The rumormill suggested that the new NSX was edging closer and closer to production, but today Autoblog confirmed that Honda has shelved the project. These are proving to be brutal times for Honda sports car and racing fans, as Honda earlier announced plans to sell its once promising Formula 1 team. What the production NSX was to have been like was based on rumor and speculation-Honda did a fine job of keeping details under wraps, as they typically do. While this news is disappointing, the NSX filled a very small niche. Honda is hurting in a global recession, just as most manufacturers are. While sales are down, Honda was prepared for the economic downturn, with small, handsome, solid performers like the new Fit and the Civic. These cars are the focus of Honda currently, as well as the upcoming Insight hybrid.
Production of the last generation NSX ended in 2005, so it’s not as if Honda was feeling forced to rush a new NSX into production anyways. For the time being, the Nissan Skyline GT-R remains THE Japanese super-car. Once the economy sorts itself out eventually (we hope), Honda could revive plans to bring the NSX back. But for the time being, the NSX is not the right car for right now.
