Acura EV on its way, and maybe hybrids, too

Acura has a small lineup but big aspirations. Though the premium brand has not been specific about its electrification goals, parent Honda Motor Co. is targeting a large shift to electrification in North America in this decade.

Acura has said it's planning a pivot to electric that's even more aggressive than Honda's, and it anticipates that EVs will represent as much as 60 percent of its annual sales.

Acura has also said it will skip hybrids altogether and move right into electrification, but there is still a chance that some of its nameplates — MDX, RDX, Integra — will get some sort of hybrid powertrain to bridge the gap between gasoline and electric. And while it was expected that the Integra would be the final all-new internal-combustion model for Acura, the brand might still bring a subcompact gasoline-powered crossover from China to sell in the U.S. for one generation.

Electric crossover: Acura plans to debut its first electric crossover in 2024, based on a General Motors platform and using a GM Ultium battery pack. No names have been publicized yet. Acura will design the model inside and out, and it will likely have the same footprint as the Honda Prologue, which slots between Honda's compact CR-V and midsize Passport.

MDX: Acura's fourth-generation MDX three-row crossover underwent a redesign for the 2022 model, and a more powerful MDX Type S arrived in dealerships at the beginning of this year, also designated as a 2022 model. The MDX carries over unchanged for the 2023 model. It's likely that it will get a redesign in 2026 that will include a mild hybrid variant. The MDX could transform into an all-electric model in 2027.

RDX: The RDX compact crossover was freshened for the 2022 model, replete with an exterior face-lift and a reshaped rear end that gave it a more sophisticated look and aligned it with the fourth-generation MDX. The RDX enters the 2023 model year unchanged and goes on sale this fall. It will be up for a redesign in 2027 that could include the addition of a hybrid powertrain that uses the same fourth-generation two-motor hybrid-electric system that will power the sixth-generation Honda CR-V.

CDX: Acura dealers have been asking for a subcompact crossover to match the Honda HR-V. There are now murmurings that the CDX could be exported from China to the U.S. by 2025. But it would be replaced by an all-electric entry for its second generation.

TLX: Acura's midsize sedan was redesigned for the 2021 model on a new platform, with a new engine as well as fresh styling. A limited-run TLX Type S PMC Edition joins the lineup for the 2023 model year and will go on sale at the end of the year. Otherwise the TLX carries over to the 2023 model year unchanged and goes on sale this fall. The sedan will undergo a minor freshening in early 2023 and is due for a redesign in 2026. The TLX will remain a gasoline-only model as Acura begins to electrify its lineup, but it could appear as an EV after 2030.

Integra: Acura rebooted its Integra compact car for the 2023 model, which went on sale in June, filling a void left by the more conservative ILX. With just two trims — base and A-Spec — Acura is focusing buyers of the fifth-generation Integra on the top-end model with a six-speed manual transmission.

The Integra is based on the Honda Civic and powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that delivers 200 hp and 192 pound-feet of torque. Variants without the manual are powered by a CVT.

An Integra Type S could be revealed at the end of the year. Though it's unclear what role the Integra will play in Acura's electric future, a minor freshening in 2025 may introduce a hybrid powertrain, and the car could become all-electric by the end of the decade.

NSX: A limited-run 2022 NSX Type S supercar went on sale in January to celebrate the final run of the hybrid supercar. Only 350 will be built at Honda's Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio. The last iteration of the supercar will offer a Gotham Grey matte paint finish that is exclusive to the facility.

But it is possible that a new NSX could pop up in 2026 with an all-electric powertrain.