Acura 2+1 Coupe Concept Study: Design Proposal for an Affordable NSX

The new V10-powered NSX may have bitten the dust due to the enduring global economic crisis (click here for details) but that doesn't mean that Honda fans can't continue to dream on. The Acura 2+1 Coupe Concept you see pictured above is a design proposal for a more affordable and down to earth NSX created by Colombian designer Leon Paz during his internship at Honda R&D Americas.

The concept features an aggressive look that adopts what Paz calls, a multi-faceted design language. "The idea was to show very aggressive styling on the body and keep it very simple on the top section with a dynamic roof line flow," Paz explains. One of the most interesting styling elements of the Acura coupe with its 2+1 seating arrangement is the prolonged transparent rooftop that allows a see-through view of the engine compartment.

Photos: Leon Paz , Via: Carbodydesign

Honda Officially Cancels Development of V10-Powered NSX Successor

To the bitter disappointment of sports car fans, the latest victim of the global economic recession is the next-generation Honda / Acura NSX supercar which has been canned. The announcement was made today by Honda CEO Takeo Fukui at his end-of-year speech. "The development of the NSX successor model equipped with V10 engine will be cancelled," said Takeo Fukui. The much anticipated NSX supercar that was previewed in concept form through the Acura Advance Sports Car Concept at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show was nearing its final stages of development. If it were to have been produced, the V10 supercar would have been the Japanese firm's most powerful production model ever according to company sources.

Aside from the cancellation of the NSX successor, the financial crisis that has hit the automobile industry has also forced Honda to withdraw from all Formula One activities, making 2008 the last season of participation for the Japanese company.

Though not as near as significant, Takeo Fukui revealed that Honda has also abandoned its prior plan to introduce the Acura brand in the Japanese market around 2010. On the bright side, Fukui confirmed once again that Honda's all-new sporty hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z will go on sale by the end of 2010.

Honda NSX Based Ferrari 360 Modena Replica up for sale on eBay!

Why would someone go into all that hassle and spend so much money to convert a perfectly fine looking supercar like the Honda NSX (sold as the Acura NSX in the States) into a Ferrari 360 Modena replica is beyond us. To be honest, we thought that these things only happened to cars like the Toyota MR2 and the Pontiac Fiero. Between you and me, what would have really blown our minds is if it were the other way around, meaning a 360 Modena turned into an NSX replica. Now that would have been something worth talking about. But anyways. -Continued

The Swiss seller of the Acurrari 360 Hondena claims that no expenses were spared during the transvestation transformation of the NSX into the Modena. But it gets even better. Here's an extract from the description of the vehicle on eBay:

"For this money you could get a real Ferrari. But everyone can buy a real Ferrari. This genuine Ferrari you can buy only once, as it is the only one in the world. The gasoline consumption is less than half of Ferrari with similar performance, maintenance costs are very much cheaper than Ferrari, and this car has the reliability of Honda ... ( Rust has no chance, in contrast to Ferrari ...)"

Yep, now we're totally convinced that we should spend more than €31,100 / $41,400 -which is the latest bid on eBay as we speak- to buy a vehicle that looks no different than every Tom's, Dick's and Harry's F(i)errari replica.

Via: Autoblog.com , Link: eBay

2010 Honda / Acura NSX: Spied Again

Spy photographers are having a blast this year with the forthcoming Honda / Acura NSX which has been spotted once again in and around the Nurburgring race track in Germany. These pictures that come to us from the folks at Cartribe give us a fuzzy glimpse of the 2010 NSX’s interior which features a F1 Racing Car styled steering wheel.

