Honda NSX: second-gen hybrid supercar confirmed for Australia

The all-new Honda NSX will be sold on local soil within the next three years.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins officially announced the news, saying the new Honda NSX will be a welcome addition to Australia’s line-up.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce today that the NSX is coming to our shores,” Collins said.

“It was a revolution when it was first launched back in 1990 and this generation aims even higher.

“The NSX has a rich history around the world and diehard fans of this supercar have been waiting a long time for the new model to come to production. We can’t wait to offer this vehicle to our customers.”

Honda Australia is yet to reveal official timing and pricing for the supercar, however, with production of the model due to start at the newly established Performance Manufacturing Centre in Marysville, Ohio in 2015, a 2016 local launch is anticipated.

Seen in revised concept form at last year’s Detroit auto show (pictured), the NSX features a hybrid powertrain comprising three electric motors â€" two driving the front wheels â€" and a mid-mounted V6 VTEC petrol engine.

Working together with an all-new dual-clutch automatic transmission and the Japanese manufacturer’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system, the NSX promises to deliver both efficiency and performance.

Developed in part by Brazilian Formula One icon Ayrton Senna, Honda says the original first-generation NSX (pictured below) sold 203 units across the Asia Oceania region and more than 18,000 units around the world before being discontinued in 2005.

Weighing 1350kg, thanks to an all-aluminium monocoque chassis, the original rear-wheel-drive NSX was powered by a 200kW/280Nm naturally aspirated 3.0-litre V6 engine that redlined at 8000rpm.

In 2005, just days after announcing the end of the NSX’s production, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui broke the news that a next-generation NSX was under development. It was to employ a Formula 1-inspired V10 engine and be ready within three to four years.

Confirmation of the NSX’s Australian arrival will no doubt excite fans of the marque, who are also awaiting local confirmation of the new Honda Civic Type-R, due to go on sale globally in 2015 powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with “at least” 206kW.