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Tokyo Auto Salon: Kei-NSX totally has it Beat
There's something to be said about cheap, mid-engine vehicles. Namely, there are far too few of them. Thankfully, a group of highly motivated and overly caffeinated students at the Nihon Automotive College in Japan brought two of Honda's greatest (only?) mid-engine offerings together.
The NATS Mini-SX is based off a mid-90s Honda Beat, that's had the headlamps and tail lamps grafted onto its body, along with some NSX-like aero pieces, to create a mini-homage to Honda's late mid-ship masterpiece. Granted, it's tiny 660 cc engine won't provide the thrust associated with the Ayrton Senna-tuned coupe, but simply being able to cruise in such wacky conveyance would be enough of a thrill.
Click on through to Winding Road's story for a rear shot and a pic of a stock Beat for reference.
[Source: Winding Road]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
brad 11:29AM (1/13/2007)
I think my roomate used to have one of those… oh, wait, that was a Geo Storm.
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curtis 11:54AM (1/13/2007)
That is probably the sweetest conversion I've ever seen on a car. It still resembles the Beat, but looks like it has one totally sweet kit on. That is cool.
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PJ 1:03PM (1/13/2007)
Some slightly less massive panel gaps might help mask the fact that it's a conversion...
... but to each his own. Personally, I admire anything tiny, lightweight, and agile, and don't think the Beat's styling needs tweaking to be attractive.
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W 2:09PM (1/13/2007)
Americans should have the choice of buying these types of mini-cars.
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Capt_SRD 2:05PM (1/13/2007)
I guess starting with a early 2000's Toyota MR-2 wouldn't be allowed, yet the results would have been very similar. Somebody with enough money to make that Honda Fit conversion could spend the same money and end up with something better than a Fit underneath.
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Green Lotus Elise Blog 3:00PM (1/13/2007)
Forget the mini-NSX, is that an old school Integracamino behind it?!?
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Mustangs at Barrett Jackson 6:57PM (1/13/2007)
It would be cool if they could stuff a turbo Hayabusa engine in there.
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dave 4:57PM (1/13/2007)
w, we american's may have the choice, but not the desire to have any more shitboxes that are about the size of michael jordans shoes. maybe you need a better prescription for your eyes. i won't say these cars are ugly, silly seems more appropriate. when do the clowns emerge from the passenger door?
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whofan 4:16PM (1/14/2007)
These cars are ugly. But what do we know we buy Toyotas. What`s ugly?
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Steve 12:05PM (1/15/2007)
dave; thank you for clarifiying what "we americans" desire. That will save us all a lot of unnecessary thinking for our selves.
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