“Personally, I would like to make it happen,” Honda CEO says of an all-electric sports car
Ever since Acura concluded production of the previous-generation NSX at the end of 2022, there has been a persistent buzz about Honda reviving this iconic nameplate for the electric vehicle era.
Now, Honda’s CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, has confirmed that his company’s R&D department is actively exploring the idea of an all-electric sports car, and he personally hopes to see it become a reality. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that the final verdict on this exciting prospect is still pending.
While it’s too early to know what the sports car could – beyond any speculative renders like the ones we created here, we can’t help but wonder if the recently teased Acura Electric Vision Concept might offer some tantalizing clues. The brand was careful not to call it a next-generation NSX, but the show car’s proportions and design cues seemed to clearly follow from its recently retired mid-engine hybrid sports car.
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Read: Acura Electric Vision Concept Makes Surprise Debut, May Hint At Next NSX
The Acura Electric Vision Concept
Should Honda decide to venture into the realm of electric sports cars, Mibe told Autocar that it will “have a completely different taste” compared to its previous offerings. He said that the company is “doing a good analysis” of current electric sports cars, but refused to name any of the models it is looking at.
“The first priority of making these kinds of cars is that they need to be fun to drive, no matter what powertrain they use,” said Mibe. “We have not decided on mass production or timing,” he added, “but, personally, I would like to make it happen.”
If Honda chooses to move forward with producing the sports car, it would probably become the flagship model for the upcoming ‘0 Series’ EV lineup. This new range, introduced through two concept models at CES 2024, is primarily centered around optimizing interior space and minimizing the weight of the battery.
Illustrations Carscoops
The automaker plans to achieve that with the use of new battery management software and simplified e-axles. With cars like the Saloon EV Concept, Honda says it is focusing on building EVs that promote the “joy of driving,” all of which sounds great for a sports car.
While Mibe emphasizes that a final decision on the vehicle hasn’t been made, his statements still carry weight. The CEO has a history of hinting at the introduction of models like the Prelude coupe concept and the second-generation NSX before their official announcements.
Whether Honda will choose to revive the NSX name remains to be seen. However, the sports car has been used to highlight the brand’s powertrain expertise in the past (first with VTEC, then with plug-in hybrid technology), and the Prelude proves that it is willing to cash in on the nostalgia of millennials.