TOKYO — Inside Line recently reported that Honda's next-generation Acura NSX would survive as a racer in Japan's Super GT Series, and now we have confirmation of this as well as an image of the sleek prototype.
Deemed the HSV-10 GT or Honda Sports Velocity, the vehicle will sport a 500+ horsepower 3.4-liter V8 under the hood and will deliver power to the rear wheels via a Ricardo sequential manual gearbox also used by both Nissan and Toyota in Super GT. It won't make use of the 5.0-liter V10 that the production car was rumored to have, but does have the same chassis Honda was working on for the last few years before former Honda President Takeo Fukui cancelled development.
Honda got around the Super GT rule requiring the use of a car based on a production vehicle by showing drawings and specs to the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), which sanctions the GT Series. Since rules allow cars that are "production ready," the HSV-10 GT got the OK and will be hitting the tarmac next year.
The vehicle is built to 2010 GT500 class regulations and will have its debut race at Suzuka on March 20-21.
Inside Line says: The Acura NSX successor survives, although not exactly in the form we had hoped for. — Mike Lysaght, Correspondent
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mungmibear says:
03:33 PM, 03/22/2010
deadviper << you've been watching too much Topgear.
deadviper says:
07:07 AM, 12/29/2009
The souless, ball-less and gutless contingent of corprate cogs inside honda has finally won their war on speed. As the destruction of the s2000 and the resignation of the new NSX to the JGTC concentration camp has shown us, honda has surrendered the practice of injecting fun and passion into cars in favor of making the automotive equivalent to tupperware and bed slippers.
rv65 says:
11:17 PM, 12/27/2009
I think there were difficulties when developing this car since they wanted a 2 seater design then they went 2+2 later in the design. The production version has cues from the AASC. The door's resemble the crosstour in that regards. Honda was trying to beat the GT-R but had difficulties in doing so. They got frustrated even though the mule did good times at the Nurburgring. Ito just didn't want to put his name on Fukui's baby. Acura clearly wanted to go Tier1 but Ito cancelled that dream. I think they might develop some high end sports car with great mileage and Mr. Honda would never approve of the Nurburgring mules as it didn't meet Honda's philosophy.
The proposed production car was powered by a 5.0L v10 producing 550 ps and it would have SH-AWD and a 7 speed DSG like gearbox.
6sptl says:
09:26 AM, 12/23/2009
I think that this is actually a great idea. Though the present market situation ruled out selling this car to the public, if this car proves to be succesful on the race circuit it will spur demand. If it turns out to be a boner nothing is lost on a production run for a car that no one wants. Nothing sells premium sport cars like a race proven winner.
firstclass says:
09:06 AM, 12/23/2009
I hope this car becomes the Japanese equivalent of the original GT40 because this car looks great and authentically Japanese. For a while there I thought only Nissan had what it took. I once thought the Nissan GT-R supper GT racer looked like death on wheels but this Acura looks like Satin on wheels mixed with a dash of Japanese super model.
Just look at those headlights, you can tell Honda had every intention to produce a street version. Hopefully we'll see this cars framework and body work on future Acuras. If this car wins I'm sure it will be contested by people for not being based on a production vehicle. That could be this racers one blemish I hope it doesn't haunt the car racing career.