2017 Honda NSX could land at $325,000

Interest in the highly-anticipated 2017 Honda NSX continues to grow, with talk of local dealers now taking deposits from customers keen to get the supercar in their driveway as soon as possible.

Now, pricing for the hybrid supercar appears to have also been confirmed.

Details for the Australian market are still to be made official, and the word on pre-order opportunities is that until pricing is locked in, dealers have been asked not to take orders.

But, as CarAdvice was told recently, some dealers have chosen to ignore the request.

“At this stage we’ve asked dealers not to take orders,” Honda Australia director Stephen Collins told CarAdvice at a media event in March. “But I am aware of a number of dealers who are holding some orders. How many? I’m not sure. But that will start the formal pre-sale process.”

CarAdvice has now learned that at least two hopeful buyers (among what appears to be many more) have paid a deposit against the chance of claiming one of the first NSX delivery slots.

More, the supercar’s price is understood to have been confirmed at circa $325,000, positioning the new NSX close to the incoming Audi R8 V10.

Priced from $354,900, the new R8 is powered by a 397kW/540Nm V10. By comparison, the NSX features a mid-mounted petrol V6 matched to two electric motors, with the hybrid package claiming combined system figures of 427kW and 646Nm.

The NSX’s Australian price, if our information proves accurate, will surprise some. In the US, where the new supercar is marketed through the premium Acura brand, the price of entry begins at US$156,000 ($201,370).

However, with import duties, GST and LCT considered, that price would come closer to $295,000. Depending on fuel consumption figures, its status as a hybrid could reduce that figure to just below $290,000.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins told CarAdvice earlier this year that we should expect the new NSX to be priced “at the very premium end” of the local market.

With local deliveries expected to begin in November, buyers and spectators should no official pricing soon.

The NSX will feature a mid-mounted 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, mounted to a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Two electric motors are positioned up front, along with another at the rear, will give a total power output of 427kW.

Honda claims the 0-100km/h sprint will be taken care of in three seconds, with top speed listed at 307km/h.

The production version of the NSX was revealed at the beginning of 2015 at the Detroit motor show, three years after fans were initially teased with a concept.

While most of the car is being built at Honda’s new purpose-built Ohio factory, production of the engine will be hand-built at the Honda engine factory in nearby Anna.

2017 Honda Accord Hybrid unveiled, previews updated Accord styling

The 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid has been unveiled, and while it won’t be sold in Australia, the facelift gives an idea of what to expect from the standard Accord range which will launch later this year.

Honda‘s Australian arm made it clear at a recent roundtable that while an updated Accord was imminent, the updated Accord Hybrid version wouldn’t be offered. That leaves the upcoming NSX sports car as the only hybrid model in the brand’s ranks.

Still, the updated model seen here shows what to expect for the regular Accord range in terms of changes, including the bolder grille with prominent chrome bar that is reminiscent of the new-generation Civic’s front-end styling. There’s a new front bumper with LED daytime running lights, new headlights with jewel-like LEDs, and revised tail-light inlays, too.

Further, the new model brings with it an updated Display Audio touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and heated rear seats are also expected to be offered.

The updated hybrid model’s powertrain has seen changes, including a power bump of 12kW to 158kW combined, and the US model is now said to be the most efficient model in its class.

The rest of the Accord range is expected to retain the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine (with 129kW/225Nm) in the entry models while the flagship version sold here will retain the V6 petrol engine (with 206kW/339Nm).

Expect the updated Accord range to be revealed in the coming weeks in Australia before hitting showrooms in June or July.