Honda originally planned to show off the next generation NSX to the seething throngs at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. But due to some rough reception the Acura Advanced Sports Car concept took at the Detroit show, Honda’s designers headed back to their drawing boards to redesign the front clip on this 550 hp, 4.5-liter V10.
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.
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Confirmed: New Acura NSX to Arrive in 2010
Honda has aspirations to compete with Lexus, Infiniti and BMW in Europe, and Acura is the obvious platform from which to launch that assault.
Insiders told AutoCar that there will be a range of Acura models alongside the NSX. Honda will switch to rear-wheel drive for its large saloons and develop a range of more powerful engines.
The first new saloon will be a BMW 7-series rival, scheduled for launch in 2015.
Another new model could be an S2000-based Acura sports car, which would replace the ageing Honda two-seater, taking it more upmarket to rival the Mercedes SLK.
If Acura is to have an impact on the European market, it will require a huge investment from its parent company, but the brand needs sales here to succeed.
[Source: AutoCar.com, AutoBlog.com]
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