Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - Back to the Drawing Boards (Again) For the Next NSX?

There's been a discussion going on all day about this in our forums, but we figured we should probably pop this out to the front page of the Rumors and News section because it's yet another twist on the next-gen NSX saga. You may recall that Honda introduced the sexy HSC Concept at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show (coincidentally featured in today's Bonus Wallpaper), promising that it provided a really good look at the next generation NSX. We loved everything about it but we were a little concerned that Honda's key bragging point for the HSC was a "300+hp" V6 powerplant. We knew that wouldn't fly.

Trailing the HSC's subsequent appearance at the '04 North American International Auto Show was an uncomfortably long period of silence, and before the year was even out came the sad word that the HSC project was scrapped. Honda tried to smooth things over by promising a V10 powerplant for the next-generation supercar, and certainly that was something exciting to ponder, but as Acura began setting the stage for its innovative SH-AWD system, we became increasingly concerned that the NSX's spirit and purity would be compromised by the additional mass of an AWD system. Then scandalous nonsensical rumors began to surface hinting that the next "supercar" would be more of a GT, with an FR layout. Our sense of denial went into hyperdrive. Then, last month in Detroit, we were introduced to the Advanced Sports Car Concept. The moment was bittersweet, because as much as we craved any morsel of information we could get regarding the followup to the legendary NSX, we couldn't wrap our minds around the fact that Acura was telling us that the next NSX really was going to be front-engined AND AWD.

Well, somehow the guys at windingroad.com caught wind that the ASCC design is going to be scrapped, and have even suggested that whatever will be shown in Tokyo this Fall won't be representative of what should be hitting the road in (hopefully) 2009.

Here's our take on it. The lukewarm response to the ASCC had very little to do with the design itself. Face the facts - there's only so much you can do with a big-motored FR sports car. Odds are really good that it's going to look thick. The problem is that most Honda fans want to see the NSX's strong heritage honored with a proper followup. That means that the next NSX should be mid-engined, rear wheel drive, as light as possible, and it should offer a world class power to weight ratio. Furthermore, the NSX (and S2000) should be treated by Honda as their sportscar franchises, with regular evolutionary updates to keep them competitive. If Acura wants to offer several versions of the NSX, with one packing all the SH-AWD goodness, then we're okay with that as long as there's a model that stays true to the original NSX formula.

Japan Report: Acura�s NSX Seen Headed Back To The Drawing Board?