes in the case of a blackout. 

Acura gave few details at this time as to what active safety systems and driver assistance features will come with the production RSX aside from “further advancements.” According to Acura, Asimo OS will be able to manage advanced driver assistance systems (including automated driving systems like Super Cruise, which was rebranded for the ZDX as Hands Free Cruise) alongside the car’s infotainment and other functions. 

We expect the final list to build on Acura’s current suite of standard equipment for the ZDX electric SUV, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, forward collision warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, and reverse automatic emergency braking. Standard driver assists on the ZDX include lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.