Acura and Honda Confirm Plans For Electrified NSX Replacement

by Carl Malek | August 23, 2024

Honda and Acura confirm that they are developing electrified sports car to replace the NSX. The new model might also use a new moniker instead of continuing the NSX story.

Honda and Acura appeared to confirm that a new electrified sports car model based on its 0 Series platform is coming.

The outgoing Acura NSX was a controversial supercar when it was in production. It revived a legendary nameplate and was powered by a hybrid-equipped V6. However, its high price tag contributed to slow sales and it was retired in 2022. Despite that, it appears that Acura is not giving up on the idea of a halo sports car offering and is still open to try again.

This confirmation came in the form of a statement from parent company Honda during Monterey with the Japanese auto giant seemingly confirming that its “0” series of electric vehicles would also include an electrified sports car to win over performance buyers looking to add electrification to their driving experience while also potentially giving the NSX nameplate a new avenue out of retirement.

A model shrouded in mystery

Not much is known about the vehicle itself but it would potentially be able to make full use of Honda’s electrified technology.

The new information and the confirmation came from Shinji Aoyama, Director, Executive Vice President, and Representative Executive Officer of Honda who spoke with journalists during Monterey Car Week. Aoyama stated “We are going to introduce a [new] sports model in 2027 or 2028. We may not call it an NSX, but it’s kind of an NSX-type of vehicle.”

Not much is known about the vehicle itself, but Aoyama said that it would use the “0” Series architecture with the first model based on this platform to be released around 2026. No production models have appeared for the platform as of this writing with Honda only showing off a concept saloon and a van based on the platform. At the time, Honda said that the “0” Series platform would be built around the approach of “Thin, Light, and Wise” and it appears the new sports car will follow the same mantra. “So this means, basically, how to make the platform thinner than other existing vehicles,” said the high-ranking manager. “So even [with battery dimensions], we are trying to make a thinner vehicle. So that we can realize a lower-height vehicle. This means that we can realize a larger [cabin], as well.”

Sports car will give Acura new halo model

The Acura NSX set a high benchmark for performance during its most recent production run and the new EV will have very big shoes to fill as a result.

The appearance of this new sportscar model would give Acura a new halo model to help draw attention to its new lineup of EVs. Halo models are important because while they typically have lower sale rates than other models in a brand’s lineup, they are good at drawing in prospective buyers. Many of these prospective buyers might not have enough money to buy the halo model itself, but will instead put their buying dollar into another vehicle which helps increase sales for the rest of the lineup.

It remains to be seen what the “0” Series platform will bring in terms of performance advantages to a sports car model, but Honda promised that it would be a very flexible layout that will have the ability to underpin a wide range of vehicles with the concept saloon and van being the first examples of this latent adaptability in action. As such, expect the sports car to be a precursor of the platform’s full potential and some of its latent technology and hardware might eventually bleed over to other models.