New NSX and S2000 coming
Newswheel staff :: 29 October 2005 :: Filed under Front engine sportscar, Mid / rear engine sportscar, Roadster, Honda, Honda NSX, Honda S2000, Europe & UK, US
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Honda commits to new performance models
Honda’s chairman of research and development, Motoatsu Shiraishi, has confirmed that both the NSX and S200 will be replaced within the next few years. And guess what? The new NSX will be an all singing, all dancing supercar designed to showcase Honda’s engineering skills and take the fight directly to Porsche and Ferrari. In other news, day followed night and George W Bush announced a war on terror.
The Honda NSX. Originally launched in 1991. Developed with input from Ayrton Senna. Widely praised for its sublime chassis, steering and engine. But never a money spinner for Honda.
Although Honda’s hot Type-R models do roaring business around the world, the Japanese firm’s recent purpose-built performance cars, the NSX and S2000, have never been big sellers. And that despite the almost universal critical acclaim won by the NSX.
Da bomb: Sales of Honda’s S2000 have bombed thanks to the manual-only gearbox.
So, while the high-tech, Porsche-bashing remit of the new NSX is predictable enough, it’s much harder to guess whether the new car will be a success. Honda isn’t revealing any firm details for either car, but Shiraishi told What Car magazine, “our aim is to have a V10 engine some time in the future. I can’t confirm exactly what type of vehicle the new NSX will be, but we are planning something.”
Shiraishi also conceded that the S2000 had been a commercial failure. “It was offered only with a manual gearbox and this limited its appeal in many markets.” It’s a given, therefore, that both the next NSX and S2000 will be available with semi-auto paddle shift boxes. While we don’t doubt paddle shifters are a commercial necessity, we do hope that Honda sees fit to retain a full manual option. After all, real men don’t do paddle shifters.
The next-gen NSX should hit the street within two years while the S2000 replacement is expected to appear around 12 months later.
Elements of the Honda HSC concept will very probably appear on the new NSX.
Linkage:
What Car
