Honda's baby NSX revealed
It’s a Gran Turismo concept, but is it also destined for the road?As speculation of a sub-NSX sports car from Honda grows, the company’s Australian division says it knows nothing about the concept … apart from what’s been published on the internet.
Imagery and some details of a small coupe turned up a couple of years ago, followed by patent images of a roadster version last July.
Then last week a slinky coupe dubbed the Honda Sports Vision Gran Turismo emerged as part of PlayStation’s new GT Sport video game, bearing a striking resemblance to those patent images.
But mystery remains over whether there will be a production version of either the coupe or roadster.
“I have seen the picture. It looks great, but I know nothing about that car,” said Honda Australia director Stephen Collins.
“I have seen the pictures just online, but … I can honestly tell you I have never seen anything to do with that product in any discussion.”
So now the question becomes ‘is this purely a Gran Turismo design exercise only, or will Honda actually add a new-generation replacement for the S2000 to its line-up?’ Time will tell.
Meanwhile, the Honda Urban battery electric vehicle concept which wowed last month’s Frankfurt motor show and is confirmed for production is no guarantee to make it to Australia any time soon.
Collins said Honda hybrids were more likely to come before EVs, which he estimated were at least three to five years from local sale.
“We think EVs definitely have a role,” he said. “It’s a cool technology and it’s important to showcase that.
“We have a vision over the next number of years -- whether it be EV or hybrid -- to bring those cars.”
The problem is a lack of financial incentive to encourage car buyers to switch to EVs, said Collins.
“We are going to be pushing to bring those cars in but in terms of a volume proposition it just needs that government support and that it not currently on the agenda.”
Honda plans to follow up the Urban EV with another concept dubbed the Sorts EV at the Tokyo motor show later this month, but as yet that car isn’t confirmed for production.
Honda already offers the Clarity as a fuel-cell EV, a battery-powered EV and as a hybrid primarily in the USA.
Honda Australia dumped its hybrid models in 2016 and currently only offers the NSX supercar with petrol-electric propulsion.
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