Acura NSX Production Teaser Video

2015 Honda NSX already sold out in UK

By Tim Pollard

Honda has closed the order books for the NSX hybrid sports car - despite the car not even being shown in public.

Dealers have been taking orders for the new 2015 NSX for the past two years, and now have 100 signatures, officials have confirmed to CAR.

That's enough demand for this limited-volume coupe to cap supply for now; it's at least the first year's allocation taken care of.

Honda closes the UK order bank for NSX

The news confirms that there remains plenty of pent-up demand for the NSX hybrid, which has only been shown so far as a hybrid (the pictures in our NSX gallery are of the concept car).

We'll have to wait until Detroit's 2015 North American International Auto Show in January 2015 to see the finished production NSX.

But that hasn't stopped 100 Brits placing £5000 deposits to pick up one of the first cars, expected to land on these shores in 2016.

The Civic Type-R order books open

You might be too late to order an NSX, in the first wave of deliveries at any rate, but you can now slap down a deposit on a Civic Type-R instead.

UK dealers have just opened their order books for the new turbocharged Type-R; place a £3000 deposit today to get one of the first UK cars due in showrooms in August or September 2015.

Next year is shaping up to be a major year for Honda: sales have stagnated in recent years with little new product thanks to the hiatus caused by R&D cuts in the recession, a swingeing yen exchange rate and the tsunami of 2011. Few new models have arrived and the Accord has slipped quietly off sale.

But in 2015, Honda's back with the new Civic Type-R for hot-hatch fans, the NSX production sports car, the new HR-V compact off-roader and the new Jazz. Not to mention an engine supply deal with McLaren to relaunch the brand in F1.

Are the good times about to return to Honda? Let us know in the comments below.

Source;
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Motoring-issues/Honda-NSX-order-book-closed-already-Civic-Type-Rs-opens/

Motortrend: Acura NSX Benchmarked Against Ferrari 458, 911 GT3

by Alex Nishimoto of www.motortrend.com

Carrying on a legacy can be a huge burden, but it’s a burden Honda's engineers are willing to bear when it comes to development of the new Acura NSX. The successor to the car many consider to be among the greatest sports cars ever built has a lot riding on it, and we've heard a couple stories that suggest that it might just deliver.

An insider confirmed what we had heard before : that the new NSX was originally supposed to use the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 from the RLX, mounted in a transverse configuration like the first-gen model. But because the performance just wasn't there with only 310 hp from the engine and another 75 hp from the electric motors, Honda engineers made the expensive decision to develop a clean-sheet powertrain. The NSX will use an all-new twin-turbo V-6 mounted longitudinally and mated to a new transmission, and will be supplemented by three electric motors. There's no word on displacement for the engine or total output, but we've previously heard a combined 560 hp is possible. Our informant also told us that Honda's decision to go with a clean-sheet twin-turbo V-6 was not prompted by its return to Formula 1.

During development, Honda R&D used two Ferrari 458 coupes for benchmarking purposes. One was torn apart to gather manufacturing intel, while the other continues to be flogged in testing. Engineers loved the 458 at first, but they've since shifted their attention to the McLaren 12C. The Porsche 911 GT3 was also benchmarked for its performance and reliability, while front-engine performance cars like the Nissan GT-R and C6 Corvette Z06 were considered benchmarks early on, but then dropped soon after.

We last saw an NSX prototype (pictured above) testing at the Nürburgring, and the bodywork very much resembled the concept that bowed in Detroit two years ago. That is, before the test mule was unfortunately engulfed in flames. A production NSX is due in mid-2015, and from the sound of things, we can't wait to see what it can do.

Source;
http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/autosperformance/acura-nsx-benchmarked-against-ferrari-458-911-gt3/ar-BBb1cx0

Honda NSX prototype to tackle the Goodwood hill climb

Goes into production next year

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is three months away but that hasn't stopped Honda from announcing plans to tackle the hill climb with an NSX prototype.

