Next NSX set for supercar battle!

Take a look at the eagerly anticipated V10-powered replacement for Honda’s NSX.

The grand tourer – which wears the badge of the firm’s Acura luxury arm in our pictures – is due in 2010. It’s expected to cost £100,000, and will challenge the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Maserati GranTurismo and Jaguar XKR.

Its 5.5-litre V10 generates upwards of 600bhp and around 600Nm of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed twin-clutch gearbox. When cruising, five of the 10 cylinders are deactivated to save fuel and cut emissions. Our insider revealed Honda has taken ideas from its Formula One programme to generate maximum downforce and straight-line stability. That enabled the coupé to set a record time of seven minutes and 37 seconds for a lap of the Nürburgring track in Germany on its first attempt.

Honda achieved this by focusing on aerodynamics – and the biggest secret to the performance is hidden under the car. According to our spies, the rear section of the coupé resembles one big wing.

The newcomer will tip the scales at around 1,500kg – that’s over 250kg less than the recently launched Nissan GT-R.