Detroit show: Honda to reveal production NSX 

HONDA is back in the supercar game with the Japanese car-maker revealing a first glimpse of the production-ready Ferrari hunting NSX ahead of its world debut at the Detroit motor show in January next year.

Shadowy teaser images and a 30 second video confirm the real-world model has changed little from the concept shown at the same show in 2012 when Honda announced global production would begin within three years, with the car to be built by its luxury division Acura in the United States.

NSX development chief engineer and global project leader Ted Klaus said the new driver-focused car is a worthy successor to the first NSX which made its world premier in 1991 before production ended in 2005. “After three years of intensive development work we are excited to reveal this next-generation supercar—the Acura NSX—to the world,” he said.

“We’ve developed a human-centered supercar that responds to the will of the driver and that builds upon the NSX heritage.” Like the original ’90s supercar this second generation NSX will be built from aluminium and other lightweight materials and have a mid-engined layout.

At the debut of the 2012 concept, Honda said the production version will be hybrid-powered with a twin-turbo 230kW 3.5-litre V6 combined with a 30kW electric motor at the rear axle and two 20kW-plus motors on each of the front wheels. A high-performance lithium-ion battery will provide electricity to the motors.

The NSX will also be equipped with Honda’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The short video Honda has released lets viewers to hear the sound of the NSX in full flight.

While the new NSX will have Ferrari’s 458 in its sights, the Honda supercar will also target Nissan’s GT-R and Porsche’s 911.

It was clear Honda’s NSX was in the later stages of development earlier this year with a prototype of the car spotted testing (and also catching on fire) at Germany’s Nurburgring test track in July.

The next-generation NSX is being developed by a global group of engineers headed by Honda’s North American research and development division in Ohio, while the design of the car is being led by the Acura Design Studo in California.

The car will be built at Honda’s new Performance Manufacturing Centre in Ohio.

Honda has yet to announce an Australian launch date for the NSX.

In the United Kingdom the car has already sold out with Honda dealers accepting orders for the past two years.