NEWS
Honda sports car assault begins 2016
NSX and Civic Type-R arriving in Oz 2016, while S660 very unlikelyThe good news? Honda plans to win back the hearts and minds of long-suffering fans with a one-two sucker-punch sports car attack, spearheaded by an incendiary 370kW NSX and followed up with blown 206kW Civic Type-R.
The bad news? Neither model is expected to see the light of Australian day in 2015.
Honda Australia Director Stephen Collins told motoring.com.au the NSX should arrive early in 2016.
"I don't think NSX will be here in 2015," said Collins, "but hopefully not too far beyond that."
"The car is still in development," said Collins of the long wait, and it's clear that Honda has some kinks to iron out after its latest prototype car was burned to cinders on the Nurburgring in late July.
"I saw the pictures. It was clearly an incident, thankfully no one was hurt. I think when in development cars get pushed to the ultimate limit, and I think that was the case there."
Collins said he didn't know the cause of the fire, rumoured to be lithium-ion battery related, but said the well-publicised incineration would not hurt the NSX's reputation.
"Things happen in development stages, but I stand by Honda's reputation; that's why auto-makers go to the Nurburgring, to push cars to the limit. I'm sure when the car arrives it will be everything if not more of what everyone expects," he said.
The Japanese importer has been without a head-turning halo performance car for more than a decade, as the last mid-engined NSX supercar was sold here in the early 2000s. The new US-built Honda NSX (pictured in concept form) is expected to make its global sales debut in 2015 in the USA, badged as an Acura, before heading here in 2016 wearing Honda badges.
It will be powered by a mid-mounted V6 driving the rear wheels augmented by three electric motors, one for each front wheel, and the third to boost the V6 engine, providing instant, rocket-like acceleration.
Pricing is still to be confirmed, but the new NSX will likely mirror its predecessor's $250K-plus asking price.
The next-generation Honda Civic Type-R, which the company says will be the world's fastest front-drive hot hatch, will also arrive in 2016, says Collins.
"Timing is still to be confirmed and we're certainly pushing to get it as soon as possible, but it's doubtful to be 2015," he said.
"Certainly what I'm trying to do is get us to the front of the queue. We have a strong history of selling Type-R," he said of the turbocharged 2.0-litre banzai hatch, which will bang out a Renault Megane RS 275-beating 206kW/400Nm.
And the price of admission to the latest Type-R thriller? Collins says it's too early to say, but expects money above $40,000.
"I would hope it's going to be a 40s car, so whether that's early or mid-$40K I don't know yet. It'll be in terms of performance right up there, and I think no matter what car or what segment you've got to be good value for money."
There's a third new sports car in Honda's armoury that will be deployed in due course, the compact 1.0-litre turbo-petrol S660, which motoring.com.au confirmed back in May was entering production.
The mid-engined 100kW tiddler is unlikely to be offered here says the Honda Australia boss, but cautioned: 'never say never'.
"My understanding is it's only for the Japanese domestic market at this point in time. We are definitely interested in more sports cars if and when they come available. I think at this point it's only developing for the domestic market."
The tiny coupe could be one of Honda's lightest and most agile models and would hypothetically compete in the same price bracket as the Subaru BRZ. Although Collins noted that Japan's right-hand drive layout "always makes it a bit easier" to import models, "it's not on our plan at this point".
"I definitely think what our brand needs is more sports cars, and NSX and Type-R is a good start."
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Written byFeann Torr
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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