Wednesday 14th September 2011

Frankfurt: Honda Boss Gives NSX Successor The Nod

Honda CEO promises that the oft-cancelled super-coupe will be making a comeback

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Honda has confirmed that a spiritual successor to the NSX is definitely on the way.

We originally reported that a proper Honda sports car was back on the cards back in November last year, but it is only now that Honda's president and CEO, Takanubo Ito, has officially confirmed that the new car is coming.

Speaking to Autocar magazine, Ito (who helped to develop the original NSX) said: "I really enjoyed that experience, and learned much, so it is my wish that Honda engineers have the experience of developing a sports car like the NSX in future. Within Honda, our engineers are already looking at developing such a car."

The most recent plan for a successor to the NSX was canned back in 2008, a victim of various international economic crises, and was intended to have a front-engined V10 powerplant, but Ito-san reckons that conventional sports cars need to fit in with the modern, environmentally conscious world.

"You can't depend on a high power output to call a car sporty anymore," he told Autocar. "The original NSX was about high power but also good driving performance, and today power-to-weight is what we have to focus on. The NSX was known for its aluminium body, so when we develop our new sports car we don't want to copy Ferrari for power, but to also chase efficiency as well."

The big question is whether the 'new NSX' will be a worthy successor to the original, which enjoys a well-earned place in the pantheon of PH Heroes. Only time, of course, will tell.

[myhandle]

What great news! Hopefully it will be as good as the LF-A and 40% of the price.

[CliveM]

If Honda make half as good a job of it as they did with the original NSX it'll be magnificent.
Glad to see that they're flagging the focus on driving rather than outright power.

[MarJay]

myhandle said:

What great news! Hopefully it will be as good as the LF-A and 40% of the price.

No, we want prettier and lighter than the GTR with similar performance for a slightly lower price...

[Mastodon2]

I have complete confidence that a crack team of Honda's specialists will create a car that is nothing short of incredible. The NSX is one of my favourite cars, the performance was (allegedly - I haven't driven one) great in it's day and would still be a quick and sure-footed car by today's standards. I think coming from a nation that, at the time didn't really "do" sports cars like the NSX really helped Honda and as such they not only went for power, but focused on giving the car a real quality chassis and balance too. Iirc, the NSX was not as powerful as the likes of the Ferraris it was pitched against, but was more than capable of keeping up with one on the road because it was such a friendly and intuitive car to drive.

Getting the look right will be the hard part I think. I've been looking at that Toyota concept that they want to be the spiritual successor to the AE86 and cannot help but think they've had a swing and a miss, creating something that is not all that fresh or original. The NSX still looks fresh today imo, because Honda used all of their creativity when styling it, in particular that short, wedgey nose similar and long, flat planed rear deck. I don't think the same can really be said of it's competitors.

[CampDavid]

MarJay said:

myhandle said:

What great news! Hopefully it will be as good as the LF-A and 40% of the price.

No, we want prettier and lighter than the GTR with similar performance for a slightly lower price...

Errr. No, he was right the first time

[Wadeski]

really? AWD and turbo from honda?

I'll take carbon reinforced plastic body, alu chassis, 9,000rpm V6 with KERS and a small range extending battery for the enviro credentials, priced against a 911S...

[obscene]

Be scared, be very scared. This future car should be a beast.

[thewheelman]

I'm looking forward to this, having spent time with the first gen NSX, i loved to drive it, but the styling was always its weak point to me. It looked dated even when it was released, which was a shame, as a car that drives as well as the NSX deserves much improved styling.

[dmitry]

Ito said:

"The original NSX was about high power but also good driving performance, and today power-to-weight is what we have to focus on. The NSX was known for its aluminium body, so when we develop our new sports car we don't want to copy Ferrari for power, but to also chase efficiency as well."

Fear this.

To remind, in 2009

Honda said:

'CR-Z' stands for 'Compact Renaissance Zero'-an expression intended to capture the idea of a renaissance in the design of compact cars that begins anew from fundamentals.

This design research model of a lightweight hybrid sports car features advanced technologies that deliver enjoyable driving for all while reducing the vehicle's environmental footprint.

And we've got a 120 bhp 1200+ kg "sporty" car.

[rob.e]

Honda Boss said:

"The original NSX was about high power..."

Really? 280bhp?

Don't get me wrong, I love the original NSX, but it wasn't really a power-fest.

Fingers crossed they actually build this one - I remember seeing the HSC concept in Geneva back in 2003 and being knocked out by it. Just a shame it never saw the light of day.

[Hellbound]

dmitry said:

And we've got a 120 bhp 1200+ kg "sporty" car.

I was thinking just that. The whole CR-Z thing screams compromise to me. This could end up being an under powered, not particularly light, above average handling sports car from Honda. The beige brigade will love it.

I think they should go for an Alfa 4C rival but perhaps a little cheaper (sans CF).

It would be funny if it ends up performing worse than the last S2000 iteration, but Honda were asking more money for it!

[anonymous-user]

The original was a match for the contemporary opposition with some having more outright power.

I really hope that Honda get this one right and then use it as a launch pad for a new range of sports cars as their current range is a bit depressing these days.

Everyone knows what can be achieved so fingers crossed for something special.

[soad]

Excellent news, i'm excited!

[Logie]

Sweet, love the NSX. A well thought out car at its time, will be interesting to see what they come up with now.

Most cars have gotten bigger, heavier and more powerfull. Wonder what route they will take.

[Fittster]

Are they going to put a decent badge on it this time so it sell?

[thewheelman]

Fittster said:

Are they going to put a decent badge on it this time so it sell?

They were under the Acura badge in the U.S., with Infiniti & Lexus doing well, it wouldn't hurt to badge it as Acura in the U.K.

[GreatCornholio]

I remember seeing clips of the V10 development car on youtube and it sounded ace so i wish they'd kept up the work on that but hey ho. With things how they are i fear the days of screaming N/A engines from Honda are over

[DayTrader]

thewheelman said:

Fittster said:

Are they going to put a decent badge on it this time so it sell?

They were under the Acura badge in the U.S., with Infiniti & Lexus doing well, it wouldn't hurt to badge it as Acura in the U.K.

The true spirit of Pistonheads.

Honda is an awesome brand and the NSX is legendary. If someone wants one they will buy it regardless of what badge it wears.

[British Beef]

Im sure it will be an awesome car.

I bet it will be £150k +

[OdramaSwimLaden]

I did a London - Malta trip in a car very similar to the below and it was a cracking continental cruiser and very, very comfortable.

Great cars and massively underated. I hope the new one doesn't suffer the same badge stigma.