Acura isn’t giving up on EVs, but it is shifting direction. The brand has built hybrids before, but more recently promised to move past them and go fully electric. Now, with EV adoption in the U.S. moving slower than expected and buyers still wanting a middle ground, Acura is bringing hybrids back. And if Honda’s revival of the Prelude is any sign, Acura could be preparing to resurrect an icon of its own.
Hybrids Enter the Chat
Acura’s plan is simple: give buyers more choice. Instead of committing only to EVs, the automaker is working on hybrid versions of its most popular models. The RDX and MDX crossovers seem like safe bets considering its sports sedan the TLX will be no more. With Honda’s proven hybrid systems already powering the Civic, Accord, and CR-V, Acura has a solid foundation to build on. The shift is made possible by the brand’s new flexible manufacturing facility in Ohio, which can produce gas, hybrid, and electric vehicles on the same line. That flexibility means Acura can quickly adjust production to match what customers actually want.
EVs Still Matter
Acura
Acura isn’t shelving its EV ambitions entirely. The company just showed off the RSX EV prototype, a sporty SUV that will debut on a new in-house platform. It’s also the first to run Acura’s new Asimo OS infotainment system, promising more personalization and over-the-air updates. The RSX EV will be built in Ohio on the same line as the Integra, proving Acura is serious about electrification even as it leans into hybrids. Think of hybrids as a bridge rather than a detour.
Could This Mean a Hybrid NSX?
Acura
Here’s where things get exciting. Acura hasn’t confirmed which models will go hybrid, but the return of gasoline-electric powertrains opens the door for something fans have been waiting for: a new NSX. The last-generation NSX was already a hybrid supercar, and with Acura already reviving one of its most iconic models, the Integra, it isn’t far-fetched to imagine them doing the same to the NSX. In fact, it could serve as the perfect halo car, cementing Acura as more than just a brand that makes fancy Hondas. The only hope is that their take on a reimagined sports car feels more authentic than Toyota’s polarizing MKV Supra.
