A series of 3D renders filed to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) could reveal a new, small Honda sports car.
Rumors about such a car have circulated ever since Honda retired the S2000 in 2009. The first versions of the second generation NSX arrived soon after, which only fed speculation of a smaller version. The chatter increased further still, when Honda trademarked the name ‘ZSX’ with EUIPO last year.
These patent images, released earlier this week, reveal a small, two-seat car. A louvred deck behind the driver suggests a mid-engined layout — probably a version of the Honda Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter turbo.
If the new car is to slot in underneath the NSX, it’s likely that any petrol engine will be part of a hybrid system. With motors included, the mini NSX could produce 400 hp or more.
The interior is most reminiscent of the NSX too, with a similar dash and center console design. Bucket seats and an F1-inspired steering wheel complete the look — although the wheel is unlikely to make it to any production car.
Curiously, the drawings include neither a windscreen nor a roof. That doesn’t suggest that this car will be a speedster-bodied model, as the design may simply omit them for clarity. However, a ZSX concept shown in New York in April did indeed use a low screen and lacked a roof.
This car would become the third mid-engined vehicle in Honda’s range. The brand also sells the 63 hp S660 kei car in its native Japan. This too is reportedly due for wider sales next year, as a 140 hp 1.0-liter model called the S1000.
It’s worth noting too that it’s the Japanese arm of Honda that filed the patents, and only in Europe. Honda’s US branch, Acura, designed and built the NSX in California.
