What's New for 2015

Introduction

We don't know much about it, but we know that it's coming. The Acura NSX began its return to the collective automotive consciousness at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, where Acura unveiled a prototype of the long-awaited next-generation supercar. A subsequent Super Bowl commercial starring Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno demonstrated Acura's commitment to reviving its halo supercar.

Like the original NSX, the 2015 Acura NSX will be a midengine two-seater, will share roughly the same proportions and will also use a V6. But unlike the original car, which bowed out in 2005 after 15 years in production, the new NSX's direct-injection V6 will be augmented with two electric motors and a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. The NSX will also use an advanced all-wheel-drive system, which can both speed and slow the front wheels during cornering. Acura says the V6 hybrid system will offer V8-like acceleration with four-cylinder fuel economy.

Outside, the prototype shows a low nose and a cabin with an equally low cowl line, thin A-pillars like the original, but with more aggressive styling on a wider platform. At the four corners are five-spoke alloy rims covered with wide Michelin Pilot tires. The production version won't likely stray far from this configuration.

There are still a lot of unknowns about the new NSX. For us, one of the biggest potential concerns will be the new NSX's handling, as heavy hybrid components and all-wheel drive are not normally known for increasing a sports car's nimbleness and responsiveness. It's also unclear how special the NSX will really be outside of enhanced fuel economy, as today's top sports cars like the Audi R8, Chevrolet Corvette, Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 are already outstanding in terms of performance, handling and daily-driven usability.

The answers to these questions won't be known until we actually drive it, and our best guess for that will be in the spring of 2014. But in the meantime, you can rest assured that there will be enough hype and rumors in those two years to fill at least a few football stadiums. Check back for more information on the 2015 Acura NSX, including pricing, on-sale dates and driving impressions, as it becomes available.