This week, Monterey Car Week returns to the California coast. The event has transformed itself from a single race in 1950 into a major automotive event spanning the evolution of cars, from multi-million-dollar mint-condition historic vehicles to futuristic concepts. Acura, the luxury and performance division of Japanese automaker Honda, is marking 10 years at Car Week and will display its newest offering: the Acura RSX Prototype.
While we won’t see the whole picture until later this week, we see some familiar cues. Acura’s sleek design language is clear from the sneak peek, continuing the brand’s trajectory toward 2026 and beyond.
Acura RSX Continues Where Last Year’s Concept Began
Based on the Acura Performance EV Concept that debuted at this time last year, the RSX will be the brand’s first EV developed in house. Notably, it’s also the first EV to be produced at the Honda EV Hub facility in Marysville, Ohio.
This plant, along with its nearby sibling manufacturing floors in Anna and East Liberty, received a $1 billion infusion of capital to enable Honda and Acura to build internal combustion, hybrid-electric, and battery-electric vehicles on the same production lines. In a market that has shifted back and forth for EVs, hybrids, and ICE in the past year, that flexibility is key.
The RSX is the first vehicle built on the new line, and the brand plans to manufacture the 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV prototypes there as well. A new lightweight, high-strength welding process was unveiled earlier this year, designed to follow Honda’s “thin, light, and wise” strategy.
ASIMO OS Debuts In Acura RSX
Acura says the RSX will be not only the first model engineered on the new in-house-developed EV platform, it’s the first on Honda’s ASIMO OS operating system. Introduced at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the ASIMO OS will “provide integrated management of electronic control units for automated driving and advanced driver assistance systems, in-vehicle infotainment and other vehicle systems,” according to the brand.
ASIMO, which represents the Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility robot, was born in 2000 and served as a vehicle to advance Honda’s understanding of the connection between humans and machines. This version of ASIMO is not a robot, but an entire operating system for Honda and Acura’s future.
“The use of the Asimo name pays homage to the beloved Honda Asimo robot and the ‘Wise’ value of the Honda 0 Series,” Honda said in a news release back in January. “Additionally, Honda announced an agreement with Renesas Electronics Corporation to develop a high-performance system-on-chip, to be introduced on the next generation of 0 Series models in the late 2020s, as well as a new energy service through the Home Energy Management System to enable customers to enjoy a stress-free EV ownership experience with reduced environmental impact.”
Honda and Acura see ASIMO OS as a way to connect to its customers, as the system will learn RSX owner preferences for a custom driving experience. As artificial intelligence grows in the U.S., ASIMO will fit right in.
The new Acura RSX will arrive at Acura dealers in the second half of 2026.