Daihatsu to debut D-X sports car concept

Daihatsu will be bringing this D-X sports car concept to the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, a machine that the small car experts bills as a “proposition for a new aesthetic of sports car that exerts a one-of-a-kind presence”. They’re calling the D-X “a new kind of a sports car”, we’re thinking of a new kind of Copen!

Among the unique features of the D-X (for d-cross) is a resin-based body that allows owners to enjoy a multitude of variations, according to Daihatsu. It’s seen here with some “4X4 style” body cladding normally seen or superminis and MPVs, but rarely sports cars. We presume that the black stuff can be taken off by owners for a more conventional look, as and when they please. Not seen here, but Daihatsu says the interior is “spartan feeling”.

Under the hood is a two-cylinder engine with direct-injection and turbo, said to strike a balance between the joy of driving and fuel-efficiency. No more details, but read more on Daihatsu’s planned two-pot engine in our previous post here.

The company adds that the D-X offers a driving experience with that “sense of oneness between person and vehicle that only a compact car can provide” a line that’s not too unlike Mazda’s Jinba Ittai message for the MX-5.

Honda Acura NSX 2013

Honda is well known for its quality family sedans and modern interiors that are enjoyed by thousands of people all across the globe. After discontinuing the Honda S2000 in 2009, Honda has been working on a successor that could fill its shoes after leaving the S2000 in the dark. Fast forward to 2013…Enter the Honda Acura NSX 2013($TBA), with looks resembling that of a sleek lined fighter and highlights bordering on the that of a transformer model. The NSX sure looks like one car that could put Honda right back up there in between the other players on the field. With its body made using basic materials from Aluminum and carbonfibre it ensures the car to be lighter and more aerodynamic than before. We don’t have a lot of specs available on the current motor specs of the vehicle, but we do know that it is fitted with a V6 motor and the Acura SH-AWD(Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system which does make us wonder.

Could this car really live up to being a competitor for the Audi R8? Only time will tell.