Described as the "perfect event to demonstrate its flagship supercar for the first time in Europe," the prototype will be joined by a 1989 NSX - once driven by Ayrton Senna - and a 2005 NSX.

As we have previously reported, the Acura / Honda NSX will go into production next year at the newly constructed Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. It will feature a twin-turbo V6 engine and a Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system that has three electric motors.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/114031972030/honda-nsx-prototype-to-tackle-the-goodwood-hill-climb

Honda NSX to launch in 2015

Honda's new hybrid NSX supercar, set to launch in two years time, to offer combined power output of 400bhp

The new Honda NSX will launch in 2015 with ground-breaking technology that will only be employed if it improves the driving experience, according to its development chief Ted Klaus.

Honda's new NSX is undergoing chassis development in the US, while powertrain work is being carried out in Japan. The Honda will feature a mid-mounted V6 engine, supported by three electric motors, offering a combined output of 400bhp. Honda has previously promised sharp handling and a high performance potential.

Klaus, however, has reiterated that the complex electronics will only intervene if they improve the driving experience. In particular, he highlighted the possibility of using the electric motors to deliver instant throttle response, or to allow silent all-electric drive.

'"The NSX must stay true to the role it created, of being an everyday exotic," said Klaus. "That means we must only use the new tech to support the driver to live with the car every day, and to give the driver a car with a depth of abilities that they can peel away with familiarity, as they get to know the car.

"The technology gives us a chance to create a car that is focused on being agile, precise and linear in its responses like never before. We are looking to do more than chase numbers on paper - as with the original NSX we wont have the most powerful car in the category, for instance, but we believe the human element is more important than that. Whatever we do, the driver must be at the centre of the experience, not the car."

Klaus also confirmed that Honda hoped to involve racing drivers from inside and outside the company during development, as it did with Formula 1 racer Ayrton Senna with the original NSX. The firm returns to F1 with McLaren in 2015.

"We call them acid tests - be it exposing the car to the world's most demanding drivers or test tracks. We may get burned by that acid, but that is the only way to improve," said Klaus.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/frankfurt-motor-show/honda-nsx-launch-2015

Honda NSX Concept-GT breaks cover

To race at Suzuka

Honda has announced the NSX Concept-GT race car which will compete in the GT500 class of the Super GT Series fifth round this weekend at Suzuka.

As you would imagine, the racecar is based on the Acura NSX concept and complies with the 2014 regulations established by the Japan Automobile Federation regarding GT500 cars. The vehicle is powered by a 2.0-liter mid-mounted inline direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine working together with a hybrid setup.

No further details were released, but we notice the addition of a wide body kit including a huge rear wing, a lowered suspension, a carbon fiber front spoiler lip, side vents and multi-spoke alloys shod in Bridgestone Potenza tires.

The road-legal Acura NSX is scheduled to go on sale in 2015, with production taking place in Ohio, United States.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113081661530/honda-nsx-concept-gt-breaks-cover

Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (HMC): Acura’s NSX — The “Next Big Thing”

Acura, the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC), has just tweeted the first teaser picture of an NSX second generation prototype. This new NSX is a hybrid-electric supercar and a revival of the first generation Acura NSX. Acura is planning on putting out the NSX to the market in 2015.

Will this sleek new electric car turbocharge Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) and Acura moving forward, or will competitors like Porsche, Nissan Motor, and Audi make the new Acura NSX slam the brakes? Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC)’s revamping of the Acura brand and the NSX’s appeal to consumers will be a catalyst for Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC)’s stock moving forward. Even if the NSX doesn’t sell as well as other competitors, the car itself will probably drive customers to buy other Acura or Honda cars.

The NSX can help Honda compete better

The original first generation NSX was a lot different than the planned second generation redesigned NSX supercar. However, Clement D'Souza, associate chief engineer at Honda of America, underscored the importance of the first generation NSX:

The first NSX redefined the sports car world and this car will hopefully do the same, with new technologies that will cascade down to other models in the Acura line.

