Acura Has An Easy Explanation For Bringing The RSX Back As A Crossover

The RSX Prototype just made its debut at the 2025 Monterey Car Week, previewing Acura's next-generation electric vehicle, built on an in-house platform. We call this a backwards step because earlier this year, Acura teased what appeared to be a more production-ready RSX, albeit covered in a blue camouflage wrap.

CarBuzz had a chance to preview the RSX Prototype ahead of its Car Week reveal, and ask Acura the big question that's been on everyone's mind since this car was first announced: why is it called an RSX? Fans of the original RSX remember it as a two-door hatchback coupe, which was sold in other markets as the Honda Integra. Since Acura has already brought back the Integra nameplate to fill the RSX role, it needed another name for its first in-house EV.

"This is not a successor to the old car. It's not meant to tie into the old car. It's simply a name that we had trademarked and had brand value. We were excited to use it on a new product."

– Jon Rivers, Acura senior product planner

Acura has learned the hard way that it's impossible to please the internet, and car enthusiasts will almost always criticize you for doing anything other than the same thing from 20 years ago. The Integra received negative comments from online critics who claimed they wanted a two-door, and that Acura had tarnished the nameplate by selling it as a four-door sedan. We here at CarBuzz pushed back on the pushback, reminding commenters that the original Integra was sold as a coupe, sedan, and five-door hatchback.

Acura knows there will be people who will make the same comments about the RSX, but Rivers has a response at the ready.

"Much in the same way as when the last RSX launched, there was a ton of uproar because it should have been an Integra," Rivers explained, referencing the RSX's name in other markets. "We frequently go down that path where you can't appease certain markets and customers. But it's still a name recognizable with the brand."

Next year, in 2026, it will be the 40th anniversary of the Acura brand, which is why the RSX's arrival makes sense to usher in a new electrified chapter. "It seems like we just celebrated the 30th anniversary not too long ago, but there was a decade between that. The brand drastically changed and went back to its performance roots. Now, we are continuing that evolution into a new era," he added.

Are EVs Acura's Only Focus?02_Acura RSX Prototype_Side Shot
The RSX Prototype is only a concept car, so Acura did not share many details about the specifications. We were told it would come with a dual-motor setup, double-wishbone front suspension, Brembo brakes, and a charge door that hides an NACS port for native Tesla supercharging. The RSX will also be built at Honda's EV Hub in Ohio on the same production line as the Integra and the upcoming 0 Series EV, and it will feature a brand-new infotainment system called Asimo OS. But as the Honda brand continues to see short-term success with its stellar hybrid lineup, we wonder if Acura also plans to sell them alongside its EV and ICE models.

"Honda is committed to a carbon-neutral future. On the way there, it's going to be a winding road with different powertrains: ICE, hybrid, and EV. We can't speculate on exactly what might be coming, but there will be a variety," an Acura spokesperson told CarBuzz.

"We built in the capability; one factory can do multiple powertrains, which can serve both brands," Rivers added.

Will Acura follow its mainstream counterpart with more hybrid models? Only time will tell.