Honda NSX Roadster Reportedly Confirmed

We’ve all seen the open top version of the upcoming Honda NSX in The Avengers, but it was never certain that Honda would give us the production version of the open-air version. Untill now that is.

Honda has confirmed for autocar that it is currently developing the NSX roadster alongside the coupe. However, while Honda’s go-fast hybrid is set to come to the market in 2015, the convertible will arrive at least two years later.

Of course, the Honda NSX roadster is currently in the early development stage. This means that the designers haven’t even decided what roof solution to use. Nonetheless, the most likely version is a proper roadster, as the targa panels on the original NSX are not practical enough.

Honda’s NSX roadster will share its tech side with the coupe, which means that it will be powered a a hybrid system consisting of a twin-turbo V6, a twin-clutch transmission and three electric motors.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-nsx-roadster-reportedly-confirmed-71778.html

Honda NSX aims for '458 excitement at 911 price'

by Jim Holder

 

One of the hardest challenges facing the Honda NSX development team is communicating the car’s capabilities, says development chief Ted Klaus.

“The NSX has never been about a set of figures on a piece of paper,” he said. “As with the original, the eventual power figure won’t grab headlines, for instance, but the qualities that you can’t write down, such as driver involvement and pleasure, are the ones that will matter.

"As engineers, we like numbers, but I’m acutely aware that if we build this car against a set of criteria that has been written down, we will lose our sense of focus.”

The Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911, Audi R8, Ferrari 458 and McLaren 12C are among the competitors being used as benchmarks by Klaus. “We’re looking for the excitement of the 458 at the price of the 911, and we think the hybrid technology can help us achieve that,” he said.

The car will be launched in 2015.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/honda-nsx-aims-458-excitement-911-price

Paint your Dream 2015 NSX

Acura has come out with a NSX colourizer.

https://www.facebook.com/Acura/app_573862745964535

Honda NSX to launch in 2015

Honda's new hybrid NSX supercar, set to launch in two years time, to offer combined power output of 400bhp

The new Honda NSX will launch in 2015 with ground-breaking technology that will only be employed if it improves the driving experience, according to its development chief Ted Klaus.

Honda's new NSX is undergoing chassis development in the US, while powertrain work is being carried out in Japan. The Honda will feature a mid-mounted V6 engine, supported by three electric motors, offering a combined output of 400bhp. Honda has previously promised sharp handling and a high performance potential.

Klaus, however, has reiterated that the complex electronics will only intervene if they improve the driving experience. In particular, he highlighted the possibility of using the electric motors to deliver instant throttle response, or to allow silent all-electric drive.

'"The NSX must stay true to the role it created, of being an everyday exotic," said Klaus. "That means we must only use the new tech to support the driver to live with the car every day, and to give the driver a car with a depth of abilities that they can peel away with familiarity, as they get to know the car.

"The technology gives us a chance to create a car that is focused on being agile, precise and linear in its responses like never before. We are looking to do more than chase numbers on paper - as with the original NSX we wont have the most powerful car in the category, for instance, but we believe the human element is more important than that. Whatever we do, the driver must be at the centre of the experience, not the car."

Klaus also confirmed that Honda hoped to involve racing drivers from inside and outside the company during development, as it did with Formula 1 racer Ayrton Senna with the original NSX. The firm returns to F1 with McLaren in 2015.

"We call them acid tests - be it exposing the car to the world's most demanding drivers or test tracks. We may get burned by that acid, but that is the only way to improve," said Klaus.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/frankfurt-motor-show/honda-nsx-launch-2015

Honda NSX Concept-GT breaks cover

To race at Suzuka

Honda has announced the NSX Concept-GT race car which will compete in the GT500 class of the Super GT Series fifth round this weekend at Suzuka.

As you would imagine, the racecar is based on the Acura NSX concept and complies with the 2014 regulations established by the Japan Automobile Federation regarding GT500 cars. The vehicle is powered by a 2.0-liter mid-mounted inline direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine working together with a hybrid setup.