Honda Motor Co. Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) has a good foundation to build upon from the success of the first generation NSX, and is currently overhauling the luxury Acura brand. Acura sales in the United States were up an encouraging 14% in the first four months of 2013.  But Acura is “only” ranked fifth in the United States among luxury brands, behind BMW, Toyota's Lexus brand, Mercedes-Benz, and General Motors' Cadillac. And although the Acura team is most likely not planning on directly competing with Porsche and Ferrari, the more affordable NSX supercar will appeal to more consumers and give Honda a new front to compete with the likes of Nissan, Audi, and Porsche.

Honda shares have done fairly well in the past few months due to a weaker Japanese yen and a robustly strong automotive market:

HMC data by YCharts

Sure, an NSX supercar will probably not be the first model a budget-conscious family or consumer. Analysts estimate the NSX will cost somewhere in the $120,000-$200,000 range to compete with Audi’s R8. The Nissan GT-R, a comparable model to the NSX, runs at about $110,000. Porsches are priced expensively since they are very high-end, high quality sports cars. So, the NSX might have some difficulty competing with Nissan if its price is much above $120,000. And, people with a lot of discretionary income to spend on a high priced car aren’t offered much of a reason to not buy a snazzy Porsche and get an NSX instead.

But, as we will see in in the next point, the NSX itself might not be the biggest piece to Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC)’s puzzle. Acura's NSX will possibly not only take some market share away from Nissan, Audi, and Porsche, but will also give Honda leverage in selling its other brands. The NSX would probably ride the coattails of the electric car revolution and have a larger impact than its numbers might originally suggest.

The NSX might give Honda leverage

The danger the NSX poses to Nissan and Porsche might not initially lie in how well the NSX sells. As Ronald D. White of the Los Angeles Times explains:

Experts said the previous iterations of the NSX created a so-called halo car that brought attention to the entire Acura line. The automaker is hoping that will happen again with the new version. The NSX has been the kind of car that "adds luster and excitement to the Acura brand," Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said in an interview. "It will bring people into the showrooms, not so much to buy, but maybe to look," Nerad added. "And if they look and then buy an ILX or an MDX, the Acura people will be very happy."

The new generation NSX has one key factor in common with the first generation NSX -- the allurement factor. The first generation NSX sold very well, but also helped consumers take a second look at other Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) and Acura cars that they otherwise might not have taken a look at, thus driving revenue up for Honda.

How Nissan, Porsche, and others respond to this development remains to be seen. Nissan probably has more to lose than Porsche since Porsche most likely won’t be in direct competition with the NSX for the most part. Both Nissan and Porsche posted pretty strong results in the first quarter of 2013, with Nissan benefiting from a weaker Japanese yen like Honda has.

The outlook for both Nissan and Porsche at this moment looks fairly good, but Honda’s NSX will probably be a factor weighing down on Nissan’s sales in the long run.  At this point, if all goes well with the rest of the NSX's development then it is safe to say that Acura's NSX will be "the next big thing" in the automotive industry.

The article Acura’s NSX -- The “Next Big Thing” originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Evan Buck.

Evan Buck has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Evan is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.

NSX's electric motors will help handling

Richard Truett
Automotive News

May 20, 2013 - 12:01 am ET 

 

MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- Technical details on the Acura NSX coming in 2015 are scarce, but large-project leader Ted Klaus offered a few nuggets last week as Honda officials announced that the sports car will be built here.

Two front-mounted electric motors will do more than boost acceleration, Klaus said. They will sharpen handling by managing torque and weight shifts in turns.

And the car's three electric motors will be capable of driving the car without the gasoline engine -- if Honda wants to program the car to have an electric drive mode. Klaus also said the car's battery pack will be in the transmission tunnel area and will help handling by ensuring proper weight distribution.

"All three motors will work in conjunction with the driver," he said. "When the driver puts his foot on the accelerator or turns or brakes, all those motors will work in response."

