Honda NSX 2016 News

Australian designers played a starring role in the Motown showcase, with Holden building two concept cars — a limousine for Buick and an electric car for Chevrolet — and a Ford Australia designer penning a reborn GT40 supercar.But in a cruel twist, none of them has any real significance to Australian car buyers.On that score, the show car that could create the most waves Down Under was Hyundai's Santa Cruz ute — or pick-up as the Americans call them.The Santa Cruz is the forerunner to a Hyundai ute that will look to take a slice of the booming Australian ute market, which accounts for one in six new vehicle sales.Elsewhere at the show, it was all glitz and glamour, with Honda revealing a new NSX supercar and Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen unveiling sporty SUVs.Here are CarsGuide's show highlights.After more than three years of very public development work, including a disastrous fire at the Nurburgring, the born-again Honda NSX is ready to roll.Almost exactly 25 years after the birth of the original NSX, the new hybrid supercar has broken cover and is being fast-tracked to Australia.Some of the final detail is missing, including power and performance figures, but the NSX has a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, a double-clutch gearbox and twin electric motors to boost acceleration.The output is believed to be more than 400kW and the engine, which is set north-south behind the two-seater cabin, is believed to be 3.5-litres in capacity.The car has a body that combines lightweight alloys with carbon fibre, a step on from the original all-alloy NSX that was pitched against Ferrari in the 1990s.The price is likely to be more than $250,000 in Australia, but despite the price tag, there is considerable interest in the car in Australia.NSX deliveries in the US will begin later this year, pointing to an on-sale date in Australia in the first half of 2016. Less than 250 of the originals were sold down under, although it was a massive hit with car enthusiasts.Ford's latest Ferrari fighter, the new GT supercar, was designed by Australian Todd Willing, who was seconded from Ford Australia two years ago to work on the top secret project.He has since returned to Ford's design studios in Broadmeadows, where he is now the head of design for Ford in the Asia-Pacific region. How long he stays there is anyone's guess, as the GT40 is an impressive boast on a CV. At Detroit, the chief engineer for the Corvette, Tadje Juechter, the head of Jaguar design Ian Callum and former Volvo chief designer Peter Horbury all queued with the masses to get a closer look at the car.The Ford GT has special significance to Ford, having one the Le Mans 24-hour race four consecutive times from 1966 to 1969.In a controversial move, the latest iteration of the GT40 comes with a twin-turbo V6 rather than a V8, but Ford says it makes more power than its predecessor without burning as much fuel.There are no plans to sell the new Ford GT supercar in Australia because it will not be built in right-hand-drive.The Chevrolet Bolt concept car, which was built in Port Melbourne, can travel 320km on battery power alone and is expected to cost just $US30,000 when it eventually goes on sale.The vehicle was also unveiled by a former Holden boss, Alan Batey, who now runs Chevrolet.Mr Batey would not say when the Chevrolet Bolt would go into production but indications are that it will."We're going to gauge the reaction from today … but we're pretty convinced this is the right vehicle at the right time," said Mr Batey.It may not make it to Australia, though.Just 132 electric cars were sold here last year and Holden is unlikely to take the second generation Volt plug-in hybrid because of slow sales.The Santa Cruz pick-up was Hyundai's hero and it's clearly headed for production, with a timeline that could put it into Australian showrooms within three years (see separate story on page 8).Based on the next-generation ix35 SUV, the Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept was styled at Hyundai's design centre in Los Angeles and is aimed in the US at the 20-something "millenials" who are the second-biggest group of car buyers.The Santa Cruz is a four-door five-seater that's smaller than mainstream American pick-ups, which have become true trucks.It has "clamshell" doors and an expandable tray bed, with Tonka-style centre-lock wheels that won't make production.Hyundai says the Santa Cruz is for people who don't need a full-size truck. The company says "towing, payload and ground clearance were not primary goals".The SUV rush continues apace, with Volkswagen taking the covers off yet another softroader concept.This one is a pointer to a seven-seater that in size and philosophy will fit somewhere between the baby Tiguan and the family-sized Touareg. The show car had a plug-in hybrid system (a 3.6-litre V6 paired with two electric motors) but the showroom version is expected to be much more conventional.It is due to go into production in late 2016 ahead of a 2017 showroom arrival.So far it's not confirmed for Australia but Volkswagen locally has expressed interest in the vehicle.The only Chinese car maker at the Detroit show is also coming to Australia.The world debut of the GS4, a compact SUV, is proof that Guangzhou Automobile Group has aspirations beyond China. An Australian import deal for GAC is believed to be in the works at Auto Distributors AsiaPacific, a company established by Ateco boss Neville Crichton and the former head of Fiat Chrysler Australia, Clyde Campbell.Crichton was the first to bring Chinese cars to Australia, with Great Wall and Chery, and has been looking for extra brands to distribute.The big stumbling block at the moment is that GAC's cars are only built in left-hand drive.