No further details were released, but we notice the addition of a wide body kit including a huge rear wing, a lowered suspension, a carbon fiber front spoiler lip, side vents and multi-spoke alloys shod in Bridgestone Potenza tires.

The road-legal Acura NSX is scheduled to go on sale in 2015, with production taking place in Ohio, United States.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113081661530/honda-nsx-concept-gt-breaks-cover

Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (HMC): Acura’s NSX — The “Next Big Thing”

Acura, the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC), has just tweeted the first teaser picture of an NSX second generation prototype. This new NSX is a hybrid-electric supercar and a revival of the first generation Acura NSX. Acura is planning on putting out the NSX to the market in 2015.

Will this sleek new electric car turbocharge Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) and Acura moving forward, or will competitors like Porsche, Nissan Motor, and Audi make the new Acura NSX slam the brakes? Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC)’s revamping of the Acura brand and the NSX’s appeal to consumers will be a catalyst for Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC)’s stock moving forward. Even if the NSX doesn’t sell as well as other competitors, the car itself will probably drive customers to buy other Acura or Honda cars.

The NSX can help Honda compete better

The original first generation NSX was a lot different than the planned second generation redesigned NSX supercar. However, Clement D'Souza, associate chief engineer at Honda of America, underscored the importance of the first generation NSX:

The first NSX redefined the sports car world and this car will hopefully do the same, with new technologies that will cascade down to other models in the Acura line.

Honda Motor Co. Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) has a good foundation to build upon from the success of the first generation NSX, and is currently overhauling the luxury Acura brand. Acura sales in the United States were up an encouraging 14% in the first four months of 2013.  But Acura is “only” ranked fifth in the United States among luxury brands, behind BMW, Toyota's Lexus brand, Mercedes-Benz, and General Motors' Cadillac. And although the Acura team is most likely not planning on directly competing with Porsche and Ferrari, the more affordable NSX supercar will appeal to more consumers and give Honda a new front to compete with the likes of Nissan, Audi, and Porsche.

Honda shares have done fairly well in the past few months due to a weaker Japanese yen and a robustly strong automotive market:

HMC data by YCharts

Sure, an NSX supercar will probably not be the first model a budget-conscious family or consumer. Analysts estimate the NSX will cost somewhere in the $120,000-$200,000 range to compete with Audi’s R8. The Nissan GT-R, a comparable model to the NSX, runs at about $110,000. Porsches are priced expensively since they are very high-end, high quality sports cars. So, the NSX might have some difficulty competing with Nissan if its price is much above $120,000. And, people with a lot of discretionary income to spend on a high priced car aren’t offered much of a reason to not buy a snazzy Porsche and get an NSX instead.

But, as we will see in in the next point, the NSX itself might not be the biggest piece to Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC)’s puzzle. Acura's NSX will possibly not only take some market share away from Nissan, Audi, and Porsche, but will also give Honda leverage in selling its other brands. The NSX would probably ride the coattails of the electric car revolution and have a larger impact than its numbers might originally suggest.

The NSX might give Honda leverage

The danger the NSX poses to Nissan and Porsche might not initially lie in how well the NSX sells. As Ronald D. White of the Los Angeles Times explains:

Experts said the previous iterations of the NSX created a so-called halo car that brought attention to the entire Acura line. The automaker is hoping that will happen again with the new version. The NSX has been the kind of car that "adds luster and excitement to the Acura brand," Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said in an interview. "It will bring people into the showrooms, not so much to buy, but maybe to look," Nerad added. "And if they look and then buy an ILX or an MDX, the Acura people will be very happy."

The new generation NSX has one key factor in common with the first generation NSX -- the allurement factor. The first generation NSX sold very well, but also helped consumers take a second look at other Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) and Acura cars that they otherwise might not have taken a look at, thus driving revenue up for Honda.

How Nissan, Porsche, and others respond to this development remains to be seen. Nissan probably has more to lose than Porsche since Porsche most likely won’t be in direct competition with the NSX for the most part. Both Nissan and Porsche posted pretty strong results in the first quarter of 2013, with Nissan benefiting from a weaker Japanese yen like Honda has.

