What's not to like about this very thinly disguised forebear of the second-generation Acura NSX, the Honda supercar for everyday driving that's been with us in its present form for more than a decade? In the Honda Sports Concept (dubbed a Honda only because Acura isn't a brand in the company's home market) we get a total makeover of this Japanese-style Ferrari 360 Modena. Its aluminum frame and aluminum and carbon fiber body panels get even lighter and its angular dimensions get a touch tighter, while its drivetrain gets even better than today's still-special NSX. HSC retains the balanced midship V6 engine layout, but boosts output to more than 300 hp and links the engine to the wheels via a paddle-shifted transmission. We hope Honda cleans up the rear end before production by smoothing some of the lower aero packaging and dispensing with the bug-eyed tail lamps, but we can't help smiling knowing that Honda's concept-to-production timeline is traditionally one of the fastest in the business. With any luck, this Best of Show winner will ignite an all-out supercar war among the Japanese makers when it debuts sometime next year.
