Acura’s Precision EV concept looks like a boat that can’t float

Acura this week unveiled a bold new electric vehicle concept, apparently inspired by the shape of luxury Italian motorboats.

The Acura Precision EV concept, teased earlier this month, represents the company’s “north star” for the direction of its future EVs, with an emphasis on a “modern expression of performance,” according to Acura creative director Dave Marek.

The grille area glows in an aqua blue “diamond pentagon” pattern around the centered Acura logo, while the lower ends of the fascia light up in a prismatic “particle glitch” tessellation that continues the texture on the 23-inch wheels.

Image: Acura

The Precision EV has a broad “athletic stance” built by Acura’s LA design studio. It comes in a matte “double apex blue” finish and has a stealth roof on top of its perimeter body that is indeed reminiscent of a speedboat. Acura hasn’t released much in the way of specs, including electric range, speed or battery pack – although you could assume there’s plenty of room in there trunk for additional cells.

The interior is inspired by an F1 racing cockpit that lowers the driver into a lower position with race car style digital instruments. And, of course, no EV concept is complete without a yoke handlebar — but time will tell if Acura is bold enough to deliver one like Tesla or Lexus with the upcoming RZ 450e.

The interior lights up in a red mood for its “Instinctive Drive” mode when you want to do battle with the wake up off the road, and it turns ocean blue with underwater-like animated projection for its “Spiritual Lounge” stationary mode – complete with “soothing scents,” which could mean loading essential oils in the car somewhere.

Acura’s design is another example of electric vehicles moving away from bulbous and cartoonish designs (think BMW i3). Instead, we see lighting effects as the new EV signature, as in production cars like the Cadillac Lyriq. We also see EVs with a comfortable pod-style interior, such as in the Hyundai Ioniq 6, which emphasizes that EVs can be inhabited without a idling engine polluting the air around you.

The carmaker also tries to be environmentally conscious in its materials: the use of recycled plastics, responsibly sourced wood and 100 percent leather from biomass. Acura’s parent company, Honda, plans to build EVs exclusively by 2040, with a shorter-term plan to make EVs and fuel cell vehicles for 40 percent of its total global production line.

The Acura Precision EV concept will make its public debut today at The Quail, a motorsports gathering, and will also be showcased at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday. Expect to see an Acura electric production SUV based on this concept in 2024.