Japan Report: Acura’s NSX Seen Headed Back To The Drawing Board ?
02-21-07 | 05:24 PM
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Japan Report: Acura’s NSX Seen Headed Back To The Drawing Board ?
RUMOR: NSX development halted, Acura going back to drawing board
February 21st, 2007 2:08 PM
When Acura showed the Advanced Sports Car Concept off at Detroit this January, the car drew a lot of wows, but insiders let it be known that the shiny showstand beauty was not for real.
How could it be, when the concept was an engineless, interiorless fiberglass mock-up with blacked-out windows? Wait for the Tokyo Show in October, went the word, when Honda/Acura would show an updated version, much closer to what will appear in the showrooms around 2009, complete with promised V-10 engine.
Now comes word from a source familiar with the program that the Tokyo Show car won’t be for real, either and that secretly, behind the scenes, Acura has completely torn up the whole script and started over. Honda’s top management isn’t happy with either car, so we hear, so it’s back to the drawing board, again, at least in terms of how the finished car will look, although the basic proportions and front-engined V-10 package and all-wheel drive layout will stay…
Adding to the pressure, of course, is the Lexus LF-A and thunderous new Nissan Skyline GT-R, two major league rivals close to production and that at the going rate will beat the Acura into the showroom by years.
Another issue is price. While the NSX ended up a $90,000 car, Acura is thinking about $150,000 for the new V-10 car, which is Aston Martin DB9 money, near enough, so the customer base is set to be far more exclusive even than the NSX….
Written By: Peter Nunn
When Acura showed the Advanced Sports Car Concept off at Detroit this January, the car drew a lot of wows, but insiders let it be known that the shiny showstand beauty was not for real.
How could it be, when the concept was an engineless, interiorless fiberglass mock-up with blacked-out windows? Wait for the Tokyo Show in October, went the word, when Honda/Acura would show an updated version, much closer to what will appear in the showrooms around 2009, complete with promised V-10 engine.
Now comes word from a source familiar with the program that the Tokyo Show car won’t be for real, either and that secretly, behind the scenes, Acura has completely torn up the whole script and started over. Honda’s top management isn’t happy with either car, so we hear, so it’s back to the drawing board, again, at least in terms of how the finished car will look, although the basic proportions and front-engined V-10 package and all-wheel drive layout will stay…
Adding to the pressure, of course, is the Lexus LF-A and thunderous new Nissan Skyline GT-R, two major league rivals close to production and that at the going rate will beat the Acura into the showroom by years.
Another issue is price. While the NSX ended up a $90,000 car, Acura is thinking about $150,000 for the new V-10 car, which is Aston Martin DB9 money, near enough, so the customer base is set to be far more exclusive even than the NSX….
Written By: Peter Nunn
02-21-07 | 05:50 PM
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In my opinion it is a very good idea to send this design back to the
drawing board. The feedback must not have been too positive.
It sort of reminds me of the initial version of the LF-A which I thought
was too squarish.
drawing board. The feedback must not have been too positive.
It sort of reminds me of the initial version of the LF-A which I thought
was too squarish.
02-21-07 | 05:57 PM
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I love the NSX but Honda is in a tough spot.
1. They already promised a V-10 so they can't go back to anything else.
2. The concept was nothing compared to the LF-A. I read the NSX forums and it was universal, the NSX is dead, sign them up for a LF-A. The concept was a huge flop.
3. No one bought a 90k Acura NSX here, no one bought a 90k Honda NSX overseas. The business case is very tough, especially as Honda is getting rid of damn near all of its sporty cars (ala Toyota in the 1990s) to chase profits (ala trucks and SUVs).
4. We've heard the new NSX for what 6 years now? The LF-A came out of nowhere and a year later we have a near production model?
I just hope they make it back a smaller, true NSX and not that GT they showed us.
1. They already promised a V-10 so they can't go back to anything else.
2. The concept was nothing compared to the LF-A. I read the NSX forums and it was universal, the NSX is dead, sign them up for a LF-A. The concept was a huge flop.
