Because the car is obviously lengthened quite a bit and with different suspension arms, I think it's safe to assume that they're using the mule to test the chassis, not just the drivetrain.
Spy Shots: 2009/10 Acura NSX
- Thread starter Tachyon
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Yeah, but why even attempt to go with the status quo that is the upcoming crop of Japanese sports cars? Let's see, so both Toyota and Nissan come out with a front engined GT-style sports car, and now Honda has to follow suit with the same thing? BORING. I don't care if it runs circles around the other two, it's jumping into an already saturated market. Honda had a golden opportunity here to set itself apart from it's rivals while at the same time building on the already-established, mid-engined, F-1 derived NSX. Why be the same as everyone else when you've got your own niche just waiting there to be exploited?
From so many different angles, this looks like a dumb move on Honda's part. Honda gets everyone excited with the HSC, lets it languish for a couple of years, and then disappoints with the ASCC and the other monstrosities that their crack-smoking California designers have come up with. Honda had a chance to extend the NSX bloodline while remaining the only mid-engined supercar to come out of Japan. The mid-engined market is on a silver platter for Honda, and they shun it to make a car that (so far) is neither inspiring to the heart or the mind of most people who see it.
For the life of me I still don't understand Honda's move. However, now that I've put my money where my mouth is and bought a 2002 instead of waiting for the new car, I have to say that I'm happy to know that the value of my car isn't going to be dropping through the floor any time soon.
I agree. I thought the idea of a concept car was to gauge public opinion. The opinion of the ASCC was overwhelmingly "disappointed", so Honda heads back to the design room and changes the styling. News flash: it's not just the styling that people are unmoved by.
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I'm just sayin that its clever to wait and see what your rivals are capable of. NSX in 90 got beat by GTR. When new midengine supercar gets beat by one year older rival sharing platform with 4 door sedan, thats bad news.
I agree with you, and i dont understand why honda doesnt want to compete in midengine class any more. exotics is the category where you can not win by one single model. you can win the hearts of real car enthuziasts but not mass. It's not a family sedan class. you have to continuesly upgrade your supercar beating rivals and making image of competitive supercar manufacturer. Honda achieved more than significant success in their very first attemt!!! Imagine where could they be now, if they updated NSX lineup every 7 years. Like producing HSC in 97 or atleast increasing NSX power to 350hp. Then in 2004-2005 going V8 with 2 S2K engine combination. I guess they just dont want to and they are not brave enough, sorry to say, but they ar cowards if they give up on NSX
BTW, did I mention your NSX looks amazing?
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You could say the same about the back.
One thing's for sure: They did a GREAT job with this mule. It could be MR, FR, FF, AWD, anything. We have no idea. They're out there driving it in public and all we can do is speculate. Kudos to Honda on a great disguise.
I'm personally excited about all this V10 talk because that means they'll have a motor to put in a nice big VIP-style Acura sedan sonetime down the road. THAT's what I'm waiting for. They already made the NSX.
I think you are mistaken about the cowl height being the same as a stock S2000. Examine the images of the car when it's not on the track. Notice that it has a HUGE from wheel gap. Much larger than a stock S2000. That suggests to me that the hood is actually a couple inches higher off the ground than an S2000's. Notice the distance from the bottom of the door to the bottom of the side sill - again, much larger than an S2000, implying a much higher car overall.
In my opinion, there's plenty of room for a V10 up front, unfortunately.
I think you are mistaken about the cowl height being the same as a stock S2000. Examine the images of the car when it's not on the track. Notice that it has a HUGE from wheel gap. Much larger than a stock S2000. That suggests to me that the hood is actually a couple inches higher off the ground than an S2000's. Notice the distance from the bottom of the door to the bottom of the side sill - again, much larger than an S2000, implying a much higher car overall.
In my opinion, there's plenty of room for a V10 up front, unfortunately.
Agreed.
Nice NSX! :wink:
If you will notice, the mule has the exact proper proportions for a mid-engined layout. The seating position, wheel base, and proportioning are all spot on with the current generation.
I would absolutely love it if it were mid-engined...in my wildest dreams they have gone back to the HSC and are now testing the engine meant for the ASCC in a mid-engined format. There is a lot more room in the mule for an egine than there is in the current NSX...
The question remains, how are they getting sufficient air to it, if it is indeed mid-engined? I guess the intake could be routed to underneath the car...
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Just watched the video. Car is fast, but I see what I consider excessive front end bobble for a "Sports Car". Look at it when it goes around some of long left hand turns, the front end rolls more than our NSX does and there is too much low frequency up and down motions to be considered a lightweight. Either the shocks are underdamped, or the weight is just excessive. I suspect the latter.
There is no doubt in my mind that the car will perform, but I still fear what it will end up looking like. I dislike GTs, nuf said.
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http://www.thecarconnection.com/Ent...ars/2010_Acura_NSX_Under_Way.S178.A12373.html
Its the NSX... Just which one... Mid or Front.. Either ways I don't care until its in the dealer and has a price tag. I wouldn't mind a V8 (like the prototype from 5+ years ago that was a 4.4l which was basically 2 S2000 motors joined together making 500hp+) But a V10 would mean an extremely high $$$.
