http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/04/report-...-has-restarted/

according to autoblog honda has confirmed development has restarted

 

Restarted would = YAY, but after two years, they might as well be starting from scratch, plus what will it be? Supercar, hybrid (likely), mid engine? front engine? At this point I'd think it would be another clean sheet design.

Ito basically stated that Honda needs to make sports cars again given demand, which I think is an interesting thing to say given what he's done over the past few years, but I'm glad to hear it.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...f%26prmd%3Divns

Also, Honda never called the new car an NSX, it was just a supercar to replace the NSX... its a pet peeve that people call any new car to come an NSX!

 

^Ditto^ A lot has happened in 2 years. They're better off starting from scratch.

 

whatever it is i hope it's not a 500 car limited edition car and i hope it's more of a game changer as far as cost/performance.

 

 

 

I always knew the replacement for the NSX would be back on.

 

I had always said Honda would resume creating a supercar when the economy picks up, and it's happening. There is no way in heck Honda would let Toyota and Nissan have supercars by themselves; the matter of pride is on the line, esp. in their home market.

 

I think they're more proud about outselling Toyota in 2010 in Japan.

 

Maybe so, but that pride will be short-lived unless Honda injects some passion into it's corporate culture soon. Workers can take a great deal of pride around a table drinking beer (or saki in this case) when they have a supercar that viably competes with their neighbors who work at Nissan and Toyota.

Passion and enthusiasm trickles down from the top and unless Honda gets off their conservative butts and starts to build exciting cars again, I think Honda will lose their edge over time. While sales numbers may disagree now, it's inevitable that the decline will happen as a manufacturer that relies solely on quality and reliability will lose their competitiveness over time. Look at what happened to Toyota.

I grew up on Honda and it's sad what they've become. Around the saki table above, the Nissan guys can brag about their GT-R, the Toyota guys can brag about their LF-A and IS-F, the Mitsubishi guys can brag about their Evo, the Subaru guys their Sti, the Honda guys.....uh....the CR-Z? Seriously.

Do not underestimate the lack of passion, excitement, and bragging rights can have on a corporate culture. Honda needs to introduce an NSX successor priced just under the 911 with a light curb weight, a high revving V6 or V8 (9k+) making 400hp+, and if they can squeeze in some whiz-bang hybrid tech for 30+mpg highway without adding a lot of complexity or weight, then go for it.

On the lower end, they need an S2000 successor (or even an FT-86 competitor) in the lower 20's RWD as an aspirational sports car. Otherwise, think about the kids in high school now who aspire to own a Honda? What about 10+ years ago? I thought the Integra, Prelude, NSX, CRX Si, etc. were all the bomb and high school kids aspired to own one. I got a Del Sol Si and traded it for a new '97 Prelude (DOHC VTEC baby!!!) with my hard-earned lawn mowing money) Now, I don't think there is a new car Honda makes that high school car enthusiast kids want to own. That will hurt Honda more than it knows in the long-run if it doesn't do something quick.