Honda Legend

Honda CEO Takeo Fukui wasn't kidding when he said that Honda would renew its focus on small, fuel efficient vehicles. The latest news, courtesy of UK outfit AutoCar, indicates that Honda is looking to axe a number of models from its future line-up.

When Honda cancelled the NSX, we didn't sleep properly for days. The latest round of cuts is sure to have us watching 'infomercials', counting sheep and listening to Parliament for weeks. (Is there a help-line we can call?)

Honda's luxury brand for the US, Acura, has taken the brunt of the bad news and is now to lose its previously-planned RWD architecture. The V8 engine Honda had confirmed for the range has also been deleted.

here's also word that the Honda Legend, sold in small numbers here, is to join the RWD Acura on the chopping block as will the top-less version of Honda's upcoming CR-Z hybrid vehicle.

But worse, far worse, is the apparent loss of the Honda S2000. This year, 2009, will be its last scheduled production year with no replacement in sight. We're hoping Honda blows us away with a surprise unveiling at one of the 2009 Motor Shows... but it's a faint hope.

We'll be following this story closely, and keeping tabs on Honda for an official comment. If even half of what's reported is accurate then Honda fans will have to make do with some pretty slim pickings in the year or so ahead.

Rumours of an impending Honda/Acura V8 are certainly nothing new, but while we previously predicted that such an engine would make its production debut as early as 2010, word on the street is that the projected launch date could be 2015 at the earliest.



The next generation of Honda Legend/Acura RL will supposedly carry on with the same SH-AWD underpinnings and transverse engine layout of the current models, with the generation after that being the recipient of the hotly-anticipated bent-eight and an all-new RWD architecture.

It’s a massive departure from Honda tradition, but it’s one that will no doubt do Honda a great deal of good at the top end of the market - particularly considering much of the German and Japanese competition couple big engines with RWD drivetrains.

But is 2015 too late? Will the V8 be seen as outmoded and archaic in a world of high fuel prices and stringent emissions standards? Will consumers have moved onto quad-flux capacitors or some other kind of exotic power source by then? Will there even be any petrol left to pump out of the ground?

These are all big unknowns, and Honda’s taking a big gamble by delaying the debut of its V8 mill until 2015. If there was ever a time for the V8 to have its last hurrah, then that time is most likely right now.