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Next-Gen Acura RDX Will Be the Brand’s First Hybrid SUV

Acura just pulled back the curtain—barely—on the next-generation RDX, and for a brand that’s often played it safe, what’s hiding behind that teaser is surprisingly bold. The fourth-generation RDX will become the first Acura ever to use a two-motor hybrid system, a move that signals more than just better fuel economy. It marks a philosophical shift for a company that built its reputation on clever engineering and performance-first thinking.

The new RDX is still a couple of years away from showrooms, but Acura is already laying the groundwork. Production of the current model will be paused later this year as the brand retools for what comes next. When it returns, the RDX will re-enter the compact luxury SUV fight with a new powertrain strategy—and much higher expectations.

Why a Hybrid RDX Matters

Let’s be clear: this isn’t Acura slapping a battery onto a gas engine just to satisfy regulators. The brand is using a two-motor hybrid-electric system, the same fundamental layout Honda has been perfecting for years. One motor primarily drives the wheels, the other manages energy and assists under load, allowing the gas engine to operate in its most efficient range. In real-world driving, that usually means smoother acceleration, better response, and far less time spent guzzling fuel in traffic.

That’s especially important for the RDX. In a segment packed with turbo fours and increasingly refined plug-in hybrids, Acura’s current powertrain has started to feel merely adequate. A two-motor hybrid could restore the RDX’s original mission: to be the enthusiast’s choice in a practical, compact luxury SUV.

Acura is framing this move as part of a broader strategy that includes gas-powered models, hybrids, and full EVs. Translation: the company knows not everyone is ready to go all-electric, but nobody wants to keep paying at the pump either.

Still Built in Ohio, Still an Acura

The next RDX will continue to be built at Acura’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio, alongside the MDX. That matters, not just politically but mechanically. The plant already produces some of Acura’s most complex vehicles, which suggests the hybrid RDX won’t be a half-hearted experiment—it’ll be fully integrated into Acura’s manufacturing and engineering pipeline.

Mike Langel, Acura’s assistant VP of national sales, called it fitting that the RDX would be the first Acura to get this new hybrid system. And he’s not wrong. Few nameplates in Acura’s lineup better represent the brand’s balance of performance, tech, and everyday usability.

Twenty Years of RDX, in Fast-Forward

The RDX didn’t just stumble into this role—it earned it.

The first-generation RDX, launched for 2007, was a breakout hit. It was Acura’s first compact luxury SUV and one of the first in its class to use a turbocharged engine. Paired with Acura’s torque-vectoring SH-AWD system, it drove like nothing else in the segment.

The second generation arrived in 2013 with a smoother V6, more space, and a clear focus on refinement. It was less edgy, but more mainstream—exactly what the market wanted at the time.

Then the third-generation RDX brought back the attitude in 2019. Turbo power returned, SH-AWD got sharper, and Acura loaded the cabin with modern tech and advanced safety systems. It was once again a driver’s compact luxury SUV.

Now comes the fourth generation—and with it, a hybrid system that could finally fuse all those past identities into one.

The RDX’s Next Chapter

With nearly 850,000 units sold in North America, the RDX is one of Acura’s most important vehicles. Going hybrid isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about relevance. Buyers want SUVs that feel quick, smooth, and technologically advanced. A two-motor hybrid could deliver all three.

If Acura gets this right, the next RDX won’t just be another compact luxury SUV. It could be the one that reminds everyone why Acura used to be the clever engineer in the room.

And for a brand celebrating its 40th anniversary, that kind of comeback couldn’t be better timed.

Source: Acura

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Rimac Delivers the First Nevera R Founder’s Edition, and It’s Already a Collector’s Dream

If the modern hypercar era had a mission statement, it would probably be written by Rimac—and the Nevera R Founder’s Edition might be its most unfiltered paragraph yet.

Rimac Automobili has officially delivered the first of just ten Nevera R Founder’s Edition models, unveiling it at the glacially glamorous I.C.E. St. Moritz winter automotive event. In true Rimac fashion, the entire run sold out in a week, proving that the market for million-dollar electric hypercars is not only real—it’s rabid.

The debut car wears a suitably dramatic two-tone finish, blending Cote d’Azur blue with Titanium Silver, split by a razor-thin center stripe decorated with Rimac’s signature tie motif. It’s tasteful, technical, and quietly menacing—much like the company itself.

Mate Rimac, never one to undersell a moment, described St. Moritz as the perfect backdrop for this delivery. And he’s right. This is a car that isn’t just fast—it’s a manifesto on what the post-combustion hypercar should be.

Not Just a Car—A Passport to Rimac’s Inner Circle

Unlike most limited-run hypercars, the Nevera R Founder’s Edition is less about exclusivity and more about immersion. Buyers don’t simply spec their cars—they co-create them.

Each owner is flown to the Rimac Campus in Croatia for a one-on-one configuration session with Mate Rimac himself and the design team. From there, they’re given access to the Bugatti Rimac headquarters and even invited to influence future vehicle development.

