Honda’s premium brand Acura has previewed what it’s calling the Performance Electric Vision Design Study, but which could be a teaser of what to expect for a next-generation NSX.
Acura says it was created by its Los Angeles design studio and “further explores the future evolution of Precision Crafted Performance design language as the performance brand transitions to a zero-emissions future”.
It specifically points out the sculpted surfaces and neon green lighting signature, but that’s where the specifics end.
The brand hasn’t indicated if this previews a specific production vehicle, nor what powertrain it would have.
Production of the Acura/Honda NSX ended late in 2022. Earlier that year, however, Honda released a shadowy teaser of two sports cars for global markets: “a specialty and a flagship model, which will embody Honda’s universal sports mindset and distinctive characteristics”.
Though the teaser was shadowy, both models look quite different from this new Acura design study. But it’s been radio silence from Honda on this subject since the teaser image dropped, other than Honda Europe vice president Tom Gardner hinting the brand could reveal a new sports car this year.
Any next-generation NSX is likely to be electric based on past statements from the company.
“If you notice, we make an NSX when there’s something we want to say,” Jon Ikeda, Acura vice president and brand officer, said in 2021.
“The first-gen was [petrol]. Second-gen was a hybrid. There’s gonna be another one,” he told The Drive.
We could be in for a long wait for a production sports car if the previous NSX is anything to go by.
First announced in 2007 with plans to go on sale in 2010, the NSX finally appeared in concept form in 2012 and as a production model in 2016.
The all-wheel drive hybrid supercar used a twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired with three electric motors.
The new sports car design study was revealed in tandem with Acura’s first electric vehicle, the ZDX, which uses a platform and batteries from General Motors, which will also build it.
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Recently axed: Acura NSX -
Coming soon: Acura ZDX
Honda is rolling out a wide variety of new electric vehicles, though it won’t offer any here until at least 2028.
In addition to the GM-based Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue crossovers, it’s working on an electric sedan with Sony under the Afeela joint venture, and a range of EVs for the Chinese market.
Also due in North America in 2025 is a “mid- to large-size” EV on Honda’s new E&E Architecture.
The Japanese market will receive an N-VAN based commercial mini-EV in the first half of 2024, followed by an EV based on the N-ONE in 2025 and two small EVs in 2026. One of the latter will be an SUV.
The company already has the E hatchback for markets like Japan and Europe (though its future looks grim), as well as the new Chinese-built e:Ny1 and e:Ns1 crossovers that are exported to markets like Europe.
