Acura, Honda‘s premium performance brand, has previewed its next-generation all-electric model said to be a significant step forward in its electrification strategy with the debut during Monterey Car Week in California of the Performance EV Concept. The performance SUV developed by the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles will make its public debut at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering on Friday, Aug. 16th, and it will be featured on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, Aug. 18th.

Scheduled to go into production in late 2025, a new Acura based on the concept will be the first model engineered on the new Honda-developed EV platform and the first produced at the EV Hub in Ohio. It will join the recently launched Honda Prologue and the Acura ZDX, the brands’ first all-electric SUVs for the North American market developed on General Motors’ Ultium platform.

“The Acura Performance EV Concept kicks off the exciting next step in our electrification strategy, showcasing the styling direction of our next all-new, all-electric Acura model that will debut next year,” said Mike Langel, Assistant Vice President, of Acura National Sales. “Building on the just-launched all-electric 2024 Acura ZDX, our next all-electric Acura SUV will continue our focus on delivering Acura clients an exhilarating driving experience in the electrified future.”

Concept design highlights include a coupe-like silhouette and teardrop-shaped cabin with “contrast surfacing” finished in Moonlit White Pearl semi-matte paint. The concept’s front fascia is said to draw inspiration from the high-tech form and function of hydrofoil superyachts.

“The Acura Performance EV Concept is the archetype of Acura Performance in the electrified era, taking full advantage of the extreme design freedom of stance and proportion offered by our next-generation EV platform to push the boundaries of Acura design even further,” said Dave Marek, Acura Executive Creative Director at Honda R&D.

Body vents figure prominently on the hood and are carved into the deeply sculpted side surfaces. In the rear, an upswept decklid, full-width taillight, and large diffuser are a nod to the second-generation NSX. The sharp tail has ACURA across the tailgate in a new font unique to the brand’s electrified vehicles.

The concept features a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and muscular wheel arches covering large 23-in wheels wrapped in wide 295/35R23 performance tires. The sculptural wheel design has brushed machined edges and a spoke pattern with variable spacing.

Each corner features drilled high-performance brakes in body-paint-matching four-piston calipers with a neon green Acura scripting tying it to the Acura Electric Vision Design Study revealed at Monterey Car Week in 2023. Acura has a history of displaying concept vehicle designs during the event, previously presenting the Precision EV Concept (2022), Type S Concept (2019), Precision Concept (2016), and NSX Concept (2013).

The latest Acura concept comes as Honda says it is making significant progress on its EV Hub in Ohio for North American production. Honda has committed to investing at least $700 million to transform its Marysville Auto, East Liberty Auto, and Anna Engine plants for EV production.

“The establishment of the Honda EV Hub represents not only the start of EV production but the complete reimagining of our approach to manufacturing that will establish our global standard for EV production,” said Mike Fischer, Executive Chief Engineer and leader of the Honda North American BEV Project.

As Honda works toward the EV start of production in late 2025, retooling efforts are well underway. The company is planning for the flexibility to produce both ICE (internal combustion engine) and electric vehicles on the same line at Marysville so it can quickly respond to shifting market demand.

This includes preparation for vehicle production and in-house assembly of the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) that houses the EV battery and serves as part of the vehicle platform. The Anna Engine Plant, which has produced a range of engines and engine components, transmissions, camshafts, crankshafts, and high-tech CVT components, will now build the IPU case that will contain the EV battery module and serve as the main frame structure for the floor of Honda and Acura EVs.

This includes the installation of six 6000-ton (5440-t) high-pressure die-cast machines over 31 ft (9.1 m) tall that will bring IPU manufacturing in-house for the first time at Honda. The IPU case is much larger than anything Honda has die-cast before, and its two pieces will be welded together using friction stir welding. To create space for IPU case production, in 2023 the production of engine components for two different generations of engines was transferred to Honda’s Alabama Auto Plant.

A key component of the EV hub construction progress continues at L-H Battery Company, Inc., the more than 2 million ft² (186,000 m²) joint venture EV battery facility near Jeffersonville, OH. Honda and LG Energy Solution have committed $3.5 billion to the new facility, with the overall investment projected to reach $4.4 billion. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, with an annual capacity of approximately 40 GW·h.

Based on its goal to achieve carbon neutrality, Honda is targeting 100% zero-emissions vehicle sales from battery-electric and fuel-cell EVs by 2040. Importantly, the company expects to maintain employment stability across all locations during these key next steps in the transition to an electrified future.

“The establishment of our EV Hub is not simply an investment in retooling and equipment, we are investing in the Honda associates who will be taking on new responsibilities to lead us into the electrified future,” said Bob Nelson, Executive Vice President of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Even as Honda accelerates the preparation for EV production, the company plans to sustain current ICE and hybrid-electric vehicle production to meet continued strong customer demand, expecting sales of those vehicles will support the required investment in the electrified future.