Honda Plans F1 Technology Hypercar to Succeed Acura NSX

Honda explores creating a hypercar with F1 technology following the Acura NSX’s end, promising high performance and innovation.

The Acura NSX may be discontinued, but Honda’s passion for high-performance two-seaters is still alive. Speaking with The Drive at the Indianapolis 500, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe expressed a keen interest in creating a halo hypercar to celebrate Honda’s long-standing involvement in Formula 1. When asked about the potential for a Honda hypercar similar to the upcoming Red Bull RB17, Watanabe’s response was enthusiastic: «Yes, yes, but no plans yet. But in the future, we want to make such [a] kind of vehicle combined with F1 technology.»

Honda, initially a motorcycle manufacturer after WWII, launched its first car, the T360 kei truck, in 1963. Founder Soichiro Honda targeted the American market, leading to iconic models like the Civic and Accord becoming best-sellers. Today, Honda is known for its safety, practicality, and reliability, with high-performance models like the Civic Type R adding a touch of excitement.

While Watanabe’s comments are speculative, it’s unlikely that an F1-inspired Honda hypercar would carry the NSX name. Acura Vice President Jon Ikeda has hinted that the NSX replacement, likely electric, is in development. However, an all-electric hypercar might not capture the F1 spirit, and a hypercar akin to the Red Bull RB17 wouldn’t sell in NSX-like numbers.

The NSX name, standing for New Sports eXperimental, fits well with the idea of a hypercar featuring F1 technology. Ikeda’s 2022 comments about electrification came before the industry shifted even further toward electric vehicles, suggesting flexibility in future plans.

Honda has supplied powertrains to Red Bull Racing for years, but their partnership ends in 2025. Red Bull will then produce its engines with Ford’s assistance, while Honda will become Aston Martin’s powertrain partner in Formula 1. Aston Martin already has the Valkyrie hypercar as its F1-inspired halo car, but with their new partnership, a new Honda hypercar could emerge as a fresh, exciting project.

While much remains speculative, a Honda hypercar inspired by F1 technology is an enticing prospect. Whether it will be developed independently or in collaboration with Aston Martin, it is a development that enthusiasts will watch closely in the coming years.