Honda planning cut-price NSX
'Baby NSX' could emerge as a cheaper, less powerful Honda coupe to slot below Acura NSXNew information from inside Honda indicates its all-new 'baby NSX', which was approved for production in mid-2014, will be based on the same platform as the new NSX but fitted with a less expensive and less expensive powertrain.
As we reported in April, Honda's plans for a three-model mid-engined sports car family, include a more powerful 'S1000' export version of the mid-engined S660 mini-roadstercar at the bottom and the new NSX hybrid supercar flagship at the top.
In between, apart from a successor for the CR-Z hybrid due by 2018, Honda is also plotting a radical replacement for the S2000 roadster, to slot neatly into the middle of its mid-engined two-door line-up.
In the last month however, baby NSX news has heated up significantly following the appearance of a patent drawing of the car, which according to a source close to Honda has “some merit.”
As you can see from our artist’s rendering, which is based on the patent drawing of the futuristic mid-size, mid-engined coupe, the proportions are very similar to that of the NSX.
In fact, when a similar image of the NSX is laid over that of the baby NSX, their proportions, wheelbases and powerplant positioning appear to be almost identical.
Another lesson from the apparently official rendering is that the baby NSX is a lot further along its development pathway than previously understood.
Indeed, our source has confirmed the car's exterior is “for all intents and purposes, completed" and that – given its main market will be the US -- the all-new coupe could make its global debut as early as Los Angeles motor show or the Detroit show in January.
The design and timing news backs our previous report that the baby NSX project has been driven largely by North American Honda dealers, who will not have access to the NSX because it will be sold in the US as an Acura.
While Honda's US luxury brand will have an all-new halo model in the NSX, US Honda dealers want some of the sports car action too.
We understand Honda has obliged by employing an almost identical platform to the NSX, dropping in a turbocharged 2.0-litre hybrid unit and fitting an electronic SH-AWD (Super Handling – AWD) system with all-wheel steer, thus fast-tracking the development of a cheaper sports car that was also lighter and therefore not much slower.
As for where Honda will build the baby NSX, our source says the company has two choices – alongside the NSX in the US or on the world’s only dedicated mid-engined vehicle production line in Yokkaichi near Suzuka, where the S660, Vamos and Acty mini-cars are made.
“It’s not impossible to build a baby NSX in Yokkaichi, but we are close to capacity here now and would need to extensively retool to assemble such a coupe," said one engineer.
Therefore it's almost certain the born-again S2000 will be produced in North America, where it should emerge within six months.
Whether it comes to Australia — where the NSX itself, badged as a Honda, is due on sale by the end of next year — is anyone's guess.
Photo: Holiday Auto Magazine
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