Acura's first EV based on its own platform is coming soon
Acura will unveil a concept teasing its next electric car at the 2024 Monterey Car Week this month.
The teaser photos released Friday don't show much, but the wait for the full reveal won't be long, as Monterey Car Week runs from August 9 to 18. The annual event in California is also where Acura unveiled its Precision EV two years ago, a concept that previewed the 2024 ZDX currently on sale.
The platform behind Acura's upcoming EV has nothing to do with General Motors' Ultium EV platform or battery technology used in the ZDX. It is a new design developed with parent company Honda and will be used for a variety of EVs, including the 0 (zero) series EV family unveiled at CES in January 2024.
The platform will feature software developed in-house and will be flexible enough to accommodate vehicles in a variety of segments, but Honda has previously stated that the first vehicles will be in the "medium and large" segment. The target range is over 300 miles.
A new EV brand, Afila, established by Honda and Sony, will also use this platform.
The first Honda EV based on this platform is expected to be launched in the US in 2026. This is also when the first Affira EV will be launched, and when the production version of Acura's next concept will begin sales. Acura plans to sell all of its EVs exclusively online, mimicking EV brands like Tesla and Rivian.
For the U.S. market, the EVs will be produced at Honda's revamped Marysville auto plant in Ohio. Batteries will be supplied from an Ohio plant that Honda is establishing with LG.
Acura will still launch gas-powered vehicles. Next will come early next year as the 2025 ADX, rumored to be a subcompact crossover twinned with the latest Honda HR-V.