The wraps have finally come off the production-ready reborn Honda NSX supercar in Detroit overnight, after a lengthy teaser campaign lasting over two years.Like the original NSX which was the world’s first all-aluminium supercar, the second-gen model is stuffed full of new technology including an advanced hybrid powertrain.Honda is keeping its cards close to its chest regarding power or performance figures, but has confirmed that the new-age NSX features a twin-turbo dry-sump V6 petrol engine which is mated to a brand-new Honda-developed nine-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.Further, three electric motors are said to give the hybrid supercar instantaneous response, improved agility and greater traction while also improving fuel efficiency.Two motors drive the front axle, effectively giving the NSX all-wheel drive and torque-vectoring capability, while a third sits between the petrol engine and gearbox to act as a torque-filler (like the McLaren P1’s system) to give quicker acceleration and faster gearshifts.The new NSX also uses a hybrid body construction consisting of aluminium and carbon fibre to reduce weight and give supercar-levels of structural rigidity. The majority of the car’s architecture is aluminium, but carbon is used in the floor to give the car a rigid backbone.Suspension is fully independent front and rear, while Honda says the car’s heavier items like the battery pack, combustion engine and electric motors have all been placed as low as possible to give the NSX the lowest center of gravity in its class.Carbon ceramic brakes with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear stoppers also aim to reduce unsprung mass and improve the handling.Staggered alloy wheels measuring 19x8.5 inches up front and 20x11 inches at the rear also give the new NSX an aggressive stance, while rubber is provided by high-performance Continentals.The reborn NSX features four different driving modes which include Quiet, Sport, Sport+ and Track which adjust the powertrain response, gearshift speed and damper stiffness. Quiet mode offers electric-only driving at low speeds for an unspecified range.A launch control system is also fitted which primes the transmission, electric motors and twin-turbo V6 for the ultimate acceleration off the line – though a 0-100km/h time still hasn’t been revealed, it’s expected to be in the three-second range.The reborn NSX’s styling hasn’t varied dramatically from the previous concept versions, though it has been tweaked in most areas for production. The nose has been made more upright presumably for pedestrian safety purposes, cooling ducts fitted to the bonnet, gills added behind the front wheels and a large central exhaust outlet added to the rear.Physically the car has grown slightly too compared to the original concept – 80mm in length to 4470mm, 25mm in width to 1940mm, 15mm in height to 1215mm and 20mm in wheelbase to 2630mm.These figures also represent a significant increase in size over the original NSX which debuted in 1990 and ended production in 2005.Inside, the new NSX features a digital TFT instrument display and an overall design which has been centered around the driver with an emphasis placed on ergonomics and visibility.The design isn’t going to wow a Lamborghini or Ferrari buyer, but the new NSX is expected to offer 458-rivalling performance for a fraction of the price when it goes on sale in Australia in 2016. 

