With a host of cutting-edge hybrid technologies crammed under its bonnet, the NSX is poised to propel Honda/Acura back into the supercar game in the West
Honda grabbed eyeballs with their NSX concept car at the recent Detroit Motor Show. Developed in tandem by Honda’s design studios in California, USA, and Japan, the new NSX is a svelte-looking supercar with an exciting purpose: it heralds Honda’s new supercar.
After years of dithering, delay, concepts and U-turns, this time Honda are steadfast; they are really replacing the original NSX. Even better news: the company’s chief executive confirmed that it would be here within three years. The new NSX has big boots to fill: the 1980s original had a major impact on the supercar arena, bringing ease of use and less fearful road manners to the upper echelons of the sports car market. You could well argue that today’s Audi R8 and Ferrari 458 Italia wouldn’t be so biddable if the NSX had not existed.
The new NSX, 2012-style, will focus just as much on high technology as the original. The name NSX stood for New Sports Experimental and Honda are equipping this newcomer with a hybrid powertrain. There’s a slew of hybrid supercars coming in the next three years: McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini, to name but four, are all preparing part-electric sports cars. You can now add Honda to that list.
The new NSX sports Honda’s first mid-engine application of their Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, as previously seen in the more work-a-day Honda Prelude and the Japanese-market Inspire. That means the NSX will be four-wheel drive, although the exact workings of the petrol and electric motors on the production car remain to be seen. Honda will have to use one of their petrol engines from elsewhere in their global car range, which points to a 3.0- or 3.5-litre petrol engine equipped with direct injection to provide the motive power. It is likely that the NSX will use the latest lithium-ion batteries. Although the entire European hybrid road car range sticks to nickel metal hydride batteries, Honda have just bought into a Japanese specialist in lithium-ion technology.
So when can we buy the new Honda NSX? That’s the $64-million question currently doing the rounds in Detroit. This is no longer a pie-in-the-sky concept. Honda have confirmed that the NSX is now a live project as the company tries to claw back its reputation for cutting-edge engineering and exciting sports cars after the demise, in Europe at least, of the S2000, Type R models and standalone sports cars. Takanobu Ito, President & CEO of Honda, who led the development of Honda’s first NSX supercar, said, “Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun-to-drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.” In a surprise move, he also announced that the new NSX would be developed and built in a new facility in Ohio, USA.
Ito also told a packed Acura stand to expect to see NSXs racing. “We will develop race and road specs for this car. You will see this car globally within three years.” However, a UK official hinted that we might even see European models earlier than that. The NSX being rolled out at the 2012 North American International Auto Show has an Acura badge, Honda’s upmarket US wing. Expect to see the NSX appear also at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this month, where it will wear Europe and rest-of-the-world-spec Honda badging.
Story: Saeed Akhtar
