Honda NSX may be revived

There have been a range of NSX rumours and plans in recent years but now the go-ahead message is coming from the very top.

Honda president and CEO Takanobu Ito, speaking the night before the Frankfurt motor show, confirms a firm project for a new supercar from the Japanese brand.

“I spent part of my early career at Honda developing the NSX. I really enjoyed that experience, and learned much, so it is my wish that Honda engineers have  the experience of developing a sports car like the NSX in future," Ito says "Within Honda, our engineers are already looking at developing such a car.”

There is no timing yet, but Ito says he worked on the original NSX and hopes to have a 21st century car in showrooms with the focus on efficiency and lightweight construction.

“Our recent efforts have been focused on fuel efficiency, and that perhaps gives the impression Honda is behind with pushing the brand image of sportiness, but let me assure you that is not the case,” says Ito. “We will address that impression with our new generations of cars.”

Ironically, the latest update of the Civic shows Honda is worried about holding the showroom pricetag in the USA, although that could change when the five-door hatch is unveiled in Frankfurt.

But Ito seems to be a man with a plan.

“You can’t depend on a high power output to call a car sporty anymore,” he said. “The original NSX was  about high power but also good driving performance, and today power-to-weight is what we have to focus on. The NSX was known for its aluminium body, so when we develop our new sports car we don’t want to copy Ferrari for power, but to also chase efficiency as well.”