Acura RSX Prototype Up Close: The Most Important Acura in Years
By Conner Golden
August 14, 2025
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Acura RSX Prototype | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden
The Acura RSX is back … well, almost back. The brand revealed the second-generation RSX in prototype form, appearing both near-production and glaringly yellow, and promised that the full production RSX will break cover later this year or early in 2026. Of course, with this being a preview for one of the more stylish and dramatic vehicles in Acura’s lineup, the brand chose the ever-excessive The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, Calif., for the prototype’s debut — but not before I got some quality in-person studio preview time.
Related: Acura to Reveal All-Electric RSX SUV Prototype at Monterey Car Week
A More Aggressive Electric ADX
How Much Is the 2026 Toyota bZ?
By Robert Duffer
August 25, 2025
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2026 Toyota bZ | Manufacturer image
The Toyota bZ electric SUV returns for the 2026 model year with a new name, more potent motors, increased range, quicker charging times and (of course) a change in pricing. Not only did Toyota drop the “4X” from its bZ4X predecessor, it also dropped the starting price; the 2026 bZ starts at $36,350 (all prices include a $1,450 destination fee), down from the 2025 bZ4X’s $38,520. The new price makes it one of the most affordable electric vehicles behind the outgoing 2025 Nissan Leaf ($29,280) and the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV ($34,995).
Related: 2026 Toyota bZ Quick Spin: Now Doesn’t That Feel Better?
But it’s not quite as straightforward as that. For 2026, Toyota has added a smaller 57.7-kilowatt-hour battery pack (from 71.4 kWh) with less range in the base front-wheel-drive XLE trim, which has a single motor with less power. For the larger 74.7-kWh battery pack, greater range and more power, shoppers have to step up to the XLE FWD Plus trim for $39,350, which is $830 more than a similarly equipped 2025 model. It’s a modest price increase for a significant boost in utility.
Release Date and Pricing
The 2026 Toyota bZ goes on sale soon, and full pricing is below. Note that only the base XLE trim has the smaller battery pack; the larger pack costs $3,000 more. All-wheel drive adds $2,000 and can only be had with the larger battery pack.
- XLE FWD: $36,350
- XLE FWD Plus: $39,350
- XLE AWD: $41,350
- Limited FWD: $44,750
- Limited AWD: $46,750
Shop the 2025 Toyota bZ4X near you
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Powertrain Specs and Range
The 2026 bZ can be had in two battery pack sizes and two drive configurations.
- XLE FWD: 168-horsepower electric motor; 57.7-kWh battery; FWD; manufacturer-estimated range of 236 miles
- XLE FWD Plus and Limited FWD: 221-hp electric motor; 74.7-kWh battery; FWD; manufacturer-estimated range of 314 miles (Plus) or 299 miles (Limited)
- XLE AWD: 338-hp dual electric motors; 74.7-kWh battery; AWD; manufacturer-estimated 288-mile range
- Limited AWD: 338-hp dual electric motors; 74.7-kWh battery; AWD; manufacturer-estimated range of 278 miles
Trim Levels
Toyota loaded the 2026 bZ with good standard convenience and safety features. Every trim comes with a 14-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual wireless smartphone chargers, four USB-C ports, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting and dual-zone climate control. The bZ XLE rolls on more efficient 18-inch wheels, whereas the Limited gets 20-inch wheels.
Every variant also comes with a heat pump that helps conserve battery power in cold weather. Toyota upgraded the bZ’s onboard charger from 7.6 kilowatts to 11 kW, which the automaker says enables quicker Level 2 charging times. The bZ has a North American Charging Standard port to enable DC fast charging on Tesla’s Supercharger network, and though it can only accept 150 kW of juice, Toyota says it should DC fast-charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes.
The bZ Limited adds heated side mirrors, a panoramic glass roof, an optional two-tone exterior, full synthetic leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a rearview mirror camera and an available JBL sound system.