Honda officials know the all-wheel-drive V-6-powered NSX isn't going to outmuscle most Corvettes, Ferraris and Porsches. But they also know that it takes more than raw power to ignite the passion of sports car enthusiasts.

Though technically excellent, the first-generation NSX built from 1990-2005 was seen by many as lacking soul and character, and it never sparked the same level of passion exhibited by drivers of other high-dollar exotic cars -- something Honda officials are keenly aware of.

The NSX will feature a direct-injected V-6 engine, dual-clutch transmission and a body made of lightweight materials. Making all of this engaging to the driver, Klaus said, is a top priority.


Source;
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130520/OEM06/305209962/nsxs-electric-motors-will-help-handling#axzz2Tw0wYNwr

NAIAS Live – Acura NSX Concept evolves a bit further

The mystery NSX hiding beneath the veil in the Acura stall at NAIAS 2013 is solved.

Acura today unveiled a revised NSX Concept previewing the design and interior of the next generation sportscar, expected in the market in the next two years. Acura unveiled a concept last year at the same venue and reopened the NSX chapter that was closed in 2005 when production of the last generation ceased.

Mike Accavitti, VP of national marketing operations -
This further evolution of the Acura NSX Concept design is remarkably true to the original concept styling. We’re making great progress in delivering on the expectations we created a year ago, with advanced technology that will bring new levels of performance and a unique, dynamic experience to the exotic sports car market.

The Acura NSX Concept is based on the production model’s underpinnings and preserves the low slung stance and the exterior proportions of last year’s vehicle that got loads of positive praise. It aims to communicate the attitude of a supercar with a high-tech feel.

The 2013 Acura NSX Concept concept provides the first insight into the future car’s interior that centers around a “Human Support Cockpit” focusing on “the synergy between man and machine.” Visibility, a sporty driving position, and reducing clutter are the three priorities for Acura’s interior designers and engineers.

Acura will launch an advanced powertrain package. It will use a direct-injected V-6 engine mated to Acura’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system, as announced last year. The SH-AWD system is a hybrid that combines torque vectoring all-wheel drive with hybrid efficiency using three motors – one coupled to the V6 engine, and two motors spinning the front wheels. A new dual-clutch transmission is developed to pair with the V6 engine.

Engineers are at work at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. located in Los Angeles, California, and Raymond, Ohio to get the car into production. The Japanese carmaker announced that the upcoming sportscar will roll out of a new facility in central Ohio.

Source;
http://indianautosblog.com/2013/01/2013-acura-nsx-concept-evolves-60415

MotorTrend: Honda Seeks Its Roots

by Todd Lassa of www.motortrend.com

Pundits have warned about Honda losing its way since at least the early 1990s. With the last few generations of Acuras, the 2011 Civic, and the just-replaced Accord, those warnings finally came to roost.

Enter the 2013 Accord, a return to form with good dynamics, and the big-on-the-inside, smallish-on-the-outside, low-cowl design that Honda calls "Man Maximum, Machine Minimum." It comes on the tail of Honda's announcement last year that it would design, as well as build, the sinewy 2015 Acura NSX in Ohio.  American Honda president and CEO Tetsuo Iwamura also serves as executive vice president of Honda Motor Company. He spoke of changes and updates for Hondas and Acuras that give us hope the automaker has turned the corner, and is on its way back to the kind of design and engineering leadership that made it an enthusiasts' affordable favorite a quarter-century ago.

The new Acura RLX flagship, unveiled at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, adapts the traditional Honda low cowl of the new Accord. It will be available as a front-drive car for the first time (replacing the RL), with Precision All-Wheel Steer rear toe control, or in AWD form with the three-motor/V-6 Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive. Its 3.5-liter V-6 has been updated with gas direct-injection.  Iwamura-san spoke to a group of auto journalists about the RLX and other cars in a roundtable discussion at Automobile magazine's offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

How will you position the FWD and AWD Acura RLX?
We want it to be a luxury model. We still want to do it smartly. It has a driving feel like a V-8, but offering much better fuel efficiency. We think we'll have 30/30/30 [city/highway/combined] EPA fuel economy [in three-motor hybrid form]. 

