Acura RSX: The Electric SUV That's About as Sporty as a Refrigerator
Image Credit: Acura.
Acura has decided to take a perfectly good nameplate, the RSX, and slap it on something about as sporty as a refrigerator. Yes, the RSX is back, but this time it's an all-electric SUV. I guess someone in the marketing department decided that nostalgia sells, even if it's nostalgia for a car that's completely different from the original.
I'm not saying that electric SUVs are bad. In fact, I'm quite fond of them. But why, oh, why did they have to call it an RSX? The original RSX was a sporty little coupe that was a blast to drive. This new RSX, on the other hand, looks like it's been designed to blend in with every other SUV on the road.
I'm being too harsh. After all, we haven't seen the production version yet. Maybe it'll surprise us all and be a genuinely fun-to-drive electric SUV. Or maybe it'll just be another boring appliance on wheels.
In the meantime, let's take a closer look at what we know about the new RSX. It's based on Honda's new EV platform, which is also used for those weird Honda 0 Series Saloon and SUV prototypes. This platform is designed to be lighter and lower than previous EV platforms, which should help improve handling and efficiency.
Image Credit: Acura.
The RSX will also be the first Acura model to be built at Honda's new EV Hub in Ohio. This facility is going through a major upgrade to produce electric vehicles, and will play a key role in Honda's electrification plans.
As for the specs, we don't have much to go on yet. Acura hasn't released any official figures, but we can make some educated guesses based on the Honda 0 Series prototypes. Those prototypes have a range of around 300 miles and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 5 seconds. So, we can expect the RSX to have similar performance figures.
Of course, the big question is: how much will it cost? Again, Acura hasn't released any official pricing information, but we can expect it to be priced competitively with other electric SUVs on the market. That means it'll probably start somewhere in the $40,000 to $50,000 range.
The Acura RSX is back, but it's not the car you remember. It's an electric SUV, but maybe it'll surprise us all and be genuinely fun to drive. Or maybe it'll just be another boring appliance on wheels. And if you're looking for a fun-to-drive electric SUV, I suggest you check out the Ford Mustang Mach-E or the Kia EV6 GT. They're both much more deserving of the "sporty" label than the new Acura RSX.