I want the NSX to compete at the GT3 price range, but compete with the F430/Gallardo in performance. And a V8 can do all of the above even with or without SH-AWD !
I'll wait till its in the show room and has an MSRP below the Audi R8!
Its the NSX... Just which one... Mid or Front.. Either ways I don't care until its in the dealer and has a price tag. I wouldn't mind a V8 (like the prototype from 5+ years ago that was a 4.4l which was basically 2 S2000 motors joined together making 500hp+) But a V10 would mean an extremely high $$$.
I want the NSX to compete at the GT3 price range, but compete with the F430/Gallardo in performance. And a V8 can do all of the above even with or without SH-AWD !
I'll wait till its in the show room and has an MSRP below the Audi R8!
If you will notice, the mule has the exact proper proportions for a mid-engined layout. The seating position, wheel base, and proportioning are all spot on with the current generation.
I would absolutely love it if it were mid-engined...in my wildest dreams they have gone back to the HSC and are now testing the engine meant for the ASCC in a mid-engined format. There is a lot more room in the mule for an egine than there is in the current NSX...
The question remains, how are they getting sufficient air to it, if it is indeed mid-engined? I guess the intake could be routed to underneath the car...
There is no possible way this is a mid engine design. 100% not possible. The reason is the frontal area, it is way too long. For a mid engine car to reach over 200 mph comfortably, the frontal area has to be short, like the NSX or Mclaren F1. Honda engineers understand that concept fully. Also, since it is a FR, it doesn't look like the front-midship design like the S2k or the SLR Vision. There is not enough room for a large V10 in this test car.
Perhaps this car is slapped together for Engine and Suspension testing?
The test vehicle seems to be very fast, and sounded good for "stock."
I guess we just have to wait a little longer to see what's up.
Maybe this is the S2k replacement instead of the NSX replacement?
Somebody over at Temple of VTEC noticed that there are two different license plate numbers. Either there are 2 test mules at the ring, or its the same car with 2 different plates. The weird thing is that the front shots show one number , and the rear another. There are no pics that show the same plate on the opposite end of the car.
Anyways, somebody ran those plate numbers and its interesting what came back. One plate comes back as a 2.2L diesel powered car, the other plate comes back as a 5.0 V10 powered car.
Hmmm.... Honda sure has something up their sleeve, those sneaky mofo's..
Anyways, somebody ran those plate numbers and its interesting what came back. One plate comes back as a 2.2L diesel powered car, the other plate comes back as a 5.0 V10 powered car.
Hmmm.... Honda sure has something up their sleeve, those sneaky mofo's..
I haven't read through all of this thread, but did anyone discuss the position of the gas tank door? The test mule has it in a similar position as an NSX, unlike the S2K door. Not sure if it means anything, but just wondering.
I doubt they're trying to hit 200mph in their chopped-up S2000 test mule.
The only real questions here are 1)Will an engine fit in the front? and 2)Will an engine fit in the back?
The answer to both questions seems to be yes.
I wasn't talking about the test mule. The production car will be able to hit 200mph.I doubt they're trying to hit 200mph in their chopped-up S2000 test mule.
The only real questions here are 1)Will an engine fit in the front? and 2)Will an engine fit in the back?
The answer to both questions seems to be yes.
As Gordon Murray have pointed out, good aero dynamic design on a MR requires short frontal facial area, and a well balanced FR car requires the engine to be mounted behind the front axel (Front Midship), and long nose with short tail end section, put the driver as far back as possible. Both design will offer a very good high speed stability and handling.
Therefore, as for the question of FR or MR, no doubt it will be FR, if they are testing MR, they wouldn't be using S2k panels to fool people. The hood is way too long for a MR car, also the wheel base is long too, signiture of a FR layout.
I'll put money on this one:smile:
You weren't?
Sure, the test mule has no small frontal area, but there's also no "short tail end section with the driver as far back as possible" so one could just as easily argue that there's no way the car can be FR.
The whole point of the body on the mule is to disguise and confuse. That body could have anything under it (like a 2.2 liter diesel). I'm sure the final product will be FR but I wouldn't put money on anything based solely on these photos.
Interesting point.
Question...
If this is Honda testing a mule, why is there a video that looks like its filmed from 14 different cameras? Not exactly a spy shot if you have that many people shooting a car?
Or does the track have some kind of perm closed-circuit TV or something...that this video was taken from? ( in that case there would be no such thing as secrete testing ever)
It's the Nurburgring. That place is always swarming with cameras. And if they were testing all day it would be pretty easy to move around and get whatever shots you need. That's likely a compilation of the best shots after several laps.
I somehow think Honda maybe wants to make Toyota MR2 competitor, say MR S2000 with V6 3.0 engine and 350-370 hp, now that would rock
Would probably be cheaper than NSX and lighter
Would probably be cheaper than NSX and lighter
Here's a video of it running around
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http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-content/plugins/iimage-gallery.php?idpost=5108&idg=1&idi=1
on this photo, i can see a front reinforcement bar behind that grill as well. as far as i know, MR paltforms need additional reinforcements in front
on this photo, i can see a front reinforcement bar behind that grill as well. as far as i know, MR paltforms need additional reinforcements in front
