New Honda NSX could cost more than supercar rivals

Honda Australia expects its reborn NSX supercar to arrive Down Under in less than six months but still can’t – or won’t – say how much it will cost. What’s more, a global waiting list may leave buyers hanging.

Production is underway in the US where a bare-bones Honda NSX retails for about the same price as the 397kW Audi R8 V10, which is listed in Australia for $287,580. Tick a few boxes for the options Aussie buyers expect as standard in its competitors and the NSX price quickly creeps up.

Australian NSXs are likely to get a higher level of standard equipment than the US market, which points to a higher price for our right-hand drive models. In the UK, the right-hand drive NSX has a confirmed price of GBP130,000 – much closer to UK pricing for the 449kW Audi R8 V10 Plus which sells in Australia for $314,504.

Here, the NSX is likely to cost more than $300,000 when it arrives in Aussie trim. The US exchange rate is also putting pressure on local pricing and could easily push it close to the $350,000 mark or higher, putting NSX head-to-head with the McLaren 540C, Aston Martin V12 Vantage, and Maserati GranTurismo and not far off the formidable Porsche 911 Turbo.

If that seems like a lot to pay for a Honda, consider its heavyweight engine output figures of 427kW and 550Nm. Those numbers stick the NSX in the same pen as the seriously premium company listed above.

Speaking to Wheels last week, Honda Australia managing director Stephen Collins said Aussie pricing will be locked in by July. He was reluctant to put even a ballpark figure on it in the meantime.

Honda won’t officially take orders until the price is confirmed, however it is understood dealerships have taken ‘pre-interest’ deposits from hopeful would-be-owners, despite Honda being still unable to confirm the number of right-hand drive cars earmarked for Australia.

“We haven’t been given an allocation or number of build spots,” said Collins. “It will depend on global demand and it will depend on us as to how we can price the car and how many pre-orders we can take.”

Even if you can get your name in the order books, Collins cautioned that there’s no guarantee of receiving a car in the first batch.

“We expect a waiting list worldwide.”

Just five Honda dealerships in Australia have sales rights for the NSX; one each in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Honda’s factory in Ohio is limited to building eight NSXs a day. The US will take the lion’s share of production, with Europe and Japan also lining up to get a large portion. How many right-hand drive examples will be built is as yet unknown.

“NSX appeals to the sort of customers who want the latest and greatest in tech,” said Collins. “I think that’s what the original NSX customers were like too. The essence of the car is pretty similar to what it was back then.”

“We have a long history with this car. It’s about showcasing the brand’s technology and getting back to those sport routes.”

The 2017 Honda NSX uses a twin-turbo V6 engine and three electric motors to achieve its total output of 427kW and 550Nm. Power is fed through a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive.