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Honda insiders push for Acura NSX Type R sans hybrid tech

With 500 horsepower on tap from a sophisticated hybrid powertrain, there's plenty to love about the new Acura NSX. If the more performance-oriented elements within the Japanese automaker get their way, it could get even better. Speaking with one of the NSX project's chief engineers Nick Robinson at the launch of the new supercar, Autocar reports that there's an effort underway to develop an NSX Type R. Following a much-loved formula, the more extreme variant would pack even more power than the existing version, unburdened by excess weight. A big part of the targeted weight savings would come from ditching some of the heavier components from the hybrid system. The electric motor at the rear could stay to serve as alternator, starter motor, and flywheel. But the electric motors at the front would go, helping to shed a few hundred pounds. Throw in some lightweight materials and we'd be looking at a considerable weight reduction. It could even integrate some active aerodynamic elements that were excluded from the NSX on the road to production. Though the project may still be a ways off from getting the green light, but Robinson and some of his colleagues are working on prototypes ostensibly to make the case. He and his brother James (a powertrain engineer at Honda) will be driving a pair of NSXs at Pikes Peak this year – one that's as close to showroom stock as the regulations will allow, but the other will be closer to what they have in mind for a Type R. It'll ditch the hybrid system and put an electric compressor in its place to eliminate any turbo lag and produce even more power than the existing model. Now if they can only get the go-ahead from the higher-ups at Honda. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2014 Honda NSX Concept-GT News Source: Autocar Green Acura Honda Coupe Hybrid Performance Supercars honda nsx acura nsx type r

Honda CEO: electric vehicles are a 'core technology'

The production version of Honda's hydrogen-powered FCEV concept remains on target for release in Japan by March 2016, and it's going to be followed by at least two more vehicles that have some form of electric powertrain. Probably more than two, but we can't be more specific than that. This is what we learned today from a speech by the new president and CEO of Honda Motor Company, Takahiro Hachigo. Speaking about the two main themes he sees for the future of the automaker (the six-region global operation structure and "continuous development of challenging products unique to Honda"), Hachigo once again confirmed an on-sale date for the production version of the FCEV concept that Honda has been trotting out at auto shows for a few years now as happening, "before the end of the current fiscal year" which ends March 31, 2016. He also said something broader about the company's vision for electric cars: "As the next-generation of mobility products, Honda will evolve products that use electricity as a core technology," he said. While we don't yet know what the electric vehicle products are, Hachigo's statements echo those of Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda, from when the FCEV concept was unveiled: "The Honda FCEV Concept not only sets our direction for our next generation fuel-cell vehicle in 2015, but for future improvements in electric drive technology." Honda previously promised new all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2018, and today's comments signal that that plan is still in place. Things may change though, since Honda's original release date for the FCEV was 2015. Related Video: Summary of CEO Speech on July 6, 2015 TOKYO, Japan, July 6, 2015 - The new President & CEO of Honda Motor Co., Takahiro Hachigo, unveiled his future vision for the company. He highlighted two themes that the new "Team Honda" will pursue: I want to create a new Honda under two themes. < Two themes to be pursued for the new Honda > 1. Advancement of the six-region global operation structure 2. Continuous development of challenging products unique to Honda and delivering them to our customers around the world Let me talk about my vision for the future of Honda which will be established as we pursue these themes. The key word is "Team Honda." < Future of Honda – My thoughts based on personal experiences "at the spot"> Honda's strength is that team/project members share one goal and take on challenges and attain high targets.

2015 Acura NSX burns to the ground at the 'Ring [w/video]

Assuming all goes to plan, automakers test their vehicles to the breaking point in the months and years leading up to that vehicle's actual release into the public. Which is good, because it's much better for a car to break in glorious fashion in the hands of the company that produces it than in the driveway of an owner who just spent their hard-earned cash to get it. Such was the case with this production-guise Acura NSX prototype that we saw running around the Nurburgring just the other day. We can't be 100-percent certain, but the burned-out carcass is wearing the same number plate as the car that was spotted earlier, so it's likely the very same NSX. We have no idea what was the cause of the blaze that turned this Acura into the car-b-q you see pictured above, but our spy shooters on the ground in Germany say it was not involved in any collision, having caught on fire all on its own with engineers behind the wheel. The good news is that nobody was hurt, though the car is quite clearly a complete loss. We're sure there's another ready to to test in the burned car's place... just as soon as the engineers at Honda figure out exactly what went wrong. Have a look at the smoldering aftermath up above, and feel free to scroll down below to see a video of the car in much better circumstances.