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Ready for the Return of Acura's NSX?

The affordable sports car won critical acclaim, but dwindling sales led Honda to take it off the road. Now, a snazzy rebirth could be on the horizon

Ready for the Return of Acura's NSX?

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

First, some history: Acura launched the precocious NSX, Japan's original supercar, in 1991. It was a risky proposition for the then five-year-old brand, not least because Acura's only other model (the Legend) sold for slightly over half of the NSX's original $65,000 manufacturer-suggested retail price. The NSX was handbuilt, comfortable enough for the daily driver, and priced within the reach of those who couldn't afford more established Italian exotics.

Praised for its acceleration (Car & Driver clocked the 1994 model's zero-to-60-mph time at 5.2 seconds), the lightweight car boasted a laundry list of industry firsts, among them being the first production car to use titanium connecting rods and an all-aluminum body, chassis, and suspension. Acura officials blamed the model's death on an inability to pass increasingly strict global emissions regulations, though the car's age and its ultimate $89,000 price tag must have contributed to dwindling sales — only an estimated 150 were sold in 2005.

The future — if any — of the NSX has chat rooms buzzing. Last fall, Takeo Fukui, Honda's Chief Executive Officer, said "We would like to debut a new super sports car equipped with a V10 engine in three to four years." He also mentioned Acura's intent to use so-called superhandling all-wheel drive -- which distributes torque between the wheels -- in NSX's successor. Still, there are few hard facts about the next NSX — and a lot of speculation.

EFFORTLESS FLOW. For clues, most industry watchers have zeroed in on the 330 horsepower V6 HSC concept unveiled at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. And if the HSC design is any indication, we should all be excited. The low waistline, generous use of glass, and long-wheelbase/short-overhang represent a logical and evolutionary progression of the celebrated styling in the original NSX.

The most noticeable design difference between the older production model and the concept is one of symmetry: The HSC melds sharp creases on the side profile with a curvy greenhouse and broad rear shoulders. These contrasting styling methods flow into each other effortlessly and beautifully. It remains to be seen if the mighty V10 engine's size will alter the basic profile, which was designed to house a mid-mounted V6.

The verdict: Acura might have reconsidered NSX's rebirth when they discovered that Nissan and Lexus have supercars in the pipeline (the GT-R Skyline and the GT 450, respectively). A rebirth of the NSX makes strategic sense. Couple that with the fact that Honda doesn't typically show concepts Stateside that it doesn't intend to build, and there's reason to believe the HSC foreshadows a 2008-09 NSX.

Schwartzapfel, a certified car freak, writes BusinessWeek.com's Concept of the Week column. He has studied the automotive marketplace and worked as an advertising/marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.