MotorTrend: Is Honda Returning to Its Sports Car Roots?

At a press conference in early February, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito shocked the world's media when he nonchalantly revealed plans to launch a detuned production version of the V8-powered HSV-010 race car. Of course, he was referring to a road-going variant of the NSX successor project, which was shelved several years ago.

As it turns out, the next NSX (which is expected to be powered by a 400-plus hp V-8) features heavily in the company's renewed plan to pump out as many as three sports cars over the next several years.

Just over six weeks ago, a killer earthquake and tsunami threatened to cancel this about-face from Honda, and rob us of some of the most exciting news to come out of Japan since the Nissan GT-R surfaced three years ago.

But a reliable source close to Honda tells us that while these plans have been postponed as the company sorts out its parts supply problems, they are not dead in the water. In the last few weeks, we have been hearing that Honda is working on a high performance coupe powered by a 3.5 liter V-6 plug-in hybrid, a concept that Ito himself briefly mentioned.

The rebirth of the Acura RSX, the car you see pictured here in an artist's representation, is also on the near-term agenda. According our sources, the next-gen RSX will inherit a version of the just-launched ninth-generation Civic Si's 201 hp, i-VTEC 2.4 liter gas engine with slick 6-speed manual and helical LSD. Fitted with specially tuned sports suspension, the new RSX will also employ an interior inspired by the current Civic Type R and an exterior in a sharp, wedge shape.

Further down the line, Honda is also said to be developing a "more reasonably priced" C-segment sports coupe. Driven by a strong request from North American Honda dealers, this coupe is being developed with that market in mind and will incorporate Accord hardware.

One other concept that we have covered before and awaits the results of Honda's so-called "R-evaluation executive session" is a successor to the Beat. The original Beat was an open-top two-door, mid-engined 660cc minicar that could rev to 8500 rpm, and the next generation promises to be a new interpretation of that concept with a 1.3 to 1.5 liter gas engine. If built, don't expect the Beat to come to the U.S. We have also heard rumors of a hotter CR-Z getting a 190 hp-plus 2.0 liter gas unit, but that's all we have at the moment, rumors.

Source;
http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2011/1105_is_honda_returning_to_its_sports_car_roots/index.html

Report: Honda NSX development soldiers on

Automotive News reports that the long-dead NSX is back under development after its spiritual successor was sent to the round file in 2008. We've heard an increasing chorus of rumours that the project has been taken off the shelf, but this is the first time we can recall reading direct quotes from higher-ups within Honda confirming its existence. Takanobu Ito, Honda's President, reportedly disclosed that his company is currently working on a successor that will be both entertaining to drive and efficient, which likely means buyers can expect to be met with a hybrid drivetrain when the supercar launches. When will that be? Ito didn't give specific details on when the new-generation NSX will land, though he did say that the racer will be the brawnier bigger brother of the company's CR-Z hybrid.

That means that we can kiss the luscious V10 mounted in the old HSV-010 goodbye. That vehicle was intended to be the most recent take on the NSX, but was scrapped after the auto market at large began circling the drain back in 2008. While fans of the Japanese supercar were up in arms over the fact that the HSV-010 abandoned the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive finesse of the original NSX for an all-wheel drive platform, we have to imagine many NSX loyalists might not have kind words for a hybridized version of the bruiser.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

www.vtec.net: 2012 Honda CRV Update

Above are all of the speculating that I could find on the topic....
This was taken right from TOV;

"Last week we attended the 2012 Honda Civic press event and were able to spend a considerable amount of seat time driving the new Civic models (mostly the Si). We can't tell you anything about the Civics until next week, but while we were there, we picked up on a few tidbits of potential interest to our readers. First of all, it seems like the plan is for Honda to reveal the 2012 CR-V (due in the fall) next week at the New York Auto Show. Honda won't officially confirm this, though, and as such we do not know what form the CR-V reveal will take - our guess is that we will see a concept of some form, rather than a functional prototype.

Sub-TSX model, "Super sportscar"/don't-call-it-an-NSX-but-we-will-refer-to-it-as-the-next-NSX-anyway
Not much to report here except that the sub-TSX is still in the works, and it seems like the Autumn '11 launch is still set. The main thing we heard was that it would not be something like the current Acura CSX (Canadian model) - which is essentially a higher-level trimmed Civic. We have been hearing for a while that this vehicle will be offered in both gasoline and hybrid versions. A past source indicated to us that it would be "very edgy" and "very affordable", with an "aggressive IS350" sort of feel to it.

With regards to the range topping "super-sportscar", John Mendel offered last that Takanobu Ito has definitely committed to bringing it to market. Unfortunately our truth serum didn't have enough time to take full effect, as John was mum on any further details. So all we have is yet another "confirmation" that the project is a go, even though it's already been essentially "confirmed" 2 or 3 other times. "

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=973022

Scoop: Next Gen Honda/Acura NSX Rendering

This car has has so many renderings that I am starting to get dizzy just trying to keep up with what all the speculations are, - V8? 3.5v6? High performance 4cyl? Hybrid (please no)? 4WD? Boxter? and so on....

Click on the link to get even more speculations!
Source;
http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/latest-honda-nsx-successor-rendering.html

Honda/Acura NSX a go!

Honda heads, rejoice! In Japan today Honda president Takashi Ito announced that the company will renew development of the NSX. The next generation of Honda’s supercar was put on hold as a result of the Lehman Shock (Japanese for Global Financial Crisis) in 2008. However, Ito says that the marketplace has a demand and it is one that “we must answer.” Details are sparse and no release date was given, but with the LFA ant GT-R, we might just have another Japanese supercar renaissance on the horizon. It’s a shame they didn’t announce this at the New Year Meeting.

Source (via autoblog);
http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2011/02/04/honda-restarts-development-of-the-nsx/