Production-ready Honda NSX hybrid supercar teased ahead of its official unveiling in Detroit next month.The long-coming production version of the reborn Honda NSX supercar will make its debut in Detroit next month, Honda has confirmed.Teased in a new image with some strategcally placed shadows, the production NSX looks to have lost none of the futuristic design cues of the several concept versions that have preceded it.  Originally shown in concept form at 2012’s Detroit motor show, it’s taken exactly three years and three concept cars to arrive at the final production version, which will be built at Honda’s manufacturing facility in Ohio U.S where most of the development work has also taken place. But not to worry, the car won’t be left-hook only, with Honda already confirming the new NSX will also come to Australia. Visually, the new NSX isn’t expected to stray far from the 2013 concept car, which featured an aggressive ‘shield’-type front grille, sharp lines and decidedly mid-engine proportions. The interior design of the 2013 Detroit show car was also considered to be close to showroom-ready and suggested we'll see a large iPad-like centre touchscreen, plenty of carbon fibre and a digital instrument display similar to that of the new Audi TT or Lamborghini Huracan.Unlike the original NSX which featured a relatively basic naturally-aspirated V6 engine, its successor will take a more forward-thinking approach with a hybrid-electric drivetrain. Honda has confirmed a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine will sit between the passenger cell and rear wheels, while a further three electric motors will provide an extra boost of torque and power. Each of the front wheels will be driven by an electric motor effectively giving the NSX all-wheel drive. The third motor is believed to sit between the petrol engine and the car’s dual-clutch gearbox acting as a torque filler in a similar setup to the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari hybrid hypercars.  But where those hybrids were limited-run specials with sky-high price tags, the NSX will be a more attainable series production car to rival the BMW i8, Audi R8 and Porsche 911. Like the original NSX however, the new model is reportedly aiming to offer Ferrari-rivaling performance at a more affordable price. Honda is keeping tight lipped on official power and torque figures for now, but it is likely to make much more than the 230kW plus stated previously.  The new NSX will debut at the Detroit motor show on January 12 and is expected to arrive in Australia early 2016. 

Transformers Super Bowl adParamount pictures is using the 2014 Super Bowl to give us our first taste of the upcoming film Transformers: Age of Extinction. The upcoming fourth instalment of the Transformers franchise brings a new cast led by Mark Wahlberg, and new Tranformers too in the form of Dinobots. Seinfeld reunion Super Bowl adWe last saw Jerry Seinfeld during a Super Bowl battling Jay Leno for Honda NSX keys, but now Seinfeld’s web series ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’ is doing well enough to warrant its own Big Game ad. Now into its third season, the Super Bowl ad for the show sees Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander reprising their roles of Jerry and George from Seinfeld’s classic 90s sitcom.Jeep Cherokee Super Bowl adJeep is pretty keen to show off its new Cherokee SUV’s adventure potential, so has created this Big Game ad to tickle at your outdoor heartstrings. Despite its fundamentally road-going Dodge Dart/Alfa Romeo Giulietta-based underpinnings, Jeep’s Super Bowl ad reckons the new Cherokee is the cure for restlessness, and prepared for whatever’s on the other side of the horizon. Bruce Willis Honda Super Bowl adTough guy Willis is doing duty for Honda’s Super Bowl commercial, highlighting that the Japanese carmaker builds more cars with top safety ratings in America than any other brand. To underscore his point, Willis emphasises the importance of the people around you. Friends, family, loved ones, "everyone you care about". They’re not test dummies, he points out. So he wants you to give them a hug. Right now ... go on. Bob Dylan Super Bowl adOf all the superstars that would seem an unlikely bet to ever advertise cars, iconic musician Bob Dylan would be the unlikeliest. And yet here he is for the Chrysler 200 sedan at the 2014 Super Bowl, his gravelly tones singing about how well America builds cars, providing a soundtrack for a cavalcade of