The Acura Performance EV Concept points towards the performance brand’s latest design language and a new model built from a new EV platform.
Last month, Acura debuted the Performance EV Concept in California. But earlier today, they invited me to a studio outside of Detroit to take a good close look. It’s quite cool.
It’s also important. Acura says this concept points towards its latest design language of all Acura models going forward. And, it also strongly hints at a new Acura battery electric vehicle model built from an all-new, all-Honda EV platform. In other words, this will be the first Acura EV that isn’t based on GM’s ultium platform, the like Acura ZDX.
Acura says not to expect the production model to arrive until the end of 2025. When it arrives, the production will happen at Honda’s EV hub in Ohio. This facility is part of the Japanese brand’s massive Marysville Ohio plant. The EV hub includes assembly of what Hodna calls the intelligent power unit, or IPU, which itself includes the battery pack.
But back to the styling.
Finished off with a thick coat of Moonlight White Pearl, this swoopy crossover SUV EV concept takes a lot of inspiration from watercraft. Up front, you see a similar shape to a modern super yacht, getting up to speed on its hydrofoils above the water. Indeed, the top of the grille stretches to its center and slopes down much like a vee-hull.
The hood itself incorporates the beginning of front fender flares on either side. That’s just behind long and narrow headlights that come to the point, aiming toward the Acura emblem mounted at the front of the hood. At the back of the hood, two big scoops cut in on either side. Were an internal combustion engine under the hood, the scoops would serve well to ventilate heat away from it.
In profile, Acura sculpted a tightly formed body. It’s highlighted by a big scoop built into the front of the front door. But you also see a gloss black lower cowl that runs along the base of the side and connects with the base of the fender flares, also finished in gloss black.
The top of the body narrows in the rear, forming massive rear fender flares that integrate nicely into the rest of the body. Under those flares, 23-inch wheels with an intricate design of their own. And behind them, massive brake rotors.
Looking at the rear, a long, wide taillight runs across the back of the body. Above that, you see a much-narrower-than-the-body rear windshield that gives off a slight boattail kind of look. Around the area you’d expect to see a license plate, you instead see a translucent plate with the words “Acura Performance EV Concept” illuminated around a perimeter of light.
This being a concept, you also see tiny camera lens’ in place of side view mirrors and an all-black, pure glass looking roof. And you do not see any door handles. Something tells me the production version will not follow suit.
But I do hope much of this shape makes it to the production version. This is a sharp looking crossover. Better looking than the images I captured reflect. Acura officially piqued my interest to see what the first vehicle built on the new EV platform will look like.
But, of course, I am much more interested to learn how it drives. And will do so as soon as I can.
Another new Acura on the way is this ADX. In fact, it’s coming first.