Are you considering a 2WD version of the NSX?  
Anything is possible, but we cannot explain the detail of the NSX at this moment. Since we are planning a similar system for the RLX, well...you can guess that. [Honda public relations says that, officially, there are no plans for a RWD NSX. "The car is better, faster, more fun because of the SH-AWD system, not in spite of it."]  

After lagging Toyota and Ford with its IMA system, Honda has become very aggressive with hybrids.
One is the one-motor IMA system, currently in the North American Civic. It will be enhanced, in-house, with a new transmission for the next models [not Civic]. The second is a two-motor hybrid, first in the Accord plug-in, which will be available early next year in the U.S. Following this plug-in hybrid, we will have a full hybrid version of the Accord, which will have a two-motor hybrid system. It will generate very good fuel efficiency. Together with the three-motor hybrid system for both RLX and NSX, we will have three very competitive hybrid systems.  

You scuttled plans for a diesel Acura TSX.  
That stopped, unfortunately. We are watching very carefully and if diesel becomes a major stream in the U.S., we would definitely do it.  

Any more turbos?

Everybody's talking about the downsized turbo. That is, so far, the best approach to make fuel efficiency up, especially from a CAFE point of view.  

 

What have you learned from having to create a major face-lift for the Civic after just two model years? 

We see the current Civic as a nice car. It has a very, very strong competitive edge. It has been the best-selling model in that segment, but we are not satisfied with the model. We really wish to be best in the segment...to be the benchmark again in the segment. So Accord, we made it best, and CR-V, we made it best. Civic, we've made it best in the segment as a benchmark. That is our strategy.

 

Source;

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2012/1302_honda_seeks_its_roots/

ILX launch has Acura execs plotting quick changes

 

LOS ANGELES -- Acura sales are climbing again after last year's earthquake-caused inventory crisis, but the launch of the ILX compact sedan has been a disappointment for Honda's premium brand.

Now Acura is planning a powertrain change for the ILX and will highlight technical features on the RLX flagship sedan due next spring as part of a strategy to return brand sales to the 200,000 level.

The ILX "is not hitting its sales expectations," said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president.

The ILX is based on the Honda Civic platform. And although some Audis borrow from Volkswagen and some Lexus models take from Toyota, the ILX's roots may be a bit too evident against the BMW 1 series and Lexus CT 200h.

The car was meant eventually to replace the aging, slightly larger TSX. But November was only the second time since the May introduction of the less-expensive ILX that it outsold the TSX, which is still going strong.

The ILX is being outsold by the Buick Verano, Volkswagen CC and Audi A4, though it has an edge on the CT 200h and the outgoing Audi A3.

Last month Acura sold 2,108 ILXs, compared with sales of 3,574 Veranos, 3,343 A4s and 2,197 CCs.

The main problem: The base and midgrade ILX have a 2.0-liter engine that is "underpowered, and consumers don't see the value," Mendel said. What's more, the upmarket 2.4-liter engine only comes with a manual transmission. Though it's pitched as a performance feature, few Acura buyers actually want to row the gears. "The car was planned for a 2.4 automatic, and we're working to fulfill that," Mendel said, though he could not say when. "We're looking to sell about 30,000 units a year, and we're probably closer to 22 or 24 right now," Mendel said, speaking of the annual sales rate. "We're hitting two-thirds of our expectations, but we're growing every month and catching on more." Fortunately for Acura, the redesigned RDX compact crossover -- also launched this year -- is off to a stronger start. It is outselling the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60, and is hot on the heels of the BMW X3. Although it shares some components and a platform with the Honda CR-V, the RDX has a more distinctive interior. The jerky turbo-four engine has been replaced by a smoother V-6 that has more power and better fuel economy.

