DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: New Honda NSX teased

Honda has confirmed the second-generation NSX will finally make its world debut at the Detroit motor show on January 12, when it will emerge looking very much like the concept first revealed at the same show two years ago.

The sleek, low-slung shape of the MKII NSX production car, which will be launched in the US next year before going on sale in Australia in 2016 can clearly be seen in these four official teaser images and sneak-peek video.

In fact, it appears only surface details such as bonnet vents and bumper/grille shapes have changed since 2012, as previewed by a range of NSX concepts seen at the 2013 Detroit and Frankfurt shows.

Pre-production prototypes of the long-awaited Japanese supercar, development of which was delayed during the 2008 global financial crisis, have also been seen in the US and Germany, and even a roadster version appeared in The Avengers movie of 2012.

Once again, the NSX will be sold as an Acura in North America and a Honda everywhere else. Also like the original sold between 1991 and 2005, the born-again NSX will be powered by a mid-mounted petrol V6.

This time round, however, the NSX will be powered by a 'Sport Hybrid' powertrain incorporating a twin-turbocharged V6, a dual-clutch automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system comprising three electric motors.

The new NSX was developed by Honda’s US R&D team and will be produced exclusively at a dedicated facility in Ohio.

“After three years of intensive development work we are excited to reveal this next-generation supercar — the Acura NSX — to the world,” said Ted Klaus, chief engineer and global project leader over NSX development. “We’ve developed a human-centered supercar that responds to the will of the driver and that builds upon the NSX heritage.”

It will be one of four new Honda sports cars expected over the next few years, including the new Civic Type R hot hatch also due in 2016, the reincarnated S2000 — an all-new rear-drive mid-size coupe due by 2017 – and the compact S660 sportster, which should spawn a more powerful S1000 version for export markets, hopefully including Australia.