[Rumor] Hard To Believe New NSX Rumors

New rumors has it that the NSX's successor will be mid-ship, instead of a front engine layout!

Here are some more rumored info:

Why was the Honda Sports Concept (HSC) scrapped?
Supposedly, the mid-mounted aluminum 3.5L V6 i-VTEC HSC engine, with a 6 speed transmission controlled by either an F1 style paddle shifter on the steering wheel, or a unique dial shifter on the center console was not up to today's standards. So an F1 inspired V10 was promised in the next NSX.



Development issues with the V10 engine?
Honda basically tried to build the car around the V10 engine. They started out with packaging difficulties, and struggled to achieve an agile car with good weight distribution and balance. The V10 required the use of a trans-axle transmission configuration to try make the nose as short as possible.

What's up with the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC)?
The ASCC's long-nose and SH-AWD was the result of building a car around the V10 engine.



Why did Honda finally go back to the drawing board?
Honda was afraid there wouldn't be a market for the ASCC.

So what's the problem now?
If Honda plans to make a more balanced car using a V8 engine, what are they going to do with the already developed 5.0L V10 engine? It's too big for anything in their line up.



[Source] Temple Of VTEC

Click here to see the V10, SH-AWD NSX/S2000 test mule.

Acura NSX and Brand Delayed

Last week in a press release, CEO of Honda, Takeo Fukui announced that Honda was putting back the launch of its Acura brand in Japan by 2 years. Fukui cited concerns over the suitability of the Japanese market for the Acura brand as the reason for the postponement. This also leads to the delay of the Acura NSX replacement, which will be badged an Acura worldwide this time around (it was a Honda outside the U.S. previously).


Original Acura NSX

There is also the possibility that we don't get to see the NSX's replacement until 2011, since the Tokyo Auto Show is in run once every two years, and the 2009 show will be too early. The Acura Sports Car Concept (ASCC) revealed at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit was not well received. The ASCC was designed to have Acura's most powerful engine, a new high-performance front mounted V-10, and rear-wheel drive based version of Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.


Acura Sports Car Concept (ASCC)

At one point, the Honda Sports Concept (HSC) was rumored to replace the NSX. Many people liked this idea, however for some reason Honda scrapped the development. The HSC featured a lightweight 3.5-liter V-6 engine located midship for optimum balance and superior handling. Shifting is accomplished through a unique dial shifter located on the center console or an F-1 style paddle shifter located on the steering wheel. The HSC features a 4-wheel double wishbone suspension with six-piston caliper Brembo disc brakes on each wheel.


Honda Sports Concept (HSC)

I don't know what Honda is up to, but I am somewhat disappointed about the development of the next NSX. Lexus' LF-A is starting to look really good right now. I can't believe how down hill it has gone for Honda's sport cars. Currently, there are no coupes in Acura's lineup!

[Source] VTEC.net

Some Upclose Photos of Concept cars from Acura Design Studio

IGN.com posted some pictures from their visit to the new Acura Design Studio.


The highly talked about 1995 Acura CL-X Concept.


Side view of the CL-X.


The rear end of the CL-X.


Acura RDX Concept.


Acura MDX Concept.


A photo of the Acura Sedan Concept.


Acura Sports Car Concept.

[Video] Next NSX (?) in action!

But why an S2000 mule? Simple. Honda/Acura is restyling its supercar. One source close to Honda states that reaction to the exterior styling has been "merely lukewarm," and as a result, the company is in the process of redesigning the car from the ground up. Another aspect of this coupe that's still up in the air is its official name. While NSX is still the name that's getting thrown around, Honda wants to distance this front-engine supercar from the midengine NSX with a new name that expresses this car's new mission as a grand tourer. Think of it as a Honda DB9 or an Acura M6.

According to Takeo Fukui, CEO of Honda, the car will sit on a brand-new platform and employ a new V10 engine. Supposedly, the engine will displace 5.5 liters and generate upward of 550 horsepower, making it Japan's most powerful road-going car ever. With good fuel economy and cleaner emissions striking an ever-stronger chord among potential customers, sources state that Honda engineers have covered their bases by creating a fuel-efficient V10 engine that effectively shuts down five cylinders depending on the circumstances. the Honda V10 will also incorporate a revised version of the company's new SH-AWD four-wheel-drive technology first seen on the Acura RL.

Expected to have a top speed of over 200 mph and the ability to sprint to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds, the NSX successor will undergo rigorous testing in Japan and at the Nürburgring, and we'll see a restyled concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.

[Source] Autoblog

This supercar sounds fine and dandy, but with a $150k+ pricetag, will it really sell?

[Rumor] 2009 (or 2010) Acura NSX Spy photos?

I read this off Autoblog, which links to Straightline for the photos.





"It was over a year ago when Honda officials confirmed a V10 engine for the next-generation NSX, but since then all we've heard or seen out of Japan was the Sports Car Concept shown in Detroit. " - Straightline

I don't know what Straightline is thinking, but the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) was not designed in Japan. From my understanding, it was something that came out of Acura's design center in the United States. I remember reading how the top people at Honda in Japan don't like the new ASCC design and want something else.

