Honda/Acura NSX Supercar Could Still be Revived - 2011 Debut Rumoured

Here we go again....
The Honda/Acura NSX could be revived as early as 2011, according to AutoBild. In an unsourced report, the German magazine says that a road-ready version of the HSV-010 GT racecar is being developed to fight the Lexus LFA.

A new version of the supercar was officially cancelled by Honda during the peak of the economic crisis. At that time, the company announced that they would be eliminating many of their niche market models in favor of vehicles that are broadly accepted worldwide, and can be produced in large volumes.

The magazine says that the production NSX would come with a 5.0-liter V8 engine. The production version would likely be both narrower and less defined than the race model, and be sold without a rear spoiler.

The Honda HSV-010 GT uses a 3.4-liter V8 engine generating 493 horsepower (500PS, 368 kW). The race car got its debut earlier this month at Japan's Suzuka Circuit, where two of them crashed out .

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/110033025407/hondaacura-nsx-supercar-could-still-be-revived---2011

TOV: New Honda president says FR sedans (and V8s) are out

Who would have figured that July 20th would have held more than a single newsworthy story, but it's not even lunch time on the west coast and we're already up to our third item of the day.
On a normal Monday I probably would have come across this sooner but I'm actually hurtling down the freeway somewhere outside of Lexington, KY as I type this.

This is apparently all over the blogs already, but in case you missed it, Automotive News ran a story earlier today with the following headline: New Honda chief: We don't need rwd sedans.

The story is available here, but it may require a login and/or subscription.

Basically the gist of it is that Takanobu Ito claims that Honda has suspended its RWD development program and will shift its focus towards developing hybrid powertrains for larger vehicles. Ito-san is quoted as saying "It would be meaningless to emulate what other companies have been doing for more than five decades." , and that they intend to pioneer in new areas.

Temple of Vtec Opinion
As Acura is currently in the midst of fortifying their brand image in an effort to pull level with "Tier 1" marques, I can't imagine there possibly being a worse time for the president of Honda to make such a declaration. Just when it seems like things were looking up for Acura (with word of a proper flagship RL, unique FR platforms, and true "Tier 1" powertrains in the works), the news has been steadily getting worse for the past six months or so. The cumulative effect of this series of blows is taking its toll on Acura's brand credibility amongst enthusiasts, which arguably drive a brand's overall image. Will the effect ultimately prove fatal for Acura? Only time will tell.

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=842482

Report; Acura Postpones V8 until 2015

"You've got to have the right tool for the job." "You can't bring a knife to a gun-fight." Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. We've heard it all before. Honda makes some excellent engines, there's no doubt about that, from small displacement four-pots that rev through the roof to gloriously smooth and reliable V6 units. Unfortunately, the fun stops there, as the Japanese automaker has steadfastly stuck to its guns, not building an eight-cylinder engine when it can do just as well with fewer pistons.

Regardless of how competent its six may be, nearly all of Honda's competitors offer V8 engines in their top-level models, and Acura fanatics have been begging for a range-topper to compete with the likes of Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz for years. They may soon get their wish, as Honda's CEO Takeo Fukui has stated once and for all that Acura will indeed be getting an eight for its next top-level sedan.

What good is a beefy engine if you can't get the power to the ground? A big, heavy V8 engine over the front tires is a recipe for a horribly unbalanced front-driver, and Honda realizes this. So expect the aforementioned sedan to get rear-wheel-drive to go along with its newfound infusion of displacement. When? Not until 2015 according to some industry sources. That's a veritable eternity in the auto biz, so we have to wonder if Fukui has let the cat out of the bag a bit prematurely.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/28/honda-v8-coming-in-2015/

Acura RL to get V8 option within 18 months

Honda’s CEO Takeo Fukui has finally had the epiphany we’ve all been waiting for. He has confirmed plans for Honda to launch its first V8 in its luxury Acura brand. Fukui said that Acura sales are down 15.3 percent for the first nine months of this year and that its flagship RL sedan needs something extra.

“I don’t think that the Acura RL 3.7-liter is sufficient. We can’t compete with other premium brands,” said Fukui.

So when is it going to happen? Acura dealers are saying that they have been told Honda will offer a V8 option in the RL within 18 months. There is no word on output or torque figures as of yet but Fukui confirmed that the V8 will “be completely different from conventional, past-generation ones and have excellent fuel efficiency.”

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/10/20/acura-rl-to-get-v8-option-within-18-months/

2010 Acura RL rumours

Looks like Honda is going to be listening to the critic's and will be adding a RWD V8 RL for 2010! Another rumour is that Honda is working on a 420-horsepower 4.8-liter V8 which will incorporate the Variable Cylinder Management System currently employed in the Honda Accord V6's, (VCM = Cylinder deactivation), to manage fuel better.

The car will supposedly feature an FR layout with SH-AWD, which is the setup that Honda says will underpin the next generation NSX.