We’ve all heard of ‘the difficult second album’ but after a 26-year gap, Honda has stretched the concept beyond agonising. However, this autumn, the long-awaited follow-up will “set new benchmarks for supercars” when it finally reach UK roads, so what should you know about NSX mk2?

It looks stunning

You’ve already noticed, eh? Here’s a little game: cover up the Honda badge on the bonnet and get a friend to guess what it is? An Audi? Lambo? It’s possible that they’ll mention Toyota before Honda and it’s crazy to think that this car sits on the same roster as the elderly-attracting Jazz.

Crouched at just 1.2 metres high, every inch of the NSX screams ‘supercar’. From the squinted LED headlights over the sliced vents, the coupe-like roof, down to the wheels (19-inches at the front, 20 at the rear), you know anyone behind the wheel of this thing is having the time of their life.

It’s super quick

There’s no messing about in the performance department either. The NSX uses an innovative all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain that combines a mid-mounted transverse 3.5-litre 500bhp V6 engine with three electric motors to achieve a peak power output of 573bhp, pumping out 646Nm of torque.

But what does that mean in human language? Well, from a standing start, it can reach 62mph in under three seconds before going on to a top speed of 191mph. That’s quicker than any new Porsche 911 you can buy right now.

It’s a smarty pants

BMW’s i8 may have beaten it to market as the first widely available hybrid supercar, but Honda says the NSX will have the most intuitive and advanced hybrid powertrain in the segment.

That’s mostly down its four driving modes, tailored for specific environments and situations. They’re all pretty self-explanatory with the all-electric ‘Quiet’ mode, ‘Sport’ mode, ‘Sport +’, and ‘Track’.

Clever it may be but engaging ‘Track’ mode on your street would be an incredibly stupid thing to do.

It ain’t cheap

All that power will cost you a pretty penny with prices starting from £137,950 – almost £34,000 more than the i8. If you can scrape that kind of money together, then you can have one from this autumn.

It may be a hybrid but there are no Prius-like running costs here. Over a mix of motorway and city driving, it returns 28.2mpg, emitting 228g/km of CO2, which means it will cost you £650 in road tax every year before you even turn the ignition.

It can be deceptively straightforward too

Despite its brash exterior, the NSX is surprisingly understated inside with an airy cabin and simple buttons. No overwhelming spaceship-style dashboard here.

On the road, one critic hailed it as “sublimely easy to drive” and “perhaps the most user friendly two-seater on sale”.

All the signs point to the new NSX being as incredible as the original. Honda, if you’re reading this, don’t make us wait another 26 years for another NSX .

Good to go

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