The Acura RSX was an icon of the 1990s with the compact rapidly becoming a key part of the street racing scene thanks in no small part to appearances in movies like the Fast & The Furious before it made way for SUVs in the mid 2000s.

Acura is suing the Monterey Car Week festivities to not only confirm the RSX is coming back but that it will also be returning as an all-electric SUV as Acura (and by extension Honda) attempt to launch the next chapter of their EV ambitions in a big way.

RSX enters new frontier

Unlike the outgoing RSX, this one will be appearing as an all-electric SUV. Much of this is intentional, Acura wants to increase its footprint in the utility vehicle segment and it’s no secret that compact cars are not doing too well in sales due to the strong demand for CUVs.

Honda and Acura call this bright yellow concept a prototype but past history with both brands suggests that this prototype is actually a thinly veiled production vehicle with the front end getting bold two-piece lighting that’s accompanied by a bold lower front bumper. The styling this time around is a noticeable evolution from past concepts but the rear continues to be a rather bland affair with a large lightbar and a rear roof spoiler being the notable appointments.

Acura RSX will debut new platform

Unlike the Honda Prologue and the Acura ZDX, the smaller RSX will not use GM’s Ultium platform. Instead, it will be the first production Honda EV to use the company’s new EV platform which will also make its appearance in Honda’s “0” Series models. This homegrown platform is the first in-house Honda EV architecture and the RSX will be built alongside the compact Integra at Honda’s plant in Marysville, Ohio.

Acura is still withholding final horsepower numbers but the brand did confirm the prototype on display has a dual-motor setup for its EV hardware wth the setup also giving the SUV standard all-wheel drive. Brembo brakes provide plenty of stopping power and a double-wishbone front suspension supposedly provides sporty handling. A Tesla-style NACS charging port will also be standard,.

More to come

Acura also didn’t reveal other details about the SUV but it’s known that the interior will feature Honda’s new infotainment system with the RSX getting the ASIMO OS system. This system promises improved functionality and will make the RSX a “software defined” vehicle. This includes the OS allowing the RSX to receive over-the-air updates and learning and subsequently adapting the driving experience to different drivers.

The prototype’s latest stage seems to indicate the RSX will be entering production sooner than many folks will suspect but we will have to wait until Monterrey Car Week to see what other surprises Acura has in store for the viewing public when the concept makes its formal debut.