Acura wants emotional design to guide the company's future direction, and the new Advanced Sports Car concept is supposed to represent that direction. It is a front-engine, all-wheel-drive two-door and I really like the overall proportions (reminds me of the GR-1 concept that Ford showed two years ago, and should have made). But the details are too C5 Corvette-like. The C5 was a fine design...in 1997, but it's 10 years later and I would have liked to see more design boldness to go with the mechanical changes (front engine V-10 and AWD)...
Still, it looks better than the concept they they showed in L.A.
By billt9
on January 7, 2007
01:13 PM
This sideview does not impress... I'm feeling a Pontiac Solstice, stretched.
By editor_karl
on January 7, 2007
01:22 PM
I actually like the sideview better than most other angles. From front 3/4 it's all 'Vette (of course, a lot of people would have said the same thing about the NSX...).
By carlisimo
on January 7, 2007
05:29 PM
Front-engined? AWD?
Unless I'm wrong and it's more Ferrari Fiorano than Aston Martin, I'll keep waiting for another NSX.
By civicguy3
on January 7, 2007
06:59 PM
Wow, this car sucks. Front Engine??? You're better off buying a used NSX and tuning it. Also, if you click the link below, it says the car is RWD. Could you clarify if its AWD or RWD? If its RWD, it gets more respect from me, but overall, im disappointed.
http://66.160.188.111/Straightline/2092
By carlisimo
on January 7, 2007
10:31 PM
VTEC.net has the transcript of the remarks by Takeo Fukui and Jon Ikeda. And they say: "This front engine vehicle will also feature a new high performance, rear wheel drive version of Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive."
I guess what I'm expecting out of that is SH-AWD that's rear-biased under normal conditions (instead of 70% front), possibly 100%. And I have a bad feeling that they won't have a manual transmission that works with it.
By editor_karl
on January 8, 2007
06:03 AM
I kept hearing both RWD and AWD, but I think the correct term is "rear-biased all-wheel drive" and that's causing some confusion. Theoretically they can tune AWD to feel like RWD most of the time (I experienced it in the latest Gallardo and it was rather impressive). Still, not as cool as the NSX layout IMHO.
By hondacura4
on January 8, 2007
10:37 AM
Just give me the old NSX body, an updated interior, updated electronics and a fabulous 5.0 liter 550hp Honda DOHC i-VTEC V10 and all will be solved.
By crazyb02
on January 9, 2007
06:36 PM
Its clear than Honda/Acura is not completely serious about this segment.
By trackwrex
on January 10, 2007
11:07 AM
Yeah, that whole rear-biased SH-AWD thing is a bit confusing. I must say, even though it doesn't evoke a "WOW!" feeling in me, it still leaves me curious about the production car. I'm assuming that the AWD treatment is due to the GTR's AWD drivetrain; seeing as they'll be competing for your hard-earned dollar in this segment. I must agree that it's MUCH more impressive (iow: better looking) than the concept seen in LA. :)