glorious stars-and-stripes imagery.Maserati Super Bowl debut Maserati has showcased the launch of the four-door Ghibli sedan with a debut appearance in the world’s biggest advertising slot – the Super Bowl. The footage stars 10-year-old Academy Award-nominated child actress Quvenzhane Wallis from 12 Years A Slave, directed in this piece by David Gordon Green. Ford Super Bowl ad Twice as GoodLongtime stalwart of The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live, comedian Rob Riggle is performing a bit of transformational magic for Ford during the Super Bowl. The key ad showcases the Ford Fusion sedan, claiming to have double the fuel economy of the average vehicle.That's the take-off point to a series of magical morphs that show just having the Fusion in your driveway can do wonders for house and yard -- not to forget your wardrobe and pets. Riggle ultimately upgrades himself to Hollywood heartthrob James Franco, and the whole shebang should help put you in the mood for the Fusion's arrival in Australia next year, badged as the 2015 Mondeo mid-sizer.Jaguar teases first Super Bowl ‘bad boy’ adJaguar's first Super Bowl teaser shows they've got some top-shelf baddies lined up as part of the 'British Villains' theme to sell the F-Type Coupe. First off the leash is screen and theatre legend Ben Kingsley -- with a shelf of Oscar, Grammy, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG awards, but most recently seen as the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. VW teases Super Bowl ad with Carmen ElectraVolkswagen hits all the memes in engineering an algorithm for the perfect Game Day commercial. And apparently, the algorithm requires the integration of glamour model/actress Carmen Electra, puppies, babies, some twerking, a Wang Chung soundtrack and ... well, you've probably seen every highlight of every other ad.Danica Patrick gets buff for Super Bowl adIt wouldn't be the Super Bowl without an ad featuring race driver Danica Patrick touting for website hosters GoDaddy -- who also sponsored her Nascar Nationwide Series campaign for JR Motorsports. The Game Day commercial shows a lot of Patrick's body sporting a set of pumped muscles that almost shame the bodybuilders racing her to a tanning salon.Toyota taps Muppets and Terry Crews for Super BowlThe Toyota Highlander -- sold here as the Kluger -- has a strong family focus, and the car giant will underscore that by starring the Muppets in its Super Bowl commercial. The teaser video gives a glimpse, with a supporting role from former footballer and lately actor Terry Crews (The Newsroom and Arrested Development). 2015 Hyundai Genesis Super Bowl adThe 'Dad's Sixth Sense' ad shows the parent rescuing his son from a series of falls and mishaps from infancy onwards -- but then the Genesis' auto braking saving him from a crash when he's distracted by a pretty girl during a driving lesson.Audi unleashes mongrel for Super BowlAudi has created a miniature mongrel with a savage streak for their Super Bowl ad. The footage shows a couple trying to choose between a chihuahua and a doberman as a pet, and deciding to breed them together as a -- wait for it -- doberhuahua.VW channels Victoria’s Secret for Super BowlVolkswagen is aiming to tout durability and reliability in its Super Bowl, which features a father telling his daughter that every time a VW hits 100,000 miles (160,000km) an engineer back in Germany sprouts wings. While the appendages might usually be better worn by the Victoria's Secret 'Angel' models, the addition of the wings offers the opportunity for a few sight gags.Jaguar Super Bowl with Tom HiddlestonIt's good to be bad, Jaguar claims. And the luxury brand is pushing that theme for their Super Bowl ads, featuring a line-up of British villains. We've already seen Ben Kingsley in the main teaser, and now we get Tom Hiddleston in a second spot. Most recently seen playing Loki in the films Thor, The Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World.Jaguar full Super Bowl adContinuing the bad boy theme to showcase the F-Type Coupe, Jaguar has revealed the full 60-second commercial that will screen at the Super Bowl. Shot in a mock thriller style, with moody lighting and all the super-villain props of planes, attractive assistants -- and of course the F-Type -- the ad takes a tongue-in-cheek approach, and comes off being very engaging as a result.Terry Crews disturbs with shirtless Super Bowl teaserGet ready to see a whole lot more of actor Terry Crews than you ever