Anyway, Straightline is reporting that this heavily modded Honda S2000 with 4 tailpipes was found in Nurburgring, German is a signal that Honda/Acura hasn't stopped working on the next generation NSX. There's speculation that Honda is using this mutated S2000 for drivetrain and chassis development. Don't look at me, I'm just reporting what I read.

[Making Of] Acura ASCC

"The Advanced Sports Car Concept will not only take your eyes to unexpected places, it will transport the rest of you, as well." - Acura.com


Some sketches were drawn up. Makes me wonder what the car would have ended up like if they stuck with this version.




This is the design they ended up building. Designers were inspired by nature. They studied "cracks in glaciers and the contours of sand dunes," this gave them a sense for the natural flow of shapes, edges and movements.




Next a quarter scaled clay model was made to establish the form.




Painted version of the clay model.


Designers further fine-tuned details using a computer-aided design (CAD) program.






A full size model was built.




Photos of the final product: The NSX's replacement?




There is a rumor saying that Acura is scrapping this as the NSX's replacement.



Click here for all articles relating to the ASCC.

Take a 360 degree spin of the Advanced Sports Car Concept and find more information on the development process at Acura.com

[Rumor] Acura's ASCC No More?

According to the Winding Road, "Acura has completely torn up the whole script and started over" for the Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC). Acura is starting over "in terms of how the finished car will look, although the basic proportions and front-engined V-10 package and all-wheel drive layout will stay" the same for the NSX's replacement. For a car that is supposed to be in showrooms around 2009, this is a little concerning.



Even more concerning is that the "new NSX" is going to be priced around $150,000! I thought it was crazy when the original NSX cost around $90,000... For $150,000 can almost get you an Aston Martin DB9 (~$165,000). For a list of cars you can get for $150,000, click here.

Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) Press Release Video

This is it guys and gals! Video of Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) debut in Detroit. You can listen to both Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co, and Jon Ikeda, principal designer representing Acura Design Center entire speeches. Mr. Fukui talks a lot about the Acura brand and where it is heading, while Mr. Ikeda talks more about the ASCC's design and where the Acura design is headed.

I must say, the CEO of Honda speaks English very well.

Give ToV some props!



If the video is not working, try this.

Motor Trend: Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) Unveiling video

Here's a video link to Motor Trend's site, where they have a clip of the unveiling of Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept. The video also shows Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., commenting on the ASCC.

Advanced Sports Car Concept photos from NAIAS

Photos of Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) photos from the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.


Advance.


Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co, with hand on Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept.


Designed to have Acura's most powerful engine, a new high-performance V-10, and rear-wheel drive based version of Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.


Jon Ikeda, principal designer representing Acura Design Center, in front of the ASCC.


The ASCC is the successor to the Acura NSX.

[NEW NSX] Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) Debut

Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept (ASCC) debuts today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The ASCC is a design preview of the successor to the NSX. Acura's design concept uses a front-mounted V-10 engine and a rear wheel drive version of Acura's SH-AWD.

The ASCC has a 108.8 inch wheelbase with 19 inch front and 20 inch rear tires. The brakes are ventilated carbon ceramic and the eight-piston calipers accent the wheels. The ASCC's cabin is made all of tinted glass. Underneath the car features a carbon fiber underbody. The modern wraparound rear taillights compliment the car's quad exhaust pipes. The front of the car show off LED headlights that "mimic the pop-up headlights found on the first generation NSX."


The design was created by Acura's Los Angeles-based team. In a few months, this team will move into the Acura Design Center.


This will include an all-new V10 engine that is Acura's most powerful ever.


"Our direction is clear. We plan to Advance, in technology, in design, and in overall performance. This fall, at the Tokyo Motor Show, we will showcase the next stage in our advancement." - Takeo Fukui (President and CEO of Honda Motor Co.)


"In the exterior styling, you'll see definitive design elements that communicate that fine balance of technical precision and emotion... laser-sharp edges throughout the vehicle represent a powerful sense of engineering precision. The side of the car and the dramatic hood surfaces feature what we call sheer, machined, surfacing, again, to convey a feeling of technical exactness." - Jon Ikeda (American Honda Designer)


Keen-Edge Dynamic - represents the Precision, Technology, and Emotion inherent in Acura's styling.


The "Advance" design direction can be seen in the latest generation MDX, which has sharper, more precise lines than the previous generation.


This is what the concept drawing looked like.


Acura plans to "push the envelope in developing highly advanced automobiles that appeal both to the intellect and to the soul."


Source: AcuraNews

I think Acura is dropping the ball with the NSX's replacement. What ever happened to the Honda Sports Concept (HSC) or even the rumored new NSX? I thought those looked a lot better than this. This looks almost like a Japanese Corvette. I prefer Japanese Auston Martin or Japanese Ferrari better!