Could the new Acura NSX hybrid include an electric-only mode?

By Marcus Amick Published May 20, 2013

It seems that the highly-anticipated new Acura NSX will feature a lot more technology features than most are expecting when it hits the road in 2015.

Even though Honda is being pretty tight-lipped on details about the car, Automotive News reports that in addition to boosting acceleration, the NSX’s two front-mounted electric motors will help improve the car’s handling by managing torque and weight shifts in turns.

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According to the industry news source, Acura NSX large-project leader Ted Klaus says all three of the NSX’s electric motors could also be programmed to enable the car to drive without the gasoline engine. Recent supercar announcements include news that Porsche’s 880+hp 918 super-hybrid will run on electrons alone for a fair distance, and at a top e-speed of 93mph at that.

But Klaus didn’t appear to say whether or not Honda actually plans to program the car to be able to drive in electric mode. He did, however, offer some insight on how the electric motors will help improve the NSX’s handling.

“All three motors will work in conjunction with the driver,” he said, reports Automotive News. “When the driver puts his foot on the accelerator or turns or brakes, all those motors will work in response.”

The NSX’s core powertrain will reportedly feature a direct-injected V-6 engine and a dual-clutch transmission.

Actually, I think programming the sports car to be able to drive in electric mode would be a smart move to distinguish from some of the other sports car on the market – what about you?

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Marcus Amick has been writing about the world of cars for more than ten years and has covered everything from new automobiles…

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Is a Jeep Cherokee replacement slated for 2025?

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Jeep is remaining somewhat mysterious about the name of a new hybrid SUV slated to be part of the brand’s lineup in 2025.
Speaking at the Los Angeles Auto Show recently, Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa would only say that a new compact SUV with a hybrid powertrain was indeed on the way, according to Automotive News.
Filosa had already confirmed last spring that a new “mainstream” large SUV would soon be launched by Jeep, adding that we "could probably guess what it will be called." His comments had sparked speculation that the Cherokee brand name would be back.
While the brand name has existed since 1974, the Cherokee Nation in the U.S. had officially asked Jeep to stop using its name in 2021.
Early last year, Jeep quietly discontinued the model, which was one of its most iconic SUVs of the past 50 years.
The reason? Besides slumping sales, Jeep at the time cited the confluence of market dynamics, consumer preferences, and strategic brand realignment.
The Cherokee was viewed as a classic four-door SUV, known both for its reliability and its ability to suit both off-road and urban environments.
But with time, “consumer preferences have significantly shifted towards larger SUVs equipped with the latest technology and enhanced safety features,” Jeep said at the time. “This trend is accompanied by an increasing demand for environmentally friendly vehicles, steering the market towards hybrid and electric models.”
While no one knows for sure what the new SUV hybrid will be called, Jeep's parent company, Stellantis, is certainly doing everything it can to steer all its brands in the hybrid and electric direction.

Stellantis recently launched a new platform called STLA Frame that’s made for full-size trucks and SUVs. The platform is designed to deliver a driving range of up to 690 miles for extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and 500 miles for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

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EV charging is getting more accessible and faster, but it's still not quite as convenient as filling up at a gas station. For some, however, paying a substantially lower cost would make the waiting worth it, and many EV manufacturers make the cost cuts even more enticing by bundling in discounted or free charging at one of the larger charging networks.

This has been a practice for some time now -- and Tesla actually kicked it off with free Supercharger access. The concept is basically that when you buy your EV, you'll get a free subscription or free access to a network like Electrify America or EVgo. Essentially, this means that you can fast charge your electric vehicle at a DC fast charging station at no cost.

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Teslas likely won’t get California’s new EV tax rebate

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California seems eager to reassert itself, not only as one of the largest economies in the world, but one where EVs will continue to thrive.

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced California will seek to revive state-tax rebates for electric vehicles should the incoming Trump administration carry out its plans to end the existing $7,500 federal incentive on EVs.