bargained for. The latest teaser for Toyota's Super Bowl ad shows the sports star turned movie star without a shirt and demonstrating muscle control with his pecs in time to the cheesy jingle.Big Bang Theory star in Hyundai Super Bowl adThe theme for the Hyundai Elantra Super Bowl commercial is 'Nice' and actor Johnny Galecki is almost typecast in it, after playing nice guys on both The Big Bang Theory (Leonard) and Roseanne (David). In the footage, Galecki tries to chat up a woman who pulls up beside him in a matching Elantra, pointing out all the nice features of the car -- and getting some nice brush-offs in return.Kia plugs into The Matrix for 2014 Super BowlThe 60-second commercial, scheduled to run during the 2014 Super Bowl prime advertising slot, will see Fishburne as Morpheus offering the 'red vs blue' choice. In the movie it was red and blue pills, one of which would let you stumble on in an illusory world while the other would awaken you to reality. For the Super Bowl ad, promoting the Kia K900 flagship launching in overseas markets, Morpheus offers people the chance to choose either a red or blue key.Toyota full Super Bowl adToyota is aiming for catchy family fun with its 60-second Super Bowl, in which actor Terry Crews is piloting his new Highlander -- sold here as the Kluger -- along a remote highway, when he stops to help out after spotting a broken-down, brightly painted bus. Within seconds, his SUV is crammed with Muppets: Animal stuffing his drum kit into the cargo area and Dr Teeth hijacking the driver's seat to steer off into a series of adventures, all singing an annoyingly catchy jingle perfectly designed to stick itself limpet-like to the viewer's brain.Chevrolet Super Bowl ad is all bullIn the ad, titled Romance, we get to meet "a man ... a man and his truck ... and a very eligible bachelor" who just happens to be a prize bull. It goes on in the vein of "bated breath and lonely hearts" -- you get the picture -- as the driver hauls his new bull through the US landscape with Hot Chocolate's 'You Sexy Thing' in the background.The ad that shocked the Super BowlCreated for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) as part of its Zero Fatalities campaign, The Twist starts off with an image of a young boy curled up in a car seat, and a voiceover that starts off "Sam looks like he's sleeping..." but as the camera zooms out we see that he's been killed in a car crash, not by the crash itself but by being unbuckled and flying into the back of the seat in front of him. M&M's Super Bowl adConfectionary brand M&M’s has also delivered a Super Bowl treat this week, with a new ad for the colourful button-shaped candies. Yellow – the peanut M&M character – is unknowingly taken captive by Russian underworld types, in the boot of an oh-so Russian baddie black S-Class Mercedes-Benz. 

We last saw Jerry Seinfeld during a Super Bowl battling Jay Leno for Honda NSX keys, but now Seinfeld’s web series ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’ is doing well enough to warrant its own Big Game ad.Now into its third season, the Super Bowl ad for the show sees Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander reprising their roles of Jerry and George from Seinfeld’s classic 90s sitcom, where they cruise to Tom’s Restaurant in an AMC Pacer to watch the Super Bowl – which is being played in New York for some reason.At Tom’s their Jerry and George’s classic bickering is interrupted by Jerry’s nemesis neighbour Newman – played by Wayne Knight – but there’s no sign of Elaine or Kramer.Watch the desktop version of the Seinfeld reunion Super Bowl ad here. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

Rumours of a hybrid drivetrain for Mitsubishi’s next-generation Evolution performance flagship are gaining momentum, with a new report by Japanese magazine Holiday Auto suggesting that the next Evo will maintain its traditional turbo petrol and all-wheel drive attributes with green-friendly plug-in hybrid power.According to the report, the Evo will benefit from technology developed for efficiency-focused models like the new plug-in Outlander SUV to improve on the current model’s combined fuel consumption of at least 10.1L/100km, while boosting performance to new levels.Porsche, McLaren and Ferrari have recently proven that the words performance and hybrid are not at all mutually exclusive with their 918 Spyder, P1, and LaFerrari fastest-ever models, and it’s only a matter of time before such tech trickles down to more