Honda plans three-pronged sportscar follow-up to its new supercar and NSX is just the start

Further into the future, Honda is aiming to launch an all-electric sportscar ‘as early as possible’

Autocar,John Calne
Thursday 05 November 2015 13:09 GMT
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The eyes of the world are on the Honda NSX at the moment. But before we’re much older, the Japanese company will also have launched a smaller sports car – as well as a spiritual replacement for the wonderful S2000.

Further into the future, Honda is aiming to launch an all-electric sportscar ‘as early as possible.’

The latter vehicle has been developed in parallel to the hybrid NSX and currently exists as a driveable prototype. This uses a motor at each wheel – a set-up that will deliver a blend of torque vectoring and four-wheel steer.

The system featured in the 444bhp CR-Z Honda ran at this year’s Pikes Peak, but the prototype for the sub-NSX production model is currently operating on a little over half that level of power. Honda has clocked it at 3.5 seconds on the test track, but the batteries required to achieve the company’s 300-mile range target will add enough weight to take a bite out of that.

The company does say, however, that the current system could be derestricted to provide as much as 350bhp.

Honda’s president Takahiro Hachigo has given the project a degree of priority in the companty’s new technology plans. ’I have driven it and I’d like to see it mass-produced,’ he said. ‘There are some challenges in the way. But I want to see it happen as early as possible.’

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