2014 Honda NSX

In 1991, Acura shocked the exotic car world with the introduction of the NSX, a supercar that stood up to models like the Ferrari 328. However, as good things can’t last forever, the NSX was discontinued in 2005 due to slow sales. Of course, it didn’t take long before people started talking about when a successor would show up, especially considering the fact that the NSX was said to go into production a few years back, but was denied on several occasions.

However, rumor mills don’t just shut down and the latest information churning them is that an NSX successor has always been in the cards. At first it was believed to come out in 2009, but the economic crisis made sure that didn’t happen so this future model is still a few years away, and it will not feature a 4.5 liter V10 engine that will deliver up to 550 HP as previously reported. New information revealed that the NSX will feature a hybrid drivetrain.

Of course, then there’s the question of whether the NSX will show its face as an Acura or a Honda.

UPDATE 04/26/2011: Shortly after Honda CEOs officially confirmed that the NSX would indeed have a new successor, people everywhere started the ’what if’ game, speculating on everything from the engine fitted under the hood to the design used on the vehicle. Thankfully, auto execs aren’t great about keeping secrets and Honda President Takanobu Ito has already chatted it up with Automotive News and stated that the future NSX won’t come with a V10 engine. The idea for an engine that size was actually dropped in 2008, then the company decided that the car should be environmentally friendly and still fun to drive. "That’s the kind of sports car we want to make," Ito said.

The next NSX will use an electric engine alongside a gasoline engine for that added little something. The car will be positioned as a high-performance counterpart to the two-seat Honda CR-Z sporty hybrid. According to Ito, the company is working very hard on the new car.