3. No one bought a 90k Acura NSX here, no one bought a 90k Honda NSX overseas. The business case is very tough, especially as Honda is getting rid of damn near all of its sporty cars (ala Toyota in the 1990s) to chase profits (ala trucks and SUVs).
4. We've heard the new NSX for what 6 years now? The LF-A came out of nowhere and a year later we have a near production model?
I just hope they make it back a smaller, true NSX and not that GT they showed us.
02-21-07 | 06:00 PM
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From: IL
Help!!
Who is this Peter Nunn person?
My recollection was everyone dumped on that crappy showcar worse than they did regarding the low power the HSC was supposed to have.
To me Acura is abandoning their NSX customer base by moving from the mid rear engine layout. So who are they marketing to, non Acura customers?
It is no surprise that they can't get a car approved internally because everything they show comes back with, hey stupid we don't want that and please stop putting I drive in the cars while you are at it.
Who is this Peter Nunn person?
My recollection was everyone dumped on that crappy showcar worse than they did regarding the low power the HSC was supposed to have.
To me Acura is abandoning their NSX customer base by moving from the mid rear engine layout. So who are they marketing to, non Acura customers?
It is no surprise that they can't get a car approved internally because everything they show comes back with, hey stupid we don't want that and please stop putting I drive in the cars while you are at it.
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02-21-07 | 09:57 PM
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From: MD
02-21-07 | 11:17 PM
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That is very good news that it is going back to the drawing bored but unfortunately it seems like the front engine and awd remains. That concept got little to no love especially from previous NSX owners and they need to start over from scratch. They can still give a front engine sports car a very appealing exotic look but the original mid engine fans will still be dissapointed although a little less if it turns out looking really good.
As for that 150K price tag I don't think Acura is going to price it that high. If anything it should be priced around the same or lower then the previous NSX since it will be a less expensive front engine layout that can be shared with other lower priced models and it most likely will not be handbuilt out of aluminum. I don't think Lexus could sell a car at a 150K and I am sure they want the LFA to be profitable as well as adding prestige to the brand so I have a feeling they will price it to where it won't be considered shocking and way overpriced like around 95K-115K.
Most of the people on the NSX sites I saw were saying they would look at or get the mid engine Audi R8 or New Lotus Espirit for a replacement for their NSX not the Lexus LFA as the LFA is front engined and most likely pretty heavy and more of a GT car then pure bred sports car like the NSX, R8, and Espirit. Acura still may build a mid engine true NSX replacement in the future but it appears the next high performance car from Acura will be front engine v10 with most likely a advance version of shawd. Hopefully this new frwd platform will spawn some great new models. I hope the redesign does not set them back more time because people are getting tired of waiting for the car and hearing all these rumours and delays.
As for that 150K price tag I don't think Acura is going to price it that high. If anything it should be priced around the same or lower then the previous NSX since it will be a less expensive front engine layout that can be shared with other lower priced models and it most likely will not be handbuilt out of aluminum. I don't think Lexus could sell a car at a 150K and I am sure they want the LFA to be profitable as well as adding prestige to the brand so I have a feeling they will price it to where it won't be considered shocking and way overpriced like around 95K-115K.
Most of the people on the NSX sites I saw were saying they would look at or get the mid engine Audi R8 or New Lotus Espirit for a replacement for their NSX not the Lexus LFA as the LFA is front engined and most likely pretty heavy and more of a GT car then pure bred sports car like the NSX, R8, and Espirit. Acura still may build a mid engine true NSX replacement in the future but it appears the next high performance car from Acura will be front engine v10 with most likely a advance version of shawd. Hopefully this new frwd platform will spawn some great new models. I hope the redesign does not set them back more time because people are getting tired of waiting for the car and hearing all these rumours and delays.
02-21-07 | 11:19 PM
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On the Acura homepage you could share your feedback and answer a survey about the concept. On TOV and NSXprime they had links to it. I answered it and was pretty harsh about the looks and engine configuration.
