Autoblog

Not only is team Corvette taking shots at the Nissan GT-R, besting its 'Ring time in the process, so is Acura with its well-publicized NSX replacement. Though we've seen more spy shots, renderings and videos than you can shake a stick at, there are a few more renderings over at 7Tune if you are so inclined. What's more interesting, though, is news that the 5.5L V10 engine expected under the hood of the supercar will include relatively aggressive cylinder deactivation technology. The V10 will reportedly be able to cut its cylinder count in half by running as a 2.75L inline five-cylinder when its full capacity isn't needed. We would imagine that would be quite often, as the car's expected power output of six-hundred horses attests.

In what seems like a highly unlikely possibility, some sources are also reporting that a version of the V10 engine from the NSX could see duty in a future Acura RL sedan. Considering that the RL has never featured anything more than six cylinders underhood, this would be an extremely radical departure for Acura. In other words, don't hold your breath.

[Source: 7Tune]

AutoExpress is just as interested in the styling of the next NSX as the rest of us are, so they pressed a digital artist into action to 'chop the shots of the car running on the Nurburgring. What they've come away with isn't nearly as bad as we thought it might be on our last podcast. It still looks like a hotted-up Accord Coupe in some ways, though the lines and proportions are rather classic, and the anti-flamboyance creates a car that wouldn't look ridiculous next to an F430, except for the quad stacked exhaust tips. Of course, all the renderings really do is muddy the waters until we see the actual car, but at least if these images ring true, the NSX won't suck. It won't stand out, either, but who ever bought an Acura to stand out?

[Source: Auto Express, Photo: Larson]

Who needs Blade Runner technology to get the details in a photo when you've got Photoshop? The folks over at Temple of VTEC have gleaned the dimensions of the Acura NSX mule by starting with the widths of a German license plate and the Honda S2000 door. The mule appears to be shorter, but taller and wider than the previous NSX, with a longer wheelbase. VTEC also has a chart comparing the estimated dimensions with those of the Nissan GT-R, Porsche GT2, and Corvette Z06. While the exact measurements could be slightly off, they should fit together in relation to each other. We expect that in design and dimension the mule's bodywork has little to do with the final NSX -- but we probably have a year and change before we find out... Thanks for the tip, Eugene!

[Source: Temple of VTEC]

Click above for a gallery of the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept.

Acura is slated to release its NSX replacement sometime around the turn of the decade, but despite what you may have heard circulating the 'Net, it's not going to be priced to compete with Ferrari and Lamborghini. There's little doubt that Acura's 500+hp, V10-powered super sled has Italy's finest in its sights, along with the perennial show queen, the Lexus LF-A, but even with current exchange rates between the Japanese yen and the U.S. dollar, the successor to the NSX won't be carrying a sticker around $180,000. After contacting Mike Spencer, one of Acura's press people, he confirmed that the comments he made were taken out of context and that definitive pricing for the new vehicle is still a long way off. He would only say that the exchange rates would have an effect, but it would be unfair to attempt to guesstimate on price this early in the game. Considering that the last NSX was knocking on the $100k door before it was killed off in 2005, we'd expect a higher sticker for the next model, but pulling a number out of the air, comparing it to other vehicles in the segment and claiming it as fact, is hardly fair. As such, we'll wait for a formal announcement from Acura so you can start saving your pennies for the NSX's upcoming replacement.

We (and many of you) were blown away by Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept when it was unveiled at NAIAS in January. Though we were a bit disappointed the concept was only a non-running turntable tease, Honda assured everyone that an improved, closer-to-production show car was in the works for the October Tokyo show.

Winding Road says its sources have heard the contrary, that Honda is going back to the high-performance drawing board to come up with a more super supercar. Word is the ASC just isn't impressing as many people as it needs to be. Perhaps Honda management saw the ASC wasn't its company's best effort, and instead of dumping the project entirely (like Chrysler did with the ME Four-Twelve or Ford with the GR-1), it's committing the resources needed to create something truly special in the $100,000+ sport coupe segment. As such, we're not quite sure what we'll see in October at the Tokyo Auto Show, if anything at all.

At least this is what we hope they're doing. Honda could have scrapped the whole thing and reallocated the funds to development of the next generation Pilot. Eeek!

[Source: Winding Road]