Standard and Optional Safety Features
Standard driver-assistance features include:
- Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection
- Lane departure alert
- Lane-centering steering
- Automatic high beams
- Adaptive cruise control
- Road sign assist
- Blind spot monitors
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Safe exit alert
- Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking
Optional driver-assist features include:
- Automated lane changes
- Front cross-traffic alert
- Automated parking
- 360-degree camera system
Read More Toyota EV News:
- No More 4 (or X): 2026 Toyota bZ Gets Over 50% More Power, Up to 314 Miles of Range
- 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland: The Longer, More Powerful Electric SUV
- 2026 Toyota C-HR Up Close: Spunky Questions
- Toyota Drops bZ4X Price Almost $6,000, Adds Nightshade Trim
- Toyota Joins Ionna Charging Network Joint Venture
Related Video:https://players.brightcove.net/1578086878/HyOJ1bP6_default/index.html?videoId=6303729951001
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Acura RSX Prototype Up Close: The Most Important Acura in Years
By Conner Golden
August 14, 2025
ShareAcura RSX Prototype | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden
The Acura RSX is back … well, almost back. The brand revealed the second-generation RSX in prototype form, appearing both near-production and glaringly yellow, and promised that the full production RSX will break cover later this year or early in 2026. Of course, with this being a preview for one of the more stylish and dramatic vehicles in Acura’s lineup, the brand chose the ever-excessive The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, Calif., for the prototype’s debut — but not before I got some quality in-person studio preview time.
Related: Acura to Reveal All-Electric RSX SUV Prototype at Monterey Car Week
A More Aggressive Electric ADX
1 / 10Acura RSX Prototype | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden
Lucky me, and if you plan on entering the premium electric compact SUV market soon, lucky you. Though I’d love to herald the return of Acura’s legendary mid-2000s sport compact coupe, the new RSX is very much electric and very much a crossover. It’s a sharp-looking thing, both literally and figuratively; all the hallmarks of modern Acura design are here, including dramatic angulation, razor-sharp angles and an evolution of the familiar Acura “beak.”
It is, predictably, a proto-production translation of the Acura Performance EV Concept that was also debuted at The Quail. Whereas that was a lifted “coupe” with exaggerated proportions, the RSX Prototype offers a clear view of a standard crossover liftback, albeit one with a profile leaning more toward fastback than an upright SUV, especially with the prototype’s contrasting gloss-black roof. Think ADX, only more aggressive and entirely electric.
Read More Acura News:
- Acura’s Next Electric SUV Is Not the RSX You Remember
- With the Acura TLX Being Discontinued, What Other Sports Sedans Should You Consider?
- Honda Prologue, Acura ZDX Owners to Gain Access to Tesla Superchargers
- Is the 2024 Acura ZDX a Good Electric SUV? 5 Pros, 2 Cons
- 2025 Acura ADX Review: Jeez, What Took You So Long?
Still Some Unknowns, But It Will Be Important
In terms of hard figures and specs, we’re not there yet, nor are we privy to what the interior might look like, as the concept’s windows were completely opaque. From a hardware perspective, expect certain trims of the forthcoming RSX (likely a performance-oriented Type S configuration) to present as the prototype does with its large 21-inch wheels and Brembo brake calipers. Acura also confirmed the prototype hides a double-wishbone front suspension and dual electric motors, so expect it to be requisitely quick both in a straight line and on its feet.
When it does reach production, the RSX will be one of the most important Acura vehicles of the past decade, as this will be the first production vehicle built on Honda’s proprietary, in-house dedicated electric platform (Acura is Honda’s luxury brand). It will also be the first to incorporate the brand’s new ASIMO operating system, a digital architecture and user interface that will “accelerate Acura into the software-defined vehicle era.” In other words, I hope you love touch controls and hate physical buttons.
The RSX Prototype is an interesting preview of what’s to come, especially as Honda’s first true homegrown EV. I’ll reserve full judgment and summation for the real-deal production vehicle, but this is a tasty (and very, very yellow) amuse-bouche.
Related Video:
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
West Coast Bureau Chief
Conner Golden joined Cars.com in 2023 as an experienced writer and editor with almost a decade of content creation and management in the automotive and tech industries. He lives in the Los Angeles area.
About the make
Acura
Acura is Honda’s luxury division; the brand offers a lineup of premium models ranging from a compact hatchback to a three-row crossover.
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