affordable performance models like the Evo.The Mitsubishi is not the only bang-for bucks champion in line for hybridisation, with Nissan’s next GT-R also set to incorporate some form of efficiency-boosting electrification and Honda has confirmed a similar shift for its upcoming NSX.Holiday Auto suggests that the Evo will use a similar dual electric motor layout to the Outlander PHEV, but will ditch the SUV’s atmo 2.0-litre petrol engine for a smaller 1.1 litre turbo unit similar to that used by the XR and AR concepts shown in Tokyo recently.Mitsubishi is reportedly targeting outputs similar to a 3.0-litre aspirated engine for the Evo-spec 1100cc unit, which suggests something in the vicinity of 170kW, before electric power is factored in.   Such a 155kW/L specific output would mark a significant jump from the 108.6kW/L achieved from the 217kW 2.0-litre turbo unit in the existing Evo X, and exceed even the 133.1kW/L achieved by 265kW 2.0 litre four powering the Mercedes A45 and CLA45 AMG twins.Even with the Outlander PHEV’s dual 60kW electric motors, a circa-170kW petrol engine would have the potential to trounce the current Evo X, but these could be uprated in the pursuit of GT-R rivalling performance reported elsewhere.Also key to a hybrid Evo’s performance potential will be maintaining the Outlander PHEV’s battery system location ahead of the rear axle for the benefit of weight distribution.Other reports have suggested that the next Evolution will require a bespoke platform to deal with its unique packaging and performance demands, suggesting it could lose the Lancer name for the first time in the model’s history.Such a repositioning would mirror Nissan’s GT-R, which was distanced from the Skyline nameplate for the first time when the current R35 model launched in 2007.The next-generation Lancer is set to ride on a platform shared with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, but it is unclear whether this strategy extends to the mooted Evo replacement.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn

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 

The startling boast from one of the world's last remaining independent mass-market car companies comes as it prepares to unveil a new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine in Europe.Part of Honda's Earth Dreams Technology, the engine - to be introduced in the new Civic later this year - shows fuel economy has overtaken acceleration as the mark of the new-age car."It will be the lightest engine in its class, delivering sub 100g/km CO2 levels and a class-leading balance of fuel economy and performance,'' Honda says.The 88kW/300Nm 1.6-litre diesel - expected to claim about 3.5 L/100km to put it on par with cars including the Renault Clio diesel - will be shown at the Geneva motor show in March. More engine variants will unfurl over the next three years.Honda will also display at Geneva its NSX Concept, EV-STER and a prototype of the European CR-V. - The Honda NSX is confirmed to return to production - after the nameplate finished in Australia in 1997 - within three years. Honda has confirmed the NSX Concept will go on display at next month's Geneva motor show after its debut at Detroit in January.This concept car is being evolved to become a production car and go on sale within three years, Honda says. It has a mid-mounted V6 hybrid engine and Honda's all-wheel drive system.

Honda killed the second-generation NSX with its F1-inspired V10 engine before it could hit the road but is now considering a new plan after scoring a string of successes in Japanese GT racing. After consolidating its green technology with the Insight, Civic Hybrid, CR-Z and Jazz Hybrid, Honda believes the is right for a serious re-evaluation of its sports car program. The head of Honda, Takanobu Ito, says the company is "rekindling" the spirit of motorsport and has commenced evaluation of a new car - for sports driving enthusiasts and motorsport - that will meet the expectations of a public wanting greener technology.  The result is likely to be smaller and lighter, and have a smaller and greener powerplant, but still generate a decent amount of power. Ito hints that Honda could put a small number of cars, based on the latest V8-powered NSX racer, into production but does not say when. But Honda is known to be on two other cars, one a medium-sized sports cars with a V6-hybrid, strongly rumoured to debut as an Acura for the USA, and the other a compact lightweight four-cylinder hybrid coupe.