The Honda NSX is tipped to return with electric power in the coming years as part of the Japanese firm’s radical new EV line-up.
Following the unveiling of the Saloon concept, which will become the first car in the new 0 Series line-up, company CEO Toshihiro Mibe revealed that Honda is already “researching sports cars in the EV era” and he even went so far as to confirm that “at the R&D centre, we have a sports car”.
He stopped short of confirming any details of what the production version of Honda’s first electric sports car would look like but said work is “steadily proceeding” on its development.
However it is positioned, the sports car is set to serve as a halo for the 0 Series range of electric cars. These models will hit the market from 2026 with a raft of technical innovations aimed at maximising interior space, reducing battery weight and improving efficiency – all while promoting the ‘joy of driving’ with a focus on driver engagement.
As part of this line-up, the sports car will take its lead from the 0 Series concept revealed at CES earlier this month in adopting a low-slung, cab-forward profile and a minimalist, driver-focused cockpit that aims to eradicate distractions.
The battery will be significantly slimmer than those fitted to Honda’s current EVs and propulsion will come courtesy of e-axle drive units, which comprise the motors, inverters and gearboxes in one compact unit – all in the name of optimising interior space.
Importantly, said Mibe, a sporting EV will “have a completely different taste” from any performance car Honda has launched before, hinting that a core component of the R&D programme is investigating how such a car can have a distinct character and be truly engaging to drive.
As part of that process, Honda is “doing a good analysis” of the current electric sports car market, he said, although he did not name any competitor cars.
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Why bother? the first generation was sold over 15 years and about 18000 were built,production only got into four figures during the first three model years, The hybrid second generation version sold under three thousand in six years before Honda discontinued the model how much profit was made on this? Can't understand why the company is wasting it's time with offerings like this and the HA-420 biz jet when sales in the UK have sank over the past decade in Europe time to get back to what Honda did best producing well engineered cars for the mass market
Why bother? the first generation was sold over 15 years and about 18000 were built,production only got into four figures during the first three model years, The hybrid second generation version sold under three thousand in six years before Honda discontinued the model how much profit was made on this? Can't understand why the company is wasting it's time with offerings like this and the HA-420 biz jet when sales in the UK have sank over the past decade in Europe time to get back to what Honda did best producing well engineered cars for the mass market
Why bother? the first generation was sold over 15 years and about 18000 were built,production only got into four figures during the first three model years, The hybrid second generation version sold under three thousand in six years before Honda discontinued the model how much profit was made on this? Can't understand why the company is wasting it's time with offerings like this and the HA-420 biz jet when sales in the UK have sank over the past decade in Europe time to get back to what Honda did best producing well engineered cars for the mass market