Click above for a gallery of the Acura Advanced Sports Car concept.
By most accounts, Honda originally planned to show off the next generation NSX to the seething throngs at last year's Tokyo Motor Show. But due to the less-than-positive reception the Advanced Sports Car concept garnered at the Detroit show, Honda's designers headed back to the drawing board to redesign the front clip housing the 550 hp, 4.5-liter V10.
Now, Autocar has gotten word from a Honda insider that the NSX is bound for the 2009 Tokyo show, sporting a new front end that "has Chevrolet Corvette undertones" and is slated to for production in the fall of 2010.
The new NSX will supposedly kick off Honda's first serious attempt at producing rear-wheel-drive vehicles to rival BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Infiniti, including new platforms that will underpin Acura's larger sedan offerings and an S2000-based Acura sports car that takes aim at the Mercedes SLK. The launch of Acura's 7-series fighter isn't due to make an appearance until 2015. For Honda' sake, let's hope they can expedite development to make it happen around the turn of the decade.
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Red @ Apr 17th 2008 12:18PM
Honda didn't have a problem kicking Ferrari's ass 20 years ago. I'm pretty sure they won't have a problem with a Nissan now, although I'm sure they won't do it at Nissan's price. But in Acura's defense, they're not trying to compete with Nissan. Because the GT-R is a Nissan and not an Infiniti, it doesn't get the amenities that an Infiniti (or Acura) branded product will have. So the difference in price will more than likely be completely justifiable. That said, if and when Nissan decides to do an Infiniti-model based on the GT-R, THAT will compete in terms of price/performance with the Acura more than the Nissan would. There will be people who'll argue otherwise, but I hope that makes sense.
But read more about Honda's SH-AWD and torque vectoring. Very interesting for steering response, etc.
Igenius @ Apr 17th 2008 2:02PM
I think red is a fanboy... Acura products sucks at the moment and does not match up with infiniti. Case, the TL competes with the maxima, the RL doesn't even come close to the M and the TSX(lets just say a $30k 4 cylinder front wheel will not cut it). By the way super handling Front wheel drive will not cut it either. By the way, they are gonna screw the TL up.
Red @ Apr 17th 2008 3:41PM
I think Igenuis is a childish, mammary-sucking, fellatio-connoisseur that likes to have his rear-end filled with "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" and then penetrated by a midget-riding donkey standing with his hands cuffed to his ankles.
See? I can do it too. :)
Do us all a favor and don't spawn any children...
By the way, I own a Nissan. Unfortunately, I have a phone conference (with a Mitsubishi exec no-less...yep, fanboy...that's me :D ) and don't have time to prove your idiocy. Although, now that everyone's seen me sh*t all over you, they can probably come to their own conclusions.
kthanxbye. :)
Oscar @ Apr 17th 2008 11:56AM
Use to love Acura style, quality, their interiors were thebenchmark of the industry, way before Audi or BMW, and they've become... this, what a shame. Every manufacturer surpassed them long ago and while they lost their identity, too bad.
sovyanz @ Apr 17th 2008 11:59AM
"from the Honda Brand" , seeing that there is no international "acura" brand, how is this a problem. lux devisions are made for americans so they can feel better about paying $
Dude @ Apr 17th 2008 12:26PM
"lux devisions are made for americans so they can feel better about paying $"
I doubt American tourists are buying Acuras when they visit China.
http://world.honda.com/news/2005/c050725.html
Randy @ Apr 17th 2008 12:02PM
This car is beautiful! I don't care what side of the track you roll on. I'm not a Honda fan but I admire excellent design and this is excellent, front, top, side and back.
There is a trend starting. This is the second article in the past two days that I noticed that the name of the manufacturer is incorrect. It's Acura, in the photos, on the car, on the walls in the photos.
Finally, can you say "Ford Reflex meets Chevrolet Corvette"? Regardless though, it's beautiful!
ermax18 @ Apr 17th 2008 12:05PM
Honda has been sliding for a while. The S2000 was the last cool car they came out with. Even the S2000 has been dumbed down with the AP2 and now they added DBW. Then you see the new TSX. What are they thinking? But this little bit of news about going RWD gives me some hope that maybe one day Honda will come back. AWD is to bloated and isn't as fun as RWD.
SenSpeed @ Apr 17th 2008 12:08PM
...and will stay dead because the next model will not be mid-engine.
YSX...yawn sportscar experimental
d3a @ Apr 17th 2008 12:09PM
whats up with the led taillight that runs the entire width of the back end of the car.
I HATE THAT! reminds me of buicks and pontiacs from the 80's.
chad.dawkins @ Apr 17th 2008 12:28PM
It is the distinctive characteristic of the original NSX so that's why it's on the concept. I personally loved the concept and if they could have built it without toning it down too much it would have been one of the best looking cars in the world. It looks VERY futuristic, but doesn't look like it's trying to.
Tragedy @ Apr 17th 2008 1:01PM
Highly doubtful the Acura brand will become global. My sources in Japan tell me that Honda is highly likely to abandon that plan because the "Lexus" brand is doing horribly in Japan.
Dude @ Apr 17th 2008 1:08PM
Lexus in Japan will take some time to take hold. They literally swapped out the badge and jacked up the price. Of course people balked at it.
Leaf @ Apr 17th 2008 1:33PM
"The new NSX will supposedly kick off Honda's first serious attempt at producing rear-wheel-drive vehicles to rival BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Infiniti"
HELL. IT'S ABOUT TIME.
John R @ Apr 17th 2008 1:58PM
What happened?
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~vs6t-ari/honda_hsc.jpg
CarbonBlack @ Apr 17th 2008 2:11PM
I agree, that was a HOT concept that would have potentially made a great car (although I am not a fan of the corvette type rear end)
http://motor.terra.es/addon/img/motor/1f0184honda_hsc_1g.jpg
John R @ Apr 17th 2008 2:18PM
yeah, but i think it can be forgiven for that as a lot of high end sports cars have four round taillights. GT-R and 599 GTB for example
Michael @ Apr 17th 2008 5:34PM
Man the HSC is hot. With some work on the rear they could have had a winner. Think 400HP V6 in the 2800LBS range.
willyjsimmons @ Apr 17th 2008 5:18PM
Yuk.
I'm sorry. But that car would look terribly outdated very quickly. It looks outdated now.
The ASC looks much more refined to my eye.
Should it replace the NSX...
naw. It should get a new nomenclature.
I wouldn't be half surprised if Acura didn't give it an actual name-name. Something sexy. ;)
John R @ Apr 18th 2008 6:31AM
willyjsimmons....you don't know what's good.