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Acura Performance EV Concept on Huge 23-Inch Wheels Is a Sign of American-Made EVs to Come

Acura Performance EV Concept 9 photos
Photo: Acura
Acura Performance EV ConceptAcura Performance EV ConceptAcura Performance EV ConceptAcura Performance EV ConceptAcura Performance EV ConceptAcura Performance EV ConceptAcura Performance EV ConceptAcura Performance EV Concept
Acura is not a carmaker that's always in the news. The luxury offshoot of Japanese carmaker Honda, being luxury and all, does not reveal new models all that often, so every time it does, it is bound to catch our attention. Especially when the product it just showed as part of the Monterey Car Week is said to preview an upcoming electric SUV that will be built in the U.S.
The concept shown by Acura is simply called Performance EV Concept, and you have to agree it is one of the smoothest and impressive such designs of recent times. Put together by the people working over at Acura's Design Studio in Los Angeles, it's simply beautiful, despite the rather large size of its component parts.

The concept is an SUV by trade, one that rides on a long wheelbase (exact dimensions are not disclosed). The coupe-like body of the thing, with its teardrop cabin, looks quite peaceful when looked at from the sides, a feeling enhanced by the use of a so-called Moonlit White Pearl paint with a semi-matte finish. But that sense of serenity changes and turns into aggressiveness as soon as the viewers' eyes fall on the front end.

The face of the concept is void of a radiator grille, and its shape is said to have been inspired by hydrofoil superyachts. It features large side vents left and right, and a vented hood up top, disappearing right into the body when it meets the A-pillars.

The rear end features an upswept decklid and a full-width taillight underneath which Acura lettering in a new font, which will be exclusive to Acura EVs, can be spotted. The design of the rear, says the company, is meant to be reminiscent of the second-generation NSX.

The powerful-looking wheel arches are pulled over massive wheels that measure 23 inches. They have been designed in such a way as to look like they are spinning even when the car is stationary. Behind them, Acura installed brake calipers that come with neon green scripting in a bid to honor the Electric Vision Design Study it showed last year during Monterey.

The concept, the fifth to be shown by the Japanese during the events taking place in California, is here to preview Acura's next electric model, which will go into production as soon as next year. That vehicle will be the first one to be built on a dedicated EV platform Honda is currently working on.

The model will be assembled in Ohio, at the so-called Honda EV Hub, which is centered around the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP). Almost three decades after the carmaker starting assembling Acura ICE vehicles in the U.S., a $700 million investment from Honda is fueling the transformation of the place.

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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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