Honda NSX confirmed for Australia

Honda's on-again, off-again successor to the original NSX supercar is officially on-again for Australia, with local availability confirmed today by Honda Australia Director Stephen Collins.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce today that the NSX is coming to our shores. It was a revolution when it was first launched back in 1990 and this generation aims even higher", Collins says.

Despite a development halt during the GFC, the project's revival was signified by the NSX concept shown at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, before a mocked-up roadster version made an appearance in the 2012 Hollywood blockbuster The Avengers, and a more refined NSX coupe concept appeared at this year's Detroit show in January.

A prototype NSX made an appearance at the Indy 200 race at Mid-Ohio last month, completing several demonstration laps of the 3.8km circuit. The race-spec NSX Super GT was also revealed last month, which is set to compete in the Japanese series in 2014.

Honda is yet to confirm timing for the production NSX, but a debut is likely within the next 12 months, making local availability at least a year away.

Full specifications are yet to be revealed, but Honda has confirmed the new NSX will feature an SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) setup with two electric motors driving the front wheels, with a mid-mounted direct-injected petrol V6 and a third electric motor connected to a dual-clutch gearbox. Honda promises this setup will impress in terms of performance and efficiency, along with a low overall weight. 

Unlike the Japan-developed and built first-generation NSX, the new model will be produced in a new facility in Ohio in the US, where the development team is also based.

The NSX is one of several iminent hybrid supercars, headlined by the already-revealed Porsche 918 Spyder, Ferrari LaFerrari, and McLaren P1. Both the Ferrari and Porsche are to be left-hand drive only, making ther NSX almost unique in its readiness for Australian roads. 

The NSX is not expected to quite match the performance of the Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren, but is also expected to arrive at a fraction of their million dollar-plus pricetags. This pricing is yet to be confirmed, but is expected to be closer to the $250k figure the previous model exited the Australian market with in 2004.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn