Acura NSX Gets V-8 Power for '04 - News - Japanese Car

Future ForecastAcura is preparing to take on the likes of Ferrari's 360 Modena when it revamps the now-decade-old NSX. And the attack won't be led with a V-6 engine.

Word on the street is that the replacement for the current 3.5 RL sedan will be based on a larger, rear-drive platform, and will be powered by a V-8. Honda's new V-8 will displace between 3.8 and 4.0 L, making it competitive with top-line models from Lexus and Infiniti.

Acura will spin off a high-performance version of this powerplant for the NSX, which will remain mid-engined; early reports spoke of a front-engine roadster, a la BMW Z8, but we hear that's not the case. Considering that the aforementioned Ferrari already puts out 396 horses, we can't imagine the NSX showing up with anything less than 400 hp. One casualty probably will be the loss of the current car's alloy body panels. They save weight, but increase cost, and in order for Acura to afford the new V-8, something has to give. So the new car likely will have conventional steel bodywork. Look for it in 2004 at the latest, perhaps as an '05 model.

BriefsAudi's new A4 sedan, just introduced in Europe, is about a year away from reaching the North American market, as an '02 model. Engines will include the current 1.8L/170-hp turbo four and a new 3.0L/220-hp (in Euro trim) five-valve V-6 to replace the current car's 2.8L/190-hp V-6.

BMW will badge its new small "1 Series" cars the 2002 and the 1702. The 2.0L four-powered 2002 is named for the venerated sport sedan of the late '60s and '70s. The 1702 will get a 1.7L four that probably won't be sold in the States when the car debuts some time in '04.

Jaguar commemorates its entry into Formula One with a limited-edition version of the supercharged XK8, called the XKR Silverstone. It features a special platinum silver paint job, Brembo brakes with cross-drilled rotors, special interior treatments, and racy 20-in. alloys. Only 250 are bound for North America. Jaguar promises no fewer than 14 new models (including body variants and R versions) in the next three years.

Plymouth's Prowler (it will be a Chrysler after this year) has a new flavor: Prowler Orange. Only 100 Prowlers painted this color are available for the '01 model year and sticker for $45,000.

First LookPorsche Carrera GTV-10-powered hyper-exotic is spicier than any pepperHold the Cayenne: It's sports cars, full speed ahead! Porsche surprised the Paris Auto Show with its ultra-exotic Carrera GT concept, a two-seat mid-engine open sports car packing a 5.5L 40-valve V-10 that produces 558 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. Weighing just 2750 lb, the Carrera GT is capable of a sub-4.0-sec 0-100-kph (0-62-mph) time and a top speed of 205 mph, Porsche says. Power gets to the ground via a six-speed gearbox with a "thoroughbred motor racing clutch."

As sports cars get more civilized, manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche are out to prove they can still design and build hard-edged machinery. The Carrera GT is Porsche's volley at the 485-hp Ferrari 550 Pininfarina Barchetta (Dec. 2000), plus it will serve as a homologation piece for Porsche's return to Le Mans this June. The Carrera GT's drivetrain and suspension form one unit, with the rear axle's spring struts pivoting on the gearbox-just as in a race car.

Porsche says its acceleration and top-speed estimates are preliminary, and "may become even more impressive should the Porsche Carrera GT enter series production."

What are the chances of that? The Carrera GT is Porsche's first production-based sports car concept introduced at an international auto show since the Boxster concept appeared at Detroit in 1993.

"Indeed, the concept car might become reality as early as 2003, naturally in an exclusive series of very special models for very special purchasers," according to Porsche.