The Honda NSX has long been one of our favourite cars, so we shed a nostalgic tear recently when we cast an eye on its modern day successor, the Acura NSX Concept.
Our collective eyeball then shed a few tears of anger. Sure, we were pleased to see the NSX name back in the spotlight, but this thing -- this modern day abomination -- looks and functions almost nothing like the original.
The NSX Concept ditches the original's sleek, low-slung profile in favour of a generic supercar wedge shape. Its designers have also axed the flourishes that made the original such a looker. Where are the vents behind the doors, or the rear spoiler? You call those headlights?
Honda has molested the car's propulsion system too. Whereas the previous NSX was a simple, no-nonsense rear-wheel drive brute, this new concept is a hybrid. No, we kid you not -- it has a mid-mounted V6 powering the rear wheels and a pair of electric motors driving the fronts.
Damn you, Honda. But while we're cursing you, we should also probably be thanking you for dragging the NSX kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Its styling may be controversial, but the new NSX is still stunning. Just look at the thing -- it turns out it's the car Iron Man drives in The Avengers for goodness' sake. It redefines badassery.
Whether it drives well is yet to be seen, but according to Acura, the new NSX "champions the true racing philosophy of an extremely favourable power-to-weight ratio". In other words, it'll probably be all types of agile.
That's our two cents -- but tell us what you think of it. Leave your comments below or head over to our Facebook page to vent your spleen.
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Comments 8
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southweststokie 12 January, 2012 10:21
Very Mclarenesque. I like it......if only I could afford it.....
anonymous 12 January, 2012 11:00
Article written by someone who claims he's a petrol head yet knows very little about cars.
"Where are the vents behind the doors, or the rear spoiler? You call those headlights?"
Answer: The vents are clearly there. Slightly moved up to a more strategic area dissecting the rear quarter panel and behind the rear side window. This will most likely channel air directly to the intake and be more efficient than the previous setup on the original NSX. As for the headlights, they are clearly taking the cue from the Honda Accord/Acura TL.
"looks and functions almost nothing like the original."
Answer: On looks I would agree, but where can you come up with functions almost nothing like the original? Have you driven it? Are there any test videos of the car that shows it not functioning like the previous?
The NSX being a no-nonsense rear-wheel drive brute? Far from it really - a magnificent car but always underpowered. And anyone with any knowledge of Honda always knew that any new NSX was always going to be a hybrid. So surely that shouldn't have been a surprise or a disappointment.
anonymous 12 January, 2012 11:20
I didn't catch what makes it an NSX other than the name.
Would rather the original every day of the week.
jagman9310 12 January, 2012 13:55
Anonymous No 1 - By 'functions', he clearly means the type of drivetrain it has and the fact it is 4 wheel drive instead of 2. And when he says 'where are the vents?', he means why aren't they where they were on the original because I have to agree they looked much better where they were. Also, in no way was the original under-powered, it had just the right amount of power for it's chassis and as a result it handles like a dream. If it had any more power, it would have ruined it.
And why would it obviously be a hybrid? And it is a disappointment because a 4wd NSX will never be as god as a rear-wheel drive one.
Loadit 12 January, 2012 15:19
@jagman9310
The petrol engine still drives the rear wheels. Electric motors drive the front wheels. I expect it will be possible to disable the electric motors so it reverts to only rear wheel drive if that's what you want. But in my opinion 4 wheel drive beats rear wheel drive every time. Just look at Audi Quattros results in racing.
anonymous 12 January, 2012 16:56
If the hybrid can match the gtr lap times around the ring then it will be a serious contender in the price bracket offered. The current VTEC V6 sounds awesome (I've had three NSXs and currently have a late 3.2 with a Tubi ;oD) and increasing the bore should enable the new one to sound even better. The first engine was designed in the eighties, I'll be disappointed if they haven't managed to squeeze a lot more power out of the new one per cc.
Front electric motors are there for handling as well as power, it could be extremely clever and groundbreaking ... just like the first one was. We'll see!
anonymous 17 February, 2012 22:24
New Sportscar eXperiment . . . it's supposed to break ground, just like the original did. No original NSX, no F355 or McLaren F1. I wonder where this one can take the industry?
anonymous 12 April, 2012 12:46
i can agree about the looks - the slim, oriental and SIMPLE design is one of the things i like about NSX 1 the most.
however, going for a hybrid vehicle is only clever, as has been pointed out.
still, i don't like it very much. though the outline is still present, i don't like the bubbled design japanese manufacturers go for nowadays. too much 350Z-nissanesque for me.
but it's only a concept so let's hope they won't do this to my favourite car of all time. :)