The launches of the ILX and RDX set the tone for the redesigned RLX flagship sedan due next spring.

The current RL has been a flop, averaging just 35 sales a month for the past two years. Mendel wants to market the RLX as a technical tour de force, but with the twist that it offers "technology that improves your skills, not that takes them away."

That means pushing items like the RLX's standard Precision All-Wheel Steering (PAWS) system, which allows the rear wheels to have independent toe control during cornering. The rear wheels have their toe-in angles adjusted by electronic actuators while cornering, giving much crisper handling.

"The RLX has the right package to compete with more expensive vehicles," said Art St. Cyr, American Honda's head of product planning and logistics. "The previous RL didn't match what the customers were looking for."

Most luxury manufacturers have allied themselves with premium audio suppliers, and Acura is no different. The RLX will feature a system by Krell, which sells home stereo speakers for upwards of $65,000 a pair.

"We have to discover more ways to get this vehicle in the hands of people," said Mendel. "We need to get butts into seats."

Mendel is looking at expanding the loaner program Acura has with the W hotel chain. Currently, the program only offers guests a ride in the MDX crossover. But the RLX's much larger backseat allows that vehicle to be used as well, he said.

Acura sales were in free fall during the recession. In 2010, Acura sold barely half of its 2005 peak of 209,610 units. This year, sales are up 27 percent and the brand should easily break 150,000 units. And executives have said 200,000 units is a near-term goal.

Should RDX sales continue to be strong, and if the RLX does well, Mendel expects to hit that number in the next year or two -- especially with a redesign of the MDX mid-sized crossover coming next year and the redesigned TL mid-sized sedan and new NSX sports car coming in 2014.

"We have never had a true flagship sedan," said Mendel. "We're in a position now where we can build that flagship, and in a couple years we get the [NSX] sports car. It's when we need it that we will be delivering our signature in terms of smart luxury."

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121210/OEM03/312109938/rocky-ilx-launch-has-acura-execs-plotting-quick-change

2015 Acura NSX to cost more than a Nissan GT-R

To be produced in Marysville, Ohio

A Honda spokesman has released some details about the upcoming NSX sports car.

Chris Martin said that Honda will not reveal pricing info about the upcoming NSX in the near future, but he did say that it will be more expensive than the 2013 Nissan GT-R which in the United States starts from 97,820 USD. He added that "it's going to be a technological marvel."

The Honda/Acura NSX is scheduled to reach production phase for the 2015 model year and it will be manufactured in Marysville, Ohio. It will be an important car for the brand since it's going to be the first hand-built, specialty sports car that Honda has ever made outside Japan. The NSX is expected to get a hybrid powertrain and a mid-engine layout with an all-wheel drive system.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/112121451698/2015-acura-nsx-to-cost-more-than-a-nissan-gt-r

Honda shows off future auto tech

by Richard Russell of 'You Auto Know'

TOCHIGI, Japan — Honda fans rejoice, the company you have come to respect for its engineering prowess is back.

There has been a bit of a draught on that front in recent years but a flood of new products and technologies will soon take care of that.

During an intensive ‘Deep Dive’ at the company’s Research and Development Center here about two hours northwest of Tokyo, we were given a look at what is ahead and a chance to drive prototypes being used to evaluate these future technologies.

Honda has always been an engineering-led company so it was a relief to see a raft of new engines and transmissions ready for, or already into, production.

Engines

On the engine front, there are new 1.5-, 1.8- and 2.4-litre four-cylinder engines coming to market as you read this, the first in the new 2013 Accord.

Like every Honda engine from this point forward, from 660-cc to 3.5 litres, it has direct injection and variable valve timing.

We saw a new 1.6-litre aluminum diesel engine stuffed with weight saving and friction reducing technology.

Start pestering your local Honda dealer for this one. If enough of them ask, Honda will supply.