The outlook for both Nissan and Porsche at this moment looks fairly good, but Honda’s NSX will probably be a factor weighing down on Nissan’s sales in the long run.  At this point, if all goes well with the rest of the NSX's development then it is safe to say that Acura's NSX will be "the next big thing" in the automotive industry.

The article Acura’s NSX -- The “Next Big Thing” originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Evan Buck.

Evan Buck has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Evan is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.

Temple of Vtec: NSX Prototype Track Run

Acura NSX Prototype with Production Powertrain to Pre-Run IndyCar Race

by  Alexander Stoklosa

If you’re growing bored with Acura’s seemingly endless parade of NSX concepts—there was the 2012 original, then this one, one with an interior, and, oh, look, a red one!—get ready to flip your britches. That’s because there’s yet another NSX prototype headed for the spotlight, but this time it will move. That’s right, get ready to see your favorite played-out supercar concept take to the pavement; the big debut is scheduled for just before the Honda Indy 200 next weekend at Mid-Ohio raceway.

The NSX prototype will lap Mid-Ohio ahead of the race’s start, giving spectators their first audible taste of Acura’s resurrected supercar. Acura promises the test car will use the same V-6 engine and three-motor hybrid setup that comprises the brand’s new Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive system (SH-AWD). The new NSX will launch in 2015, so there’s still time for Acura to bandy a few more NSXs about . . . Regardless, we can’t wait to hear what the mid-engined supercar sounds like.

Source;
http://blog.caranddriver.com/acura-nsx-prototype-with-production-powertrain-to-pre-run-indy-200-race/

Drive On: Honda's Acura shifts focus to U.S.

by Mark Phelan of detroit free press

Acura, Honda's luxury brand, is shifting design, engineering and production of its vehicles to the U.S.

The new 2014 MDX crossover vehicle that goes on sale in July is the first Acura to be developed entirely by the company's Ohio tech center, the first Honda Group platform conceived here. The MDX architecture will probably also underpin the next Honda Pilot SUV.

"Acura as a brand is very heavily NAFTA-focused," Mike Accavitti, Honda and Acura senior vice president of automotive operations, says. For a long time, that simply meant that Acura only existed in the U.S. and Canada. The same vehicles bore Honda badges in the rest of the world.

Honda understands Acura must become more distinctive, particularly as the brand enters new markets such as China, Russia, Brazil and the Middle East. As the brand's historic home and largest market, Honda's U.S. operations have an unprecedented opportunity to shape Acura's future.

The MDX was designed by Acura's studio in Torrance, Calif. It just went into production in Lincoln, Ala. Every model but the RLX and TSX cars is built in North America.

Honda reinforced Acura's American identity when it decided to build the next generation NSX exotic sports car in Ohio.

"It'd be nice to have a higher brand premium" in terms of pricing, and a higher overall perception of Acura's status, said Accavitti, a former Chrysler executive who joined Honda in 2012. Accavitti said buyers see Acura as a smart choice because its cars have good resale value and offer lots of features compared with similarly priced competitors.

Acuras also tend to have roomy interiors, good fuel economy and high quality and reliability, said Frank Markus, technical director of Motor Trend magazine, and my driving partner in the MDX last week.

None of that has translated into the prestige and prices Acura needs to compete in the top tier of luxury automakers.

"Acura has a crisis in design," Markus said. "Their vehicles just don't look very interesting or good. Especially versus competitors like the Audi A7 or Mercedes CLA. They've got a long way to go on styling and to simplify their controls."

The 2014 MDX — almost certain to be a highly profitable successor to Acura's best-selling model — is vital to the brand's immediate future, but the Ohio-built and-engineered NSX hybrid supercar may be the key in the long term. It could change people's perception of the brand, particularly as others jump on the high-performance bandwagon with hyper-priced hybrids such as the $845,000 Porsche 918 Spyder, $1.3-million McLaren P1 and $2.3-million LaFerrari.

"We're breathlessly awaiting the NSX," Markus said. "It's the affordable hybrid supercar."

