New Honda NSX

Honda is making a determined attempt to inject some pazazz into its range with the unveiling of a concept of a new NSX supercar, which should make production within three years. The car was revealed by Takanobu Ito, Honda's president and chief executive, above.

What is it? The return of one of the most beloved badges from the past 20 years. Honda's halo car stays true to its "performance through engineering efficiency."

What's hot? The name "NSX" alone is enough to make us giddy, as are the sweeping lines. The light, mid-mounted VTEC V6 engine and the new Sports Hybrid (that's right, it's a hybrid) Drive system, which aims to provide the ultimate in all-wheel-drive handling, are intriguing.

What's not? NSX purists are likely to note the following words: "hybrid," "dual-clutch transmission" and "all-wheel drive" and say that the car sounds interesting but it's no NSX. Price is going to be an issue as well: If it's deemed too expensive, the NSX may lose the last of its defenders while failing to entice the extreme high-end customers who were unlikely to look its way in the first place.

How much and when? We don't know how much the NSX will cost. At this point Honda says it's aiming to offer the new NSX to customers within the next three years. With actor Robert Downey Jr. driving a concept NSX in this summer's "The Avengers," look for that debut to be sooner rather than later, in an attempt to capitalize on the exposure.

MSN Autos' verdict: It really is too early to tell what the new NSX will be. If it is priced right, it could be the kind of "shot heard around the world" that the original was back in 1990. Even if it is, it still has a lot of history to live up to, and many will never accept this car as the successor to the still-great original. The new NSX will have to defy all expectations to justify its existence; how cool would it be if it did?

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