Despite the fact the NSX test mule’s heavy camouflage doesn’t allow us to see the design details, it’s pretty obvious that Honda’s new supercar looks quite similar to the 2007 Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept. Although it’s no secret that the new NSX will be equipped with a front-mounted V10 engine -as opposed to the first generation NSX’s mid-engine, rear-wheel layout, it remains unclear whether the NSX will get a rear-wheel-drive or an AWD setup. -Continued

Pics via: Cartribe

Video: Prototype Honda / Acura NSX at the Ring

This amateur video of a prototype Honda / Acura NSX running around the Nurburgring race track in Germany might not be of the best visual quality, but boy does that i-VTEC sound nice! From what we’ve heard, the new NSX will feature a front-mounted V10 engine and a new high-performance, rear-wheel-drive based version of Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. -Video after the jump

Prototype Honda NSX Rumoured To Have Lapped the Ring in 7:37 min

Continuing the “Lord of the Ring” saga, our fellow chaps at Cartribe informed us today that a spy photographer at the Nurburgring race track in Germany timed a next generation Honda NSX (Acura NSX in North America) performing tests around the Nordschleife. According to the spy photgrapher’s time watch, the NSX prototype lapped the Ring in 7 minutes and 37 seconds. If true, that puts the NSX pretty close to the 2009 Nissan GT-R that was officially timed at 7 min and 29 sec. -Continued

Unfortunately and other that the prototype looks awfully similar in shape with the Lexus LF-A, there’s not much info going around the NSX. It has been said though that Honda’s supercar will be powered by an F1-inspired V10 i-VTEC engine delivering more than 550 Hp.

Via: Cartribe

Honda NSX II Test-Mule Spotted In Nurburgring

Despite what you may think, what you’re looking at the above photo isn’t some sort of a long-wheel base S2000 but, according to the Swedish edition of AMS, a test mule for Honda’s second generation NSX supercar. Caught in action lapping the Nordschleife in Germany, the test car allegedly wears a front mounted V10 engine powering all four wheels -the first generation NSX had a mid-engine (V6), rear-wheel drive layout. As for looks, according to our information, Honda will present a near-to-production concept at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show in October heavily based on the 2007 NAIAS prototype, Acura “Advanced Sports Car Concept” (pics below). Via: AMS

Technorati: Honda, Honda+NSX, cars, autos, vehicles

Honda NSX: Europe’s Largest NSX Gathering At Castle Combe, UK

Saying largest, don’t go thinking any outrageous numbers; in all, 43 NSX’s were brought together at last weekend’s JapFest show at Castle Combe in the UK. James Taylor, from the online-based NSX Club Britain, said: "This was our first ever stand at a large event and everyone was blown away by the sheer number of cars that turned up. Some people had traveled all the way down from Scotland and Northern Ireland to be there."

Honda’s UK arm contributed to the pack of NSXs with its own, rare version of the car; a G-plate NSX, registered in 1990, which is thought to be the second NSX ever brought to the UK. However, the specific car’s most important claim is that it was once driven by the one and only, Ayrton Senna on a visit to Honda UK. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

FAQs

The NSX made its debut in 1990 as a genuine mid-engine sports car with an all-aluminium monocoque body – a world’s first for a production vehicle at the time. The NSX continued to evolve, with performance improvements including increased displacement, a 6-speed manual transmission, enhanced aerodynamic performance, and different tyre sizes, along with the addition of the NSX-T open-top model and the NSX-R sports model with further enhanced driving performance. One of the first true sports cars to adopt clean emissions measures, the NSX succeeded in combining exhilarating driving performance with superior environmental performance. As a result, the NSX achieved total worldwide sales of over 18,000 units during the 15 years it was in production.

