Honda relaunching Acura RDX as a next-gen two-motor hybrid

Honda announced that the next-generation Acura RDX will be the brand’s first SUV to feature a two-motor hybrid system. While this next-gen platform is under development, Honda said it would suspend production of the current RDX, which launched in 2018 and has sold nearly 740,000 units in the US.

Honda confirmed that current RDX production will end this year, followed by a pause before the next-generation model arrives. Exactly when that will be, Honda wouldn’t say. But in the meantime, Honda said that production of the new all-electric Acura RSX remains on track for the second half of this year, followed by the Honda Zero SUV.

The Acura RSX is being positioned as the brand’s first fully homegrown EV that’s slated to be produced in the second half of this year at Honda’s newly acquired Ohio factory. It will feature dual-motor all-wheel drive, sport-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, and the new ASIMO operating system. Honda recently bought out its partner LG Energy’s portion of the Ohio factory to acquire full control of the facility. The factory has been upgraded to allow gas, hybrid, and EV models to be built on the same production line, slated to begin later this year.

But not all of Honda’s EV dreams are coming to fruition. The automaker has already cancelled the Acura ZDX, which is built on GM’s EV platform, after just one year in production. And production of the Zero series Saloon was delayed until 2027.

As EV demand cools after the expiration of the federal tax credit, automakers across the globe are scrambling to add more hybrid models to their lineups. Honda said that these policy rollbacks also required strategy changes to better align its portfolio with customer demand for hybrids and gas-powered vehicles “rather than structuring the business solely around EV mandates,” said Lance Woelfer, VP of automobile sales at Honda. (Woelfer’s use of the term “EV mandate” closely echoes President Donald Trump’s false assertion that the Biden administration’s tax policies and emissions rules forced Americans to buy EVs against their will.)

Honda is also making moves in the outdoor adventure segment with the introduction of the new Base Station towable RV. The automaker showed off a prototype version of the RV, with rooftop solar panels and an exterior illuminated light ring along the edge. The Base Station was developed by the same team that designed the Motocompacto electric scooter — and if you look closely you can see a lot of aesthetic similarities.

Woelfer explained that many existing RV designs are outdated, creating a clear opportunity for disruption. The Base Station is designed to be lightweight enough to be towed by compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V as well as EVs such as the Honda Prologue and the upcoming Honda Zero Series SUV.

Setup is designed to take only a few minutes, including raising the roof to provide 7 feet of interior height. The Base Station features a modular architecture, allowing customers to customize it with accessories such as a kitchen module, shower, or air-conditioning unit. The exterior programmable light ring helps with campsite setup after dark. Inside, the Base Station can sleep up to four people, with a standard queen-size bed and an optional bunk bed. And its compact enough to fit in most residential garages.