New Honda NSX Prototype Comes Out To Play

Honda NSX Spy Photo / Copyright by AUTOMEDIA

First Time New Body Style Seen

By Clinton Deacon
June 17, 2008 4:00 PM
Filed Under: Honda, Japanese, Spy Photos

Honda were hardly likely to leave Nissan and Toyota to steal all the thunder in the supercar market as they look to provide some serious competition with its new NSX. Previously we had only seen prototypes of the new model sporting the body of the S2000, but now for the first time the model has come out showing its new body styling albeit with the annoying black and white camoflage.

Unlike the previous mid-engined NSX this prototype is running a front-mid engine, with its powerplant placed well behind the front wheels to ensure excellent weight distribution. This should also allow the new NSX to offer 2+2 cabin accommodation, broadening its appeal against the Nissan GT-R and Lexus LF-A - particularly in the USA.

What that engine is remains very much a mystery. There’s talk of a high-revving naturally aspirated V10, which would fit in very comfortably with Honda’s Type R philosophy. Honda’s not as obsessed as many by big horsepower outputs, but even so an output of 450 hp seems likely. Should such an engine be fitted to the sort of lightweight body as the previous NSX, the performance would be exceptional. Four-wheel-drive, with rearward bias, is also rumoured, the handling expected to be controlled by a version of Honda’s electronic Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.

The Honda NSX is not expected until 2009 and on top of its Japanese rivals it must also compete with the likes of the Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Source: Automedia

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Comments

asif

June 17, 2008 4:06 PM

mmmm.....intersting. we could be heading for a battle royale. gtr v lfa v nsx? i can hardly wait......for nissan to show them how its done.

AOS

June 17, 2008 4:30 PM

A promising start, hope the styling'll be original, from the pics it looks like something already seen, is that a little bit of Beemer or Lexus theme going on at the rear

dmanero

June 17, 2008 4:52 PM

Your right, I was thinking the same thing. I feeling the LF-A in the rear. The front kind of reminds me of a mazda rx8, just the way the intakes are modeled.

dmanero

June 17, 2008 4:50 PM

Given it's too earlier to give a opinion, but I will say that even though it's body style is a lot better than the first nsx concept that they came out with a couple of years ago, i'm still not feeling this one either. It's just doesn't "say" NSX. For example, the new bmw M1 you can see some examples of the previous M1 same goes for the Ford GT, Mustang, Charger, the list goes on. I liked the body style of the old NSX, so why not just go with an more updated version of that style.

I'm just saying that there needs to have some fimiality from the previous models so that driving down the a street, you can still recognize it, even if your not a die heart car fan.

Joe_Limon

June 17, 2008 6:15 PM

for sure, this car bears more resemblences to the new Ferrari California then to the old NSX

jamaicandude

June 17, 2008 6:32 PM

I loved the old NSX, so naturally I'm disappointed with the FR layout. Why they gave up on the mid engined HSC Concept, I'll never know. That said, I know it'll be a great driver. The original NSX had it's suspension and chassis developed in part by the great Ayrton Senna... not so sure if any of Honda's current crop of F1 drivers will be able to give any valuable input, but "developed by Jenson Button" doesn't really have a nice ring to it... LOL

RobERob

June 17, 2008 8:23 PM

I agree. There was nothing wrong with the HSC concept. It looks a little dated now but that could've been easily changed in production. Still, there's nothing wrong with the current, or rather last NSX. All they had to do was freshen up the styling and give it more power. Perhaps there aiming more for luxury (Aston Martin) rather than performance? That would be sad, especially considering how the NSX was F-1 inspired.

peterjames7

June 17, 2008 7:31 PM

this isnt very original looking, i think it looks a bit like the hyundai genesis at the front and a little at the rear as well, but it has more of 6 series at the rear. i defo think they should have gone with a reimagining not an updated version of the original thoug, keeping a MR layout. with the long tail. as for the lfa that is possibly the most cheap looking expensive car ive seen for some time. seriously toyota are you ever going to make some sexy looking cars?

