Honda NSX GT to go racing – before the NSX even hits showrooms

Honda has revealed a track version of the upcoming NSX supercar – the Honda NSX Concept-GT – which it plans to take racing at Suzuka.

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The new Honda NSX is finally getting close to a production reality, but it won’t actually arrive until 2015, even though order books are now open.

But in a somewhat odd move, Honda has revealed another NSX today – the NSX Concept-GT – with which it plans to go racing. And it plans to go racing now, not in 2015 or 2016 when the new NSX is in Honda showrooms.

We can only assume Honda think there’s mileage in getting the NSX’s credentials validated in motorsport before it hits showrooms and, perhaps, getting extra feedback from their track exploits to feed in to the NSX’s final setup.

And perhaps that’s needed, because with a relatively modest – for a ‘supercar’ – mid-mounted V6 engine augmented by a pair of electric motors, potential buyers may not believe the NSX can offer proper performance, but if the NSX GT is seen strutting its stuff and performing well it’ll add credibility.

That said, the power for the NSX GT is not the same as the road car, with Honda only prepared to say it gets a 2.0 litre inline direct injection 4-cylinder turbo with a racing hybrid system.

Honda say the NSX Concept-GT complies with the 2014 regulations on GT500 vehicles set by the Japan Automobile Federation and will compete in the SUPER GT Series* Round 5 “2013 AUTOBACS SUPER GT” at Suzuka Circuit.

Let’s hope, for Honda’s sake, the NSX GT acquits itself with meaning and purpose. It certainly looks the part – part Honda, part Transformer.