The History of the NSX

• Feb. 1989 NS-X mid-engine sports car prototype introduced at the Chicago Auto Show
• Oct. 1989 NS-X exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show
• Aug. 1990 Acura NSX went on sale in the US
• Sept. 1990 NSX went on sale in Japan
• 1991 “Owners’ Meetings”, designed to enhance driving skills, inaugurated
• Jan. 1992 Custom order interior and body colour plan introduced; its range later expanded.
• Nov. 1992 Pure sports model Type-R added to the line-up
• Feb. 1993 Minor model change (addition of passenger-side SRS airbags, other enhanced equipment)
• 1993 “Refresh Plan” introduced as premium service for maturing vehicles
• Feb. 1994 Minor model change (16/17-inch aluminium wheels, reinforced brake pads)
• Mar. 1995 Minor model change (Drive-By-Wire electronic control, F-Matic manual-feel automatic transmission, open-top Type-T added to line-up)
• Feb. 1997 Minor model change (3.2-litre manual transmission model, 6-speed manual transmission, introduction of Type-S)
• Sept. 1999 Minor model change (reduced exhaust emissions, enhanced equipment)
• Dec. 2001 Minor model change (exterior design changes, 17-inch tyres front and back)
• May 2002 New NSX Type-R model introduced
• Oct. 2003 Minor model change (Immobiliser, new body colours)
• Sept. 2005 Production of European model ends

Technorati: Honda, Honda+NS-X, cars, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

Acura / Honda NSX “mini-me”: NATS MINI-SX

The Tokyo Auto Salon (12 to 14 January) isn’t only about supped up Nismo 350Zs and Streams. It’s also about those weird Japanese modifiers like the people working at NAT’s (Nihon Automotive College) who took an early 90’s Honda Beat and turned it into “mini-me” version of the Acura / Honda NSX!

Apart from its looks, the MINI-SX has a mid-engine rear-wheel drive layout just like the NSX. However, that’s about all the similarities between the two Hondas as the Beat was equipped with a teeny-weenie 0.65-litre 3cylinder engine producing 64Hp. Via: WindingRoad

Detroit Auto Show: Acura "Advanced Sports Car Concept"

I know what you first question is so let’s get straight to the point: Yes, the Acura “Advanced Sports Car Concept” does preview the next generation Acura / Honda NSX that according to our information will debut this autumn at the Tokyo Motor Show. While design-wise the production version will definitely be toned down in comparison with the concept we’re seeing here, NSX's succesor will maintain the ASCC’s powertrain layout.

Thus meaning, out goes the mid-engine (V6), rear-wheel drive layout of the previous NSX, in comes a front-mounted V10 engine and a rear-wheel-drive based version of Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). So I guess no “cheap” Ferrari thrills here? Well, think of it this way: forget the F430 and think 599 GTB Fiorano. The latter not only has a front-mounted engine layout but Ferrari is also developing a 4WD system for it in the near future.-Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see the official press release and a high-res gallery

Press Release: Created to take exotic sports car styling to a new level, the concept is designed to incorporate a powerful front-mounted, V-10 engine and a new high-performance, rear-wheel-drive based version of Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). The concept's exterior demonstrates a dynamic fusion of advanced technology and emotion. The long, pronounced hood features deeply sculpted lines and embossed air vents, both of which hint at the powerful engine beneath. The exterior lines run the length of the body, creating a ribbon-like effect from the front headlights to the rear wheel arches, evoking a feeling of movement and power.

Although modern in its appearance, the Advanced Sports Car Concept retains the subtle cues associated with its predecessor, the NSX. The concept's slim, LED headlights are pushed wide and designed to mimic the pop-up headlights found on the first generation NSX. Other styling hints include a modern take on wraparound rear taillights and the all black cockpit. Wide and low to the ground with a 108.8 inch wheelbase, the concept is anchored by grippy 19 inch front and 20 inch rear performance tires which are mounted to custom billet-machined, polished aluminum wheels. Powerful, ventilated carbon ceramic brake discs and eight-piston calipers accent the wheels. Bold wheel arches and flares add to the concept's aggressive appearance.

The low slung cabin is constructed entirely of tinted glass and sits flush against the body. Door handles are also flush mounted, allowing the sports car to retain a clean and aerodynamic appearance. The Advanced Sports Car Concept features a carbon fiber underbody and the rear is finished with aggressive quad exhaust pipes and integrated rear diffusers, further communicating its high performance potential.

Technorati: Acura+Advanced+Sports+Car+Concept, Honda+NSX, Acura+NSX, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images, Detroit+Auto+Show, NAIAS