Transmission

The team has developed a trio of new CVT (Continuously Variable Transmissions) automatics for use in tiny, small land medium-sized cars.

Every effort has been made to inject some fun and feeling back into these units. But those feature prominently in a pair of new seven-speed dual clutch transmissions with built-in high-power electric motors, one for hybrids and another for regular applications.

The electric motors provide assist during acceleration and at high cruising speeds while serving as a generator when slowing.

The version developed for plug-in hybrids has two motors within the CVT. I managed 60 km/hr. in the normal hybrid and 100 km/hr in the plug-in on pure electric power.

They have also come up with a new coaxial gearbox integrated into the motor of the Fit EV (electric vehicle).

It provides three stages of power depending on the degree of accelerator travel, varying from 47 kW through 75kW to 92 kW.

Steering and suspension

There are two major developments in this area — a new SH-AWD system and all-wheel-steering.
A newly-developed drive unit has separate electric motors for each rear wheel.

In a corner, the motor at the outside wheel applies positive torque while the inside one exerts negative power.

By making the outside wheel go slightly faster and the inside slightly slower, the car follows the intended line more closely.

The energy generated while the inside wheel is in negative mode, is used to power the outside motor.
Add to this Precision All-Wheel Steering and you’ve got a pretty amazing package. An electric actuator in the tow control link at each rear wheel uses information from the engine, vehicle stability assist system and electric power steering and to extend or retract an arm and adjust the toe-in of each rear wheel by up to two degrees in either direction.

Unlike mechanical systems, this one can control each wheel separately allowing it to contribute to stability during cornering. It also applies toe-in during extreme braking to further aid in stability and reduce stopping distances

Safety

A City Brake Active System controls speed through various traffic lights to reduce consumption and fuel use.

In a demonstration the car equipped with the system proceeded steadily through a series of traffic lights without changing speed while the vehicle in adjacent lane, without it, sped away and came to stop at each light.

We also saw a system of vehicle-to-vehicle communication that predicts possible risk at intersections, greatly reducing rear-end, motorcycle. car and pedestrian collisions.

Dubbed Intelligent Communication Technologies, it will require buy-in from different manufacturers and participation by various levels of governments down to municipal level to install systems
Autonomous Emergency Brake, similar to others I have sampled in Europe, it uses a combination of camera and radar to recognize an object’s size, position, speed and direction and predict the risk of a collision, applying the brakes automatically to bring the vehicle to a full stop.

A new intelligent cruise control system monitors up to six vehicles in adjacent traffic. If it knows the speed of the vehicle pulling in front of you is the same as or greater than yours, it knows there is no need to alter the speed of your vehicle.

Vehicles

We drove an European Accord equipped with the drivetrain bound for the 2014 Acura RLS (formerly RL) coming in the spring. A 3.5-litre V7 producing more than 310 horsepower drives the front wheels.

Each rear wheel is driven by its own 20-plus horsepower electric motor. The new seven-speed dual clutch automatic has a third electric motor within, this one putting out more than 30 horsepower.

The new SH-AWD system thus is able to drive all four wheels simultaneously — but separately. The motor at the outside rear wheel applies positive torque in corners to help push the car into he intended line.

The motor on the inside wheel applies negative torque to slow that one slightly tugging the car into the turn. The kinetic energy developed by the inside wheel is converted to power for the other motor.
The trick rear-steer system mentioned above is also incorporated.

The driving impression were: V8-like power delivered in a smooth and progressive fashion, near neutral handling with gobs of stick and amazing braking.

This same drivetrain, re-arranged to accommodate a mid-ship engine placement, will be further enhanced and used in the upcoming NSX sports car.

At the other end of the scale we drove an N-One, Honda’s entry in the K-Class so popular in Japan. Restricted to 660 cc, these little devils are everywhere you look. Honda got around the displacement restriction by turbocharging the engine.

They were unwilling to talk horsepower but on the big track I got the box-shaped test mule up to 172 km/hr before running out of room.

