Electric Honda supercar teased by sister brand Acura

Honda and Acura eye up a forward-looking supercar as spiritual successor to NSX

Honda, through its premium American-market sister brand Acura, has given us a closer look at the electric successor to the NSX supercar it plans to bring to market in the next couple of years. Teased in new images hinting at the first elements of a new design language, this Acura-badged concept gives us an insight into what to expect when the firm’s road car eventually makes its debut. 

Very little technical information about the model has been revealed so far, but we do know that it will form one of a pair of electric sports cars that are already in their development phases. 

The Japanese firm’s previous flagship – the second generation of NSX – was one of the first mid-engined supercars to embrace hybrid power, producing more than 570bhp from its turbocharged V6  hybrid powertrain. We expect this level of technical innovation will continue with this third generation of Honda’s supercar.

Honda’s President Toshihiro Mibe revealed plans for a successor during a video presentation that outlined huge investments in a wider range of electric car projects, including a new joint venture that will see the firm collaborating with General Motors on EVs for the American market.

Speaking in front of a shadowy teaser of two low-slung vehicles, Mibe said, “We are thinking about the launch of two sports models to the global [market] - a speciality and a flagship, models that embody Honda’s universal sporting mindset and distinct characteristics. We will develop those models with a persistent pursuit in order to meet with expectations.”

The teasers show two distinct body styles, with one model - presumably the NSX successor - maintaining a mid-engined supercar profile, and the other appearing to have a shape more akin to that of a GT. Mibe did not outline any details on powertrains or battery capacities - and he was careful to not predict a date when the cars may appear. Despite his use of the word ‘global’, it’s also far from certain that either car will make it to the UK; Honda is likely to focus on Chinese and American-market customers first.

Given the relatively high positioning of both sports models, it seems likely that Honda could use them to introduce solid-state batteries, whose much-touted benefits include more compact packaging and the potential for even faster recharge speeds. In the same presentation, the company stated that it is investing more than £260m in a plant to manufacture these cells, and that it aims to have electric cars featuring the technology on sale in the second half of the decade. The firm has been comfortable with a gap in the NSX model timeline before; it introduced the current model more than 10 years after the original generation ceased production.

The global announcement follows a recent European-focused presentation during which Honda announced plans to bring a B-segment EV, based on the e-Ny1 Prototype, to market in 2023.

Honda is not the first big Japanese-market player to showcase future electric sports cars; both Lexus and Toyota revealed concepts for such vehicles during an EV showcase earlier this year, with the first of those two brands confirming that an all-electric successor to its V10-engined LFA supercar will arrive by 2030.

Partnership
Need to sell your car?
Find your best offer from over 5,000+ dealers. It’s that easy.

Click here to read our review of the Honda e...

Senior staff writer

Senior staff writer at Auto Express, Jordan joined the team after six years at evo magazine where he specialised in news and reviews of cars at the high performance end of the car market. 

Recommended

Honda is coming to CES and bringing an electric car concept
Honda EV concept teaser
News

Honda is coming to CES and bringing an electric car concept

We’re about to be given a glimpse of Honda’s future by an upcoming concept model
6 Dec 2023
New Honda Sustaina-C is an electric city car with its own ‘Pocket’
 Honda Sustaina-C and Pocket EV scooter
News

New Honda Sustaina-C is an electric city car with its own ‘Pocket’

The cute Honda Sustaina-C concept car is partnered with a ‘Pocket’ EV scooter
27 Oct 2023
Honda Prelude revived as an electrified coupe
Honda Prelude Concept
News

Honda Prelude revived as an electrified coupe

Tokyo Motor Show plays host to Honda’s Prelude Concept
25 Oct 2023
Zenvo Aurora hypercar: 1,850bhp and 280mph from hybrid V12
Zenvo Aurora Agil and Tur
News

Zenvo Aurora hypercar: 1,850bhp and 280mph from hybrid V12

The Danish hypercar manufacturer has revealed its lightest and most powerful model yet
21 Aug 2023

Most Popular

New Nissan Qashqai to get radical look and all-electric power
Nissan Qashqai exclusive image - front
News

New Nissan Qashqai to get radical look and all-electric power

Major investment in Nissan’s Sunderland plant underpins the new fourth-generation Qashqai
8 Dec 2023
New Omoda 5 to take on the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson when it arrives in early 2024
Omoda 5 - front
News

New Omoda 5 to take on the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson when it arrives in early 2024

The new Omoda 5 SUV will only be available with an all-electric powertrain when it hits the UK next spring, but a hybrid option is expected later
8 Dec 2023
Polestar 4 awarded Car Design of the Year by Car Design News
Polestar 4 - front studio
News

Polestar 4 awarded Car Design of the Year by Car Design News

Car design’s most auspicious peer-awarded prize goes to Polestar 4, while Dacia Manifesto wins Concept Design of the Year
7 Dec 2023