Honda plans three-pronged sportscar follow-up to its new supercar and NSX is just the start

Further into the future, Honda is aiming to launch an all-electric sportscar ‘as early as possible’

The eyes of the world are on the Honda NSX at the moment. But before we’re much older, the Japanese company will also have launched a smaller sports car – as well as a spiritual replacement for the wonderful S2000.

Further into the future, Honda is aiming to launch an all-electric sportscar ‘as early as possible.’

The latter vehicle has been developed in parallel to the hybrid NSX and currently exists as a driveable prototype. This uses a motor at each wheel – a set-up that will deliver a blend of torque vectoring and four-wheel steer.

The system featured in the 444bhp CR-Z Honda ran at this year’s Pikes Peak, but the prototype for the sub-NSX production model is currently operating on a little over half that level of power. Honda has clocked it at 3.5 seconds on the test track, but the batteries required to achieve the company’s 300-mile range target will add enough weight to take a bite out of that.

The company does say, however, that the current system could be derestricted to provide as much as 350bhp.

Honda’s president Takahiro Hachigo has given the project a degree of priority in the companty’s new technology plans. ’I have driven it and I’d like to see it mass-produced,’ he said. ‘There are some challenges in the way. But I want to see it happen as early as possible.’