It's the successor to the legendary NSX that helped put Acura on the map in the 1990s. Acura expects the combination of all-wheel drive, three electric motors, a turbocharged V6 and high fuel economy raise the brand's profile.

"They can't get the NSX fast enough," said Jim Hall, managing director of 2953 Analytics. "Acura needs a serious flagship with a clear connection to the rest of its models."

Source;
http://www.usatoday.com/story/driveon/2013/06/03/acura-honda-mdx/2383523/

NSX's electric motors will help handling

Richard Truett
Automotive News

May 20, 2013 - 12:01 am ET 

 

MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- Technical details on the Acura NSX coming in 2015 are scarce, but large-project leader Ted Klaus offered a few nuggets last week as Honda officials announced that the sports car will be built here.

Two front-mounted electric motors will do more than boost acceleration, Klaus said. They will sharpen handling by managing torque and weight shifts in turns.

And the car's three electric motors will be capable of driving the car without the gasoline engine -- if Honda wants to program the car to have an electric drive mode. Klaus also said the car's battery pack will be in the transmission tunnel area and will help handling by ensuring proper weight distribution.

"All three motors will work in conjunction with the driver," he said. "When the driver puts his foot on the accelerator or turns or brakes, all those motors will work in response."

Honda officials know the all-wheel-drive V-6-powered NSX isn't going to outmuscle most Corvettes, Ferraris and Porsches. But they also know that it takes more than raw power to ignite the passion of sports car enthusiasts.

Though technically excellent, the first-generation NSX built from 1990-2005 was seen by many as lacking soul and character, and it never sparked the same level of passion exhibited by drivers of other high-dollar exotic cars -- something Honda officials are keenly aware of.

The NSX will feature a direct-injected V-6 engine, dual-clutch transmission and a body made of lightweight materials. Making all of this engaging to the driver, Klaus said, is a top priority.


Source;
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130520/OEM06/305209962/nsxs-electric-motors-will-help-handling#axzz2Tw0wYNwr

Honda UK Taking Pre-Orders for NSX Supercar!

The second chapter in the book of the NSX is being written right now by Honda's R&D teams in Los Angeles, California, and Raymond and Ohio. However, because the first chapter had such cult following, people already want to be a part the next.

Honda UK just made a shock announcement, saying that it's opened a pre-order bank for the hotly anticipated supercar. All you have to do is sign your name on the dotted line and hand over a deposit of £5,000 ($7,650 or €5,850 at the current exchange rate) and you can be one of the first people to own one when deliveries start in 2015.

The news of a pre-order bank follows in the footsteps of the previous NSX which saw 25 pre-orders being taken a year ahead of its UK launch.

Unlike the old NSX, the futuristic car you are drooling over right now will be powered by an all-wheel drive hybrid drivetrain, centered around a mid-mounted, direct-injected V6 engine. It will also utilize a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system. This will even generate negative torque on one of the front wheels to improve cornering.

“We are really pleased with the interest we’ve already seen for the new NSX. We are still two years away from the launch of the car and yet we’ve received over 20 deposits and that’s before we’ve even announced prices or seen the final production car. With this process in place we are confident demand will remain strong and early hand raisers can now visit any Honda dealership in the UK and place a deposit,” Phil Crossman, Managing Director, Honda (UK), commented.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-uk-taking-pre-orders-for-nsx-supercar-58179.html

Demand for new Honda NSX strong

Demand for the new Honda NSX is so strong in the UK that the company has received 25 £5000 deposit cheques before it has even opened the order books.

A formal deposit system for the car, which is set to arrive in 2015, is expected to be started later this year, but the company has been forced to take orders in advance from eager buyers.

The NSX, which will not go into production for at least two years, will be built in the US where most of the car’s development is being undertaken.

It will use a mid-mounted V6 coupled to an electric motor to drive the rear wheels, and electric motors driving the front wheels to give four-wheel drive.

Honda's Super Active All-Wheel Drive system will also be fitted.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/demand-new-honda-nsx-strong