COULD HONDA BE DEVELOPING THE NSX AGAIN?

A couple of years ago Honda was rumoured to be close to finishing off development of a new NS-X supercar. That project was apparently killed off due to the 2008/ 2009 recession. But now a new rumour has suggested the Japanese automaker is preparing for a second stab at it. And the 2012 North American Auto Show in Detroit will be where it debuts. At least in concept form.

Appropriate too since it made its public debut in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show. Since then New Sportscar eXperimental (NS-X) has become one of motoring’s iconic machines. Even legendary driver Ayrton Senna became involved in its development because Honda supplied engines to his McLaren team. When production of that car ended in 2005, it was fitted with a 3.2-litre naturally aspirated V6 motor doing 216kW and 304Nm of torque.

Honda has been known for high-revving motors used in cars like the Civic Type-R and has stuck to those in the face of the latest turbo wave. Hybrids are also becoming quite important to Honda. Therefore we cannot say at this early stage exactly which way they would go, should this rumour turn into fact. Their two Japanese rivals have gone with twin turbos (NissanGT-R) and screaming natural aspiration (Lexus LFA). So either is possible.