http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=04595978

TOKYO - The 13-year-old Acura NSX sports car will be replaced soon by a car much like the HSC concept coupe shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda President Takeo Fukui disclosed last week.

"I want to bring it out soon," Fukui said in an interview for the annual Automotive News Talk from the Top series. "Everybody is waiting for it. It won't be in a year, though."

Fukui called the two-seat HSC concept "a realistic proposal" and said the production NSX would not change much from the show car. The HSC concept, which had a 300-hp V-6 under the hood, is shorter, wider and lower than the current NSX.

"I like the overall proportion of it," Fukui said. "Its compactness is attractive."

The NSX, which has a small but passionate following among performance enthusiasts, has not been fully remodeled since it debuted in 1990. Reflecting its age, worldwide sales last year totaled only 364, with the U.S. market accounting for 233.

The car's worldwide sales peaked at more than 4,500 in 1991.

"This is not a volume car, so it has be aimed at the global market," Fukui said.

The replacement for the nearly $90,000 vehicle is part of Honda's move to shore up the Acura brand. The automaker also will update the Acura RL, due out next fall, by dropping front-wheel drive.

On another topic, Fukui said Honda may increase imports of U.S.-built vehicles into Japan if the yen gets much stronger. The dollar has fallen to about ¥108 from around ¥120 since August, yielding less yen profit for Japanese companies for every dollar of sale.

"We have to think of different ways" to adjust, he said.

Honda imports the U.S.-made Element and the Canada-built MDX and Odyssey minivan, which is sold in Japan as the LaGreat. Through September, the automaker has imported 16,689 cars and trucks into Japan, up 132 percent over the same period in 2002.

Thanks Kenneth, but I know how to click a link :o

Thanks Kenneth, but I know how to click a link :o


Some people are too lazy.

This Fuk u guy seems to know what he's doing.

Well he is an R&D guy and ran the racing programs awhile back. He also confirmed the new RL won't be FWD so basically 99% it'll be AWD.

Well he is an R&D guy and ran the racing programs awhile back. He also confirmed the new RL won't be FWD so basically 99% it'll be AWD.

They are never going to get true exotic appeal with a freakin' V-6. The V-10 is the hot config right now and would a great choice, that or a V-8. :o

Um ok... I'll pass that along to Jerry in powertrain.

I'd never get one. With all that money spent, you could get a slightly used Viper or a brand new ZO6 and have a much better performance. They should've used a V8 for the NSX from the get-go.

Depends of the figures it will produce...

I'd never get one. With all that money spent, you could get a slightly used Viper or a brand new ZO6 and have a much better performance. They should've used a V8 for the NSX from the get-go.


I was fortunate enough to get a NSX for a few hours (a '92 I believe)- the owner modified it slightly (bolt-ons)- it was pretty freaking slow- but fun to drive nevertheless. I could never imagine paying MSRP for one- but who knows- this new NSX looks promising.

Honda will be on smack if they think they can give it 300hp, and still charge that price.

The first NSX got away with it for innovation, it'll surley not fly in my book if the car does not have some sort of new anything that makes it attractive.

if less than 300hp can move an STi or Evo as fast as it does, i don't doubt that the light-weight NSX could do pretty well...but the concept only claimed to have an engine with "more than 300hp"...with hints at it being substantially higher. some are expecting no less than 350 with 380 or more being possible.

if less than 300hp can move an STi or Evo as fast as it does, i don't doubt that the light-weight NSX could do pretty well...but the concept only claimed to have an engine with "more than 300hp"...with hints at it being substantially higher. some are expecting no less than 350 with 380 or more being possible.


Remember the AWD rally-inspired cars are tuned for quick acceleration- they don't have much on the top end..

Regardless, Honda really needs to pull up their socks if they're going to seriously compete with the likes of Ferrari or Porsche. None of this hybrid shit. People in the market for these cars aren't looking for fuel economy or low emissions, it's precisely why these cars are produced in low volume for a very specific segment. Not to say the current NSX isn't a fantasic car, it's just consumers aren't impressed with the 290hp engine, when you can have a 380hp, track-stomping GT3 for around the same MSRP.

Reality is horsepower sells, and I tend to agree with Tom when he says they're going to need at least a small V8 or at least really pump up the output of that 3.2L, perhaps a turbo or something. Either way, the numbers speek for themselves, there's a reason Acura only sells a handful of NSX's a year. Not to say I don't like the idea of owning a car that only 5 other people in Canada have, just speeking strickly from a business aspect there's no way they can move these car with a 300hp hybrid engine.