Honda’s next-generation NSX will utilise a six-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid powertrain to churn out more than 300 kW, according to reports out of Europe this week.
With those figures, the H-badged supercar won’t be winning any outright power wars with Nissan’s 405 kW GT-R or the 412 kW Lexus LFA, but it will be enough to rival Audi’s 4.2 litre R8.
According to reports, the new NSX will use a 3.5-litre V6 engine to drive the rear wheels (likely the 231 kW engine revealed earlier this month), along with a pair of electric motors turning the front wheels, to take total power output to around the 300 kW mark. The combination would also give the super Honda the benefit of all-wheel-drive traction, utilising a version of Honda’s newly electrified SH-AWD system, not to mention improved fuel economy over many of its rivals.
Tucked into a lightweight body loaded with aluminium and carbon fibre, the hybrid powertrain should give the new NSX a 0 – 100 km time in the low 4 second range.
To the surprise of no one, reports also point to plans for a roadster version of the new NSX – an idea that is given some credence by the appearance of a topless Acura-badged roadster in the upcoming Avengers superhero film. The look of the new NSX has yet to be revealed, but if a roadster is planned, we might expect the Detroit-bound concept to look more than a little like the upcoming film star.
