Cancelled Acura NSX Resurrected as GT Racecar

TOKYO — When Takeo Fukui, former president of Honda Motor Co., cancelled development of the next-generation Acura NSX, it seemed to be the end of the legendary nameplate, the symbol of Honda's love for technology and performance. Those who were most disappointed with Fukui's decision were the people working on the sports car, as it was just about finished and ready to start production.

Now the car might make it to the road after all, only in the form of a racing car. The Super GT Series is the most popular racing series in Japan, featuring highly modified GT cars at races held throughout Asia. Most Japanese manufacturers are involved, notably Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota. This year, a midengine Acura won the championship at the final race when the favored Nissan GT-R had a flat tire.

For next season, the new-generation, front-engine NSX will be entered for the Super GT Series. It will be equipped with a 3.4-liter V8, not the 5.0-liter V10 that had been rumored for the production car.

Honda has managed to sidestep the Super GT rules that require the use of a car based on a production vehicle by presenting the drawings and specs of the car to JAF (Japan Automobile Federation), which sanctions the GT Series. The rules permit cars that are production ready, though not necessarily in production, which is why the NSX and Toyota Supra are still a part of the championship.

The officials at JAF have given the OK, so the NSX will take its place on the starting grid in Japan next year. This should ease the sting of Honda's retreat from Formula 1 and the cancellation of the NSX program, major blows to a company as dedicated to performance as Honda.

Inside Line says: Maybe this $100,000 sports car isn't as cancelled as we thought. — Mak Tokuyama, Correspondent