Spy shots of the new NSX replacement have been posted along with some new information about the car. Looks like Honda’s new competitor in the pseudo-supercar market will be have a couple crucial changes from their previous tried and true formula of a lightweight mid-engined sports car with a V6 powerplant. Honda’s new NSX is rumored to have a V10 engine (that will likely have small displacement and a stratospheric redline in true Honda fashion) with the engine in the front unlike all previous NSX models. It is rumored to put power to the ground through a rear wheel biased version of Honda’s SH-AWD (Super Handling - All Wheel Drive) which first debuted on the Honda Prelude and has been implemented on cars such as the Acura MDX, Acura RL, and Acura RDX.

While most fans of Honda’s superstar NSX are probably not too pleased with Honda messing with the “formula” of the NSX, it seems that some of these changes are necessary to stay competitive in today’s market. A 2+2 seating configuration will make this car appealing to a wider variety of consumers, a large V10 engine would be necessary to keep up among its competitors - as a naturally aspirated V6 is not much by today’s standards, and the front engine all wheel drive drivetrain configuration will make the car less of a hassle to service while increasing grip.

With cars like the Nissan GT-R, Lexus LF-A, and the Honda NSX comingn out in the not so distant future, it looks like we are heading into a Japanese supercar horsepower arms race. Last time that happened cars such as the Toyota Supra Turbo, Mazda RX-7 Turbo, and the Nissan 300ZX Turbo were produced, so this is definately not a bad thing.

Click here for more information and pictures on the Acura NSX prototype