TSX69

Honda NSX Gets New Lease on Life

Flagship Coupe Reportedly Back On, But in a Different Form
November 22, 2010
/ By Peter Lyon

The NSX lives, at least in a different form. According to one source, Honda never gave up its plans for an NSX successor. Even though the V-10-powered post-NSX concept came along at the wrong time -- during the economic meltdown -- and had to be cancelled, Honda engineers didn't completely shelve the project.

They simply applied a more market-friendly (and eco-friendly) sports-car approach to the company's flagship 2-door, giving it the latest hybrid gizmology. Completely different than Toyota's THS-II hybrid system, the technology slated to power Honda's new sports coupe "can be driven with either a clutch and an engine only, the engine and motor only, or the motor only," says our source. It will also offer a manual transmission option.

It apparently will employ a modified Accord platform, and power will come from either a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V-6, with the latter considered the sure favorite. Why do we think so? Once again our spies in Japan have uncovered a patent application that specifies a "V6 powertrain developing upwards of 400 horsepower." That makes sense, especially when you consider what 1 company staffer told us about Honda's desire to return to making sports cars. "Honda does not see the CR-Z as a sports car. It's a sporty coupe and a great first try in the hybrid-sports direction. To be called a sports car, a car needs to have the potential of an NSX or an S2000. That's what we need to aim for."

And as expected, the coupe will employ a version of the automaker's proven SH-AWD system, but Honda will apply NSX concept technology by fitting the rear-drive-based SH-AWD setup that enabled the test mule to lap the Nürburgring in 7 minutes, 37 seconds 2 years ago.

Using the front-wheel-drive Accord platform as a base for this car will cut R&D costs dramatically. Engineers will swap the front and rear around to create a rear midship AWD package. If the coupe gets the green light for production, expect to see it in showrooms as early as 2014. Still unclear is if the car will continue to be badged as an Acura here in the U.S.

03tLsNBP

iTrader: (9)

TSX69

Maybe it is bc the word Accord is attached to this rumor but this seems like it should be the groundwork for bringing the Prelude back. Toyota & Subaru have their coupe coming, Nissan has the Z & GT-R, Hyundai has the Genesis etc etc

I realize that the Accord coupe pretty much occupies the slot that the Prelude used to so all they have to do is differentiate it some like offer AWD or the SH-FWD again ...

I am still weary of the 2nd generation NSX rumors & think that it is more likely to happen once Honda decides to try to launch Acura in Japan again ...

TSXKid2010

Hopefully Hybrid won't kill it.

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

they should have just used a platform they already had, like the HSV, that thing looks sick, not really digging the back end of this car, but the hsv just looks great all over.

JCRDX11

Plus !

JCRDX11

Plus 1

Belowzero78

That's not a bad looking car.

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Wow! Seriously hope this comes into fruition!

JM2010 SH-AWD

Take this for what it's worth, but while getting my oil changed at the dealer today, the service tech (who is a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic car guy) said that Acura has told dealers to expect an NSX replacement in the '12-'13 range, powered, he said, by a small bore V8. The car will be distributed to dealers only on an as-ordered basis.

I hope that even a shred of this is true, but given the inevitable rise in gasoline prices, the V6-hybrid powertrain seems more realistic.

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

Yeah but we know that v8 from Honda will be way more efficient than anything that american makers can put together, i bet it will probably only be 4.0 liters at the most, still probably getting 20+ miles to the gallon.

Hi rev too probably.

TSX69

Honda Works on Successor to NSX

Honda Motor Co. President Takanobu Ito says his company is developing a sports car that will be the spiritual successor to the discontinued Acura NSX.

But in tune with the times, the new car won't feature the brute V-10 engine that had been envisioned for the next NSX. That vision was scrapped in 2008 during the global financial crisis.

Speaking to reporters at the Shanghai auto show, Ito said the car would be exhilarating to drive but also environmentally friendly: "That's the kind of sports car we want to make."

Ito did not give details of the sports car or a timeline for its launch. The vehicle is expected to use an electric drivetrain to give the gasoline engine a boost, a Honda spokesman said. The car will be positioned as a high-performance counterpart to the 2-seat Honda CR-Z sporty hybrid.

"We are working very hard on it," Ito said.

Ito's predecessor Takeo Fukui killed plans for an NSX replacement as 1 of several cost-saving cutbacks.

That version of the NSX was expected to have a front-mounted V-10 engine turning out at least 500 hp. It would have followed the 1st-generation NSX, which had a mid-mounted V-6. That NSX went out of production in late 2005 after 14 years.

TSX69

Honda Sports Hybrid To Succeed Acura NSX

anupamb | April 25, 2011 at 3:32 pm

1. 
   Acura Confirms Honda’s Sports-Car ...

A few years back, even normal hybrid passenger cars were considered non-pragmatic. However, over time, more and more automakers have been paving the way for hybrids with aggressive racing capabilities. Honda’s new successor to the long-discontinued Acura NSXis one of the many examples of the lot. Honda Motor Co. President Takanobu Ito revealed this at the on-going Shanghai Auto Show.


Not too long ago, Honda was planning to launch its next Acura NSX, but the global financial crisis compelled Honda’s then President Takeo Fukui to abandon the plan in order to cut expenses. Honda engineers were determined to employ the V10 engine for the purpose of the NSX on line. But that was the story of 2008.


Now, 3 years later, we expect Honda to think “green” while designing its next NSX. To our delight, Honda will no longer continue with the second generation NSX from 2008, but would rather do the follow-up with a new hybrid!


The 2-seater Acura NSX was not a remarkable example of innovation. For some critics, it marked Honda’s shift of focus from innovation to profit. Honda seems to be determined to banish this supposition and exemplify a revival of innovation.


The innovation studded Shanghai Auto Show was the best venue for Honda to disclose its green ambitions with race cars. The V10 engine of Honda’s 2nd generation NSX plans in 2008 was an improvement over the V6 engine used in the 1st generation NSX. However, now the successor of the Acura NSX will have an electric drivetrain which will supplement the gasoline engine and render the car much more powerful than the Honda CR-Z sporty hybrid.

Corpun

Heh, good lord I hope so. A similarly power-starved NSX would be a seriously sad panda.