Acura RSX Reborn As A Sporty Coupe EV SUV

Acura is rebooting the iconic RSX nameplate for its new, all-electric sporty coupe SUV, set to debut in 2026.

Another year, another iconic nameplate being reborn as an all-electric crossover, this time around, it's Acura with the RSX. From 2026 onwards, the iconic RSX nameplate will no longer be associated with sporty coupes, as Acura has elected to use the name for its upcoming coupe EV SUV.

Upcoming Acura RSX EV SUV (left) & its concept twin, the Acura Performance EV Concept (right)

The new RSX EV SUV was initially teased back during the Monterey Car Week 2024, where it was being unveiled in its conceptual form, aptly named Acura Performance EV Concept. From the single teaser image published, we can see that the upcoming RSX closely resembles its concept twin, as both cars feature the same sporty coupe SUV bodystyle with tons of sharp angles and some notable EV-specific design touches.

Although no front-facing photos were published, we can expect the new RSX to adopt the same radical design seen on its concept twin, which by itself has also taken inspiration from other newer Acura models like the ZDX and NSX, to name a few.

On the mechanical side, what sets the new RSX apart from other Honda or Acura EVs in the US is that it will use the marque’s in-house EV platform instead of borrowing its underpinnings from General Motors. While Acura has yet to unveil the juicy digits for the new RSX’s powertrain, the automaker did mention that it will use Honda’s new Intelligent Power Unit (IPU).

This new in-house EV platform will be the same one used on the radical Honda 0 Series Saloon concept shown at CES 2025 earlier this year. Honda intends to use this in-house platform on lighter and sportier vehicles, which may have prompted the automaker's decision to revive the RSX nameplate, which is synonymous with lightweight sporty vehicles.

The all-new Acura RSX EV SUV is slated to be manufactured at Honda USA’s new ‘EV Hub’ in Ohio, together with the megacasting works for its new IPU. With production set to commence sometime later this year, the new RSX will be ready to hit the US market in early 2026.

The original Acura RSX is essentially the US market version of the Honda Integra DC5.

News of Acura reviving the RSX has been circulating around the industry since the iconic name had been trademarked in both Japan and the US many moons ago. Given that Honda has revived the Prelude nameplate for its upcoming hybrid sportscar, many enthusiasts have held their hopes high for the automaker to do the same for the RSX badge.

With the RSX now going electric, the new Acura Integra Type S stood as the 'true' successor to the original 2005 RSX coupe.

Instead, Acura has somewhat succumbed to the growing SUV trend by slapping the RSX nameplate on an upcoming EV crossover. But then again, the RSX name was exclusively reserved for the American market version of the DC5-gen Honda Integra, which has been revived as Acura’s new sporty saloon with a performance-based Type S version based on the Honda Civic Type R FL5.