Those that follow my blog or Twitter might know that I have one car that I adore more than anything else: the Honda NSX. The first classic model, with the pop up headlamps and the perfect body. That’s the one car in life I HAVE to own and my plan is to buy one as soon as I have enough $$$. Luckily we don’t talk Ferrari prices…

Photographed by Kelly Sexton / user xfelixtec on Flickr

Photographed x 2 by Rob Lammers / user xfelixtec on Flickr

With the facelifted generation (2002-) the change of headlamps is the only thing that bugs me. Of course I know why, the story of pop up headlamps can’t live on forever… on the other hand, with the NSX it probably could. It’s the one car that could get away with that retro style, even now, because with them, it’s pure perfection. But life goes on, of course, and the second generation NSX was close enough – they didn’t destroy the body styling of it, and that’s what matters. Same as with Porsche 911 – they have a great design and they know it, so they don’t make big changes to it from generation to generation. Upgrades, but you can always see it’s a Porsche 911.

Photographed by Paul Cook / user Cook24v on Flickr

Photographed by Ed Kwon / user KayOne73 on Flickr

Photographed by Nick / user TheFatnick on Flickr

BUT… I’m not feeling this new NSX as much as I’d like to. It’s hybrid. With automatic transmission. AND THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING NSX ABOUT IT. Why couldn’t they just give that car a new name instead? I do like the design of this car (I really do, it’s a beautiful body), and I absolutely don’t think there’s anything wrong with it for a modern sports car. But it’s not a Honda NSX, it’s just a brand new hybrid Honda.

Now you’re very welcome to disagree with me as well – what do you think? But I can’t help it that this was my first reaction. I look at the first generation (1990-2001), it’s perfect. I look at the facelifted NSX (2002-), it’s nearly perfect. I look at this new concept, and it doesn’t look like it even belongs to the same family.

Photographed by Jalopnik and originally posted in this article