The return of the NSX to Acura's lineup has been an off-and-on again affair, but the latest intel has a new NSX with a 500-horsepower V10 on schedule for an arrival sometime in late 2008 or 2009. While our only indication of what the new NSX may look like up to this point has been the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept, we do know work is well under way on the car's mechanicals. Thus, we submit these spy photos as Exhibit A, evidence that Acura is currently testing its new NSX. They were taken at the Nurburgring in Germany and show a heavily modified Honda S2000 with quad tailpipes located in the middle of the rear bumper and what appears to be a heavy-duty double wishbone suspension below. The test car also features big wheels and a hardtop of sorts. The S2000 body on this NSX mule suggests that Acura is still far from finalizing a design for the car, but that doesn't appear to have stopped engineers from working on the brand's follow up to the world renowned "everyday supercar" that was the original NSX. [Source: Straighline Blog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
matt @ May 21st 2007 5:20PM
its not mid engine?
Aprime @ May 21st 2007 5:21PM
Heh, looks more like a Mazda to me.
Tool @ May 21st 2007 5:34PM
Not sure why Honda allowed the NSX franchise die for so many years. But then again, they never have really made Acura into a strong franchise in terms of design, performance or execution. And the branding has been piss poor.
What once had so much promise in 1986 has largely become an upscale Honda. Boring, soulless vehicles that are competent but never at the level of Lexus, BMW or Mercedes.
BOB @ May 21st 2007 5:37PM
I did not believe an S2000 body would work for an NSX replacement chassis, so I picked over the photos. Look at the 2nd shot on the straightline page -- there is a good 10 inches added behind the door, which is why that hardtop has such a wide C-pillar.
If Honda/Acura is REALLY smart this time, instead of going after Ferrari (a field with many new competitors since the first NSX) they will make a "Z Killer", no higher than Corvette price range. This will actually do them some good: when they replace the RL with a model that sells, the sports car will be similarly priced.
The former NSX, at over twice the price of the RL, was too limited to have a real halo effect on the rest of the brand.
Todd @ May 21st 2007 6:15PM
So whats to say this isn't the S2000's replacement?
Andre @ May 21st 2007 7:15PM
Are you guys Stupid?? It's a test mule!! They are more than likely testing various internals that will go into the NSX body...
dude @ May 21st 2007 7:26PM
Hopefully the front-engine configuration will be similiar to the 599GTB where the engine is compact enough for it to be set behind the front axel, giving it a near 50/50 distribution.
As for geting a combined 23.5mpg, I bet honda could do better than that if they further developed their diesel engines. Their 2.2L already has gotten amazing reviews in europe.
Audi's upcoming 6L V12 makes 500HP and 738TQ and would achieve about 20mpg in a heavy SUV. I'd like to see a high performance diesel in a sports car and honda loves their fuel economy. Seems like a good fit to me.
paul34 @ May 21st 2007 8:29PM
So THAT's where all the surplus S2000 tailights went! :P
Bryan @ May 21st 2007 9:06PM
Boring..but thats what I expect from the Japanese. Funny thing. Yesterday I was behind an older camry. The M and Y had fallen off and it just said car. Yeah, thats it, the Toyota car. Nothing exciting, so boring, very repetitive, basic transportation...zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Larry Fine @ May 21st 2007 9:07PM
DEAR ACURA,
DON'T SELL YOUR SOUL TO THE WANNA BE SPORTY FOLKS WITH THEIR SPORTRONIC, F*&^%1 SHIFTERS, AND PADDLE CRAP.
OFFER A MANUAL...
SOhp101 @ May 21st 2007 9:24PM
That's no 'test mule.' That's probably someone's modded S2000. If it is actually owned by Honda/Acura, it's to test their engine, not what the actual next nsx will look like.
Namir @ May 21st 2007 11:30PM
If they just made a RWD TL id be happy. none of this pseudo super car gimmick stuff.
Jonathan Webb @ May 21st 2007 11:48PM
Hey, I just listed my '02 S2000 today, 51k miles (9k rpm redline, glass rear window) in silver on red leather for $17k(3k under book)
www.utilitymtairy.com
(pictures on the front page of the site)
BOB @ May 22nd 2007 2:43AM
#11 -- A TEST MULE is some cobbled-together, sliced and stretched version, for testing. Sometimes it is another model with mechanicals of a new one -- LIKE THIS. Sometimes it is the current model with the front clip of the restyled model (see the Merc SL post) Later, the spy shots will be of a preproduction vehicle, no longer a "mule", but an early version, perhaps wired together, of the real car.
chris @ May 22nd 2007 6:33AM
It isn't "Acura" doing development for the next NSX, it would be Honda... I do hope you realise the car will just be rebadged for America, just like if Nissan turn around and sell the GT-R as an Infiniti, it's still a 100% Nissan car, Infiniti had nothing to do with it just like Acura has nothing to do with this until their badge is stuck on.
J @ May 22nd 2007 7:47AM
yeah they do have the brand new design studio in California for acura, but even if they help design the body or interior no way they are going to have any part in the motor/mechanicals.
orangewinger @ May 22nd 2007 8:34AM
It's a UK car, so I did a quick look up on the DVLA web site using the plate, these are the details returned:
The vehicle details for OU07 EFW are:
Date of Liability 01 05 2008
Date of First Registration 15 05 2007
Year of Manufacture 2007
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2199CC
CO2 Emissions 0g/Km
Fuel Type Heavy Oil
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour SILVER
Heavy oil means it's a diesel, although I very much doubt if it is, this may be just what they have to do to register a test car like this.
Big Al @ May 22nd 2007 3:17PM
All I can say is the production version had better look more like the show car than the tester. Otherwise it won't matter how fast it is or how good it handles.
dude @ May 22nd 2007 8:49PM
"It's a UK car, so I did a quick look up on the DVLA web site using the plate, these are the details returned:
The vehicle details for OU07 EFW are:
Date of Liability 01 05 2008
Date of First Registration 15 05 2007
Year of Manufacture 2007
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2199CC
CO2 Emissions 0g/Km
Fuel Type Heavy Oil
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour SILVER
Heavy oil means it's a diesel, although I very much doubt if it is, this may be just what they have to do to register a test car like this."
I don't see why the government would force a company to register a car as a diesel if its not. That doesnt make much sense. Where are you getting this info from exactly (can we get a link)?
If acura can pull off a high-performance diesel, they'll easily hit their MPG target while at the same time eliminating their reputation for building engines devoid of much torque. What we need is a video with audio of the mule running so we can hear the engine.