The Acura HSC Concept Car
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 at 2:26PM Acura is pretty tight-lipped when it comes to prototype and concept cars, and this holds true for the Honda Sports Concept (HSC). However, some details have been released. First off, Honda officials have admitted that this is a design study for the next generation NSX. Those that have seen the car at the Tokyo and Detroit auto shows confirm that this is a working car.
The frame is lightweight aluminum and the body is of carbon fiber and other composite parts. The car continues as a mid-engine design for balanced handling and minimal weight transfer under braking and acceleration.
The prototype is fitted with large, 245 front and 295 rear tires on 19 and 20 inch wheels. These are much larger than the current NSX and possibly too large for the actual production car, though they sure look great! The biggest mystery is in the drive train. Honda’s president is promising us over 300 hp for the new car and Formula 1 style paddle shifters.
Now for some speculation on my part. Could this car have Hybrid power to boost performance and efficiency? Could Honda engineers have solved the emissions problems with turbocharging? If so, would they dare to bring out a turbo engine after years of non-turbo vehicles? Watch this space for more details as we learn them.