The CIVIC Type-R — We didn’t get to drive one, but expect a turbocharged engine developed during the company’s recent foray in the World Touring Car Championships.

Source;
http://thechronicleherald.ca/wheelsnews/185336-honda-shows-off-future-auto-tech

Report: Production Acura NSX to debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show

Honda has confirmed with AutoExpress of UK that the production version of the Acura NSX will debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show in January.


Speaking to the publication at the 2012 Sao Paulo Motor Show, a top Honda exec said that the production NSX will be shown in Detroit after the concept version is done making rounds in Sao Paulo and then in Tokyo in November.

Sources say that the styling of the production version will remain ‘identical’ to the concept
Power is expected to come from a 3.5 liter V6 engine mated to two electric motors and Honda’s SH-AWD system. Output is expected to come in around 400-hp.

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2012/10/22/report-production-acura-nsx-to-debut-at-the-2013-detroit-auto-show/

MotorTrend: Mini Acura NSX Back on the Table

Shrunken Supercar Rumored to Get AWD, Mid-Engine Layout

While the stillborn, V-10-powered NSX was being developed, Honda was also working on a related and obscure project referred to internally as the Small NSX. At the time it was just one of several advanced R&D ideas sitting in the design room. Then the financial crisis hit, causing Honda to kill the NSX and shelve all other sports car projects. But Honda has since rebounded, and as we know, the NSX has been reborn as an all-wheel drive hybrid. Now we're hearing the Small NSX may be back on the drawing board as well.

 

While the words "Small NSX" may conjure up visions of a successor to the S2000, our inside source tells us this is not the case, and that it will look much like a shrunken version of the big-boy NSX, something along the lines of the car you see in this artist's impression. Our source also tells us that like the NSX, it will be equipped with a version of Honda's SH-AWD system.

Power will likely be provided by a turbocharged direct-injection engine. Honda currently has a number of engines that could fit the bill, including the 3.5-liter V-6, 2.4-liter I-4, and 2.0-liter I-4 already offered in several of its American-market products. Given Honda's America-focused development, overseas engines such as its 660cc and 1.0-liter mills are unlikely to be considered. Of the possible three, the 2.4-liter is the most likely candidate. There's also the possibility that it will be fitted with some kind of hybrid drivetrain.

 

Our source also tells us the Small NSX will make use of a number of parts from the NSX to help recoup development costs. Given that both cars will be developed at Honda of America's R&D center in Ohio (we're told that in July Honda HQ assigned several of its top test drivers and engineers to the facility for a five-year stint), it's a logical move. The NSX remains on track to return for the 2015 model year. If it's indeed green-lit, the Small NSX could follow a year or two afterward, before the drivers and engineers head home in 2017. Don't expect it to be a bargain sports car, however. Given the amount of DNA it's likely to share with the NSX, the Small NSX would likely cost between $50,000 and $60,000.

 

Source;

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2012/1209_mini_acura_nsx_back_on_the_table/

2015 Honda NSX to Become Non-Hybrid Racer

Automakers are trying to convince us they can make hybrid sportscars that are as economical as diesel econoboxes on tiny wheels, but still offer all the thrills. We’re not so convinced, because once you actually do want to get on the gas, that power, be it electric or fuel-based, has to come from something.

But Honda doesn’t seem to be going back on its word and is making the next NSX into an all-wheel drive hybrid.

The NSX has been off the radar for a number of years now, and the Japanese have to actually prove their car is worth our attention. And to do this they will unleash it onto the track.

But the racing version of the NSX might be a conventionally-powered, non-hybrid car, at least according to an AutoGuide report.

According to them Honda will race their sportscar in the American Grand Am series, which currently does not allow hybrids. However, a new class could be created soon, as Mazda has announced a diesel racer for next year.

What’s more, the NSX will race in Japan in the Super GT Series, which would also forbid a hybrid AWD car under current regulations.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2015-honda-nsx-to-become-non-hybrid-racer-47344.html