RobERob

June 17, 2008 8:15 PM

This car is everything opposite of what the original NSX was: A long, lean, sexy, styled jet fighter for the streets. I'm very disappointed. Sure, anything Honda puts it's name on will be of the best quality but that doesn't always sell or translate well considering their lack in competitiveness and originality just recently. Why is it that all new generation sport/super cars are conforming to this design/layout? GT-R, LF-A, Ferrari, and now Honda seem to have taken a Corvette's mold and reshaped it a bit into their own compact interpretation of a small sports car. All I know is that I miss the look of the old NSX. This isn't the NSX and to call it such would be blasphemy! Has anyone seen the Saleen S5S Raptor concept???

dmanero

June 17, 2008 10:53 PM

What is it with people thinking they the designers are use a mold of the Vette. This car looks nothing like the Vette. If I were to say one car that looks like they got ideas from the vette is the Saleen raptor concept.

So please stop making it as the vette is a gods gift to man. It's an overpriced car for guys who can not afford the real thing. and yes the ZR1 is $100000, for that priced I'd spend a bit more and buy a f430. Get over yourselfs.

RobERob

June 18, 2008 3:36 AM

Because Honda engineers just recently said that the next NSX will be similar to the US Corvette! First, I'm not a fan of domestic cars. I think it's pretty pathetic that domestic sports cars, such as the Viper and Vette, need huge displacements just to compete with the competition(i.e. 7.0 liter/8.0 liter V-8's/V-10's). However, my point was that I'm tired of see the same front engine layouts that's currently being marketed -- similar to a Vette (I'm not talking total design here, just profile/layout). Like it or not, the Vette is the best bang for your buck. There's not too many cars out there that can challenge a Zo6. And the F430 you think you could buy for a little more than what a ZR-1 cost, even if it comes with a 7 speed paddle shifting tranny, still won't beat it! You'd have to spend about 100g more to beat a Zo6 but you'd still get owned by a ZR-1! No, I don't think the Vette is "gods gift to man" but the test track numbers speak for themselves. Do some homework.

And have to seen the S8S Raptor? My point was that it looks just like the NSX, or is what the next NSX should be. Where you got it being influenced by a Vette proves you're just being bias. Look at the Saleen S8S and tell me that it doesn't look like an NSX: POINT MADE! The NSX is one of my favorite sport cars of all time and I'm a big fan of Honda. But to be honest, after the long wait, I'm still a little disappointed.

dmanero

June 18, 2008 3:58 AM

glad we understand each other. Vettes and vipers bad, supra, GTR good.

Tuner_Mad

June 17, 2008 10:04 PM

Nice looking car, but does it really deserve to be called a NSX? the shape ain't even close.

So here is my opinion, Yes, put it into production, but don't call it a NSX.

Xanavi23

June 18, 2008 2:20 AM

I like it and it will be a good car however i dont think this thing deserves to be called NSX. Especially due to the new drivetrain. The NSXs greatest trait was its lay-out...i dont know.

122

June 18, 2008 11:49 AM

First impressions of this car (visually) looks quite promising. I can't make a final decision because the camo's are still there. BTW, Honda did already confirm that this car will be a GT or close to it.

Xanavi23

June 18, 2008 4:23 PM

Demanero, 100'000K for a ZR1 ? and a bit more for an F430 hahahahah....i'ld like to live in your world bro...F430s MSRP is only 200K or maybe less HOWEVER dealer mark-ups raise the price to 300-350K meaning you could buy a ZR1, put 100K in mods and still be left over to buy another car or a downpayment on a house lol. F430s = good car, heavily over-price though. The ZR1 on the other hand is a bit expensive however costs as much as it should given the technology it contains, brakes etc. The Corvette is Gods' gift to man bro, since day one all the way back in the mid- 50s...the corvette was a thorough sportscar that could compete with European rivals while only costing a fraction of the price. And that has always been the way it is. Love that Corvette.

MiracleWhipp

June 18, 2008 11:13 PM

disappointing. i already miss the original NSX.

RobERob

June 19, 2008 6:51 AM

This might not even be the NSX replacement that was hyped about. It's very reminiscent of an RSX and s2000 combined when you think about it. I'm thinking S2k replacement instead??? And based on their environmentally friendly nature and their 'less is more' philosophy, I seriously doubt this car will have a V-10; it wouldn't make sense. A V-8 would make much more sense considering the RL has only a 6, as does the TL.

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