Production of the Acura NSX at Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio wrapped up last fall, but its next-generation sports cars are on the way.
Honda is set to debut a new Specialty Sports Concept at October’s Japan Mobility Show (FKA: Tokyo Motor Show)
Honda last year said that it had two electrified sports cars in the works, a “speciality” model and a “flagship” model, and this one is the former.
Honda teased it by saying it “will enable the driver to experience the pure joy of driving (driving pleasure) and transcend the constraints of time, even in the era of electrification for carbon neutrality and the popularization of automated driving technology. The joy of driving and distinctive individuality of this model will enable people to transcend their everyday life.”
That makes it sound like more of a daily driver, while the flagship would likely be a proper successor to the hybrid NSX.
It’s possible there will be more info on the flagship in Tokyo, but even if there is, will it be built in the USA like the last NSX was?
Honda doesn’t currently have something like the Performance Manufacturing Center in Japan, so the chances are good that it would be the home of a future low-volume supercar. But it won’t be alone this time.
REVIEW: THE 2023 ACURA INTEGRA TYPE S AIN’T FOR EVERYONE
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING YOUTUBE CHANNEL
The facility is scheduled to begin production of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the CR-V, which is built in nearby Greensburg, Indiana. Details haven’t been released, but it will use a fuel cell that chemically combines the gas with atmospheric oxygen to create electricity.
MORE MADE IN USA NEWS FROM AMERICAN CARS AND RACING
While there isn’t much of a hydrogen refueling infrastructure outside of southern California today, the potential advantages over a battery electric powertrain are a lighter weight, quicker refueling and less of a need for the expensive and difficult to source materials required for battery production.
Honda isn’t bringing the CR-V to the show, but will have a Prologue SUV on hand, which is an upcoming battery electric compact utility vehicle that will be built alongside a new Acura ZDX in the U.S. starting next year using the General Motors Ultium electric vehicle platform.