In other words, this isn’t just a car. It’s a backstage pass to one of the most technologically ambitious automotive companies on the planet.

That’s a subtle but powerful shift in what “Founder’s Edition” really means. These ten customers aren’t just early adopters—they’re collaborators.

2,107 Horsepower and Zero Apologies

The Nevera R is not a gentle evolution of the standard Nevera. It’s a full-blown escalation.

With 2,107 horsepower on tap, the quad-motor electric hypercar launches from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.66 seconds—a figure that borders on physics abuse. Its top speed of 431.45 km/h (268 mph) places it among the fastest production cars ever built, regardless of powertrain.

And it isn’t just a straight-line monster. During 2025, the Nevera R collected 24 world records, cementing Rimac’s reputation for turning outrageous claims into verified data. It even walked away with a Red Dot Design Award, because apparently breaking speed records wasn’t enough.

The Future of Hypercars Has Already Arrived

There’s a certain irony to watching an electric hypercar dominate an alpine resort known for its vintage Ferraris and Bugattis. But that’s exactly what Rimac wants. The Nevera R Founder’s Edition isn’t here to replace history—it’s here to write the next chapter.

Ten cars. Two thousand horsepower. A company that’s already shaping the future of both Rimac and Bugatti.

And if this is what a “Founder’s Edition” looks like, the rest of the hypercar world might want to start paying very close attention.

Source: Rimac Automobili

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BMW’s iX3 Finally Gets the White Steering Wheel It Showed Us Months Ago

When BMW first rolled out press images of the all-new iX3, eagle-eyed observers noticed something odd: a bright white steering wheel that, inconveniently, didn’t exist in the configurator. Six months later, BMW has finally decided to make good on its own marketing photos.

The German iX3 configurator has been quietly updated to include the long-teased white steering wheel, priced at a surprisingly reasonable €250. It’s a small change, but one that highlights how seriously BMW is leaning into personalization with its next-generation electric SUV.

Of course, BMW being BMW, the white wheel doesn’t come without strings attached.

To get it, buyers must also opt for the Digital White interior package, a €1,080 upgrade in Germany. This wraps the seats in BMW’s Veganza material—marketing speak for artificial leather—which is also used on the steering wheel itself. The rest of the cabin avoids looking like a hospital waiting room thanks to Atlas Gray fabric trim, a black Veganza finish on the door armrests, and an Anthracite headliner. In other words, it’s more “modern gallery” than “stormtrooper.”

Interestingly, BMW doesn’t force customers into an M Sport package to get the white wheel. Even base-model iX3 buyers can order it, which is refreshingly democratic for a brand that often hides the good stuff behind pricey trim levels. The updated BMW roundel sits in the middle of the wheel, though the change is subtle enough that most people won’t notice unless they’re staring at it in a showroom.

If white isn’t your thing—or if you’d rather not worry about blue-jean dye slowly staining your steering wheel—BMW still offers the familiar black version. That one gets a small M badge on the lower spoke, and aside from color, it appears to be identical in shape and design to the white wheel. How well the pale version will survive years of sweaty palms and coffee spills remains an open question.

More Colors, More Power, More BMW Being BMW

The steering wheel isn’t the only new addition. BMW has also expanded the iX3’s paint palette with three new shades: Fire Red, Eucalyptus Green, and Individual Frozen Space Silver. It’s a welcome move for a model that’s supposed to look as forward-thinking as its Neue Klasse underpinnings.

There’s also a new AC Charging Professional option, which boosts AC charging to 22 kW and adds Vehicle-to-Load capability. With up to 3.7 kW available, the iX3 can now power tools, appliances, or even a small campsite, turning the SUV into a rolling power bank.

BMW has also thrown in a stainless-steel loading sill for iX3s ordered with the Contemporary, M, or Individual interior themes. Meanwhile, buyers who go for the M Sport Package or M Sport Package Pro get a special key finished with BMW’s signature blue, violet, and red M stripes—because if you’re paying extra, you should at least get a fancier key.

Not everything is available just yet. Heated rear seats still don’t show up in the German configurator, as BMW plans to roll that feature out first in South Korea and Japan starting with March production. Ventilated front seats are also missing for now, though BMW says they’ll arrive later in the model’s life cycle.

The iX3’s Story Is Just Getting Started

Deliveries of the new iX3 haven’t even begun, which means this steady drip of new options is only the beginning. More BMW Individual colors are scheduled to arrive later this year, along with additional versions of the SUV, including the iX3 40 and the hotter iX3 M60 xDrive.

And looming over everything is the real performance flagship: the X3 M “ZA5,” due in 2027. If BMW’s electric future follows the same formula as its gasoline past, that’s where things are going to get very interesting.

For now, though, the biggest headline might just be a steering wheel that finally matches the pictures.

Source: BMW