MotorTrend - It looks like an S2000 on steroids, but under these hand-crafted panels is an early mechanical prototype of the long awaited next generation Acura NSX. At the reveal of the NSX styling concept at the Detroit Show in January, Honda hinted the car would feature an all-new front-mounted V-10. This mule, snapped testing at the Nurburgring, appears to confirm the engine's location, if not the number of cylinders.

The fierce rivalry between Toyota and Honda suggests the new NSX will have at least 500hp to combat Toyota's forthcoming Lexus LF-A super coupe, also rumored to be powered by a front-mounted V-10. The concept shown at Detroit featured a rear drive layout based on Honda's Super Handling AWD system, but don't bet against all-wheel drive appearing in the production version. We'll undoubtedly learn more when an updated concept appears at the Frankfurt Show this September.

Honda has long been regarded as the more innovative of Japan's automakers, but the on-off NSX replacement program appears to be on again mainly because of Toyota's moves to develop its own supercar.

The original NSX, launched in 1990, fundamentally changed the automotive landscape, forcing established supercar manufacturers like Ferrari to place as more emphasis on quality and ease of use as well as outright performace. But Honda's reluctance to commit to a replacement (production of the original finally ceased in 2005) probably has a lot to do with rumors that it never made money on the car. The all-aluminum NSX was manufactured in a purpose-built factory in Tochigi, and production dropped to as low as 10 cars a day.