Honda is leaning harder on hybrids as gas models will stay alive longer. Acura now favors electrified crossovers over traditional gas models. New hybrid platforms target lower costs with improved driving feel. A high-profile electrification U-turn has resulted in both Honda and its upscale Acura division turning away from the EVs they had planned for North America. Instead of fully electric vehicles, the automakers will focus on combustion and hybrid models, but with a different route mapped out for each brand. While both divisions will push out hybrids over the next several years, Acura appears ready to ditch gasoline-only models earlier. Honda, with an eye on affordability, still sees a future for regular combustion vehicles, American Honda planning chief Gary Robinson told Automotive News. Related: Honda’s $15.9 Billion EV Disaster Just Delayed The Next Accord, Odyssey, And MDX That means bread-and-butter models won’t suddenly become expensive electrified showcases. Honda reportedly plans to keep updating combustion-powered vehicles selectively, helping maintain competitive pricing in segments where buyers still care more about monthly payments. Acura sees things differently. Robinson said luxury buyers are already embracing electrification in huge numbers, telling Automotive News that “We are expecting an even higher percentage of electric vehicles in the luxury segment going forward.” Instead of merely chasing efficiency, Acura’s upcoming hybrid systems will focus heavily on performance. That lines up perfectly with the aggressive Acura Hybrid SUV Prototype Honda recently previewed, which almost certainly foreshadows the next RDX. It debuted alongside a slippery Honda fastback sedan concept that hinted at a future Accord or Civic, and whose hybrid powertrain proved there will also be a big overlap in the Acura-Honda powertrain strategy. New Platform, Electric All-Wheel Drive Both concepts ride on a new hybrid platform arriving in 2027. Honda claims it’ll reduce production costs substantially while improving efficiency and sharpening driving dynamics. A new electric all-wheel-drive system is also coming for larger vehicles like the Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline, and MDX. The strategy shift follows Honda’s painful retreat from several ambitious North American EV projects, including the futuristic 0 Saloon, 0 SUV, and Acura RSX EV. After swallowing massive losses and watching EV demand soften, Honda seems convinced that hybrids offer the safest bridge between gasoline and fully electric futures. But that bridge is going to look surprisingly different depending on which American Honda showroom you enter. Honda, Acura
